Notable Alumni of University of California-Berkeley

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto 1928–1979

Former President and Prime Minister of Pakistan

Also attended: University of Southern California

Child: Murtaza Bhutto (Harvard University)

Child: Benazir Bhutto (Harvard University)

Haakon VIII of Norway 1973–

King of Norway

Bachelor of Arts · Political science and government · Class of 1999

Also attended: Harvard University

Francisco I. Madero 1873–1913

Mexican revolutionary leader and 37th president

Attended until 1893

Also attended: Mount St. Mary's University

Sibling: Julio Madero (Fordham University)

Robert McNamara 1916–2009

8th US Secretary of Defense

Bachelor of Arts · Mathematics, Philosophy · Class of 1937

Also attended: Harvard University

Spouse: Margaret McNamara (University of California-Berkeley)

Jerry Brown 1938–

Former Governor of California

Also attended: Santa Clara University, Yale University

Spouse: Anne Gust Brown (University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Stanford University)

Father: Pat Brown (Alliant International University, University of San Francisco)

Miro Cerar 1963–

Slovenian law professor and politician

Earl Warren 1891–1974

14th Chief Justice of the United States

Dean Rusk 1909–1994

US Secretary of State from 1961 to 1969

Also attended: Davidson College

Jennifer Granholm 1959–

16th US Secretary of Energy, former Michigan governor

Also attended: College of San Mateo, Harvard University

Tom Lantos 1928–2008

Hungarian-born U.S. Representative from California

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1953

Also attended: University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Child: Katrina Swett (University of California College of the Law-San Francisco, Yale University)

Christopher Stevens 1960–2012

US ambassador to Libya killed in Benghazi attack

Also attended: University of California College of the Law-San Francisco

Abbie Hoffman 1936–1989

Activist and co-founder of the Yippies

Also attended: Brandeis University

Jayaprakash Narayan 1902–1979

Indian independence activist and political leader

Also attended: University of Iowa, Ohio State University-Main Campus, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Cynthia McKinney 1955–

Former U.S. congresswoman and peace activist

Also attended: University of Southern California, Tufts University

Jimmy Doolittle 1896–1993

General and aviation pioneer, led the Doolittle Raid

Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: Los Angeles City College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Alejandro Mayorkas 1959–

7th United States Secretary of Homeland Security

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1981

Also attended: Loyola Marymount University

Sadako Ogata 1927–2019

Former UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Also attended: Georgetown University

Child: Atsushi Ogata (Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Barbara Lee 1946–

Mayor of Oakland and former U.S. representative

Master of Social Work · Class of 1975

Also attended: Northeastern University Oakland

Peter Welch 1947–

US Senator from Vermont since 2023

Juris Doctor · Class of 1973

Also attended: College of the Holy Cross

Monte Melkonian 1957–1993

Armenian-American militant, National Hero of Armenia

Sibling: Markar Melkonian (University of Massachusetts-Amherst)

Andrej Bajuk 1943–2011

Former Prime Minister of Slovenia and economist

Also attended: University of Chicago

Rodrigo Rato 1949–

Former IMF managing director and Spanish minister

Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Echeverría 1940–

43rd President of Costa Rica

Galo Plaza 1906–1987

President of Ecuador, OAS Secretary General

Also attended: Georgetown University, University of Maryland-College Park

Hiram Johnson 1866–1945

California governor and longtime US senator

Pete Wilson 1933–

36th Governor of California

Also attended: Yale University, Washington University in St Louis

Spouse: Gayle Wilson (Stanford University)

Ruhakana Rugunda 1947–

Former Prime Minister of Uganda

Mostafa Chamran 1932–1981

First defense minister of post-revolutionary Iran

Doctor of Philosophy · Electrical engineering, Plasma physics · Class of 1963

Also attended: Texas A & M University-College Station

Sibling: Mehdi Chamran (University of California-Berkeley)

Norman Mineta 1931–2022

Former US Cabinet secretary under Clinton and Bush

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1953

Zhang Wentian 1900–1976

Former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party

Ann Veneman 1949–

Former US Agriculture Secretary and UNICEF director

Also attended: University of California College of the Law-San Francisco, University of California-Davis

Pauli Murray 1910–1985

Civil rights activist, lawyer and Episcopal priest

Also attended: Yale University, Howard University, CUNY Hunter College

Ezra Taft Benson 1899–1994

US Secretary of Agriculture and 13th LDS Church president

Also attended: Iowa State University, Brigham Young University-Provo, Utah State University

Chris Wright 1965–

United States Secretary of Energy

Attended until 1985

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Robert C. O'Brien 1966–

27th US National Security Advisor

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Bernd Lucke 1962–

Economist and co-founder of Alternative for Germany

Maya Harris 1967–

Lawyer and policy advocate; Kamala Harris's sister

Also attended: Stanford University

Spouse: Tony West (Harvard University, Stanford University)

Father: Donald J. Harris (University of California-Berkeley)

W. Michael Blumenthal 1926–

US Treasury Secretary under Jimmy Carter

Also attended: Princeton University

Ed Lee 1952–2017

43rd Mayor of San Francisco

Also attended: Bowdoin College

Raffi Hovannisian 1959–

First Foreign Minister of Armenia

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, Georgetown University, Tufts University

