25 notable alumni

Notable Alumni of Eastern Illinois University

Notable alumni of Eastern Illinois University include John Malkovich (Actor and Emmy Award winner), Joan Allen (Actress and Tony Award winner) and Burl Ives (Singer and actor).

College data and admissions

Alumni list

Politics and law

Kimberly Cheatle 1971–

Former director of the U.S. Secret Service

Bachelor of Arts · Sociology · Class of 1992
Jim Edgar 1946–2025

38th Governor of Illinois

Bachelor of Arts · Study of history · Class of 1968

Also attended: Wabash College
Mary Miller 1959–

U.S. Representative from Illinois
Joe Knollenberg 1933–2018

Republican US Representative from Michigan

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1955

Child: Marty Knollenberg (Albion College)
John T. Myers 1927–2015

Republican congressman from Indiana

Also attended: Indiana State University

Science and academia

Ronald W. Davis 1941–

Stanford professor of biochemistry and genetics

Also attended: California Institute of Technology

Arts and media

John Malkovich 1953–

Actor and Emmy Award winner

Also attended: Illinois State University
Joan Allen 1956–

Actress and Tony Award winner

Also attended: Northern Illinois University

Spouse: Peter Friedman (Hampshire College, Hofstra University)
Burl Ives 1909–1995

Singer and actor

Also attended: Indiana State University
William Edward Phipps 1922–2018

Actor and producer
LisaRaye McCoy-Misick 1966–

Actress known for The Players Club
Charlotte Martin 1976–

Singer-songwriter and pianist
Mike Genovese 1942–

American actor

Spouse: Ellen Crawford (Illinois State University, Carnegie Mellon University)
Tricia Hersey 1974–

Poet, activist and founder of The Nap Ministry

Bachelor of Science · Public health

Also attended: Emory University
Jennifer Rardin 1965–2010

Urban fantasy author of the Jaz Parks series

Sports

Matt Hughes 1973–

Two-time UFC Welterweight Champion

Also attended: Southwestern Illinois College, Lincoln College
Henry Domercant 1980–

Basketball player and Chicago Bulls assistant coach
Dan Steele 1969–

Bobsledder, 2002 Olympic four-man bronze medalist
Kevin Duckworth 1964–2008

NBA center
Alfonzo McKinnie 1992–

Professional basketball player
Guy Carlton 1954–2001

Weightlifter; 1984 Olympic bronze medalist
Lauren Doyle 1991–

Rugby sevens player at three Olympic Games
Kyle Hill 1979–

Basketball player, 44th pick in 2001 NBA draft
Schellas Hyndman 1951–

Soccer coach, former head coach of FC Dallas

Other fields

Calli Cox 1977–

Former adult film actress and teacher

From Wikidata “educated at” records (including people who attended without graduating), ordered by the number of Wikipedia language editions. Degrees and years follow Wikidata and are left out where it has none.

Alumni network

Colleges that share the most alumni with Eastern Illinois University (people who attended both).

Indiana State University 2