100 Notable alumni of
Northwestern University
Updated:
Northwestern University is 30th in the world, 16th in North America, and 16th in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 100 notable alumni from Northwestern University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. 3 individuals affiliated with Northwestern University won Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Economics.
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Zooey Deschanel
- Occupations
- singer-songwritervoice actoractortelevision actormusician
- Biography
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Zooey Claire Deschanel is an American actress and musician. She made her film debut in Mumford (1999) and had a supporting role in Cameron Crowe's film Almost Famous (2000). Deschanel is known for her deadpan roles in comedy films such as The Good Girl (2002), The New Guy (2002), Elf (2003), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), Failure to Launch (2006), Yes Man (2008), The Happening (2008), 500 Days of Summer (2009) and Our Idiot Brother (2011). She has also ventured into dramatic film territory with Manic (2001), All the Real Girls (2003), Winter Passing (2005), Bridge to Terabithia (2007) and The Driftless Area (2015). From 2011 to 2018, she starred as Jess Day on the Fox sitcom New Girl, for which she received nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.
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Hugh Hefner
- Occupations
- writerfilm produceractorjournalistnightclub owner
- Biography
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Hugh Marston Hefner was an American magazine publisher. He was the founder and editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine, a publication with revealing photographs and articles.
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David Schwimmer
- Occupations
- film actortelevision actorfilm producerfilm directorstage actor
- Biography
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David Lawrence Schwimmer is an American actor, director, comedian, and producer. He gained worldwide recognition for portraying Ross Geller in the sitcom Friends, for which he received a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1995. While still acting in Friends, his first leading film role was in The Pallbearer (1996), followed by roles in Kissing a Fool; Six Days, Seven Nights; Apt Pupil (all 1998); and Picking Up the Pieces (2000). He was then cast in the miniseries Band of Brothers (2001) as Herbert Sobel.
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George R. R. Martin
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- Graduated with bachelor's degree in journalism
- Occupations
- screenwriterfilm producerplaywrightscience fiction writerwriter
- Biography
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George Raymond Richard Martin, also known as GRRM, is an American novelist, screenwriter, television producer, and short story writer. He is the author of the series of epic fantasy novels A Song of Ice and Fire, which were adapted into the Emmy Award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones (2011–2019) and its prequel series House of the Dragon (2022–present). He also helped create the Wild Cards anthology series, and contributed worldbuilding for Elden Ring.
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus
- Occupations
- film actortelevision actorsingerfilm producerstage actor
- Biography
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Julia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus is an American actress and comedian. Often described as one of the greatest performers in television history, she is widely known for her roles as various characters on Saturday Night Live (1982–1985), Elaine Benes on Seinfeld (1990–1998), Christine Campbell on The New Adventures of Old Christine (2006–2010), and Selina Meyer on Veep (2012–2019). Her list of accolades makes her one of the most award-winning actresses in American television history, and she has received more Primetime Emmy Awards and more Screen Actors Guild Awards than any other performer.
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Pharrell Williams
- Occupations
- rapperentrepreneurrecord producersingerfashion designer
- Biography
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Pharrell Lanscilo Williams, sometimes known mononymously as Pharrell, is an American record producer, songwriter, rapper, and singer. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom he has produced songs for various recording artists. In 1999, he became lead vocalist of the band N.E.R.D., which he formed with Hugo and drummer Shay Haley. Williams has been widely referred to as one of the most influential and successful music producers of the 21st century, having had a significant impact and influence on the sound of numerous genres of modern popular music.
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Warren Beatty
- Occupations
- directortelevision presenterfilm actoractorfilm producer
- Biography
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Henry Warren Beatty is an American actor and filmmaker. His career has spanned over six decades, and he has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards. He also received the Irving G. Thalberg Award in 1999, the BAFTA Fellowship in 2002, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2007, and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2008.
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Laura Linney
- Occupations
- film actorinternational forum participantcharacter actortelevision actoractor
- Biography
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Laura Leggett Linney is an American actress. She is the recipient of several awards, including two Golden Globe Awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards, and has been nominated for three Academy Awards and five Tony Awards.
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Charlton Heston
- Occupations
- voice actortelevision actorfilm directorstage actoractor
- Biography
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Charlton Heston was an American actor and political activist. He gained stardom for his leading man roles in numerous Hollywood films including biblical epics, science-fiction films and action films. He won the Academy Award as well as nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, and three Primetime Emmy Awards. He numerous honorary accolades including the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1978, the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1967, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 1971, the Kennedy Center Honors in 1997, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003.
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Cindy Crawford
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- Studied chemical engineering
- Occupations
- television actormodelfilm actoractorsupermodel
- Biography
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Cynthia Ann Crawford, known as Cindy Crawford, is an American model, actress and television personality. During the 1980s and 1990s, she was among the most popular supermodels and a ubiquitous presence on magazine covers and runways, as well as fashion campaigns. She subsequently expanded into acting and business ventures.
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Kathryn Hahn
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- Studied in 1995
- Occupations
- television actorstage actorfilm actoractorvoice actor
- Biography
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Kathryn Marie Hahn is an American actress and comedian. She began her career on television, starring as grief counselor Lily Lebowski in the NBC crime drama series Crossing Jordan (2001–2007). Hahn gained prominence appearing as a supporting actress in a number of comedy films, including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Step Brothers (2008), The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009), Our Idiot Brother (2011), We're the Millers and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (both 2013), and Glass Onion (2022).
