Famous University of Arizona Alumni
The University of Arizona (UA), established in 1885, stands as a prominent land-grant university. With over 300,000 alumni and a student body exceeding 55,000, the university has a rich history and a widespread influence. Located in central Tucson, the 380-acre campus is known for its rallying cry, "Bear Down," and its unique desert environment. This article highlights some of the most notable alumni and former students who have made significant contributions in various fields.
Notable Alumni in Arts and Entertainment
The University of Arizona has produced a remarkable array of talent in the arts and entertainment industry. These alumni have achieved stardom and critical acclaim in film, television, music, and comedy.
Kourtney Kardashian
Kourtney Kardashian Barker is an American media personality and socialite, best known for starring in the reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Its success led to spin-offs like Kourtney and Kim Take Miami and Kourtney and Kim Take New York. After the family decided to end their show after 20 seasons in 2021, they began appearing in a new reality television series titled The Kardashians on Hulu in 2022. Kourtney Kardashian transferred to UA after studying at Southern Methodist University and graduated in 2002 with a theater arts degree.
Kristen Wiig
Kristen Carroll Wiig is an American actress, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. She gained recognition as a performer with the Los Angeles comedy troupe The Groundlings. Wiig achieved stardom for her seven seasons on NBC's Saturday Night Live (SNL) from 2005 to 2012. Wiig transferred to UA, where she initially studied art before dropping out to pursue her career in Los Angeles.
Nicole Richie
Nicole Camille Richie is an American media personality, fashion designer, and actress. She rose to prominence after appearing on the reality television series The Simple Life (2003-2007) alongside Paris Hilton. Richie's personal life garnered significant media attention during and after the series. She attended UA starting in 1999 but later dropped out. Richie also created the lifestyle brand House of Harlow.
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John Hughes
John Wilden Hughes Jr. was an American filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter, renowned for his influential coming-of-age films. He began his career writing humorous essays for National Lampoon magazine. Hughes directed, wrote, or produced iconic films such as Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, She's Having a Baby, and Uncle Buck. He also wrote National Lampoon's Vacation, Mr. Mom, National Lampoon's European Vacation, Pretty in Pink, The Great Outdoors, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, Dutch, and Beethoven. Hughes attended UA before leaving in his junior year.
Linda McCartney
Linda Louise, Lady McCartney, was an American photographer, musician, cookbook author, and activist. She was the keyboardist and harmony vocalist in the band Wings, which featured her husband, Paul McCartney of the Beatles.
Rick Hoffman
Rick Hoffman is an American actor known for his roles as Jerry Best in the Fox sitcom The Bernie Mac Show (2002-2005), Chase Chapman in the ABC comedy series Samantha Who? (2007-2009), and Louis Litt in the USA Network legal drama series Suits (2011-2019).
Garry Shandling
Garry Emmanuel Shandling was an American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer. Before becoming a successful comedian, Garry Shandling attended UA with plans to study electrical engineering. He later graduated with a marketing degree and studied creative writing afterward. His stand-up career led him to the "Tonight Show" and the creation of "It's Garry Shandling's Show."
Jerry Bruckheimer
Jerome Leon Bruckheimer is an American film and television producer known for his work in action, drama, comedy, fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. He graduated from UA with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1965. Bruckheimer has produced films including Flashdance, The Rock, Crimson Tide, Dangerous Minds, Con Air, Armageddon, Enemy of the State, Pearl Harbor, Black Hawk Down, as well as the Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun, Bad Boys, Pirates of the Caribbean and National Treasure franchises.
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Craig T. Nelson
Craig Theodore Nelson is an American actor known for his roles as Hayden Fox in the ABC sitcom Coach, Deputy Warden Ward Wilson in the 1980 film Stir Crazy, Steve Freeling in the 1982 film Poltergeist, Burt Nickerson in All the Right Moves (1983), Peter Dellaplane in Action Jackson, Chief Howard Hyde in Turner & Hooch (1989), Alex Cullen in The Devil's Advocate (1997), Chief Jack Mannion in the CBS drama The District (2000-04), The Warden in the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl (2007), and the voice of Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible in the 2004 film The Incredibles and its 2018 sequel. He also starred as Zeek Braverman in the NBC drama series Parenthood (2010-15) and recurred as Dale Ballard in the CBS sitcom Young Sheldon (2017-24).
Linda Ronstadt
Tucson-native singer Linda Ronstadt boasts a repertoire of several platinum and multiplatinum albums and 11 Grammys. She studied at UA for one semester before moving to Los Angeles in 1964 at age 18. She’s known for songs like “You’re No Good” and “Blue Bayou” and performed within a range of genres from folk, to rock to Latin music.
Joan Ganz Cooney
Before Phoenix native Joan Ganz Cooney created the beloved children’s show “Sesame Street,” she was acting at the University of Arizona. She later graduated with an education degree in 1951 and moved to New York City, where she began producing documentaries.
Notable Alumni in Sports
The University of Arizona has a strong athletic tradition, and many of its alumni have gone on to achieve great success in professional sports.
Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr is a nine-time NBA champion, known as one of the most accurate three-point shooters in NBA history. Kerr graduated from UA in 1988 with a general studies degree after five years with the team. He won five titles as a player and four as head coach of the Warriors. He was named one of the 15 Greatest Coaches in NBA History.
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Nick Foles
Former professional football quarterback Nick Foles transferred to the University of Arizona in 2008, where he played several successful seasons. He graduated with a communication degree and went on to play with the Philadelphia Eagles and St. He achieved his greatest success with the Philadelphia Eagles, leading the franchise to their first Super Bowl title.