Father: Richard G. Hovannisian (University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Los Angeles)

Child: Garin Hovannisian (University of California-Los Angeles, Columbia University in the City of New York)

Doris Matsui 1944–

U.S. Representative from California

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1966

Spouse: Robert Matsui (University of California College of the Law-San Francisco, University of California-Berkeley)

Hugh Samuel Johnson 1882–1942

Army officer and member of Roosevelt's Brain Trust

Also attended: The United States Military Academy at West Point

Jo Freeman 1945–

Feminist, political scientist, writer and attorney

Also attended: University of Chicago, New York University

Linda Sánchez 1969–

U.S. Representative from California, former labor lawyer

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1991

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Sibling: Loretta Sanchez (Chapman University, American University)

Pedro Nel Ospina Vázquez 1858–1927

General and President of Colombia, 1922–1926

Hossein Sheikholeslam 1952–2020

Iranian politician and diplomat

Computer science

James Soong 1942–

Chairman of People First Party, former Taiwan Province governor

Also attended: Catholic University of America, Georgetown University

Sun Fo 1891–1973

Son of Sun Yat-sen, Republican-era Chinese politician

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Child: Nora Sun (University of Arizona, Babson College)

Leland Yee 1948–

Former California State Senator

Also attended: San Francisco State University, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Colin Allred 1983–

US congressman from Texas and former NFL player

Juris Doctor · Class of 2014

Also attended: Baylor University

Jerome Adams 1974–

20th Surgeon General of the United States

Also attended: Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, University of Indianapolis, University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Steve Wozniak 1950–

Co-founder of Apple

Also attended: De Anza College, University of Colorado Boulder

J. Paul Getty 1892–1976

Founder of Getty Oil Company and art collector

Also attended: University of Southern California

Father: George Getty (University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ohio Northern University)

Child: Gordon Getty (San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of San Francisco)

Lila Tretikov 1978–

Engineer and former Wikimedia Foundation executive director

Computer science

Eric Schmidt 1955–

Former CEO of Google

Doctorate, Master's degree · Computer science · Class of 1982

Also attended: Princeton University

Spouse: Wendy Schmidt (University of California-Berkeley, Smith College)

Gordon Moore 1929–2023

Intel co-founder who proposed Moore's law

Bachelor of Science

Also attended: California Institute of Technology, San Jose State University

Masayoshi Son 1957–

Founder and chairman of SoftBank Group

Also attended: Holy Names University

Charles Simonyi 1948–

Software architect, led early Microsoft Office, space tourist

Also attended: Stanford University

Jim Simons 1938–2024

Mathematician, hedge fund manager and philanthropist

Doctor of Philosophy

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Spouse: Barbara Simons (University of California-Berkeley, Wellesley College)

Child: Nat Simons (University of California-Berkeley)

Andrew Grove 1936–2016

Third CEO of Intel Corporation

Doctorate · Chemical engineering · Class of 1963

Bill Joy 1954–

Co-founder of Sun Microsystems

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Oleg Tinkov 1967–

Russian-born entrepreneur and former billionaire

Attended until 1999

Stockton Rush 1962–2023

Co-founder and CEO of OceanGate

Master of Business Administration · Class of 1989

Also attended: Princeton University

Peter Schiff 1963–

Stockbroker and financial commentator

Father: Irwin Schiff (University of Connecticut)

Mitchell Baker 1957–

Former chair of Mozilla Foundation and Mozilla Corporation CEO

David Allen 1945–

Author and creator of Getting Things Done

Also attended: New College of Florida

Cher Wang 1958–

Co-founder of HTC and VIA Technologies

Bachelor's degree · Economics

Spouse: Chen Wen-Chi (California Institute of Technology)

Shantanu Narayen 1963–

Chairman and CEO of Adobe

Also attended: Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

Tony Xu 1985–

Co-founder and CEO of DoorDash

Also attended: Harvard University, Stanford University

Carol Greider 1961–

Molecular biologist and Nobel laureate

Also attended: University of California-Santa Barbara

Daniel Kahneman 1934–2024

Psychologist, 2002 Nobel laureate in economics

Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1961

Steven Chu 1948–

Nobel physicist and former US Secretary of Energy

Also attended: University of Rochester

Sibling: Morgan Chu (University of California-Los Angeles, Yale University)

Glenn Theodore Seaborg 1912–1999

Chemist, 1951 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate

Doctor of Philosophy · Chemistry · Class of 1937

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Spouse: Helen L. Seaborg (University of California-Berkeley, Santa Ana College)

David Gross 1941–

Theoretical physicist, 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics laureate

Also attended: Harvard University

Father: Bertram Myron Gross (University of Pennsylvania)

Frances Arnold 1956–

Nobel laureate chemical engineer, Caltech professor

Attended until 1985

Also attended: Princeton University

Father: William Howard Arnold (Princeton University, Cornell University)

Harold Urey 1893–1981

Physical chemist, 1934 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate

Also attended: Earlham College, The University of Montana, Columbia University in the City of New York

John Kenneth Galbraith 1908–2006

Canadian-American economist and diplomat

Doctor of Philosophy · Agricultural economics · Class of 1934

Child: James K. Galbraith (Yale University, Harvard University)