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Zach Braff
- Occupations
- bloggervoice actortelevision actordirectorfilm director
- Biography
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Zachary Israel Braff is an American actor and filmmaker. He portrayed John Michael "J.D." Dorian on the NBC/ABC television series Scrubs (2001–2010), for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2005 as well as for three Golden Globe Awards from 2005 to 2007. He starred in The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000), The Last Kiss (2006), The Ex (2006), and In Dubious Battle (2016). He has done voice-work for Chicken Little (2005), Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), and the Netflix series BoJack Horseman (2017, 2020).
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Dermot Mulroney
- Occupations
- television actoractorvoice actormusicianfilm director
- Biography
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Dermot Patrick Mulroney is an American actor. He is known for his roles in romantic comedy, western, and drama films.
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Stephen Colbert
- Occupations
- television presenterscreenwritertelevision produceractorcomedian
- Biography
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Stephen Tyrone Colbert is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He is best known for hosting the satirical Comedy Central program The Colbert Report from 2005 to 2014 and the CBS talk program The Late Show with Stephen Colbert since September 2015.
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Ann-Margret
- Occupations
- television actorstage actorsingerfilm actorrecording artist
- Biography
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Ann-Margret Olsson, credited as Ann-Margret, is a Swedish-American actress and singer. She has won five Golden Globe Awards and been nominated for two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and six Emmy Awards, winning in 2010 for a guest role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
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Clancy Brown
- Occupations
- television actoractorinvestorvoice actorentrepreneur
- Biography
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Clarence John "Clancy" Brown III is an American actor. Prolific in film and television since the 1980s, Brown is often cast in villainous and authoritative roles.
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Megan Mullally
- Occupations
- stage actorfilm actordancervoice actoractor
- Biography
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Megan Mullally is an American actress, singer, and comedian. She is best known for playing Karen Walker in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace (1998–2006, 2017–2020), for which she received eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning twice, in 2000 and 2006. She also received nominations for numerous other accolades for her portrayal, including seven consecutive Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, winning three times, in 2001, 2002, and 2003, as well as receiving four Golden Globe Award nominations.
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Lily Rabe
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Lily Rabe is an American actress. She is best known for her multiple roles on the FX anthology horror series American Horror Story (2011–2021). For her performance as Portia in the Broadway production of The Merchant of Venice, she received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.
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Jeri Ryan
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre
- Occupations
- restaurateurtelevision actorbeauty pageant contestantfilm actor
- Biography
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Jeri Lynn Ryan is an American actress who played the former Borg drone Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Voyager (1997–2001), for which she was nominated four times for a Saturn Award and won in 2001. She reprised her role as Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023), for which she won another Saturn Award.
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Jerry Springer
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- In 1968 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- television presenternews presenterradio personalityactormusician
- Biography
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Gerald Norman Springer was an American broadcaster, journalist, actor, producer, lawyer, and politician. Born in London during World War II to German Jewish refugees escaping the Holocaust, Springer was raised in Queens, New York City. He attended Northwestern University School of Law, qualified as a lawyer, and first became actively involved in politics working for the campaign of Robert Kennedy in 1968.
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Maude Apatow
- Occupations
- film actoractor
- Biography
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Maude Annabelle Apatow is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Lexi Howard in the HBO drama series Euphoria (2019–present).
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Robert Hanssen
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- In 1971 graduated with Master of Business Administration
- Occupations
- molespygovernment agent
- Biography
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Robert Philip Hanssen was an American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent who spied for Soviet and Russian intelligence services against the United States from 1979 to 2001. His espionage was described by the Department of Justice as "possibly the worst intelligence disaster in U.S. history".
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Mamie Gummer
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Mary Willa "Mamie" Gummer is an American actress. She starred in the title role of The CW series Emily Owens, M.D. (2012–2013), and played the recurring role of Nancy Crozier on The Good Wife (2010–2015) and its spin-off, The Good Fight (2018). She has also appeared in the films Evening (2007), Side Effects (2013), Cake (2014), and Ricki and the Flash (2015). Gummer was nominated for the 2016 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for the original production of Ugly Lies the Bone. She is the daughter of Don Gummer and Meryl Streep.
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Robert Knepper
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Robert Lyle Knepper is an American actor best known for his role as Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell in the Fox drama series Prison Break (2005–2009, 2017), Samuel Sullivan in the final season of the NBC series Heroes (2009–2010), Angus McDonough in The CW series iZombie (2015–2018) and Rodney Mitchum in Showtime's revival of Twin Peaks (2017). He has appeared in films such as Hitman (2007), Transporter 3 (2008) and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016).
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Kimberly Williams-Paisley
- Occupations
- television produceractorfilm directorstage actortelevision actor
- Biography
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Kimberly Payne Williams-Paisley is an American actress known for her co-starring roles on According to Jim and Nashville, as well as her breakthrough performance in Father of the Bride (1991), for which she was nominated for several awards, and its sequel, Father of the Bride Part II (1995). Throughout her acting career, she has guest-starred on TV shows including Tales from the Crypt, George Lopez and Less Than Perfect. She is also known for her roles in made-for-TV movies, including Safe House, The Christmas Shoes, and Lucky 7, and also her role as Laura Parker in Shade, a short film that she also wrote and directed. Williams is married to country musician Brad Paisley, with whom she has two sons; actress Ashley Williams is her sister.
