100 Notable alumni of
Yale University
Updated:
Yale University is 7th in the world, 3rd in North America, and 3rd in the United States by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 100 notable alumni from Yale University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. 10 individuals affiliated with Yale University won Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
-
George W. Bush
- Enrolled in Yale University
- 1964-1968 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in study of history
- Occupations
- military officerfinancierautobiographerstatespersonbusinessperson
- Biography
-
George Walker Bush is an American politician, businessman, and former U.S. Air Force officer who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party and the eldest son of the 41st president, George H. W. Bush, he served as the 46th governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.
-
Bill Clinton
- Enrolled in Yale University
- 1970-1973 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- lawyerdiplomatautobiographerjuristgovernor
- Biography
-
William Jefferson Clinton is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the attorney general of Arkansas from 1977 to 1979 and as the governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981, and again from 1983 to 1992. His centrist "Third Way" political philosophy became known as Clintonism, which dominated his presidency and the succeeding decades of Democratic Party history.
-
George H. W. Bush
- Enrolled in Yale University
- 1945-1948 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- naval officerstatespersonentrepreneurautobiographerdiplomat
- Biography
-
George Herbert Walker Bush was the 41st president of the United States, serving from 1989 to 1993. A member of the Republican Party, he also served as the 43rd vice president under President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989 and previously in various other federal positions.
-
Meryl Streep
- Enrolled in Yale University
- In 1975 graduated with Master of Fine Arts
- Occupations
- film producerfilm actorstage actortelevision actoractor
- Biography
-
Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress. Known for her versatility and adept accent work, she has been described as "the best actress of her generation". She has received numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over five decades, including three Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, eight Golden Globe Awards, four Emmy Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, in addition to nominations for seven Grammy Awards and a Tony Award.
-
Hillary Clinton
- Enrolled in Yale University
- 1969-1973 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- lawyeruniversity teacherautobiographerjuristdiplomat
- Biography
-
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is an American politician, lawyer, and diplomat. She was the 67th United States secretary of state in the administration of Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, a U.S. senator representing New York from 2001 to 2009, and the first lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001 as the wife of Bill Clinton. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the party's nominee in the 2016 presidential election, becoming the first woman to win a presidential nomination by a major U.S. political party and the only woman to win the popular vote for U.S. president. Clinton lost the United States Electoral College to Republican Party nominee Donald Trump. She is the only first lady of the United States to have run for elected office.
-
Jennifer Connelly
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Studied in 1988-1989
- Occupations
- modelvoice actorsingeractor
- Biography
-
Jennifer Lynn Connelly is an American actress. She began her career as a child model before making her acting debut in the 1984 crime film Once Upon a Time in America. After a few more years of modeling, she began to concentrate on acting, starring in a variety of films including the horror film Phenomena (1985), the musical fantasy film Labyrinth (1986), the romantic thriller The Hot Spot (1990), the romantic comedy Career Opportunities (1991), and the period superhero film The Rocketeer (1991). She received praise for her performance in the science fiction film Dark City (1998) and playing a drug addict in Darren Aronofsky's drama film Requiem for a Dream (2000).
-
James Franco
- Occupations
- film editorfilm actorfilm producerfilm directortelevision presenter
- Biography
-
James Edward Franco is an American actor and filmmaker. He has starred in numerous films, including Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007), Milk (2008), Eat Pray Love (2010), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Spring Breakers (2012), and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013). He has collaborated with fellow actor Seth Rogen on multiple projects, including Pineapple Express (2008), This Is the End (2013), The Interview (2014), Sausage Party (2016), and The Disaster Artist (2017), for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. Franco's performance in 127 Hours (2010) earned a Best Actor nomination at the 83rd Academy Awards.
-
Jodie Foster
- Enrolled in Yale University
- 1980-1985 graduated with bachelor's degree in literary studies
- Occupations
- film directorfilm producerexecutive produceractorfilm actor
- Biography
-
Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster is an American actress and filmmaker. Foster started her career as a child actor before establishing herself as a leading actress in film. As a performer, she is known for her versatility. She has received several accolades including two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. Foster also was awarded with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2013 and the Honorary Palme d'Or in 2021.
-
Gerald Ford
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Studied in 1941
- Occupations
- autobiographergridiron football playernaval officerAmerican football playerstatesperson
- Biography
-
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. was the 38th president of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977. A member of the Republican Party, Ford assumed the presidency after the resignation of Richard Nixon, under whom he had served as the 40th vice president from 1973 to 1974 following the resignation of Spiro Agnew. Prior to that, he served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1949 to 1973.
-
Alexei Navalny
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Studied in 2010
- Occupations
- activistlawyerpolitician
- Biography
-
Alexei Anatolyevich Navalny was a Russian opposition leader, anti-corruption activist and political prisoner. He founded the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) in 2011. He was recognised by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience and was awarded the Sakharov Prize for his work on human rights.
-
Dick Cheney
- Occupations
- autobiographerbusinesspersonentrepreneurvice presidentmerchant
- Biography
-
Richard Bruce Cheney was an American politician and businessman who served as the 46th vice president of the United States from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. He is widely considered to be the most powerful vice president in United States history. A member of the Republican Party, Cheney previously served as White House chief of staff for President Gerald Ford, the U.S. representative for Wyoming's at-large congressional district from 1979 to 1989, and as the 17th United States secretary of defense in the administration of President George H. W. Bush. He was also considered by many to be the architect of the Iraq War.