Child: Peter W. Galbraith (Georgetown University, Harvard University)

Michio Kaku 1947–

Theoretical physicist and science writer

Also attended: Harvard University

Douglas Engelbart 1925–2013

Inventor of the computer mouse; HCI pioneer

Doctorate, Bachelor's degree · Engineering · Class of 1955

Also attended: Oregon State University, University of Oregon

Saul Perlmutter 1959–

Astrophysicist and Nobel laureate

Doctor of Philosophy · Physics · Class of 1986

Also attended: Harvard University

Willis Lamb 1913–2008

Physicist known for the Lamb shift

David J. Wineland 1944–

Physicist at NIST, ion trapping pioneer

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1965

Also attended: Harvard University

Willard Libby 1908–1980

Chemist who developed radiocarbon dating

Also attended: Princeton University

Spouse: Leona Woods (University of Chicago)

Selman Abraham Waksman 1888–1973

Discoverer of streptomycin, 1952 Nobel Prize winner

Doctor of Philosophy · Biochemistry · Class of 1918

Mario Molina 1943–2020

Mexican chemist, 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Doctorate · Physical chemistry · Class of 1972

Robert B. Laughlin 1950–

Physicist and Stanford University professor

Bachelor of Arts · Mathematics · Class of 1972

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

John C. Mather 1946–

Astrophysicist, 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics

Also attended: Swarthmore College

Adam Riess 1969–

Astrophysicist, professor at Johns Hopkins University

Also attended: Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Kary Mullis 1944–2019

Biochemist, 1993 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1973

Also attended: Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Carolyn Bertozzi 1966–

Chemist and Nobel laureate

Doctor of Philosophy · Chemistry · Class of 1993

Also attended: Harvard University

Sibling: Andrea Bertozzi (Princeton University)

Chien-Shiung Wu 1912–1997

Chinese-American physicist, worked on Manhattan Project

Doctorate · Physics · Class of 1940

Also attended: Smith College

Spouse: Luke Chia-Liu Yuan (California Institute of Technology, University of California-Berkeley)

Timothy Leary 1920–1996

Psychologist and advocate of psychedelic drugs

Also attended: The University of Alabama, College of the Holy Cross, The United States Military Academy at West Point

Thomas Schelling 1921–2016

Economist and nuclear strategy professor

Also attended: Harvard University

Ken Thompson 1943–

Co-creator of the Unix operating system

Bachelor of Science, Master of Science · Class of 1966

Barry C. Barish 1936–

Nobel-winning physicist and gravitational waves expert

Attended until 1962

Lynn Margulis 1938–2011

Evolutionary biologist and proponent of symbiosis theory

Attended until 1965

Also attended: University of Chicago, Harvard University, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Spouse: Carl Sagan (University of Chicago)

Robert Curl 1933–2022

Chemist and professor at Rice University

Also attended: Rice University

William Giauque 1895–1982

Chemist and Nobel laureate

Niklaus Wirth 1934–2024

Swiss computer scientist who designed Pascal

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1963

Henry Taube 1915–2005

Chemist, 1983 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner

Doctor of Philosophy · Chemistry · Class of 1940

Child: Karl Taube (University of California-Berkeley, Yale University)

Alan J. Heeger 1936–

Physicist and chemist, Nobel laureate

Doctor of Philosophy · Physics · Class of 1961

Also attended: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Joseph Erlanger 1874–1965

Physiologist who identified nerve fiber types

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Andrew Fire 1959–

Biologist, 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine laureate

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University

Thomas J. Sargent 1943–

Economist and Wharton finance professor

Also attended: Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania

Lawrence Klein 1920–2013

Economist, 1980 Nobel laureate in Economics

Also attended: Los Angeles City College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania

Thomas Cech 1947–

Chemist, 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate

Also attended: Grinnell College

David Julius 1955–

Physiologist and 2021 Nobel laureate

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Andrew S. Tanenbaum 1944–

Computer scientist, author of MINIX

Doctorate · Physics · Class of 1971

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Douglass North 1920–2015

Economist, 1993 Nobel laureate in economics

Yuan T. Lee 1936–

Taiwanese chemist, 1986 Nobel laureate in Chemistry

Sibling: Yuan-Pern Lee (University of California-Berkeley)

Barbara Liskov 1939–

Computer scientist, programming languages and distributed computing pioneer

Also attended: Stanford University

Gary Ruvkun 1952–

Molecular biologist and Harvard Medical School professor

Also attended: Harvard University

Larry Wall 1954–

Creator of the Perl programming language

Also attended: Seattle Pacific University

David Bohm 1917–1992

Theoretical physicist known for quantum theory work

Also attended: California Institute of Technology

Hiram Bingham III 1875–1956

Explorer who publicized Machu Picchu

Also attended: Yale University, Harvard University

Father: Hiram Bingham II (Yale University, Andover Newton Theological School)

Child: Jonathan Brewster Bingham (Yale University)