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Kristen Schaal
- Occupations
- film actorscreenwritertelevision actorcomedianfilm producer
- Biography
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Kristen Joy Schaal is an American actress. Known for her distinctive child-like voice, she has voice roles as Louise Belcher on Bob's Burgers and Mabel Pines on Gravity Falls. She also played Mel on Flight of the Conchords, The Guide on What We Do in the Shadows, Hurshe Heartshe on The Heart, She Holler, and Carol Pilbasian on The Last Man on Earth. She provided several voices for BoJack Horseman; for the character of Sarah Lynn, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance. Other roles include Amanda Simmons on The Hotwives of Orlando, Hazel Wassername on 30 Rock, Victoria Best on WordGirl, Trixie in the Toy Story franchise, and Anne on Wilfred. She was an occasional commentator on The Daily Show from 2008 to 2016. She voiced Sayrna in the 2019 EA video game Anthem.
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Seth Meyers
- Occupations
- comedianfilm actorwritervoice actorscreenwriter
- Biography
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Seth Adam Meyers is an American comedian, television host, actor, writer, producer, and podcaster. He currently hosts Late Night with Seth Meyers, a late-night talk show on NBC. Prior to Late Night, Meyers was a cast member on NBC's sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2001 to 2014, and served as the show's head writer and anchor of their news parody segment, Weekend Update, from 2006 until his departure.
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Billy Eichner
- Occupations
- comedianfilm actortelevision presenterwritervoice actor
- Biography
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Billy Eichner is an American actor and comedian. He is the star, executive producer, and creator of Funny or Die's Billy on the Street, a comedy game show that aired on truTV. The show earned Eichner a nomination for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host in 2013. He is also known for playing Craig Middlebrooks on the sitcom Parks and Recreation, Mr. Ambrose the Librarian on the animated TV series Bob's Burgers, Timon in the 2019 remake of The Lion King, and Bobby in Bros.
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Garry Marshall
- Occupations
- directorscreenwriteractorfilm producercomedian
- Biography
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Garry Kent Marshall was an American screenwriter, film director, producer and actor. Marshall began his career in the 1960s as a writer for The Lucy Show and Dick Van Dyke Show until he developed the television adaptation of Neil Simon's play The Odd Couple. He rose to fame in the 1970s for creating four ABC sitcoms including Happy Days (1974–1984), Laverne & Shirley (1976–1983), Blansky's Beauties (1977), and Mork & Mindy (1978–1982).
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Robert Todd Lincoln
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- In 1866 graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- diplomatpoliticianlawyer
- Biography
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Robert Todd Lincoln was an American lawyer, military officer, businessman and politician. The eldest son of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, he was the only one of their four children to outlive his parents. Robert Lincoln became a business lawyer and company president, and served as both United States Secretary of War and the U.S. ambassador to Great Britain.
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Jerry Orbach
- Occupations
- television actorstage actorfilm actoractorvoice actor
- Biography
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Jerome Bernard Orbach was an American actor and singer, described at the time of his death as "one of the last bona fide leading men of the Broadway musical and global celebrity on television" and a "versatile stage and film actor".
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Denis O'Hare
- Occupations
- film actorscreenwritertelevision actoractorfilm producer
- Biography
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Denis Patrick Seamus O'Hare is an American actor, singer, and author noted for his award-winning performances in the plays Take Me Out and Sweet Charity, as well as portraying vampire king Russell Edgington on HBO's fantasy series True Blood. He is also known for his supporting roles in such films as Charlie Wilson's War, Milk, Changeling, and Dallas Buyers Club. In 2011, he starred as Larry Harvey in the first season of the FX anthology series American Horror Story, for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie in 2012. He returned to the show in 2013, playing Spalding in American Horror Story: Coven and once more as Stanley in American Horror Story: Freak Show, the latter for which he earned a second Primetime Emmy Award nomination. For his performance in American Horror Story: Hotel as Liz Taylor, O'Hare received critical acclaim.
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Aimee Garcia
- Occupations
- television actorscreenwriterfilm actoractorvoice actor
- Biography
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Aimee Sandimés Garcia López de Ordóñez is an American actress and writer. She is known for her television roles as Veronica Palmero on the ABC sitcom George Lopez, Yvonne Sanchez on the CBS period drama Vegas, Jamie Batista on the Showtime drama Dexter and Ella Lopez on the Fox/Netflix drama Lucifer.
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Noah Wyle
- Occupations
- television actorfilm actoractorexecutive producerfilm producer
- Biography
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Noah Strausser Speer Wyle is an American actor. He is best known for his role as John Carter in the television series ER (1994–2009), which earned him nominations for three Golden Globe Awards and five Primetime Emmy Awards. He is also known for his roles as Flynn Carsen in The Librarian franchise including three TV movies The Librarian: Quest for the Spear (2004), The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mine (2006), and The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice (2008) then returning for the television series (2013–2018) and Tom Mason in the television series Falling Skies (2011–2015). He has appeared in films such as A Few Good Men (1992), Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999), Donnie Darko (2001), and W. (2008).
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Robert Loggia
- Occupations
- television directorprogram hostactordirector
- Biography
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Salvatore "Robert" Loggia was an American actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Jagged Edge (1985) and won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for Big (1988).