-
Liev Schreiber
- Occupations
- voice actorstage actoractortelevision actorwriter
- Biography
-
Isaac Liev Schreiber is an American actor. He has received accolades including a Tony Award as well as nominations for nine Primetime Emmy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards.
-
Hunter Biden
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- lawyerbusinessperson
- Biography
-
Robert Hunter Biden is an American attorney and businessman. He is the second son of former president Joe Biden and his first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden was a founding board member of BHR Partners, a Chinese investment company, in 2013, and later served on the board of Burisma Holdings, one of the largest private natural gas producers in Ukraine, from 2014 until his term expired in April 2019. He has worked as a lobbyist and legal representative for lobbying firms, a hedge fund principal, and a venture capital and private equity fund investor.
-
Claire Danes
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Studied in 1998-2000
- Occupations
- television actorstage actoractorfilm actor
- Biography
-
Claire Catherine Danes is an American actress. Prolific in film and television since her teens, she is the recipient of three Primetime Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. In 2012, Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
-
Angela Bassett
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- film directordirectormanufacturertelevision actorvoice actor
- Biography
-
Angela Evelyn Bassett is an American actress. Known for her work in film and television since the 1980s, she has received various accolades, including an Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards. In 2023, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and she received an Academy Honorary Award.
-
JD Vance
- Enrolled in Yale University
- In 2013 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- corporate lawyerwritermerchantskierfinancier
- Biography
-
James David Vance is an American politician and author serving as the 50th vice president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Ohio in the United States Senate from 2023 to 2025.
-
Lupita Nyong'o
- Occupations
- film actor
- Biography
-
Lupita Amondi Nyong'o is an actress who has received various accolades, including an Actor Award, an Academy Award and a Daytime Emmy Award, as well as nominations for two British Academy Film Awards, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award.
-
Frances McDormand
- Occupations
- stage actoractortelevision producervoice actorfilm producer
- Biography
-
Frances Louise McDormand is an American actress and film producer. In a career spanning over four decades, McDormand has received numerous accolades, including four Academy Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award, making her one of the few performers to achieve the "Triple Crown of Acting". Additionally, she has received three British Academy Film Awards, a Golden Globe Award, four Actor Awards, and seven Critics' Choice Awards. Recognized for her roles in small-budget independent films, McDormand's worldwide box office gross exceeds $2.2 billion.
-
Ron DeSantis
- Enrolled in Yale University
- In 2001 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- writernaval officerjudge advocatepolitician
- Biography
-
Ronald Dion DeSantis is an American politician, attorney, and former naval officer serving since 2019 as the 46th governor of Florida. A member of the Republican Party, he served from 2013 to 2018 as the U.S. representative from Florida's 6th congressional district. DeSantis was a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, withdrawing his candidacy in January 2024.
-
David Duchovny
- Occupations
- film directorwriterfilm produceractorfilm actor
- Biography
-
David William Duchovny is an American actor, writer, director and musician. He received his breakthrough with the role of Fox Mulder in The X-Files franchise (1993–2002; 2016–2018) earning a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards and five Screen Actors Guild Awards. He received another Golden Globe for his portrayal of Hank Moody on the television series Californication (2007–2014) and executive-produced and starred in the historically based cop drama Aquarius (2015–2016). He wrote and directed the 2004 coming-of-age comedy House of D starring Robin Williams, Téa Leoni and Anton Yelchin.
-
Anderson Cooper
- Enrolled in Yale University
- In 1989 studied political science
- Occupations
- television presentermodelwriterjournalistactor
- Biography
-
Anderson Hays Cooper is an American broadcast journalist and political commentator who anchors the CNN news broadcast show Anderson Cooper 360°. In addition to his duties at CNN, for two decades Cooper served as a correspondent for 60 Minutes, produced by CBS News. After graduating from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1989, he began traveling the world, shooting footage of war-torn regions for Channel One News. Cooper was hired by ABC News as a correspondent in 1995, but he soon took more jobs throughout the network, working for a short time as a co-anchor, reality game show host, and fill-in morning talk show host.
-
Lance Reddick
- Occupations
- television actorstage actorfilm actormusician
- Biography
-
Lance Solomon Reddick was an American actor. He portrayed Cedric Daniels in The Wire (2002–2008), Phillip Broyles in Fringe (2008–2013), and Chief Irvin Irving in Bosch (2014–2020). In film, he played Charon in the John Wick franchise (2014–2025) and General Caulfield in White House Down (2013).
-
Jordana Brewster
- Occupations
- actorfilm actor
- Biography
-
Jordana Brewster is an American actress. She made her acting debut, three weeks after turning 15, in an episode of All My Children in 1995 and next took on the recurring role as Nikki Munson in As the World Turns, garnering a nomination for Outstanding Teen Performer at the 1997 Soap Opera Digest Award. Her first role in a feature film was in Robert Rodriguez's horror science fiction The Faculty (1998).
-
Clarence Thomas
- Occupations
- lawyerjudgepolitician
- Biography
-
Clarence Thomas is an American lawyer and jurist who has served since 1991 as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. President George H. W. Bush nominated him to succeed Thurgood Marshall. After Marshall, Thomas is the second African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court and has been its longest-serving member since Anthony Kennedy's retirement in 2018. He has also been the Court's oldest member since Stephen Breyer retired in 2022.
