Syracuse University Notable Alumni

Discover the notable alumni of Syracuse University. The list includes people like Joe Biden, Carmelo Anthony, Vera Farmiga, Grace Jones & Megyn Kelly. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as media personalities, writers, sportspersons, film & theater personalities and singers etc.

Vote for Your Favourite Syracuse University Notable Alumni

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

 1 

Carmelo Anthony

(American Basketball Player and One of the Greatest Scorers in NBA History)

Birthdate: May 29, 1984

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States

A star basketball player currently with Los Angeles Lakers, Carmelo Anthony was first drafted by Denver Nuggets and played eight seasons with them. Amongst the most prolific scorers in the NBA history, he played another seven season with New York Knicks. At the Olympics, Anthony was part of the teams that won  a bronze medal in 2004 and a goldmedal in 2008, 2012, and 2016.

 2 

Jim Brown

(Football Player)

Birthdate: February 17, 1936

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: St. Simons, Georgia, United States

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

 3 

Lou Reed

(Lead Guitarist, Vocalist & Principal Songwriter of the Rock Band “The Velvet Underground”)

Birthdate: March 2, 1942

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States

Died: October 27, 2013

Lou Reed redefined the glam rock genre with his album Transformer. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee initially wrote sings for Pickwick Records and performed with the Velvet Underground. He then released 20 solo albums. His parents had made him go through electro-shock therapy to “cure” his bisexuality.

Recommended Lists:

Birthdate: August 6, 1973

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Clifton, New Jersey, United States

Vera Farmiga is a famous American actress and filmmaker. She is widely regarded as one of the most popular scream queens of Hollywood, thanks to her roles in movies like The Conjuring, Annabelle Comes Home, Joshua, and Orphan.

Recommended Lists:

 5 

Dylan O'Brien

(Actor)

Birthdate: August 26, 1991

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: New York City, United States

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

 6 

Jerry Stiller

(Known for His Role on the Sitcom 'Seinfeld' and the Comedy Series ‘The King of Queens’)

Birthdate: June 8, 1927

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: New York City, United States

Died: May 11, 2020

Veteran actor Jerry Stiller had an extensive six-decade-long career in the entertainment industry. He began performing comedy with his wife, Anne Meara, in the 1960s and soon started acting in films and TV shows as well. His son, Ben Stiller, is also an actor, and the two had appeared in many films together.

Recommended Lists:

 7 

Shirley Jackson

(American Writer Known Primarily for Her Works of Horror and Mystery)

Birthdate: December 14, 1916

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States

Died: September 8, 1965

Shirley Jackson redefined the genres of horror and mystery through her works, which include over 200 short stories and six novels. Her iconic novel The Haunting of Hill House was made into a popular Netflix series and several movies, including the 1963 and 1999 versions of The Haunting. 

 8 

Peter Falk

(Best Known for His Role as ‘Lieutenant Columbo’ in the TV Series ‘Columbo’)

Birthdate: September 16, 1927

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States

Died: June 23, 2011

Best known for his Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning performance in Columbo, Peter Falk was one of TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time. He also held art exhibitions and loved chess. He suffered from Alzheimer's disease before death. His plight inspired the passage of the Peter Falk's Law.

Recommended Lists:

Birthdate: March 18, 1963

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

 10 

Suzanne Pleshette

(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Emily Hartley’ in the TV Series ‘The Bob Newhart Show’)

Birthdate: January 31, 1937

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Brooklyn Heights, New York, United States

Died: January 19, 2008

Suzanne Pleshette is best remembered for her Golden Globe-nominated role in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. She also appeared as Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show and was nominated for both the Emmy and the Golden Globe for her portrayal of real-life hotelier Leona Helmsley in her biopic.

Recommended Lists:

 11 

Neal McDonough

(Actor)

Birthdate: February 13, 1966

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Dorchester, Massachusetts, USA

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

 12 

L. Frank Baum

(Best Known for His Children's Books Like 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' and its Sequels)

Birthdate: May 15, 1856

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Chittenango, New York, United States

Died: May 6, 1919

L. Frank Baum was an author remembered for writing children's books including The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which inspired the 1902 Broadway musical and the 1939 live-action film of the same name. His works anticipated the invention of gadgets like TV that would be invented later. In 2013, Baum was made an inductee of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame.

Recommended Lists:

 13 

Marvin Harrison

(American Football Player)

Birthdate: August 25, 1972

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

 14 

John C McGinley

(Actor and Filmmaker Known for His Role as 'Dr. Perry Cox' in the TV Series ‘Scrubs’)

Birthdate: August 3, 1959

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

John C. McGinley is best known as Perry Cox from Scrubs and as Bob Slydell from Office Space. He has also been part of films such as Two Tickets to Paradise. His son Max’s battle with Down syndrome inspired him to work with organizations that spread awareness about the condition.