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Marg Helgenberger
- Occupations
- television actorvoice actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Marg Helgenberger is an American actress. She began her career in the early 1980s and first came to attention for playing the role of Siobhan Ryan on the daytime soap opera Ryan's Hope from 1982 to 1986. She is best known for her role as Catherine Willows in the CBS police procedural drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000–13) and the subsequent TV movie Immortality (2015). She reprised the role in season 2 of the sequel CSI: Vegas, which premiered on September 29, 2022. Helgenberger is also known for playing the role of K.C. Koloski in the ABC drama China Beach (1988–91), which earned her the 1990 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She is also known for roles in the TV series Under the Dome and Intelligence, and the films Species (1995), Species II (1998), Erin Brockovich (2000), and Mr. Brooks (2007).
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Patricia Neal
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Patricia Neal was an American actress of stage and screen. She is well known for, among other roles, playing World War II widow Helen Benson in The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), radio journalist Marcia Jeffries in A Face in the Crowd (1957), wealthy matron Emily Eustace Failenson in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), and the worn-out housekeeper Alma Brown in Hud (1963) (for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress). She also featured as the matriarch in the television film The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971); her role as Olivia Walton was re-cast for the series it inspired, The Waltons. A major star of the 1950s and 1960s, she was the recipient of an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and two British Academy Film Awards, and was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards.
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Nicolle Wallace
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- Graduated with Master of Arts
- Occupations
- political advisertelevision presenternovelist
- Biography
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Nicolle Wallace is an American television political commentator and author. She is the anchor of the MSNBC news and politics program Deadline: White House and a former co-host of the ABC daytime talk show The View. As a political analyst for MSNBC and NBC News, she is a frequent on-air contributor to the programs Today, The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle and Morning Joe.
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Rahm Emanuel
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- In 1985 graduated with Master of Arts
- Occupations
- military personnelstrategistpoliticianentrepreneur
- Biography
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Rahm Israel Emanuel is an American politician and diplomat who is the current United States ambassador to Japan. A member of the Democratic Party, he served three terms representing Illinois in the United States House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009, then was White House Chief of Staff from 2009 to 2010 under Barack Obama, and served as mayor of Chicago from 2011 to 2019.
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Robert Reed
- Occupations
- actordirectorfilm directorstage actortelevision actor
- Biography
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Robert Reed was an American actor. He played Kenneth Preston on the legal drama The Defenders from 1961 to 1965 alongside E. G. Marshall, and is best known for his role as patriarch Mike Brady, opposite Florence Henderson's role as Carol Brady, on the ABC sitcom The Brady Bunch, which aired from 1969 to 1974. He later reprised his role of Mike Brady on several of the reunion programs. In 1976, he earned two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his guest-starring role in a two-part episode of Medical Center and for his work on the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man. The following year, Reed earned a third Emmy nomination for his role in the miniseries Roots.
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William Daniels
- Occupations
- voice actoractorstage actortelevision actortrade unionist
- Biography
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William David Daniels is an American actor who is known for his television roles, notably as Mark Craig on the drama series St. Elsewhere, for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards; the voice of KITT on the television series Knight Rider; and George Feeny on the sitcom Boy Meets World, which earned him four People's Choice Award nominations. He reprised his Knight Rider role in the sequel TV movie Knight Rider 2000 and his Boy Meets World role in the sequel series Girl Meets World. He also portrayed Carter Nash (the actual identity of the eponymous comedic superhero) in Captain Nice.
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Robin Lord Taylor
- Occupations
- television actoractor
- Biography
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Robin Lord Taylor is an American film and television actor and director, known for his role as Oswald Cobblepot in the Fox TV series Gotham, as well as Accepted (2006), Another Earth (2011), Would You Rather (2012), John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and You (2019).
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Paul Lynde
- Occupations
- screenwritercharacter actortelevision actorcomedianstage actor
- Biography
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Paul Edward Lynde was an American comedian, actor and game show panelist. A character actor with a distinctively campy and snarky persona that often poked fun at his closeted homosexuality, Lynde was well known for his roles as Uncle Arthur on Bewitched, the befuddled father Harry MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie and a regular "center square" panelist on the game show The Hollywood Squares from 1968 to 1981. He also voiced animated characters for five Hanna-Barbera productions.
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Richard Kind
- Occupations
- screenwritertelevision actorcomedianactorsinger
- Biography
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Richard Kind is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his roles as Dr. Mark Devanow in Mad About You (1992–1999, 2019), Paul Lassiter in Spin City (1996–2002), Andy in Curb Your Enthusiasm (2002–2021), and Captain Stan Yenko in East New York (2022–2023). He has appeared in films such as Johns (1996), Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2006), Big Stan (2007), A Serious Man (2009), Argo (2012), Suburbicon (2017), Bombshell (2019), Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021), and Beau Is Afraid (2023).
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Karen Black
- Occupations
- singer-songwritercomposeractorstage actortelevision actor
- Biography
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Karen Blanche Black was an American actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. She rose to prominence for her work in various studio and independent films in the 1970s, frequently portraying eccentric and offbeat characters, and established herself as a figure of New Hollywood. Her career spanned over 50 years and includes nearly 200 credits in both independent and mainstream films. Black received numerous accolades throughout her career, including two Golden Globe Awards, as well as an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
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Jeffrey Hunter
- Occupations
- television actorfilm actoractorfilm producertelevision producer
- Biography
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Jeffrey Hunter was an American film and television actor and producer known for his roles in films such as The Searchers and King of Kings. On television, Hunter is known for his 1965 role as Captain Christopher Pike in the original pilot episode of Star Trek.