-
الزنجور
- Occupations
- writeruniversity teacherneurosurgeonpoliticianpsychologist
- Biography
-
Benjamin Solomon Carson Sr. is an American retired neurosurgeon, academic, author, and government official who served as the 17th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2017 to 2021. A pioneer in the field of neurosurgery, he ran for president of the United States in the 2016 Republican primaries. Carson is one of the most prominent black conservatives in the United States.
-
Sara Gilbert
- Occupations
- screenwriterfilm directortelevision actoractorfilm actor
- Biography
-
Sara Gilbert is an American actress best known for portraying Darlene Conner on Roseanne (1988–97; 2018) and its sequel, The Conners (2018–25), a role for which she received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. She created and was a co-host of the CBS daytime talk show The Talk, and had the recurring role of Leslie Winkle on CBS's The Big Bang Theory.
-
Ronan Farrow
- Enrolled in Yale University
- In 2009 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- human rights defenderjuristlawyerpoliticiandocumentarian
- Biography
-
Satchel Ronan O'Sullivan Farrow is an American journalist. The son of actress Mia Farrow and filmmaker Woody Allen, he is known for his investigative reporting on sexual abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein, which was published in The New Yorker magazine. The magazine won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for this reporting, sharing the award with The New York Times. Farrow has worked for UNICEF and as a government advisor.
-
John Kerry
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Studied in 1966
- Occupations
- climate activistpeace activistnaval officerdiplomatlawyer
- Biography
-
John Forbes Kerry is an American attorney, politician, diplomat, and former naval officer who served as the 68th United States secretary of state from 2013 to 2017 in the administration of President Barack Obama. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate from 1985 to 2013 and later served as the first U.S. special presidential envoy for climate from 2021 to 2024. Kerry was the Democratic nominee for president of the United States in the 2004 election, losing to then-incumbent president George W. Bush.
-
Vivek Ramaswamy
- Enrolled in Yale University
- In 2013 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- podcasterentrepreneurpunditpolitician
- Biography
-
Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy is an American entrepreneur and politician. He founded Roivant Sciences, a biotechnological pharmaceutical company in 2014 and was its chief executive officer until 2021. Ramaswamy entered national politics as the youngest presidential candidate in the 2024 Republican primaries. He withdrew his bid and endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election. In 2025, he launched his campaign for the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election and received endorsements from both President Trump and the Ohio Republican Party.
-
Henry Winkler
- Occupations
- film directortelevision actorvoice actortelevision producerfilm actor
- Biography
-
Henry Franklin Winkler is an American actor, producer, director, and author. Widely known as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the sitcom Happy Days (1974–1984), Winkler has distinguished himself as a character actor for roles on stage and screen. His many accolades include three Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and two Critics Choice Awards.
-
John Turturro
- Occupations
- directorfilm actortheatrical directorvoice actorstage actor
- Biography
-
John Michael Turturro is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his varied roles in independent films, as well as his frequent collaborations with the Coen brothers and Spike Lee. He has received a Primetime Emmy Award and nominations for three Golden Globe Awards.
-
Oliver Stone
- Occupations
- actorscreenwriterdirectorfilm directordocumentarian
- Biography
-
William Oliver Stone is an American filmmaker. An acclaimed director who tackled subjects ranging from the Vietnam War and American politics to musical biopics and crime dramas, Stone has received numerous accolades including three Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, one Primetime Emmy, three Independent Spirit Awards and six Golden Globes.
-
Jennifer Beals
- Occupations
- modeltelevision actorvoice actoractorfilm actor
- Biography
-
Jennifer Beals is an American actress. She made her film debut in My Bodyguard (1980), before receiving critical acclaim for her performance as Alexandra Owens in Flashdance (1983), for which she won NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
-
Brett Kavanaugh
- Enrolled in Yale University
- In 1987 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in history
- In 1990 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- lawyerjudgepolitician
- Biography
-
Brett Michael Kavanaugh is an American lawyer and jurist serving as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was nominated by President Donald Trump on July 9, 2018, and has served since October 6, 2018. He was previously a U.S. circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2006 to 2018.
-
William Howard Taft
- Occupations
- statespersonlawyerpedagogueuniversity teacherwriter
- Biography
-
William Howard Taft was the 27th president of the United States from 1909 to 1913 and the tenth chief justice of the United States from 1921 to 1930. He is the only person to have held both offices.
-
Cory Booker
- Enrolled in Yale University
- In 1997 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- juristlawyerpolitician
- Biography
-
Cory Anthony Booker is an American politician and lawyer serving as the senior United States senator from New Jersey, a seat he has held since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Booker is the first African-American U.S. senator from New Jersey. He was the 38th mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013, and served on the Municipal Council of Newark for the Central Ward from 1998 to 2002.
-
Barbara Bush
- Occupations
- politicianpresident
- Biography
-
Barbara Bush was the first lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993, as the wife of George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States. She was previously second lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989, when her husband was vice president under President Ronald Reagan, and founded the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. Among her children are George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, and Jeb Bush, the 43rd governor of Florida. Bush and Abigail Adams are the only two women to be the wife of one U.S. president and the mother of another. At the time she became first lady, she was the second oldest woman to hold the position, behind only Anna Harrison, who never lived in the capital. Bush was generally popular as first lady, recognized for her apolitical grandmotherly image.