Christopher A. Sims 1942–2026

Econometrician, Nobel laureate, Princeton professor

Also attended: Harvard University

Hamilton Smith 1931–2025

Microbiologist and Nobel laureate

Bachelor's degree · Biology · Class of 1952

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Johns Hopkins University

Michael E. Brown 1965–

Caltech planetary astronomer, discoverer of Eris

Doctor of Philosophy

Also attended: Princeton University

David Baker 1962–

Biochemist who pioneered protein design methods

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1989

Also attended: University of California-San Francisco

John M. Martinis 1958–

Physicist who led superconducting quantum computer development

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1985

Yi So-Yeon 1978–

South Korean astronaut, first Korean in space

Shafrira Goldwasser 1958–

Israeli-American computer scientist and MIT professor

Also attended: Carnegie Mellon University

Stanley Miller 1930–2007

Chemist behind the Miller–Urey experiment

Also attended: University of Chicago

George Bernard Dantzig 1914–2005

Mathematician who developed the simplex algorithm

Attended until 1941

Also attended: University of Maryland-College Park, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Daniel Goleman 1946–

Psychologist, author and former New York Times writer

Anthropology

Also attended: Amherst College, Harvard University

Shing-Tung Yau 1949–

Mathematician, first ethnic Chinese Fields medalist

William Thurston 1946–2012

Mathematician, 1982 Fields Medal winner

Doctor of Philosophy · Mathematics

Also attended: New College of Florida

Lillian Moller Gilbreth 1878–1972

Psychologist and industrial engineer, early pioneer

Also attended: Brown University

Child: Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Jr. (University of Michigan-Ann Arbor)

Child: Ernestine Gilbreth Carey (Smith College)

Terence McKenna 1946–2000

Ethnobotanist, lecturer and author

Michael Freedman 1951–

Mathematician, 1986 Fields Medal winner

Also attended: Princeton University

Father: Benedict Freedman (University of California-Los Angeles, Columbia University in the City of New York)

Philip Abelson 1913–2004

Physicist and editor of the journal Science

Doctor of Philosophy · Nuclear physics

Also attended: Washington State University

Spouse: Neva Abelson (Johns Hopkins University, Washington State University)

Mary Ellen Weber 1962–

Former NASA astronaut

Also attended: Southern Methodist University, Purdue University-Main Campus

Richard M. Karp 1935–

Computer scientist, 1985 Turing Award winner

Also attended: Harvard University

Fred Lawrence Whipple 1906–2004

Astronomer who proposed the dirty snowball comet model

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, Occidental College

Dana Scott 1932–

Logician, 1976 ACM Turing Award winner

Bachelor of Arts · Mathematics · Class of 1954

Also attended: Princeton University

Julia Hall Bowman Robinson 1919–1985

Mathematician who worked on Hilbert's tenth problem

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1949

Also attended: San Diego State University

Spouse: Raphael M. Robinson (University of California-Berkeley)

Sibling: Constance Reid (University of California-Berkeley, San Diego State University)

Robert Hall 1943–

Stanford economist, 2026 Nobel laureate in Economics

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Leonard Adleman 1945–

Co-creator of RSA, 2002 Turing Award winner

Andrew Y. Ng 1976–

AI researcher, cofounder of Google Brain

Doctorate · Class of 1993

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University

Spouse: Carol Reiley (Santa Clara University)

Margaret Rhea Seddon 1947–

Surgeon and former NASA astronaut

Bachelor of Arts · Physiology · Class of 1970

Also attended: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Spouse: Robert L. Gibson (California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, Suffolk County Community College)

Susan Solomon 1956–

Atmospheric chemist and MIT professor

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1981

Also attended: Illinois Institute of Technology

Helen B. Taussig 1898–1986

Cardiologist who founded pediatric cardiology

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University, Boston University, Harvard University

Father: Frank William Taussig (Harvard University)

Jim Gray 1944–2012

Computer scientist, 1998 Turing Award winner

Bachelor of Science, Doctor of Philosophy · Applied mathematics, Computer science · Class of 1969

Also attended: New York University

Jill Tarter 1944–

Astronomer in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1975

Also attended: Cornell University

Butler Lampson 1943–

Computer scientist, 1992 Turing Award winner

Also attended: Harvard University

Max Tegmark 1967–

Physicist and professor at MIT

Father: Harold S. Shapiro (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, CUNY--City College)

Tamara E. Jernigan 1959–

Former NASA astronaut, five Space Shuttle missions

Also attended: Rice University, Stanford University

Spouse: Peter Wisoff (University of Virginia-Main Campus, Stanford University)

Jane Luu 1963–

Astronomer, Kavli Prize winner for Kuiper Belt discovery

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University

Alexander Shulgin 1925–2014

Biochemist who synthesized over 200 psychedelic compounds

Also attended: University of California-San Francisco, Harvard University

Josiah Royce 1855–1916

Philosopher and founder of American idealism

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University

Albert Ghiorso 1915–2010

Nuclear scientist who co-discovered 12 elements

Bachelor of Science · Electrical engineering · Class of 1937

Mary-Claire King 1946–

Geneticist who showed breast cancer can be inherited via BRCA1

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1972

Also attended: University of California-San Francisco, Carleton College

Margaret Geller 1947–

Astrophysicist who mapped the nearby universe

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1970

Also attended: Princeton University

Riane Eisler 1931–

Systems scientist and author of The Chalice and the Blade

Spouse: David Elliot Loye (Dartmouth College, The New School)