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Jennifer Jones
- Occupations
- actorfilm actormodel
- Biography
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Jennifer Jones, also known as Jennifer Jones Simon, was an American actress and mental-health advocate. Over the course of her career that spanned more than five decades, she was nominated for the Oscar five times, including one win for Best Actress, and a Golden Globe Award win for Best Actress in a Drama.
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Ron Reagan
- Occupations
- radio personalityjournalist
- Biography
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Ronald Prescott Reagan is an American political commentator and broadcaster. Reagan is a former radio host and political analyst for KIRO and Air America Radio, and hosted his own daily three-hour show there. He has also been a contributor to MSNBC. His liberal views contrast with those of his conservative father, President Ronald Reagan. He has been an outspoken critic of the modern day Republican Party, and has insisted that his father would be "ashamed" over the influence of Donald Trump in the Republican Party.
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Stephanie March
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Stephanie Caroline March Benton is an American actress. She is known for starring as Alexandra Cabot in the crime drama franchise Law & Order, which she played in the NBC series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2000–2018) and reprised in other media. The role earned her a nomination for the Satellite Award for Best Television Series – Drama.
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James Foley
- Occupations
- journalistphotojournalistteacher
- Biography
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James Wright Foley was an American journalist and video reporter. While working as a freelance war correspondent during the Syrian Civil War, he was abducted on November 22, 2012, in northwestern Syria. He was murdered by decapitation in August 2014 purportedly as a response to American airstrikes in Iraq, thus becoming the first American citizen killed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
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McLean Stevenson
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- Graduated with bachelor's degree
- Occupations
- authoractorspokespersontelevision actorscreenwriter
- Biography
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Edgar McLean Stevenson Jr. was an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake in the television series M*A*S*H, which earned him a Golden Globe Award in 1974. Stevenson also appeared on a number of television series, notably The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Doris Day Show and Match Game.
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Gillian Flynn
- Occupations
- film criticnovelistfilm screenwritertelevision criticwriter
- Biography
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Gillian Schieber Flynn is an American author, screenwriter, and producer. She is known for writing the thriller and mystery novels Sharp Objects (2006), Dark Places (2009), and Gone Girl (2012), which are all critically acclaimed. Her books have been published in 40 languages, and according to The Washington Post, as of 2016 Gone Girl alone has sold more than 15 million copies.
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Patti Davis
- Occupations
- modelwritertelevision actoractorfilmmaker
- Biography
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Patricia Ann Davis is an American actress and author. She is the daughter of U.S. president Ronald Reagan and his second wife, Nancy Reagan.
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J.B. Pritzker
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- 1990-1993 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- politicianbusinesspersoninternational forum participant
- Biography
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Jay Robert Pritzker is an American businessman, philanthropist, attorney, venture capitalist, and politician serving as the 43rd governor of Illinois since 2019. A member of the wealthy Pritzker family, which owns the worldwide hotel chain Hyatt, Pritzker is based in Chicago. He has started several venture capital and investment startups such as the Pritzker Group, where he is a managing partner.
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William Jennings Bryan
- Occupations
- writerlawyerdiplomatpoliticianeditor
- Biography
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William Jennings Bryan was an American lawyer, orator, and politician. Beginning in 1896, he emerged as a dominant force in the Democratic Party, running three times as the party's nominee for President of the United States in the 1896, 1900, and 1908 elections. He served in the House of Representatives from 1891 to 1895 and as the Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1915. Because of his faith in the wisdom of the common people, Bryan was often called "the Great Commoner", and because of his rhetorical power and early fame as the youngest presidential candidate, "the Boy Orator".
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Anne Dudek
- Occupations
- film actorstage actortelevision actor
- Biography
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Anne Louise Dudek is an American actress. She is known for portraying Tiffany Wilson in the 2004 film White Chicks, Danielle Brooks in the USA Network television series Covert Affairs, Dr. Amber Volakis on the Fox series House, Lura Grant on the HBO series Big Love, and Francine Hanson on the AMC series Mad Men. She has also starred in the British television series The Book Group.
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Marina Squerciati
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Marina Teresa Squerciati is an American actress. She currently appears as a regular in Chicago P.D. as Officer Kim Burgess.
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Tony Randall
- Occupations
- television actorstage actorfilm actoractorcomedian
- Biography
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Anthony Leonard Randall was an American actor. He is best known for portraying the role of Felix Unger in a television adaptation of the 1965 play The Odd Couple by Neil Simon. In a career spanning six decades, Randall received six Golden Globe Award nominations and six Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning one Emmy.
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Adlai Stevenson II
- Occupations
- diplomatpoliticianlawyer
- Biography
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Adlai Ewing Stevenson II was an American politician and diplomat who was the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 1961 until his death in 1965. He previously served as the 31st governor of Illinois from 1949 to 1953 and was the Democratic nominee for president of the United States in 1952 and 1956, losing both elections to Dwight D. Eisenhower in a landslide. Stevenson was the grandson of Adlai Stevenson I, the 23rd vice president of the United States.