-
Usha Vance
- Enrolled in Yale University
- In 2007 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
-
Usha Bala Vance is an American lawyer who has served as the second lady of the United States since 2025 as the wife of JD Vance, the 50th vice president of the United States. She is the first Indian-American second lady.
-
Zoe Kazan
- Occupations
- playwrightfilm actorstage actortelevision actoractor
- Biography
-
Zoe Swicord Kazan is an American actress and writer. She has acted in films such as The Savages (2007), Revolutionary Road (2008), and It's Complicated (2009). She starred in Happythankyoumoreplease (2010), Meek's Cutoff (2010), Ruby Sparks (2012), What If (2013), The Big Sick (2017), The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), and She Said (2022). She also wrote Ruby Sparks and co-wrote Wildlife (2018) with her partner Paul Dano.
-
Chris Cuomo
- Occupations
- lawyercorrespondent
- Biography
-
Christopher Charles Cuomo is an American news broadcaster for NewsNation. He previously worked as the ABC News chief law and justice correspondent and the co-anchor for ABC's 20/20, news anchor for Good Morning America from 2006 to 2009, and an anchor at CNN, where he co-hosted its morning show New Day from 2013 through May 2018, before moving to Cuomo Prime Time in June 2018.
-
Giuseppe Conte
- Occupations
- juristlawyeruniversity teacherpolitician
- Biography
-
Giuseppe Conte is an Italian jurist, academic, and politician who served as prime minister of Italy from June 2018 to February 2021. He has been the president of the Five Star Movement (M5S) since August 2021.
-
Vincent Price
- Occupations
- writerautobiographerart historianactorfilm actor
- Biography
-
Vincent Leonard Price Jr. was an American actor, known to film audiences for his work in the horror genre, mostly portraying villains. He appeared on stage, television, and radio, and in more than 100 films. Price has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for motion pictures and one for television.
-
Sam Waterston
- Occupations
- film producertelevision actorfilm actorvoice actorstage actor
- Biography
-
Samuel Atkinson Waterston is an American actor. Waterston is known for his work in theater, television, and film. He has received numerous accolades including a Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and two BAFTA Awards. His acting career has spanned over five decades acting on stage and screen. Waterston received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010 and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2012.
-
Alan Dershowitz
- Occupations
- art collectorlawyeruniversity teacherscreenwriter
- Biography
-
Alan Morton Dershowitz is an American lawyer and law professor known for his work in U.S. constitutional and criminal law. From 1964 to 2013, he taught at Harvard Law School, where he was appointed as the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law in 1993. Dershowitz is a regular media contributor, political commentator, and legal analyst.
-
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Studied in 1998-2000
- Occupations
- diplomat
- Biography
-
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland is the heir apparent to the Swedish throne as the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. If she ascends to the throne as expected, she will be Sweden's fourth queen regnant (after Margaret, Christina and Ulrika Eleonora) and the first since 1720. Her inheritance is secured by Sweden's 1980 Act of Succession, the first law in Western Europe to adopt royal absolute primogeniture.
-
Sonia Sotomayor
- Enrolled in Yale University
- 1976-1979 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- prosecutoruniversity teacherlawyerjudgepolitician
- Biography
-
Sonia Maria Sotomayor is an American lawyer and jurist who serves as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was nominated by President Barack Obama on May 26, 2009, and has served since August 8, 2009. She is the first Hispanic justice and the third woman U.S. Supreme Court justice.
-
Ron Livingston
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorfilm produceractorfilm actor
- Biography
-
Ronald Joseph Livingston is an American actor. He is best known for playing Peter Gibbons in Office Space (1999) and Captain Lewis Nixon III in the miniseries Band of Brothers (2001). Livingston's other roles include the films Swingers (1996), Adaptation (2002), The Conjuring (2013), James White (2015), Tully (2018); and the television series Loudermilk (2017–2020), and Boardwalk Empire (2013).
-
Dan Schneider
- Occupations
- television actorfilm directoractortelevision producerwriter
- Biography
-
Daniel James Schneider is an American television producer, screenwriter, and actor. He created and produced a string of children's shows on Nickelodeon from 1994 to 2019. In the years since 2018, he has faced significant media coverage and controversy regarding allegations of inappropriate behavior.
-
Cyril Ramaphosa
- Occupations
- ministerpoliticianentrepreneurtrade unionistbusinessperson
- Biography
-
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa is a South African businessman and politician serving as the president of South Africa since 2018. A former anti-apartheid activist and trade union leader, Ramaphosa is also the president of the African National Congress (ANC).
