Notable Alumni of Boston University

Martin Luther King Jr. 1929–1968

Baptist minister and civil rights leader

Doctor of Philosophy · Systematic theology · Class of 1955

Also attended: Emory University, Morehouse College

Spouse: Coretta Scott King (The New England Conservatory of Music, Antioch University-Los Angeles)

Father: Martin Luther King Sr. (Morehouse College)

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 1989–

US Representative for New York's 14th district

International relations, Economics · Attended until 2011

Óscar Arias Sánchez 1941–

Former President of Costa Rica, Nobel Peace laureate

Spouse: Margarita Penón (Vassar College)

Keiko Fujimori 1975–

President of Peru, Popular Force leader

Business management · Attended until 1997

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

Father: Alberto Fujimori (University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee)

Sibling: Kenji Fujimori (Kansas State University)

Makarios III 1913–1977

First President of Cyprus and Archbishop

Theology · Attended until 1948

Fan S. Noli 1882–1965

Albanian prime minister in 1924, writer and bishop

Also attended: Harvard University

Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir 1988–

Prime Minister of Iceland and economist

Master of Arts · Class of 2014

Also attended: Yale University

Barbara Jordan 1936–1996

US Representative from Texas, attorney and educator

Also attended: Texas Southern University

Yu Kil-chun 1856–1914

Korean politician and writer of late Joseon era

Virgilio Barco Vargas 1921–1997

28th President of Colombia

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Spouse: Carolina Isakson Proctor (Stanford University)

Child: Carolina Barco (Harvard University, Wellesley College)

Edward Brooke 1919–2015

First African American popularly elected US senator

Bachelor of Laws · Class of 1950

Also attended: Howard University

William Cohen 1940–

Former US Secretary of Defense and senator

Attended until 1965

Also attended: Bowdoin College

Spouse: Janet Langhart (Butler University)

Melissa Hortman 1970–2025

61st Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives

Bachelor of Arts · Philosophy · Class of 1991

Also attended: Harvard University, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Gary Locke 1950–

Former US Ambassador to China and Washington governor

Also attended: Yale University

Tipper Gore 1948–

Second Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001

Also attended: Simmons University, Vanderbilt University

Spouse: Al Gore (Harvard University, Vanderbilt University)

Child: Kristin Gore (Harvard University)

Ayanna Pressley 1974–

U.S. Representative from Massachusetts

Bob McDonnell 1954–

71st Governor of Virginia

Also attended: University of Notre Dame, Regent University

Judd Gregg 1947–

Former New Hampshire governor and US senator

Juris Doctor, Master of Laws · Class of 1975

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Father: Hugh Gregg (Yale University, Harvard University)

Dimitris Avramopoulos 1953–

Greek politician, former foreign and defence minister

Alfred Sant 1948–

Former Prime Minister of Malta and novelist

Also attended: Harvard University

Anna Howard Shaw 1847–1919

Women's suffrage leader and physician

Also attended: Albion College

Alix Didier Fils-Aimé 1971–

Prime Minister of Haiti

Jafar Hassan 1968–

Prime Minister of Jordan

Also attended: Harvard University

Mukhriz Mahathir 1964–

Malaysian politician, former Kedah Menteri Besar

Mother: Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali (University of Michigan-Ann Arbor)

Su Chiao-hui 1976–

Taiwanese lawyer and legislator

Master of Laws

Also attended: University of Pennsylvania

Margaret Ng 1948–

Hong Kong barrister, columnist and former legislator

Lee Hun-jai 1944–

Former acting prime minister of South Korea

Also attended: Harvard University

James Franklin Jeffrey 1946–

Diplomat, former Ambassador to Iraq and Turkey

Also attended: Northeastern University

Moeed Yusuf

Former National Security Adviser to Pakistan's Prime Minister

Doctor of Philosophy

Also attended: Shorter University

Kerry Kennedy 1959–

Human rights activist, lawyer and author

Also attended: Boston College, Brown University

Spouse: Andrew Cuomo (Albany Law School, Fordham University)

Father: Robert F. Kennedy (Bates College, Harvard University)

Stephanie McMahon 1976–

Former WWE executive and professional wrestler

Also attended: Robert Morris University

Father: Vince McMahon (East Carolina University)