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Nicole Sullivan
- Occupations
- comedianfilm actorfilm producerscreenwritervoice actor
- Biography
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Nicole Sullivan is an American actress and comedian best known for her six seasons (1995–2001) on the sketch comedy series MADtv. She also played Holly Shumpert in five seasons (2001–2005, 2007) of the CBS sitcom The King of Queens.
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George McGovern
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- In 1953 graduated with Doctor of Philosophy
- Occupations
- peace activistuniversity teacherautobiographerdiplomathistorian
- Biography
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George Stanley McGovern was an American historian and South Dakota politician who was a U.S. representative and three-term U.S. senator, and the Democratic Party presidential nominee in the 1972 presidential election.
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Brian d'Arcy James
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actormusicianactor
- Biography
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Brian d'Arcy James is an American actor and musician. He is known primarily for his Broadway roles, including Shrek in Shrek The Musical, Nick Bottom in Something Rotten!, King George III in Hamilton, and the Baker in Into the Woods, and has received four Tony Award nominations for his work. On-screen, he is known for his recurring role as Andy Baker on the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, Officer Krupke in West Side Story, and reporter Matt Carroll in Spotlight.
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Kathy Reichs
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- In 1975 graduated with master's degree
- Occupations
- forensic anthropologistprofessorscience fiction writerwriternovelist
- Biography
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Kathleen Joan Reichs is an American crime writer, forensic anthropologist and academic. She is an adjunct professor of anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is well known for inspiring the television series Bones.
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Ana Gasteyer
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorfilm actorsinger
- Biography
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Ana Kristina Gasteyer is an American actress, comedian and singer. She is most notable for her tenure as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1996 to 2002. She has since starred in such sitcoms as ABC's Suburgatory, TBS's People of Earth, NBC's American Auto, and the film Mean Girls.
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John Paul Stevens
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- 1945-1947 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- naval officerjudgelawyer
- Biography
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John Paul Stevens was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1975 to 2010. At the time of his retirement, he was the second-oldest justice in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court and the third-longest-serving justice. At the time of his death in 2019 at age 99, he was the longest-lived Supreme Court justice ever. His long tenure saw him write for the Court on most issues of American law, including civil liberties, the death penalty, government action, and intellectual property. Despite being a registered Republican who throughout his life identified as a conservative, Stevens was considered to have been on the liberal side of the Court at the time of his retirement.
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Josh Meyers
- Occupations
- actorfilm actortelevision actor
- Biography
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Joshua Dylan Meyers is an American actor and comedian, known for being a cast member of the sketch comedy series MADtv and playing Randy Pearson in the eighth and final season of That '70s Show. He is the younger brother of former SNL cast member and Late Night host Seth Meyers.
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Veronica Roth
- Occupations
- novelistchildren's writerscience fiction writerwriter
- Biography
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Veronica Anne Roth is an American novelist and short story writer, known for her bestselling Divergent trilogy which has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide.
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Kerry Bishé
- Occupations
- film actortelevision actor
- Biography
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Kerry Lynne Bishé is a New Zealand-born American actress. She is best known for her roles as Donna Clark in the AMC period drama series Halt and Catch Fire (2014–2017) and Lucy Bennett, the lead/narrator in the final season of the ABC medical sitcom Scrubs (2009–2010). She is also known for her supporting role in the drama film Argo (2012).
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Joe Girardi
- Occupations
- baseball playerbaseball manager
- Biography
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Joseph Elliott Girardi is an American sports broadcaster and former professional baseball player and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Girardi played the catcher position for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals during a big league playing career that spanned from 1989 to 2003. He won three World Series championships with the Yankees in the 1990s and served as the catcher for both Dwight Gooden's no-hitter and David Cone's perfect game.
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Trevor Siemian
- Occupations
- player of American football
- Biography
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Trevor John Siemian is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Northwestern Wildcats and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL draft. Siemian was part of the Broncos when they won Super Bowl 50, serving as the third-string quarterback behind starter Peyton Manning and backup Brock Osweiler. He has also been a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals.
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Divya Narendra
- Occupations
- chief executive officerbusinessperson
- Biography
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Divya Narendra is an American businessman. He is the CEO and co-founder of SumZero along with Harvard classmate Aalap Mahadevia. He also co-founded HarvardConnection (later renamed ConnectU) with Harvard University classmates Cameron Winklevoss and Tyler Winklevoss.
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Aneta Corsaut
- Occupations
- actorfilm actortelevision actor
- Biography
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Aneta Louise Corsaut was an American actress and writer. She is best known for playing Helen Crump on The Andy Griffith Show (1963–1968), Judge Cynthia Justin on Matlock (1991–1992), and Jane in The Blob (1958).
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Craig Bierko
- Occupations
- stage actorfilm actorscreenwritervoice actorsinger
- Biography
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Craig Philip Bierko is an American actor and singer.
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Harry Lennix
- Occupations
- television actorteacherstage actorfilm actorfilm producer
- Biography
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Harry Joseph Lennix III is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Terrence "Dresser" Williams in the Robert Townsend film The Five Heartbeats (1991) and as Boyd Langton in the science-fiction series Dollhouse. Lennix co-stars as Harold Cooper, assistant director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division, on the NBC drama The Blacklist. Lennix has also played J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter in the DC Extended Universe films Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder's Justice League.