Recommended Lists:

 15 

Ernie Davis

(American Football Player Who Was the First African American to Win the Heisman Trophy)

Birthdate: December 14, 1939

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: New Salem-Buffington, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: May 18, 1963

Footballer Ernie Davis was the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. The Syracuse University player was later drafted by the NFL team Cleveland Browns. However, he died of leukemia at 23, without playing a single professional game. His story inspired the movie The Express: The Ernie Davis Story.

Birthdate: May 7, 2002

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: New Jersey, United States

Recommended Lists:

Birthdate: August 9, 1982

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Silver Spring, Maryland, United States

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

Birthdate: June 24, 1947

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States

Peter Weller is best known as Robocop from the film RoboCop and its sequel. He also earned an Academy Award nomination for his 1993 short film Partners. He starred in the series 24, hosted a History Channel show, and voiced Bruce Wayne/Batman in the miniseries The Dark Knight Returns.

Recommended Lists:

 19 

Riki Lindhome

(Actress)

Birthdate: March 5, 1979

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Coudersport, Pennsylvania, USA

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

Birthdate: June 16, 1938

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Lockport, New York, United States

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

Recommended Lists:

Birthdate: June 9, 1961

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States

Aaron Sorkin is an American filmmaker, playwright, and screenwriter. He won the Academy Award for writing the popular film The Social Network. Aaron Sorkin is credited with popularizing his trademark extended monologues and fast-paced dialogue in films. He is also known for using single tracking shots of long duration where multiple characters enter and exit the conversation.

Birthdate: January 1, 1938

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Bayonne, New Jersey, United States

Frank Langella is an actor most revered in the American theatre industry where he has won four Tony Awards. He then replicated his success in the film and TV industry, appearing in popular movies and TV series. His memoir, Dropped Names, attracted critical appreciation, with some even calling it a celebration of sluttiness as a noble way of life.

Recommended Lists:

 23 

Megyn Kelly

(Journalist and Host of TV Shows 'The Kelly File' and 'American Live')

Birthdate: November 18, 1970

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Champaign, Illinois, United States

Megyn Kelly is a well-known American journalist and political commentator. She had a successful career at Fox News and NBC News, where she did reporting and anchored many shows. She quit television and launched her media production company in 2020. She hosts the The Megyn Kelly Show podcast. She has also written an autobiography titled Settle for More.

 24 

Donovan McNabb

(American Football Player)

Birthdate: November 25, 1976

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

Recommended Lists:

Birthdate: May 21, 1959

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Nicholas Cassavetes, son of actor Gena Rowlands and actor-director John Cassavetes, had initially tried his luck in basketball, but his sports career ended due to an injury. He later appeared in films such as Face/Off and The Astronaut's Wife. He also directed films such as The Notebook.

 26 

Tom Everett Scott

(Actor)

Birthdate: September 7, 1970

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, USA

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

Recommended Lists:

 27 

Ted Koppel

(Broadcast Journalist Best Known as the Anchor for 'Nightline')

Birthdate: February 8, 1940

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Nelson, Lancashire, England

Ted Koppel is an American broadcast journalist who contributed immensely to the success of the popular late-night television news program Nightline, working as its anchor from 1980 to 2005. Considered one of the most remarkable among the serious-minded interviewers on TV, Ted Koppel has won several prestigious awards, including 42 Emmy Awards and nine Overseas Press Club awards.

 28 

Ina Garten

(Author and Host of the Food Network Show ‘Barefoot Contessa’)

Birthdate: February 2, 1948

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: New York City, United States

Ina Garten is an American author and TV host best known for hosting Food Network's cooking show, Barefoot Contessa. Over the years, Garten has released several best-selling cookbooks, including The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook and Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home.

Recommended Lists:

 29 

Bob Costas

(Sportscaster)

Birthdate: March 22, 1952

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Queens, New York, United States

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

 30 

Jim Hutton

(Actor)

Birthdate: May 31, 1934

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Binghamton, New York, USA

Died: June 2, 1979

Height: 6'5" (196 cm)

Recommended Lists:

 31 

Kevin Michael Richardson

(Mostly voiced villainous characters in animation and video games)

Birthdate: October 25, 1964

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

 32 

Jim Boeheim

(Basketball coach, Basketball player)

Birthdate: November 17, 1944

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Lyons, New York, United States

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

Recommended Lists:

Birthdate: August 2, 1945

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Haddonfield, New Jersey, United States

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

Birthdate: August 31, 1946

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Waterloo, New York, United States

In his 28-year coaching career, Tom Coughlin had been the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Giants. In his school days, he excelled in both football and basketball, but completely focused on football during his Syracuse University days. His Jay Fund assists children with leukemia and other cancers.