Mother: Linda McMahon (East Carolina University)

Shane McMahon 1970–

Businessman and professional wrestler, formerly of WWE

Also attended: Roger Williams University

Father: Vince McMahon (East Carolina University)

Mother: Linda McMahon (East Carolina University)

Owen D. Young 1874–1962

Industrialist known for the Young Plan and RCA

Also attended: St. Lawrence University

Child: Philip Young (Harvard University, St. Lawrence University)

Christopher O'Neill 1974–

Financier, husband of Swedish Princess Madeleine

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Robert Trump 1948–2020

Businessman and younger brother of Donald Trump

Sibling: Donald J. Trump (Fordham University, University of Pennsylvania)

Sibling: Fred Trump Jr. (Lehigh University)

Jin Liqun 1949–

Banker and founding president of the AIIB

Child: Keyu Jin (Harvard University)

Zhang Li 1953–

Co-founder of Guangzhou R&F Properties

Gerald Tsai 1929–2008

Investor who helped build Fidelity Investments

Also attended: Wesleyan University

Jeffrey Lurie 1951–

Owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, film producer

Also attended: Brandeis University, Clark University

Phil Schiller 1960–

Apple Fellow and longtime Apple executive

Also attended: Boston College

Paul Bernon

Businessman and film producer

Also attended: New York University

Sheldon Glashow 1932–

Theoretical physicist, 1979 Nobel laureate in Physics

Also attended: Harvard University, Cornell University

Daniel C. Tsui 1939–

Physicist, Princeton professor emeritus

Also attended: Augustana College, University of Chicago

Drew Weissman 1959–

Nobel Prize-winning immunologist and RNA researcher

Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Medicine · Class of 1987

Also attended: Brandeis University

Irvin Yalom 1931–

Existential psychiatrist and author, Stanford professor emeritus

Also attended: George Washington University

Spouse: Marilyn Yalom (Wellesley College)

Helen B. Taussig 1898–1986

Cardiologist who founded pediatric cardiology

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University

Father: Frank William Taussig (Harvard University)

Rebecca Lee Crumpler 1831–1895

First African-American female doctor of medicine

Fe del Mundo 1911–2011

Filipina pediatrician who founded first pediatric hospital

Master of Science · Health sciences

Whitney Smith 1940–2016

Founder of vexillology

Also attended: Harvard University

Myrtle Bachelder 1908–1997

Chemist who worked on the Manhattan Project

Also attended: Middlebury College

Charles B. Cory 1857–1921

Ornithologist and golfer

Also attended: Harvard University

Elizabeth Holloway Marston 1893–1993

Attorney and psychologist, polygraph precursor developer

Also attended: Harvard University, Mount Holyoke College

Spouse: William Moulton Marston (Harvard University)

Albert-László Barabási 1967–

Network scientist, Northeastern University professor

Attended until 1994

Solon Irving Bailey 1854–1931

Astronomer who discovered asteroid 504 Cora

Also attended: Harvard University

Karen C. Seto

Geographer and professor at Yale University

Also attended: University of California-Santa Barbara

Emma Hwang 1970–

Taiwanese-American researcher and NASA NEEMO 5 aquanaut

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

J. Ross Mackay 1915–2014

Canadian geographer known for Arctic permafrost research

Master of Arts · Geography · Class of 1941

Also attended: Clark University

Anthony Fauci 1940–

Immunologist, former NIAID director

Also attended: College of the Holy Cross, Cornell University, Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Spouse: Christine Grady (Georgetown University, Boston College)

Julianne Moore 1960–

Actress

Bachelor of Fine Arts · Class of 1983

Spouse: Bart Freundlich (New York University)

Joan Baez 1941–

Folk singer-songwriter and activist

Spouse: David Harris (Stanford University)

Father: Albert Báez (Drew University, Syracuse University)

Psy 1977–

South Korean singer known as Psy

Also attended: Berklee College of Music

Leonard Nimoy 1931–2015

Actor and director, played Spock in Star Trek

Honorary doctorate

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, Boston College, Antioch University-Los Angeles

Child: Adam Nimoy (University of California-Berkeley, Loyola Marymount University)

Shraddha Kapoor 1987–

Indian actress and singer

Geena Davis 1956–

Actress and Academy Award winner

Also attended: New England College

Spouse: Jeff Goldblum (Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater)