Elizabeth Roemer 1929–2016

Astronomer specializing in comets and minor planets

Leroy Chiao 1960–

Former NASA astronaut and ISS Expedition 10 commander

Also attended: University of California-Santa Barbara

Charles P. Thacker 1943–2017

Computer designer of the Xerox Alto

Rex J. Walheim 1962–

NASA astronaut who flew three Space Shuttle missions

Attended until 1984

Also attended: University of Houston

Walter A. Shewhart 1891–1967

Father of statistical quality control

Attended until 1917

Yi-Fu Tuan 1930–2022

Chinese-born geographer, originator of humanistic geography

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1957

Ronald Graham 1935–2020

Mathematician, former president of the AMS

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1962

Spouse: Fan Chung (University of Pennsylvania)

Marc Okrand 1948–

Linguist, creator of the Klingon language

Also attended: University of California-Santa Cruz

Charlotte Moore Sitterly 1898–1990

Astronomer known for spectroscopic studies of the Sun

Doctor of Philosophy · Astronomy · Class of 1931

Also attended: Swarthmore College

Nicholas John Spykman 1893–1943

Yale international relations professor

Don L. Lind 1930–2022

NASA astronaut and physicist

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1964

Also attended: University of Utah

Susan Stryker 1961–

University of Arizona professor and transgender studies scholar

Also attended: University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus, Stanford University

Jay Miner 1932–1994

Chip designer, father of the Amiga

James van Hoften 1944–

Former NASA astronaut and Navy officer

Also attended: Colorado State University-Fort Collins

José Graziano da Silva 1949–

Brazilian agronomist and scholar

F. Drew Gaffney 1946–

Physician and former NASA astronaut

Also attended: University of New Mexico-Main Campus

Peter H. Raven 1936–2026

Botanist and longtime Missouri Botanical Garden director

Bachelor of Science · Biology · Class of 1957

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

John Dobson 1915–2014

Amateur astronomer, Dobsonian telescope inventor

Sun-Yung Alice Chang 1948–

Mathematician, Princeton University professor

Doctorate

Spouse: Paul C. Yang (University of California-Berkeley)

Lai-Sang Young 1952–

Mathematician at New York University

Also attended: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Hu Xiansu 1894–1968

Botanist, founder of modern botany in China

Also attended: Harvard University

Hu Hailan 1973–

Neuroscientist and professor at Zhejiang University

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 2002

Xiaowei Zhuang 1972–

Biophysicist and professor at Harvard University

Doctor of Philosophy · Physics · Class of 1997

Rudolph Pariser 1923–2021

Physical and polymer chemist

Also attended: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Winnie Li 1948–

Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Penn State

Andy Hertzfeld 1953–

Software engineer on Apple's original Macintosh team

Also attended: Brown University

Shyamala Gopalan Harris 1938–2009

Biomedical scientist and mother of Kamala Harris

Doctor of Philosophy

Spouse: Donald J. Harris (University of California-Berkeley)

Child: Kamala Harris (University of California College of the Law-San Francisco, Howard University)

Stephen Kotkin 1959–

Historian and Hoover Institution senior fellow

Also attended: University of Rochester

Oktay Sinanoğlu 1935–2015

Turkish physical chemist

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Samuel Moyn 1972–

Yale professor of law and history

Also attended: Harvard University, Washington University in St Louis

Julie Gerberding 1955–

First woman director of the US CDC

Also attended: University of California-San Francisco, Case Western Reserve University

Stephen Hsu 1966–

Physicist, startup founder and former university administrator

Also attended: California Institute of Technology

Jack London 1876–1916

Novelist, journalist and social activist

Spouse: Charmian London (Northeastern University Oakland)

Octavio Paz 1914–1998

Mexican poet, 1990 Nobel Prize in Literature

Chris Pine 1980–

Actor, played James T. Kirk in Star Trek

Also attended: American Conservatory Theater

Father: Robert Pine (Ohio Wesleyan University)

Gregory Peck 1916–2003

American film star

Attended until 1939

Also attended: San Diego State University, Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater

Philip K. Dick 1928–1982

Science fiction author

Susan Sontag 1933–2004

Writer, critic and activist

Also attended: University of Chicago, Harvard University

Spouse: Philip Rieff (University of Chicago)

Child: David Rieff (Amherst College, Princeton University)

George Takei 1937–

Actor known as Sulu in Star Trek

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Betty Friedan 1921–2006

Feminist writer, author of The Feminine Mystique

Also attended: Smith College

Child: Daniel Friedan (University of California-Berkeley, Princeton University)

Ashley Judd 1968–

Film and television actress

Also attended: University of Kentucky, Harvard University

Mother: Naomi Judd (College of Marin)

Gloria Stuart 1910–2010

Actress, played older Rose in Titanic

Spouse: Arthur Sheekman (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities)

Brenda Song 1988–

Actress and model

Bachelor of Arts

Joan Didion 1934–2021

Writer and journalist, New Journalism pioneer

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1956

Spouse: John Gregory Dunne (Princeton University)

Robert Penn Warren 1905–1989

Poet, novelist and critic; Yale professor

Master of Arts · English-language literature · Class of 1927

Also attended: Yale University, Vanderbilt University

Spouse: Eleanor Clark (Vassar College)

