Notable Alumni of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Roland Burris 1937–

Former Illinois attorney general and US senator

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1959

Also attended: Howard University

Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq 1952–

Pakistani politician, son of Zia-ul-Haq

Albert E. Mead 1861–1913

Fifth governor of Washington State

Also attended: Northwestern University

Donald McHenry 1936–

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

Also attended: Illinois State University

Charles H. Page 1843–1912

Former U.S. representative from Rhode Island

Also attended: Illinois State University, Albany Law School

Larry O. Spencer 1954–

Retired US Air Force general, former Vice Chief of Staff

Thelma Mothershed-Wair 1940–2024

Activist who attended Little Rock Central High School

Tim Lee Hall 1925–2008

Former U.S. Representative from Illinois

Also attended: Valparaiso University, Iowa Wesleyan University

Joan Higginbotham 1964–

Electrical engineer and former NASA astronaut

Also attended: Florida Institute of Technology

Fred Basolo 1920–2007

Inorganic chemist

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Ravi Batra 1943–2026

Economist and author of The Great Depression of 1990

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1969

Loren Coleman 1947–

Cryptozoologist, founder of International Cryptozoology Museum

Also attended: Brandeis University, Simmons University, University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

Percival Bailey 1892–1973

Neuropathologist, neurosurgeon and psychiatrist

Attended until 1912

Also attended: University of Chicago, Northwestern University

Sami A. Al-Arian 1958–

Computer engineering professor and political activist

Also attended: North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Child: Laila Al-Arian (Georgetown University, Columbia University in the City of New York)

Chen Jian 1952–

Historian, Hu Shih emeritus professor at Cornell

Melissa McCarthy 1970–

Actress and comedian, two-time Emmy winner

Spouse: Ben Falcone (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Jim Belushi 1954–

Actor and comedian, star of According to Jim

Also attended: College of DuPage

Sibling: John Belushi (College of DuPage, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater)

Bob Odenkirk 1962–

Actor, screenwriter and comedian

Also attended: College of DuPage, Ithaca College, Marquette University

Sibling: Bill Odenkirk (University of Chicago)

Jenny McCarthy 1972–

Actress, model and television personality

Don S. Davis 1942–2008

Actor, General Hammond in Stargate SG-1

Also attended: Missouri State University

Richard Roundtree 1942–2023

Actor known for playing detective John Shaft

Justin Hartley 1977–

Actor, played Oliver Queen on Smallville

Also attended: University of Illinois at Chicago

Spouse: Sofia Pernas (University of California-San Diego)

Spouse: Lindsay Hartley (University of Nevada--Las Vegas)

Dennis Franz 1944–

Actor, known as Andy Sipowicz in NYPD Blue

Also attended: City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College

Milcho Manchevski 1959–

Macedonian-American film director

Hannibal Buress 1983–

Comedian, actor and writer

Robert Coover 1932–2024

Novelist and Brown University professor emeritus

Also attended: University of Chicago

Dick Gregory 1932–2017

Comedian, writer and social activist

Darryl Jones 1961–

Bassist touring with the Rolling Stones since 1993

Joe Swanberg 1981–

Independent filmmaker, major mumblecore figure

Spouse: Kris Williams (DePaul University)

Ken Swofford 1933–2018

Film and television actor

Joseph Nechvatal 1951–

Post-conceptual digital artist and art theoretician

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, Cornell University

Robert K. Weiss 1959–

American film and television producer

Charles R. Johnson 1948–

Novelist, essayist and academic

Also attended: Stony Brook University

Ken Hudson Campbell 1962–

American actor

Also attended: Columbia College Chicago

Hamiet Bluiett 1940–2018

Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist and composer

Steve James 1954–

Documentary director of Hoop Dreams

Also attended: James Madison University

Open Mike Eagle 1980–

Rapper and comedian

Psychology

Randy Savage 1952–2011

Professional wrestler known as Macho Man

Spouse: Elizabeth Ann Hulette (University of Kentucky)

Father: Angelo Poffo (DePaul University)

Walt Frazier 1945–

Former NBA player

DeAnna Price 1993–

Hammer thrower and American record holder

Raven Saunders 1996–

Shot putter, 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist

Also attended: University of Mississippi

George Woods 1943–2022

American shot putter

Bianca Stuart 1988–

Bahamian long jumper and national record holder

Joe Meriweather 1953–2013

Former NBA center

Jordan Caroline 1996–

Professional basketball player in Taiwan's P. League+

Also attended: University of Nevada-Reno

Ashraf Amaya 1971–

Former professional basketball player

Michael Franks 1963–

Sprinter, 1983 World Championships 400m silver medalist

Gwen Berry 1989–

American hammer thrower

Troy Hudson 1976–

Former NBA point guard

Also attended: University of Missouri-Columbia

Brandon Jacobs 1982–

Former NFL running back, mainly with the New York Giants

Also attended: Auburn University, Coffeyville Community College

Randal Falker 1985–

Professional basketball player in the Romanian League

Jerry Hairston Jr. 1976–

Former professional baseball infielder and outfielder

Sibling: Scott Hairston (Central Arizona College)

Antonio Harvey 1970–

Former NBA basketball player

Also attended: Pfeiffer University

Elvis Forde 1959–

Barbadian 400 metres sprinter

Also attended: Murray State University

Chris Carr 1974–

Former NBA player, 1997 Slam Dunk Contest finalist

Child: Cameron Carr (The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Baylor University)

Dick Garrett 1947–

Former NBA player for five seasons

Child: Diante Garrett (Iowa State University)

Csaba Gercsák 1988–

Hungarian long-distance swimmer, 2011 World Championships bronze medalist

Steve Finley 1965–

MLB center fielder with 300 home runs, 300 steals

Mike Glenn 1955–

American former professional basketball player

Kevin Dillard 1989–

Professional basketball player

Ernie Wheelwright 1939–2001

American football player and actor