Faye Dunaway 1941–

Actress and Academy Award winner

Also attended: Florida State University, University of Florida

Spouse: Peter Wolf (School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University)

Jhumpa Lahiri 1967–

Pulitzer-winning author of The Namesake

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

Marisa Tomei 1964–

Actress, Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress

Also attended: New York University

Paul Reubens 1952–2023

Actor and comedian, creator of Pee-wee Herman

Also attended: California Institute of the Arts, Plymouth State University

Father: Milton Rubenfeld (University of New Mexico-Main Campus, New York University)

Sibling: Abby Rubenfeld (Boston University, Princeton University)

Ginnifer Goodwin 1978–

Actress, voice of Judy Hopps in Zootopia

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Also attended: Hanover College

Jason Alexander 1959–

Actor and comedian, Emmy and Tony winner

Emily Deschanel 1976–

Actress and television producer

Spouse: David Hornsby (Carnegie Mellon University)

Father: Caleb Deschanel (University of Southern California, Johns Hopkins University)

Olympia Dukakis 1931–2021

Actress in stage, film and television

Master of Arts

Spouse: Louis Zorich (Roosevelt University)

Rosie O'Donnell 1962–

Comedian, actress and television personality

Also attended: Dickinson College

Alfre Woodard 1952–

Actress and producer, four-time Emmy winner

Anne Sexton 1928–1974

Confessional poet, 1967 Pulitzer Prize winner

Alicia Witt 1975–

Actress and singer-songwriter

John Cazale 1935–1978

Actor who appeared in five films

Also attended: Oberlin College

Tobin Bell 1942–

American actor

Also attended: Montclair State University

Kim Stanley Robinson 1952–

Science fiction writer known for the Mars trilogy

Also attended: University of California-San Diego

Howard Stern 1954–

Radio host of The Howard Stern Show

Spouse: Beth Ostrosky Stern (University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus)

Charlie Kaufman 1958–

American filmmaker and novelist

Also attended: New York University

Olivia Culpo 1992–

Model, actress, Miss Universe 2012

Yunjin Kim 1973–

Actress known for Lost and Shiri

Neal Stephenson 1959–

Speculative fiction writer

Bachelor of Arts · Geography · Class of 1981

Fred Allen 1894–1956

Comedian and radio star

Norman Vincent Peale 1898–1993

Clergyman and author of The Power of Positive Thinking

Also attended: Ohio Wesleyan University

Michael Weatherly 1968–

Actor known for NCIS

Harold Russell 1914–2002

WWII veteran, Oscar-winning supporting actor

Bill O'Reilly 1949–

Conservative commentator and television host

Master of Arts

Also attended: University of Notre Dame, Harvard University, Marist University

Uzo Aduba 1981–

Actress, three-time Emmy Award winner

Kathy Baker 1950–

Actress, screen debut in The Right Stuff

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, California Institute of the Arts

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

Michael Chiklis 1963–

Actor, star of The Shield

Dan Fogler 1976–

Actor, Tony Award winner

Bernard Berenson 1865–1959

Art historian specializing in the Renaissance

Also attended: Harvard University

Spouse: Mary Berenson (Harvard University, Smith College)

Sibling: Senda Berenson Abbott (University of Massachusetts-Boston, Smith College)

Mariel Hemingway 1961–

Actress, author and mental health activist

Ike Barinholtz 1977–

Comedian and actor, star of The Studio

Hong Chau 1979–

Actress nominated for an Oscar for The Whale

Kim Raver 1969–

Actress known for playing a cardiothoracic surgeon

Arthur Golden 1956–

Novelist, author of Memoirs of a Geisha

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

Mother: Ruth Sulzberger Holmberg (Smith College)

Cynthia Watros 1968–

Actress, Daytime Emmy winner for Guiding Light

Also attended: Macomb Community College

Franz Kline 1910–1962

Abstract Expressionist painter

Hal Clement 1922–2003

Science fiction writer, leader of hard science fiction

Also attended: Harvard University, Simmons University

Christine Chubbuck 1944–1974

Television news reporter in Sarasota, Florida

Also attended: Endicott College, Miami University-Oxford

Armand Van Helden 1970–

DJ, record producer and remixer

Alice Stone Blackwell 1857–1950

Feminist, suffragist, journalist and human rights advocate

Mother: Lucy Stone (Mount Holyoke College, Oberlin College)