Child: Rosanna Warren (Yale University, Johns Hopkins University)

Amy Tan 1952–

Author of The Joy Luck Club

Also attended: University of California-Santa Cruz, San Jose City College, San Jose State University

Marion Zimmer Bradley 1930–1999

Fantasy author of The Mists of Avalon

Also attended: Hardin-Simmons University

Spouse: Walter Breen (University of California-Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University)

Irving Stone 1903–1989

Writer of biographical novels, including Lust for Life

Also attended: University of Southern California

Scott Adams 1957–2026

Cartoonist, creator of the Dilbert comic strip

Master of Business Administration · Class of 1986

Also attended: Hartwick College

Stacy Keach 1941–

Actor in theatre, film and television

Bachelor of Arts · English, Drama fiction · Class of 1963

Also attended: Yale University

Sibling: James Keach (Yale University, Northwestern University)

John Cho 1972–

Korean-American actor

Jack Vance 1916–2013

Writer of fantasy, science fiction and mystery

Attended until 1942

Shirin Neshat 1957–

Iranian visual artist and photographer

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II 1986–

Actor known as Black Manta in Aquaman

Also attended: Yale University

Richard Serra 1939–2024

Sculptor known for large-scale abstract works

Also attended: University of California-Santa Barbara, Yale University

Spouse: Nancy Graves (Yale University, Vassar College)

Hans Hollein 1934–2014

Austrian architect, key figure of postmodernism

Also attended: Illinois Institute of Technology

Pauline Kael 1919–2001

Film critic at The New Yorker

Kathy Baker 1950–

Actress, screen debut in The Right Stuff

Also attended: California Institute of the Arts, Boston University

Spouse: Steven Robman (University of California-Berkeley, Yale University)

Tress MacNeille 1951–

Voice actress on Animaniacs and The Simpsons

Edith Head 1897–1981

Costume designer, most Oscar-decorated woman

Also attended: Otis College of Art and Design, Stanford University

Spouse: Wiard Ihnen (Columbia University in the City of New York)

Rube Goldberg 1883–1970

Cartoonist known for complicated gadget cartoons

Attended until 1904

Bill Bixby 1934–1993

Actor and television director

Also attended: City College of San Francisco

Spouse: Brenda Benet (University of California-Los Angeles)

Etel Adnan 1925–2021

Lebanese poet, novelist and visual artist

Also attended: Harvard University

Zelda Rubinstein 1933–2010

Actress and human rights activist

Also attended: University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Josef Škvorecký 1924–2012

Czech-Canadian writer and publisher

Tim Kang 1973–

Film and television actor

Also attended: Harvard University

Barry Nelson 1917–2007

Actor, first to portray James Bond

Susanna Hoffs 1959–

Singer and co-founder of the Bangles

Spouse: Jay Roach (University of Southern California, Stanford University)

Mother: Tamar Simon Hoffs (Yale University, University of Chicago)

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni 1956–

Indian-born author and University of Houston professor

Also attended: Wright State University-Main Campus

Terry Riley 1935–

Composer and pioneer of minimalist music

Also attended: San Francisco State University, University of San Francisco, New Hope Christian College-Eugene

Child: Gyan Riley (San Francisco Conservatory of Music)

Sanaa Lathan 1971–

Film, television and stage actress

Also attended: Yale University

Beverly Cleary 1916–2021

Children's and young adult fiction writer

Also attended: University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Viet Thanh Nguyen 1971–

Novelist and University of Southern California professor

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Brett Dalton 1983–

Actor known for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D

Also attended: Yale University

Roxann Dawson 1958–

Actress and director, Star Trek: Voyager

Spouse: Casey Biggs (The Juilliard School)

Henry Cowell 1897–1965

Avant-garde composer, pianist and music theorist

Spouse: Sidney Robertson Cowell (San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Stanford University)

Julia Morgan 1872–1957

Architect and engineer who designed over 700 California buildings

Enver Gjokaj 1980–

Actor in Agent Carter and Dollhouse

Also attended: New York University

Amos Gitai 1950–

Israeli film director and screenwriter

Peter Bieri 1944–2023

Swiss philosopher and writer, real name Peter Bieri

Also attended: Harvard University

Frank Norris 1870–1902

Journalist and naturalist novelist

Ki-hong Lee 1986–

Actor in the Maze Runner films

Robert Greene 1959–

Author of The 48 Laws of Power

Louis Sachar 1954–

Children's author of Holes

Also attended: University of California College of the Law-San Francisco, Antioch University-Los Angeles, Antioch College

Haskell Wexler 1922–2015

Cinematographer, two-time Oscar winner

Tim Schafer 1967–

Video game designer, founder of Double Fine Productions

Sidney Howard 1891–1939

Playwright and Gone with the Wind screenwriter

Also attended: Harvard University

Spouse: Clare Eames (American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York)

Melissa Mathison 1950–2015

Screenwriter of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Spouse: Harrison Ford (Ripon College)

Karen Joy Fowler 1950–

Author of science fiction, fantasy and literary fiction

Also attended: University of California-Davis

Brian Tee 1977–

Actor born in Okinawa, raised in California

Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: California State University-Fullerton