-
Peter Hermann
- Occupations
- film actortelevision actorstage actor
- Biography
-
Peter Hermann is an American actor. He may be best known for his roles as Charles Brooks in Younger, Trevor Langan in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Jack Boyle in Blue Bloods. Hermann is the husband of fellow Law & Order franchise actor Mariska Hargitay, series lead of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
-
Harry Hamlin
- Occupations
- actortelevision actorfilm actorvoice actorstage actor
- Biography
-
Harry Robinson Hamlin is an American actor, author, and entrepreneur. He is best known for his roles as Perseus in the 1981 fantasy film Clash of the Titans, a role he reprised in 2007's Santa Monica Studio video game God of War II, and as Michael Kuzak in the legal drama series L.A. Law, for which he received three Golden Globe nominations. For his recurring role as Jim Cutler on the AMC drama series Mad Men, Hamlin received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
-
Brian Tyree Henry
- Occupations
- film actoractortelevision actor
- Biography
-
Brian Tyree Henry is an American actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he has received nominations for an Academy Award, two Critics' Choice Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Tony Award.
-
Amy Klobuchar
- Enrolled in Yale University
- In 1982 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in political science
- Occupations
- politicianlawyerwriterautobiographerjurist
- Biography
-
Amy Jean Klobuchar is an American politician and lawyer serving as the senior United States senator from Minnesota, a seat she has held since 2007. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Minnesota's affiliate of the Democratic Party, she previously served as county attorney of Hennepin County, Minnesota. She is running for governor of Minnesota in the 2026 election.
-
Stacey Abrams
- Enrolled in Yale University
- 1996-1999 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- voting rights activistentrepreneurjuristlawyerpolitician
- Biography
-
Stacey Yvonne Abrams is an American politician, lawyer, voting rights activist, and author who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017, serving as minority leader from 2011 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Abrams founded Fair Fight Action, an organization to address voter suppression, in 2018. Her efforts have been widely credited with boosting voter turnout in Georgia, including in the 2020 presidential election, when Joe Biden narrowly won the state, and in Georgia's 2020–21 regularly scheduled and special U.S. Senate elections, which gave Democrats control of the Senate.
-
Jerry Brown
- Occupations
- bloggerlawyerpolitician
- Biography
-
Edmund Gerald Brown Jr. is an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as the 34th and 39th governor of California from 1975 to 1983 and 2011 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected secretary of state of California in 1970; Brown later served as mayor of Oakland from 1999 to 2007 and attorney general of California from 2007 to 2011. He was both the oldest and sixth-youngest governor of California due to the 28-year gap between his second and third terms. Upon completing his fourth term in office, Brown became the fourth-longest-serving governor in U.S. history, serving 16 years and 5 days in office.
-
Willa Fitzgerald
- Occupations
- television actorstage actoractorfilm actor
- Biography
-
Willa Fitzgerald is an American actress. She is known for her starring role as Emma Duval in MTV's Scream. She has played cheer coach Colette French in the USA Network's television drama series Dare Me and officer Roscoe Conklin in the Amazon Prime Video television series Reacher. Her other notable roles include Amazon Studios' television series Alpha House, the USA Network's drama series Royal Pains, Netflix's horror miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher, and the lead role in the thriller film Strange Darling.
-
Alessandro Nivola
- Occupations
- television actorstage actoractorfilm actor
- Biography
-
Alessandro Antine Nivola is an American actor. His work includes both screen and stage, and his accolades include a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for a Tony Award and an Independent Spirit Award.
-
Stacy Keach
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Graduated with Master of Fine Arts
- Occupations
- film producercomposeractorfilm actorscreenwriter
- Biography
-
Walter Stacy Keach Jr. is an American actor, active in theatre, film and television since the 1960s. Keach first distinguished himself in Off-Broadway productions and remains a prominent figure in American theatre across his career, particularly as a noted Shakespearean. He is the recipient of several theatrical accolades: four Drama Desk Awards, two Helen Hayes Awards and two Obie Awards for Distinguished Performance by an Actor. He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance in Arthur Kopit's 1969 production of Indians.
-
Steven Mnuchin
- Occupations
- bankerfilm producerpolitician
- Biography
-
Steven Terner Mnuchin is an American investment banker and film producer who served as the 77th United States secretary of the treasury as part of the first cabinet of Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021. Serving for nearly a full presidential term, Mnuchin was one of the few high-profile members of Trump's cabinet whom the president did not dismiss during his first term.
-
Nathan Chen
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Studied in 2018
- Occupations
- figure skater
- Biography
-
Nathan Wei Chen is an American figure skater. He is the 2022 Olympic champion, a three-time World champion (2018, 2019, 2021), the 2017 Four Continents champion, a three-time Grand Prix Final champion (2017, 2018, 2019), a ten-time Grand Prix medalist (8 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), the 2022 Olympic gold medalist in the team event, the 2018 Olympic bronze medalist in the team event, and a six-time U.S. national champion (2017–22). At the junior level, Chen is the 2015–16 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, 2013–14 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, 2014 World Junior bronze medalist, and a six-time Junior Grand Prix medalist (5 gold, 1 silver). He became the youngest skater to win a U.S. Championship at the novice level in 2010, at age ten, a title he successfully defended the following season.
-
David Hyde Pierce
- Occupations
- television actorfilm actordub actortheatrical directorvoice actor
- Biography
-
David Hyde Pierce is an American actor. Known for his portrayal of psychiatrist Niles Crane on the NBC sitcom Frasier from 1993 to 2004, he received four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series as well as two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Pierce has also received five Golden Globe Awards nominations for Best Supporting Actor for the role. He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role of Lt. Frank Cioffi in the Broadway musical Curtains (2007).