John Perkins 1945–

Author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

Also attended: Middlebury College

Ethan Phillips 1955–

Actor, played Neelix on Star Trek: Voyager

Also attended: Cornell University

Jessica Rothe 1987–

Actress known for Happy Death Day

Adrienne Shelly 1966–2006

Actress, film director and screenwriter

Craig Bierko 1964–

American actor and singer

Also attended: Northwestern University

Paul Beatty 1962–

Author, 2016 Man Booker Prize winner

Also attended: CUNY Brooklyn College

Bill Duke 1943–

Actor and director

Also attended: Dutchess Community College, New York University

Robert B. Parker 1932–2010

Crime writer, author of the Spenser novels

Also attended: Colby College

Paul Michael Glaser 1943–

Actor, director and writer

Also attended: Tulane University of Louisiana

Mark Manson 1984–

Self-help author and blogger

Attended until 2007

Howard Ashman 1950–1991

Lyricist and playwright known for Disney animated films

Also attended: Indiana University-Bloomington, Goddard College

Marc Maron 1963–

Stand-up comedian, actor and podcaster

Also attended: Curry College

Jenna Marbles 1986–

Comedian and former YouTube personality

Also attended: Suffolk University

James Kyson 1975–

Actor best known as Ando in Heroes

Also attended: The New England Institute of Art

Jaime Ray Newman 1978–

Actress in Veronica Mars and General Hospital

Also attended: Northwestern University

Katie Aselton 1978–

Actress and director of The Freebie

Also attended: American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York

Spouse: Mark Duplass (CUNY--City College, The University of Texas at Austin)

Russell Hornsby 1974–

Actor in Grimm and Fences

Linda Park 1978–

Actress known for Star Trek: Enterprise

Bachelor of Fine Arts · Class of 2000

Zoe Perry 1983–

Actress, daughter of Laurie Metcalf and Jeff Perry

Also attended: Northwestern University

Father: Jeff Perry (Illinois State University)

Mother: Laurie Metcalf (Illinois State University)

Tawny Cypress 1976–

Television, film and stage actress

Casey Cott 1992–

Actor known as Kevin Keller on Riverdale

Also attended: Carnegie Mellon University

Sibling: Corey Cott (Carnegie Mellon University)

Norman Greenbaum 1942–

Singer-songwriter known for "Spirit in the Sky"

Aesop Rock 1976–

Underground hip-hop rapper and producer

Michelle Hurd 1966–

Actress and SAG-AFTRA secretary-treasurer

Attended until 1988

Spouse: Garret Dillahunt (New York University, University of Washington-Seattle Campus)

Juliana Hatfield 1967–

Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Also attended: Berklee College of Music

Anthony Ruivivar 1970–

Actor known for Third Watch and Banshee

Kate Pierson 1948–

Singer and founding member of the B-52s

Also attended: Wheaton College (IL)

Erica Leerhsen 1976–

Actress known for Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2

Verna Bloom 1938–2019

Actress in Medium Cool and Animal House

Spouse: Jay Cocks (Kenyon College)

Charles Eastman 1858–1939

Native American physician and writer

Also attended: Knox College, Dartmouth College, Beloit College

Grace Bumbry 1937–2023

American opera mezzo-soprano

Also attended: Northwestern University

David E. Kelley 1956–

Television producer and writer

Also attended: Princeton University

Spouse: Michelle Pfeiffer (Golden West College)

Andy Cohen 1968–

Talk show host and Real Housewives producer

Tala Ashe 1984–

Iranian-American actress in Legends of Tomorrow

Raúl Castillo 1977–

Actor and playwright

Doug Yule 1947–

Velvet Underground bassist and guitarist

Diana Der Hovanessian 1934–2018

Armenian American poet and translator

Also attended: Harvard University

Lothrop Stoddard 1883–1950

Historian and writer who advocated white supremacy

Bachelor of Laws · Class of 1908

Also attended: Harvard University

Father: John Lawson Stoddard (Yale University, Williams College)