Andre Iguodala
Andre Tyler Iguodala is an American former professional basketball player who played for 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The swingman was an NBA All-Star in 2012 and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team twice. Iguodala won four NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2015.
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph Dole was an American politician and attorney from Kansas who served in both chambers of the United States Congress, the United States House of Representatives from 1961 to 1969 and a member of the United States Senate from 1969 to his resignation in 1996 to campaign for President of the United States in the 1996 election. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his tenure, including three non-consecutive years as Senate Majority Leader. Dole was also the vice presidential nominee in the 1976 election, making Dole the only unsuccessful major party nominee for both president and vice president in the history of the United States. Dole enrolled at UA in 1948-1949.
Luke Walton
Luke Theodore Walton is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the lead assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 10 seasons in the NBA as a forward, winning two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. He also won a title as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors before serving as the head coach of the Lakers from 2016 through 2019. Additionally, Walton served as the head coach of the Sacramento Kings from 2019 to 2021. Walton enrolled in the University of Arizona in 1999-2003.
Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Jay Arenas Jr. is a Cuban-American former professional basketball player. Arenas attended Grant High School in the Valley Glen district of Los Angeles, and accepted a scholarship offer to the University of Arizona late in his junior year. He was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the 31st overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft.
Aaron Gordon
Aaron Addison Gordon is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born in San Jose, California, Gordon attended Archbishop Mitty High School where he led his team to two state championships and was named California Mr. Basketball in his junior and senior years. Gordon then played one year of college basketball with the Arizona Wildcats, during which they won the Pac-12 regular season title and reached the Elite Eight of the 2014 NCAA tournament.
Richard Jefferson
Richard Allen Jefferson Jr. is an American former professional basketball player who played small forward. He played for eight teams in his 17-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Lauri Markkanen
Lauri Elias Markkanen is a Finnish professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and for the Finland national team. Markkanen enrolled in the University of Arizona in 2016-2017.
Deandre Ayton
Deandre Edoneille Ayton Sr. is a Bahamian professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season of college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats, where he was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year.
Rob Gronkowski
Former NFL football player Rob Gronkowski played for the UA Wildcats before being drafted by the New England Patriots in 2010. He is known as one of the best tight ends in the league’s history.
Notable Alumni in Politics and Public Service
The University of Arizona has also produced numerous leaders in politics and public service, who have served at the state and national levels.
Raul Castro
The Mexican-American politician served in several public offices, including as the 14th governor of Arizona and as an American ambassador. Castro was the first Latino to serve as governor of the state and attended UA's law school, paying his way through his salary as a Spanish instructor at the university.
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was an American politician and major general in the Air Force Reserve who served as a United States senator from 1953 to 1965 and 1969 to 1987, and was the Republican Party's nominee for president in 1964. Goldwater enrolled at UA shortly after graduating from high school but ultimately left in 1929 after his father died.
Geraldo Rivera
Geraldo Rivera is an American journalist, attorney, author, and political commentator who worked at the Fox News Channel from 2001 to 2023. He hosted the tabloid talk show Geraldo from 1987 to 1998. Rivera enrolled in the University of Arizona and graduated with a Bachelor of Science.
Ayọ Tometi
Ayọ Tometi is an activist and co-creator of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Tometi graduated with a bachelor's degree from UA in 2005.
Raúl M. Grijalva
Raúl M. Grijalva is a U.S. Representative, serving in Congress since 2002.
Richard Carmona
Richard Carmona is an American physician, public health administrator, and former Surgeon General of the United States. He earned a master's in public health at UA in 1998.
Other Notable Alumni
The University of Arizona boasts alumni who have excelled in various other fields, including business, science, and activism.
David Foster Wallace
David Foster Wallace was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and university professor of English and creative writing. Wallace's 1996 novel Infinite Jest was cited by Time magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to 2005. His posthumous novel, The Pale King (2011), was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2012. Wallace enrolled in the University of Arizona 1985-1987 and graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing.
Temple Grandin
Mary Temple Grandin is an American academic, inventor, and ethologist. She is a prominent proponent of the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter and the author of more than 60 scientific papers on animal behavior. Grandin is a consultant to the livestock industry, where she offers advice on animal behavior, and is also an autism spokesperson.
Jonathan Van Ness
Jonathan McDonald Van Ness is an American hairstylist, podcast host, and television personality. He is best known as the grooming expert on the Netflix series Queer Eye, for his work on the web series parody Gay of Thrones, and for hosting the Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness podcast.
Savannah Guthrie
Savannah Clark Guthrie is an Australian-born American broadcast journalist and former attorney. She is a main co-anchor of the NBC News morning show Today, a position she has held since July 2012. Guthrie graduated from UA in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Rande Gerber
Rande Gerber is an American businessman. He founded tequila brand Casamigos alongside actor George Clooney and businessman Mike Meldman, as well as nightlife companies Midnight Oil, Caliche Rum, and Gerber Group.
Harvey Mason Jr.
Harvey Mason Jr. is the current chief executive officer of the Recording Academy. Harvey Mason Jr., attended UA from 1986 to 1990 on a basketball scholarship.
Michael Biehn
Michael Biehn is an American actor, primarily known for his roles in science fiction films directed by James Cameron; as Sgt. Kyle Reese in The Terminator (1984), Cpl. Dwayne Hicks in Aliens (1986), and Lt. Coffey in The Abyss (1989).
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