Will Yun Lee 1971–

Actor and martial artist

Richard Moll 1943–2023

Actor, played Bull on Night Court

Bachelor of Arts

Amir Talai 1977–

Actor, voiced Alastor in Hazbin Hotel

Ollie Johnston 1912–2008

American motion picture animator

Also attended: Stanford University

Errol Morris 1948–

Documentary filmmaker, Oscar winner for The Fog of War

Also attended: San Francisco Art Institute, Princeton University, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Child: Hamilton Morris (Wesleyan University, University of Chicago)

Sam Francis 1923–1994

Painter and printmaker

Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts · Class of 1950

Also attended: San Francisco Art Institute

Spouse: Mako Idemitsu (Columbia University in the City of New York)

Spouse: Teruko Yokoi (San Francisco Art Institute)

Joe Spano 1946–

Actor in Hill Street Blues and NCIS

Walter De Maria 1935–2013

Sculptor and land artist

Master of Fine Arts · Painting · Class of 1959

David X. Cohen 1966–

Television writer who wrote for The Simpsons

Also attended: Harvard University

Karen Grassle 1942–

Actress known for Little House on the Prairie

Also attended: Tulane University of Louisiana

Eric Linklater 1899–1974

Scottish novelist and Carnegie Medal winner

Also attended: Cornell University

Brian Herbert 1947–

Science fiction author known for Dune franchise work

Father: Frank Herbert (University of Washington-Seattle Campus)

Paul Klebnikov 1963–2004

Journalist and editor of Forbes Russia

John Baldessari 1931–2020

Conceptual artist

Also attended: San Diego State University

Kenneth Tsang 1935–2022

Hong Kong actor with a nearly 70-year career

Also attended: McMurry University

Ed Quinn 1968–

Actor, model and musician

Suzanne Ciani 1946–

Electronic music composer and sound designer

Also attended: Wellesley College

Victor Wong 1927–2001

Chinese American actor in Big Trouble in Little China

Also attended: University of Chicago

Faran Tahir 1964–

Pakistani-American actor

Also attended: Harvard University

Marié Digby 1983–

Singer-songwriter known for acoustic Umbrella cover

Dan Millman 1946–

Self-help author and gymnast

Ivan Ilić 1978–

Serbian-American pianist

Marguerite Higgins 1920–1966

War correspondent covering WWII, Korea and Vietnam

Spouse: William Evens Hall (The United States Military Academy at West Point)

Hamilton Luske 1903–1968

Animator and film director

Adam Lamberg 1984–

Actor in Lizzie McGuire as David Gordon

Antonia Brico 1902–1989

Dutch-born American conductor and pianist

Maz Jobrani 1972–

Iranian-American comedian and actor

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Scott Menville 1971–

Voice actor, voices Robin in Teen Titans

Gregory Hoblit 1944–

Film director and television producer

Spouse: Debrah Farentino (San Jose State University)

Mark Z. Danielewski 1966–

Author of the novel House of Leaves

Also attended: University of Southern California, Yale University

Father: Tad Danielewski (University of Iowa)

Sibling: Poe (Princeton University)

Leonard Rosenman 1924–2008

Film, television and concert composer

Roy Harris 1898–1979

Composer and music educator

Byron Haskin 1899–1984

Film director of The War of the Worlds (1953)

Jade Puget 1973–

Guitarist of the rock band AFI

Sociology

Princess Der Ling 1881–1944

Writer and lady-in-waiting to Empress Dowager Cixi

Gene Luen Yang 1973–

Graphic novelist and author

Bachelor's degree

Also attended: California State University--East Bay

William Hung 1982–

Hong Kong-born singer famous from American Idol audition

Also attended: Pasadena City College, Marist University

Mark di Suvero 1933–

Abstract expressionist sculptor

Also attended: University of California-Santa Barbara, City College of San Francisco

Michael Savage 1942–

Conservative radio host and author

Also attended: University of Hawaii at Manoa, CUNY Queens College

Child: Russell Weiner (San Diego State University)

Greg Gutfeld 1964–

Television host of Gutfeld!

Bachelor of Arts

Brianna Keilar 1980–

CNN anchor and former White House correspondent

Nicolle Wallace 1972–

Television political commentator, author and news anchor

Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: Northwestern University, Northwest University

Spouse: Mark Wallace (University of Miami)

Spouse: Michael S. Schmidt (Lafayette College)

Tao Ruspoli 1975–

Filmmaker, photographer and musician

Enrique Martinez Celaya 1964–

Cuban-born painter, sculptor and author

Also attended: University of California-Santa Barbara, Cornell University

Paula Patton 1975–

Actress and producer

Also attended: University of Southern California

Alex D. Linz 1989–

Former child actor in Home Alone 3

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, Harvard University

Harry Hamlin 1951–

Actor in Clash of the Titans and L.A. Law

Also attended: Yale University

Vedat Milor 1955–

Turkish food critic

Also attended: Stanford University

Akın Akınözü 1990–

Turkish television actor

Alex Morgan 1989–

Former US women's soccer player, two-time World Cup winner

Spouse: Servando Carrasco (University of California-Berkeley)