Tom Segev 1945–

Israeli historian, author and journalist

Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1977

Joe Roth 1948–

Film producer, former Disney Studios and Fox chairman

Peter Paige 1969–

Actor and director known for Queer as Folk

G. Willow Wilson 1982–

Comics writer, novelist and essayist

Steven Brill 1962–

Film director, screenwriter and producer

Peter Del Vecho 1958–

Disney film producer of Frozen

Nina García 1965–

Fashion journalist and Elle editor-in-chief

Also attended: Fashion Institute of Technology

Andrew Vachss 1942–2021

Crime fiction author and children's rights attorney

Also attended: New England Law-Boston, Case Western Reserve University

Olivia Jordan 1988–

Miss USA 2015 and actress

Pete Souza 1954–

Chief White House photographer for Reagan and Obama

Also attended: Kansas State University

Camille Guaty 1976–

Film and television actress

Weike Wang

Chinese-American author of Chemistry

Also attended: International Academy, Harvard University

Shih-Hui Chen 1962–

Taiwanese composer and music educator in the US

Also attended: Northern Illinois University

Luo Yan 1957–

Chinese-American actress and screenwriter

Duncan Ferguson 1901–1974

Sculptor and political activist

Also attended: Harvard University

Lan Shui 1957–

Conductor, former Singapore Symphony music director

Michaela Watkins 1971–

Actress and comedian, former Saturday Night Live cast member

David Garrison 1952–

Actor and singer known for sitcom role

Shweta Bachchan Nanda 1974–

Indian columnist, author and former model

Also attended: University of Pennsylvania

Spouse: Nikhil Nanda (University of Pennsylvania)

Bill Simmons 1969–

Sports writer, podcaster, founder of The Ringer

Also attended: College of the Holy Cross

Rob Mariano 1975–

Survivor reality TV personality known as Boston Rob

Spouse: Amber Mariano (Westminster College)

Jenny Taft 1987–

Fox college football sideline reporter

Rocco DiSpirito 1966–

Chef and reality television personality

Also attended: Culinary Institute of America

Morgan Freeman 1937–

Actor and Academy Award winner

Also attended: Los Angeles City College

Bethenny Frankel 1970–

American entrepreneur, television personality and author

Also attended: New York University

Myq Kaplan 1978–

Stand-up comedian

Also attended: Brandeis University

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy 1966–1999

Fashion publicist and socialite

Spouse: John F. Kennedy Jr. (New York University, Brown University)

Sibling: Lauren Bessette (Hobart and William Smith Colleges, University of Pennsylvania)

Will Kopelman 1978–

American actor

Father: Arie L. Kopelman (Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University in the City of New York)

Thomas Burke 1875–1929

Sprinter, first Olympic 100m champion

Also attended: Harvard University

David Hemery 1944–

British hurdler, 1968 Olympic 400m hurdles champion

Marie-Philip Poulin 1991–

Canadian ice hockey player, national team captain

Spouse: Laura Stacey (Dartmouth College)

Raja Bell 1976–

Former NBA basketball player

Attended until 1996

Also attended: Florida International University

Sibling: Tombi Bell (University of Florida)

Jack Eichel 1996–

NHL center for the Vegas Golden Knights

Chris Drury 1976–

Former hockey player, New York Rangers general manager

Sibling: Ted Drury (Harvard University)

Charles McAvoy 1997–

Defenseman for the Boston Bruins

Brady Tkachuk 1999–

NHL left winger for the Florida Panthers

Father: Keith Tkachuk (Boston University)

İrem Karamete 1993–

Turkish foil fencer at the 2016 Olympics

John Thomas 1941–2013

Track athlete who set several high jump world records

Brandon Yip 1985–

Chinese-Canadian former professional ice hockey player

Matt Gilroy 1984–

Former NHL ice hockey defenseman

Tim Hasselbeck 1978–

Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst

Spouse: Elisabeth Hasselbeck (Boston College)

Sibling: Matt Hasselbeck (Boston College)

Peter Deunov 1864–1944

Bulgarian philosopher and spiritual teacher

Attended until 1893

Also attended: Drew University

Tom Dwan 1986–

Professional poker player

Hadassah Lieberman 1948–

Author and widow of Senator Joe Lieberman

Also attended: Northeastern University

Spouse: Joe Lieberman (Yale University)