-
Judith Butler
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- sociologistuniversity teacherwomen's rights activistpsychoanalystjournalist
- Biography
-
Judith Butler is an American feminist, queer philosopher, and gender studies scholar whose work has influenced political philosophy, ethics, psychoanalysis, and the fields of feminist and queer theory, academic freedom, and literary theory.
-
Shawn Levoy
- Occupations
- television actorfilm directortelevision directoractorexecutive producer
- Biography
-
Shawn Adam Levy is a Canadian and American filmmaker and actor. He is the founder of 21 Laps Entertainment. His work has spanned numerous genres, and his films as a director have grossed a collective $3.5 billion worldwide.
-
Josh Hawley
- Enrolled in Yale University
- 2003-2006 graduated with Juris Doctor
- Occupations
- juristlawyerpolitician
- Biography
-
Joshua David Hawley is an American politician and attorney serving as the senior United States senator from Missouri, a seat he has held since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Hawley served as the 42nd attorney general of Missouri from 2017 to 2019, before defeating two-term incumbent Democratic senator Claire McCaskill in the 2018 election. He was reelected in 2024.
-
Samuel Alito
- Occupations
- university teacherlawyerjudgejuristmagistrate
- Biography
-
Samuel Anthony Alito Jr. is an American jurist who serves as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was nominated to the high court by President George W. Bush on October 31, 2005, and has served on it since January 31, 2006. After Antonin Scalia, Alito is the second Italian American justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
-
Mike McDaniel
- Occupations
- American football coachAmerican football player
- Biography
-
Michael Lee McDaniel is an American professional football coach who is the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). A descendant of the Shanahan coaching tree, McDaniel began his NFL coaching career as an intern for the Denver Broncos in 2005. McDaniel served as an assistant coach for the Houston Texans, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, and San Francisco 49ers from 2017 to 2021, holding his first offensive coordinator position in 2021. McDaniel appeared in Super Bowl LI with the Falcons in 2017 and Super Bowl LIV with the 49ers in 2020. McDaniel was hired by the Miami Dolphins as their head coach on February 6, 2022. He was fired by the Dolphins on January 8, 2026, after four seasons.
-
Anita Hill
- Occupations
- human rights defenderlawyerprofessorwomen's rights activist
- Biography
-
Anita Faye Hill is an American lawyer, educator and author. She is a professor of social policy, law, and women's studies at Brandeis University and a faculty member of the university's Heller School for Social Policy and Management. She became a national figure in 1991 when she accused U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, her supervisor at the United States Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, of sexual harassment.
-
Jack Schlossberg
- Enrolled in Yale University
- 2011-2015 graduated with bachelor's degree in study of history
- Occupations
- writer
- Biography
-
John Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg is an American political commentator and author. He is a member of the Kennedy family and the Bouvier family.
-
Tom Steyer
- Occupations
- businesspersonentrepreneurphilanthropistinvestment bankerfounder
- Biography
-
Thomas Fahr Steyer is an American billionaire, entrepreneur, and environmentalist. A member of the Democratic Party, Steyer is the founder and former co-senior managing partner of Farallon Capital.
-
Grace Hopper
- Enrolled in Yale University
- 1928-1930 graduated with master's degree
- In 1934 graduated with Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics
- Occupations
- naval officeruniversity teacherprogrammermathematicianphysicist
- Biography
-
Grace Brewster Hopper was an American computer scientist, mathematician, and United States Navy rear admiral. She was a pioneer of computer programming. Hopper was the first to devise the theory of machine-independent programming languages, and used this theory to develop the FLOW-MATIC programming language and COBOL, an early high-level programming language still in use today. She was also one of the first programmers on the Harvard Mark I computer. She is credited with writing the first computer manual, "A Manual of Operation for the Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator."
-
Cole Porter
- Occupations
- playwrightpianistwritercomposerfilm score composer
- Biography
-
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in Hollywood films.
-
Don Gummer
- Occupations
- sculptor
- Biography
-
Donald James Gummer is an American sculptor. His early work concentrated on table-top and wall-mounted sculpture. In the mid-1980s, he shifted his focus to large free-standing works, often in bronze. In the 1990s, he added a variety of other materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum and stained glass. His interest in large outdoor works also led him to an interest in public art. He is married to Meryl Streep, although they have been separated since 2017.
-
Barbara Bush
- Occupations
- board memberhealth activistbusinessperson
- Biography
-
Barbara Pierce Bush is an American activist and author. She co-founded and is the chair of the board of the nonprofit organization Global Health Corps. She and her fraternal twin sister, Jenna, are the daughters of the 43rd U.S. president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush. She is also a granddaughter of the 41st U.S. president, George H. W. Bush, and former first lady Barbara Bush, after whom she is named.
-
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Occupations
- poetnon-fiction writernovelistshort story writerjournalist
- Biography
-
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian writer, whose works include fiction, nonfiction, and lectures. She is widely recognised as a central figure in postcolonial feminist literature.
-
Henry Ford II
- Occupations
- entrepreneurindustrialist
- Biography
-
Henry Ford II, commonly known as "Hank the Deuce," was an American businessman in the automotive industry. He was the oldest son of Edsel Ford I and oldest grandson of Henry Ford. He served as president of the Ford Motor Company from 1945 to 1960, chief executive officer (CEO) from 1947 to 1979, and chairman of the board of directors from 1960 to 1980. Under his leadership, Ford Motor Company became a publicly traded corporation in 1956. From 1943 to 1950, he also served as president of the Ford Foundation.