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Craig Sager
- Occupations
- sports commentatorjournalist
- Biography
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Craig Graham Sager was an American sports reporter who covered an array of sports for CNN and its sister stations TBS and TNT, from 1981 until his death in late 2016.
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Claire Coffee
- Occupations
- actorfilm actortelevision actor
- Biography
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Claire Elizabeth Coffee is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Adalind Schade in the NBC fantasy drama Grimm.
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Daphne Maxwell Reid
- Occupations
- film actormodeltelevision actor
- Biography
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Daphne Etta Reid is an American actress, comedian, designer, and former model. She is best known for her role as the second Vivian Banks on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1993 to 1996.
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Saul Bellow
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- In 1937 studied anthropology and sociology
- Occupations
- writernovelistuniversity teacheressayistauthor
- Biography
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Saul Bellow was a Canadian–American writer. For his literary work, Bellow was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, the 1976 Nobel Prize in Literature, and the National Medal of Arts. He is the only writer to win the National Book Award for Fiction three times, and he received the National Book Foundation's lifetime Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in 1990.
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Claude Akins
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Claude Aubrey Akins was a Cherokee-American character actor with a long career on stage, screen, and television. He was best known as Sheriff Lobo on the 1979–1981 television series B. J. and the Bear, and later The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, a spin-off series.
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Paula Prentiss
- Occupations
- film actor
- Biography
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Paula Prentiss is an American actress. She is best known for her film roles in Where the Boys Are (1960), What's New Pussycat? (1965), Catch-22 (1970), The Parallax View (1974), and The Stepford Wives (1975).
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John Cameron Mitchell
- Occupations
- screenwriterwritersingerfilm produceractor
- Biography
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John Cameron Mitchell is an American actor, playwright, screenwriter, singer, songwriter, producer and director. He is known as the writer, director and star of the 2001 film Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which is based on the stage musical of the same name. He also portrayed the role of Joe Exotic in the Peacock limited series Joe vs. Carole in 2022.
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Steve Albini
- Occupations
- singer-songwriterjournalistpoker playermusic journalistaudio engineer
- Biography
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Steve Albini is an American musician, record producer, audio engineer, and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, Flour, and is part of Shellac. He is the founder, owner, and the principal engineer at Electrical Audio, a recording studio complex in Chicago. In 2018, Albini estimated that he had worked on several thousand albums over his career. He has worked with acts such as Nirvana, Pixies, the Breeders, PJ Harvey, Gogol Bordello, and former Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.
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Jerry Reinsdorf
- Occupations
- businesspersonlawyer
- Biography
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Jerry Michael Reinsdorf is the owner of the NBA's Chicago Bulls and MLB's Chicago White Sox. He started his professional life as a tax attorney with the Internal Revenue Service. He has been the owner of the White Sox and Bulls for over 35 years. As of January 2024, his net worth was estimated at US$2.4 billion.
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Jaime Ray Newman
- Occupations
- film actortelevision actoractorfilm producerstage actor
- Biography
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Jaime Ray Newman is an American actress, producer and singer. She is known for starring as Kristina Cassadine in the soap opera General Hospital, Mindy O'Dell in the drama series Veronica Mars, Kat Gardener in the fantasy series Eastwick, Lt. Laura Cadman in the science-fiction series Stargate Atlantis, Tess Fontana in the science-fiction series Eureka, Kat Petrova in the drama-thriller series Red Widow, Sam Gordon in the comedy-drama series Mind Games, Allison Roth in the crime drama series Wicked City, and Sarah Lieberman in the Marvel series The Punisher.
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Pramila Jayapal
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- In 1990 graduated with Master of Business Administration
- Occupations
- politicianfinancial analyst
- Biography
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Pramila Jayapal is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Washington's 7th congressional district since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, she represents most of Seattle, as well as some suburban areas of King County. Jayapal represented the 37th legislative district in the Washington State Senate from 2015 to 2017. She is the first Indian-American woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district's first female member of Congress, she is also the first Asian American to represent Washington at the federal level.
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Jayne Atkinson
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Jayne Atkinson is a British-American actress. She is best known for the role of Karen Hayes on 24, as well as her Tony Award–nominated roles in The Rainmaker and Enchanted April. She has also appeared in the CBS drama Criminal Minds as BAU Section Chief Erin Strauss, the CBS drama Madam Secretary as United States Vice President Teresa Hurst, and in the Netflix political drama House of Cards as U.S. Secretary of State Catherine Durant.
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Richard Benjamin
- Occupations
- film actordirectorscreenwritertelevision actoractor
- Biography
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Richard Samuel Benjamin is an American actor and film director. He has starred in a number of well-known films, including Goodbye, Columbus (1969), Catch-22 (1970), Portnoy's Complaint (1972), Westworld (1973), The Last of Sheila (1973), and The Sunshine Boys (1975), for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. Benjamin was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his performances in He & She (1968), opposite his wife Paula Prentiss.
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Leigh Taylor-Young
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Leigh Taylor-Young is an American actress who has appeared on stage, screen, podcast, radio, and television. Her most well-known films include I Love You, Alice B. Toklas (1968), The Horsemen (1971), The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971), Soylent Green (1973), and Jagged Edge (1985). She won an Emmy for her role on the hit television series Picket Fences.