Jason Kidd 1973–

Former NBA player and coach, 10-time All-Star

Spouse: Joumana Kidd (San Francisco State University)

Isiah Thomas 1961–

Former Detroit Pistons player, coach and executive

Also attended: Indiana State University, Indiana University-Bloomington

Don Budge 1915–2000

First tennis player to win all four Grand Slams in a year

Missy Franklin 1995–

Swimmer and five-time Olympic gold medalist

Also attended: University of Georgia

Mykolas Alekna 2002–

Lithuanian discus thrower and men's world record holder

Aaron Rodgers 1983–

NFL quarterback

Also attended: Butte College

Sibling: Jordan Rodgers (Vanderbilt University)

Helen Wills 1905–1998

Tennis player with 19 Grand Slam singles titles

Jaylen Brown 1996–

NBA player for the Philadelphia 76ers

Milorad Čavić 1984–

Serbian swimmer; 2008 Olympic 100m butterfly silver medalist

Alex Honnold 1985–

Rock climber, first to free solo El Capitan

Natalie Coughlin 1982–

Swimmer, twelve-time Olympic medalist

Matt Biondi 1965–

Swimmer, eleven-time Olympic medalist

Also attended: Lewis & Clark College

Shareef Abdur-Rahim 1976–

Former NBA player and president of the NBA G League

Child: Jabri Abdur-Rahim (University of Virginia-Main Campus)

Camryn Rogers 1999–

Canadian hammer thrower and 2024 Olympic champion

Nathan Adrian 1988–

Swimmer and five-time Olympic gold medalist

Ryan Murphy 1995–

Backstroke swimmer, five-time Olympic gold medalist

Dana Vollmer 1987–

Swimmer and five-time Olympic gold medalist

Also attended: University of Florida

Helen Jacobs 1908–1997

Tennis player who won nine Grand Slam titles

Ryan Anderson 1988–

Former pro basketball player, California Golden Bears alumnus

Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman 1886–1974

Tennis player and founder of the Wightman Cup

Jessica Hardy 1987–

Swimmer and Olympic gold medalist

Spouse: Dominik Meichtry (University of California-Berkeley)

Ann Curtis 1926–2012

Swimmer, two-time 1948 Olympic champion

Anthony Ervin 1981–

Swimmer, 2000 Olympic 50-meter freestyle champion

Brandi Chastain 1968–

Two-time Women's World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist

Joy Fawcett 1968–

Former US women's national soccer team defender

Mary T. Meagher 1964–

Swimmer, three-time 1984 Olympic champion

Sibling: Anne Northup (Saint Mary's College)

Darrall Imhoff 1938–2017

NBA player for 12 seasons

Kevin Johnson 1966–

Former NBA player and mayor of Sacramento

Bachelor's degree · Political science

Spouse: Michelle Rhee (Harvard University, Cornell University)

Michael Russell 1978–

Former professional tennis player and coach

Steve Birnbaum 1991–

Former soccer player, captain of D.C. United

Guinn Smith 1920–2004

1948 Olympic pole vault champion

Connie Carpenter-Phinney 1957–

Retired racing cyclist and speed skater

Sara Isaković 1988–

Slovenian swimmer, 2008 Olympic 200m freestyle silver medalist

Francis Frederick 1907–1968

Rower, 1928 Olympic eights gold medalist

Roser Tarragó 1993–

Spanish water polo player, Olympic silver medalist

Marvin Stalder 1905–1982

Rower, 1928 Olympic eights gold medalist

John Brinck 1908–1934

Rower, 1928 Olympic gold medalist in the eights

Peter Donlon 1906–1979

Rower, 1928 Olympic gold medallist in eights

James Workman 1908–1983

Rower, 1928 Olympic gold medallist in eights

William Thompson 1908–1956

Rower, 1928 Olympic eights gold medalist

Kathleen Baker 1997–

Swimmer, 2016 Olympic medley relay gold medalist

Stephanie Au 1992–

Hong Kong swimmer and five-time Olympian

Zhang Zhaoxu 1987–

Former Chinese national team basketball player

Quah Zheng Wen 1996–

Singaporean professional swimmer

Marshawn Lynch 1986–

Former NFL running back nicknamed Beast Mode

Nnamdi Asomugha 1981–

Former NFL cornerback, actor and director

Spouse: Kerry Washington (George Washington University)

Allison Stokke 1989–

Former pole vaulter and fitness model

Spouse: Rickie Fowler (Oklahoma State University-Main Campus)

Jared Goff 1994–

Quarterback for the Detroit Lions

Father: Jerry Goff (University of California-Berkeley)

Keenan Allen 1992–

NFL wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts

DeSean Jackson 1986–

Football player, head coach at Delaware State

Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau 1968–2013

Dutch prince, second son of Queen Beatrix

Mechanical engineering · Attended until 1988

Patty Hearst 1954–

Hearst family member, kidnapping victim and actress

Also attended: Menlo College

Child: Lydia Hearst-Shaw (Sacred Heart University)

Sibling: Anne Hearst (Regis University, George Washington University)

Harold Camping 1921–2013

Christian radio broadcaster, Family Radio president

Esra Albayrak Erdoğan 1983–

Turkish sociologist, daughter of President Erdoğan

Also attended: Indiana University-Bloomington