-
Rebecca Miller
- Occupations
- sculptorfilmmakerfilm directorpainteractor
- Biography
-
Rebecca Augusta Miller, Lady Day-Lewis is an American filmmaker, novelist, director, and advocate of women in the film industry. She is known for her films Angela (1995), Personal Velocity: Three Portraits (2002), The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005), The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009), Maggie's Plan (2015) and She Came to Me (2023), all of which she wrote and directed, as well as her novels The Private Lives of Pippa Lee and Jacob's Folly. Miller received the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Personal Velocity and the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Director for Angela.
-
Bob Woodward
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Studied in 1965
- Occupations
- journalistwriter
- Biography
-
Robert Upshur Woodward is an American investigative journalist. He started working for The Washington Post as a reporter in 1971 and now holds the honorific title of associate editor there, though the Post no longer employs him.
-
John C. Calhoun
- Occupations
- writerlawyerdiplomatpolitician
- Biography
-
John Caldwell Calhoun was an American statesman and political theorist who served as the seventh vice president of the United States from 1825 to 1832. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer and proponent of a strong federal government and protective tariffs. In the late 1820s, his views shifted, and he became a leading proponent of states' rights, limited government, nullification, and opposition to high tariffs, and distinguished himself as an outspoken defender of American slavery. Calhoun saw Northern acceptance of those policies as a condition of the South remaining in the Union. His beliefs heavily influenced the South's secession from the Union in 1860 and 1861. Calhoun was the first of two vice presidents to resign from the position, the second being Spiro Agnew, who resigned in 1973.
-
John Bolton
- Occupations
- civil servantlawyerdiplomatpolitician
- Biography
-
John Robert Bolton II is an American attorney, diplomat, Republican consultant, and political commentator who served as the 25th United States ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2006, and as the 26th United States national security advisor from 2018 to 2019.
-
Noah Emmerich
- Occupations
- television directortelevision actorfilm produceractorfilm actor
- Biography
-
Noah Nicholas Emmerich is an American actor and director best known for his roles in films such as Beautiful Girls (1996), The Truman Show (1998), Frequency (2000), Miracle (2004), Little Children (2006), and Super 8 (2011). From 2013 to 2018 he starred as FBI agent Stan Beeman on the FX series The Americans, for which he won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2019.
-
Scott Bessent
- Enrolled in Yale University
- In 1984 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- businessperson
- Biography
-
Scott Kenneth Homer Bessent is an American businessman and government official serving since 2025 as the 79th United States secretary of the treasury. Bessent was a partner at Soros Fund Management (SFM) and founded Key Square Group, a global macro investment firm. He is the first openly gay person to lead the U.S. Treasury Department, the first openly gay U.S. Senate-confirmed Cabinet member in a Republican administration, and the second openly gay U.S. Senate-confirmed Cabinet secretary.
-
Bronson Pinchot
- Occupations
- stage actortelevision actorvoice actoractorfilm actor
- Biography
-
Bronson Alcott Pinchot is an American actor. He is best known for playing Balki Bartokomous on the ABC sitcom Perfect Strangers (1986–1993). He has also performed in films such as Risky Business (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), After Hours (1985), True Romance (1993), Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), Stephen King's The Langoliers (1995), It's My Party (1996), Courage Under Fire (1996), The First Wives Club, (1996) and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024), and in television series such as Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Meego, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. In 2012, he starred in his own reality series, The Bronson Pinchot Project, on the DIY Network.
-
Jennifer Westfeldt
- Occupations
- stage actorfilm directoractorwriterfilm producer
- Biography
-
Jennifer Westfeldt is an American actress, director, screenwriter, and producer. She is best known for co-writing, co-producing, and starring in the 2002 indie film Kissing Jessica Stein, for which she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best First Screenplay. She is also known for writing, producing, starring in, and making her directorial debut in the indie film Friends with Kids (2012).
-
Indra Nooyi
- Occupations
- businessperson
- Biography
-
Indra Nooyi is an Indian-born American business executive who was the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018.
-
Anne Wojcicki
- Occupations
- biologistbiotechnologistbusinessperson
- Biography
-
Anne E. Wojcicki is an American entrepreneur who co-founded the personal genomics company 23andMe.
-
Kellie Martin
- Occupations
- film directortelevision actorvoice actoractorfilm actor
- Biography
-
Kellie Noelle Martin is an American actress. Her roles have included Lolly in Potato Head Kids, Daphne Blake in A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, Emily Coleman in Troop Beverly Hills, Becca Thatcher in Life Goes On, Molly Tazmanian Devil in Taz-Mania, Sherry in Matinee, Christy Huddleston in Christy, Sadira in Aladdin, Roxanne in A Goofy Movie, Lucy Knight in ER, Samantha Kinsey in the Mystery Woman TV film series, and as Hailey Dean in the Hailey Dean Mysteries.
-
Dick Cavett
- Occupations
- television presenterartistic gymnastwriteractorscreenwriter
- Biography
-
Richard Alva Cavett is an American television personality, comedian and former talk show host. He appeared regularly on nationally broadcast television in the United States from the 1960s through the 2000s.