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Greta Lee
- Occupations
- television actorwriterfilm actoractor
- Biography
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Greta Jiehan Lee is an American actress. She had supporting roles in the Netflix comedy-drama series Russian Doll (2019–present) and the Apple TV+ drama series The Morning Show (2021–present). She gained prominence for her starring role in the romantic drama film Past Lives (2023), for which she received a nomination for a Golden Globe Award.
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Laura Innes
- Occupations
- film actorscreenwritertelevision actoractorfilm director
- Biography
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Laura Innes is an American actress and television director. She is best known for her starring role as Kerry Weaver in the medical drama ER, which earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. In 2001, she received her third Primetime Emmy Award nomination for directing the episode "Shibboleth" of the political drama The West Wing. She also appeared in the thriller drama The Event (2010–2011) and How to Get Away with Murder (2018–2020).
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Fred Williamson
- Occupations
- film actorscreenwriterplayer of American footballactorfilm producer
- Biography
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Frederick Robert Williamson, also known as "the Hammer", is an American actor and former professional football defensive back who played mainly in the American Football League (AFL) during the 1960s. Williamson has had a busy film career, starring as Tommy Gibbs in the 1973 crime drama film Black Caesar and its sequel Hell Up in Harlem. Williamson also had roles in other 1970s blaxploitation films such as Hammer (1972), That Man Bolt (1973) and Three the Hard Way (1974).
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Kenneth Mars
- Occupations
- television actorsingerfilm actoractorvoice actor
- Biography
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Kenneth Mars was an American actor. He appeared in two Mel Brooks films: as the deranged Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind in The Producers (1967) and Police Inspector Hans Wilhelm Friedrich Kemp in Young Frankenstein (1974). He also appeared in Peter Bogdanovich's What's Up Doc? (1972), and Woody Allen's Radio Days (1987), and Shadows and Fog (1991).
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Natalie Wynn
- Enrolled in Northwestern University
- Studied philosophy
- Occupations
- proofreaderYouTubervideo essayist
- Biography
-
Natalie Wynn is an American left-wing YouTuber, political commentator, and cultural critic. She is best known for her YouTube channel, ContraPoints, where she creates video essays exploring a wide range of topics such as politics, gender, ethics, race, and philosophy.
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Ginni Rometty
- Occupations
- businesspersoncomputer scientistinternational forum participantentrepreneur
- Biography
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Virginia Marie "Ginni" Rometty is an American business executive who was executive chairman of IBM after stepping down as CEO on April 1, 2020. She was previously chairman, president and CEO of IBM, becoming the first woman to head the company. She retired from IBM on December 31, 2020, after a near-40 year career there. Before becoming president and CEO in January 2012, she first joined IBM as a systems engineer in 1981 and subsequently headed global sales, marketing, and strategy.
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Ira Glass
- Occupations
- screenwriterradio personalityactorfilm producerradio producer
- Biography
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Ira Jeffrey Glass is an American public radio personality. He is the host and producer of the radio and television series This American Life and has participated in other NPR programs, including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Talk of the Nation. His work in radio and television has won him awards, such as the Edward R. Murrow Award for Outstanding Contributions to Public Radio and the George Polk Award in Radio Reporting.
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Heather Headley
- Occupations
- stage actorfilm actorrecord producercomposeractor
- Biography
-
Heather Headley is a Trinidadian-born American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. She won the 2000 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the title role of Aida. She also won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album for her album Audience of One. In 2018, she recurred as Gwen Garrett on the NBC medical drama television series Chicago Med.
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Edgar Bergen
- Occupations
- screenwriterradio personalityfilm actorpuppeteercomedian
- Biography
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Edgar John Bergen was an American ventriloquist, comedian, actor, vaudevillian and radio performer. He was best known for his characters Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. Bergen pioneered modern-day ventriloquism and has been described by puppetry organization UNIMA as the “quintessential ventriloquist of the 20th century”. He was the father of actress Candice Bergen.
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Daryl Morey
- Occupations
- sports executive
- Biography
-
Daryl Morey is an American basketball executive who is the president of basketball operations of the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His basketball philosophy, heavily reliant on analytics, favors three-point field goals and layups over mid-range jumpers. This style has been dubbed "Moreyball", as a nod towards Michael Lewis's Moneyball. Morey also co-established the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.
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Andrew Bird
- Occupations
- fiddlerjazz musicianguitaristsinger-songwritersinger
- Biography
-
Andrew Wegman Bird is an American indie rock multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Since 1996, he has released 16 studio albums, as well as several live albums and EPs, spanning various genres including swing music, indie rock, and folk music. He is primarily known for his unique style of violin playing, accompanied by loop and effect pedals, whistling, and voice. In the 1990s, he sang and played violin in several jazz ensembles, including Squirrel Nut Zippers and Kevin O'Donnell's Quality Six. He went on to start his own swing ensemble, Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire, which released three albums between 1998 and 2001. Weather Systems (2003) was his first solo album after Bowl of Fire disbandment, and it marked a departure from jazz music into indie music. Bird's 2019 album My Finest Work Yet was nominated for "Best Folk Album" at the 2020 Grammy Awards.
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Christopher G. Kennedy
- Occupations
- politicianbusinessperson
- Biography
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Christopher George Kennedy is an American businessman, politician, and Chair of Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises, Inc. He is a son of former U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, a member of the Kennedy family. Kennedy served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the University of Illinois from 2009 to 2015. Until April 2012, he was also president of Merchandise Mart Properties, a commercial property management firm based in Chicago.