Recommended Lists:

 35 

Jennifer Meyer

(Jewelry designer)

Birthdate: April 23, 1977

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

 36 

Betsey Johnson

(Costume designer)

Birthdate: August 10, 1942

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Wethersfield

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

Recommended Lists:

 37 

Joe Biden

(46th President of the United States (Since 2021))

Birthdate: November 20, 1942

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States

Joe Biden is the president-elect of the United States and will become the 46th president when he will assume the charge on 20 January 2021. Biden is the oldest person ever elected to the White House. One of the youngest senators in the US history and Delaware’s longest-serving senator, Joe Biden served as the 47th vice president of the United States from 2009 to 2017.

 38 

Beau Biden

(44th Attorney General of Delaware (2007 - 2015) and Son of US President Joe Biden)

Birthdate: February 3, 1969

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Wilmington, Delaware, United States

Died: May 30, 2015

A politician and attorney, Beau Biden was the eldest child of politician Joe Biden. As a little boy, he was severely injured in a car accident in which his mother and sister perished. He overcame several challenges to become a successful attorney. However, fate was cruel to him and he died of brain cancer at the age of 46.

Recommended Lists:

Birthdate: March 7, 1955

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Riyadh

Saudi Arabian businessman and philanthropist Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud is part of the Saudi royal family. Son of The Red Prince Talal bin Abdul-Aziz, he founded the conglomerate Kingdom Holding Company. Named by Time as the Arabian Warren Buffett, he was also arrested for corruption once.

 40 

Heather Dubrow

(Actress)

Birthdate: January 5, 1969

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Bronx, New York, USA

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Recommended Lists:

 41 

Sam Lloyd

(Actor)

Birthdate: November 12, 1963

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Weston, Vermont, USA

Height: 5'11" (180 cm)

 42 

Mike Tirico

(Sports Commentator)

Birthdate: December 13, 1966

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Whitestone, New York, United States

Recommended Lists:

 43 

Al Davis

(American Football Coach and Executive & Former Owner and General Manager of the ‘Oakland Raiders’ of the NFL)

Birthdate: July 4, 1929

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Brockton, Massachusetts, United States

Died: October 8, 2011

Allen Davis was the general manager and owner of the NFL team Oakland Raiders for 39 years. He had also been the Raiders’ head coach. His motto,"Just win, baby," led the Raiders to win three Super Bowl titles. He also hired the first Black NFL head coach.

 44 

Jerami Grant

(Basketball player)

Birthdate: March 12, 1994

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, United States

Height: 6'8" (203 cm)

Recommended Lists:

Birthdate: April 2, 1947

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Endicott

Height: 5'3" (160 cm)

 46 

Dave Bing

(Basketball player, Politician)

Birthdate: November 24, 1943

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

Recommended Lists:

 47 

Mike Rotunda

(American Retired Professional Wrestler)

Birthdate: March 30, 1958

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

Birthdate: April 26, 1962

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: South Ozone Park, New York, United States

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Recommended Lists:

 49 

Dion Waiters

(Basketball player - Shooting guard)

Birthdate: December 10, 1991

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

 50 

Jay Harrington

(Actor)

Birthdate: November 15, 1971

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Massachusetts, USA

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

Recommended Lists:

Also known as the ‘Syracuse, 'Cuse’, or ‘SU’, Syracuse University is by far one of the most reputed institutions to graduate from. The ‘Methodist Episcopal Church’ laid the foundation of this notable institution in the year 1831 in Lima, New York. It has a beautiful campus that is located in the ‘University Hill’ which is very close to Syracuse, New York. It offers nationally recognized programs and is split into 13 schools and colleges. They also have a very athletic and a competitive sports team and have managed to secure a place in the ‘Eastern College Athletic Conference’. Most of the alumnus of this university are extremely competitive and have made a name for not only themselves but also for the institution they have passed out from. After passing out from this institution they have moved in different fields like sports, entertainment, business etc. You name a field and here you will have alumni of Syracuse University has made a mark for themselves upholding the reputation of the institution they have passed out from. Some of the notable alumni of the ‘Syracuse University’ are, the popular sportscaster, Bob Costas, the famous actress, Vanessa L. Williams or for that matter, the exceptional screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin. These notable alumni of the ‘Syracuse University’ have taken the world by a storm and this is just the begning.