-
Paul Krugman
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Studied in 1970-1974
- Occupations
- columnistprofessorwritereconomistessayist
- Biography
-
Paul Robin Krugman is an American economist who is the Distinguished Professor of Economics at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He was a columnist for The New York Times from 2000 to 2024. In 2008, Krugman was the sole winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to new trade theory and new economic geography. The Prize Committee cited Krugman's work explaining the patterns of international trade and the geographic distribution of economic activity, by examining the effects of economies of scale and of consumer preferences for diverse goods and services.
-
Samuel Finley Breese Morse
- Occupations
- photographerphysicistsculptoruniversity teacherpainter
- Biography
-
Samuel Finley Breese Morse was an American inventor and painter. After establishing his reputation as a portrait painter, Morse, in his middle age, contributed to the invention of a single-wire telegraph system based on European telegraphs. He was a co-developer and the namesake of Morse code in 1837 and helped to develop the commercial use of telegraphy.
-
Gary Hart
- Enrolled in Yale University
- In 1964 graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- novelistlawyerdiplomatpolitician
- Biography
-
Gary Warren Hart is an American politician, diplomat, and lawyer. In 1984, he ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, finishing as the runner-up to Walter Mondale; he ran again for the nomination in 1988, and was initially considered the front-runner, but eventually dropped out amid revelations of extramarital affairs. He represented Colorado in the United States Senate from 1975 to 1987.
-
Van Jones
- Occupations
- human rights defenderlawyerpunditcivil rights advocatemotivational speaker
- Biography
-
Anthony Kapel "Van" Jones is an American political analyst, media personality, lawyer, author, and civil rights advocate. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author, a CNN host and contributor, and an Emmy Award winner.
-
Michael Cimino
- Occupations
- screenwriterfilm directordirectorfilm producer
- Biography
-
Michael Antonio Cimino was an American film director, screenwriter, producer and author. Notorious for his obsessive attention to detail and determination for perfection, Cimino achieved widespread fame with The Deer Hunter (1978), which won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
-
Joe Lieberman
- Enrolled in Yale University
- In 1964 graduated with Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science
- In 1967 graduated with Bachelor of Laws
- Occupations
- authorjuristlawyerpolitician
- Biography
-
Joseph Isadore Lieberman was an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States senator from Connecticut from 1989 to 2013. Originally a member of the Democratic Party, he was the party's vice presidential nominee in the 2000 presidential election. During his final term in office, he was officially listed as an Independent Democrat and caucused with and chaired committees for the Democratic Party.
-
Robert Reich
- Occupations
- economistpolitical scientistuniversity teacherpolitician
- Biography
-
Robert Bernard Reich is an American professor, author, lawyer, and political commentator. He worked in the administrations of presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, and he served as secretary of labor in the cabinet of President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997. He was also a member of President Barack Obama's economic transition advisory board. In 2008, Time magazine named him one of the Ten Most Effective Cabinet Members of the century; in the same year The Wall Street Journal placed him sixth on its list of Most Influential Business Thinkers.
-
Wendi Murdoch
- Occupations
- film producerbusinesspersonentrepreneur
- Biography
-
Wendi Deng Murdoch is a Chinese-born American entrepreneur and socialite. She was the third wife of media mogul Rupert Murdoch from 1999 until 2013.
-
Prescott Bush
- Occupations
- bankerUnited States senatorpolitician
- Biography
-
Prescott Sheldon Bush was an American banker and Republican Party politician. After working as a Wall Street executive investment banker, he represented Connecticut in the United States Senate from 1952 to 1963. A member of the Bush family, he was the father of President George H. W. Bush, and the paternal grandfather of President George W. Bush and Florida governor Jeb Bush.
-
W. Edwards Deming
- Occupations
- economistcomposeruniversity teacherindustrial engineerengineer
- Biography
-
William Edwards Deming was an American business theorist, composer, economist, industrial engineer, management consultant, statistician, and writer. Educated initially as an electrical engineer and later specializing in mathematical physics, he helped develop the sampling techniques still used by the United States Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. He is also known as the father of the quality movement, known as "Lean manufacturing" today, and was hugely influential in post-WWII Japan, credited with revolutionizing Japan's industry and making it one of the most dominant economies in the world. He is best known for his theories of management.
-
Christopher A. Wray
- Enrolled in Yale University
- Graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- civil servantlawyer
- Biography
-
Christopher Asher Wray is an American attorney who served as the eighth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2017 to 2025. He was nominated by President Donald Trump to replace James Comey. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 30. Wray took office on August 2, 2017 to serve a 10-year term.
-
Tom Wolfe
- Occupations
- journalistnon-fiction writerwriterreporterprose writer
- Biography
-
Thomas Kennerly Wolfe Jr. was an American author and journalist widely known for his association with New Journalism, a style of news writing and journalism developed in the 1960s and 1970s that incorporated literary techniques. Much of Wolfe's work is satirical and centers on the counterculture of the 1960s and issues related to class, social status, and the lifestyles of the economic and intellectual elites of New York City.
-
Bellamy Young
- Occupations
- television actorstage actorfilm producerfilm actor
- Biography
-
Bellamy Young is an American actress, producer and singer best known as Melody "Mellie" Grant on Scandal (2012–18), for which she won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2014. She also starred in Prodigal Son (2019–21).
