Fordham University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Fordham University, a private Roman Catholic research university in New York City, boasts a rich history and a long list of distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. Founded in 1841, it is the oldest Catholic institution of higher education in the northeastern United States, the third-oldest university in the state of New York, and the only Jesuit university in New York City. From the entertainment industry to politics and beyond, Fordham's graduates have left an indelible mark on the world.
Entertainment Industry Luminaries
Fordham University has produced a remarkable array of talent in the entertainment industry.
Denzel Washington: Perhaps one of Fordham's most recognizable alumni, Denzel Washington, FCLC '77, is a two-time Academy Award winner, earning the prestigious award for Best Supporting Actor in "Glory" and Best Actor in "Training Day." He has also been nominated for nine Academy Awards in total. The New York Times named him the greatest actor of the 21st century in 2020. Before achieving stardom, Washington honed his craft at Fordham, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and English. He also served on the school’s board of trustees from 1994 to 2000. He has also gifted the school generous donations in excess of $2 million.
Lana Del Rey: Known for her mesmerizing voice and captivating lyrics, Lana Del Rey, Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, is another prominent Fordham alumna. She graduated with a degree in philosophy in 2005. In the same year, she released her first EP, titled "Kill Kill," under her birth name Elizabeth Grant. Her music is noted for its cinematic quality and exploration of tragic romance, glamour, and melancholia, with frequent references to pop culture and 1950s-1970s Americana. Her vintage Hollywood glamour aesthetic is showcased in her music videos. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an MTV Video Music Award, three MTV Europe Music Awards, two Brit Awards, two Billboard Women in Music awards and a Satellite Award, in addition to nominations for eleven Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. Variety honored her at their Hitmakers Awards for being "one of the most influential singer-songwriters of the 21st century". In 2023, Rolling Stone placed Del Rey on their list of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time", while their sister publication Rolling Stone UK named her as the "Greatest American Songwriter of the 21st century".
Alan Alda: Best known for his Emmy-winning roles of Hawkeye in MAS*H and Arnold Vinick in The West Wing, Alan Alda is a celebrated actor, director, and screenwriter. The award-winning actor was in the class of 1956 as an English major, and was on television before he graduated (performing with his father, Robert Alda). He has a keen interest in cosmology, serves on the boards of various science and technology institutes, and has received several honorary degrees.
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Dylan McDermott: Dylan McDermott is an American actor. He is known for his role as lawyer and law firm head Bobby Donnell on the legal drama series The Practice, which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama and a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Regina Hall: Regina Hall is best known as Brenda Meeks from the Scary Movie franchise and as Corretta Lipp from Ally McBeal. She appeared in the movies The Best Man and Think Like a Man and their respective sequels. She supports the Scleroderma Research Foundation and endorses Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds. She received critical acclaim, and became the first African American to win the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress for the comedy film Support the Girls (2018).
Taylor Schilling: Taylor Schilling is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Piper Chapman on the Netflix original comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019), for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy and Best Actress - Television Series Drama.
Patricia Clarkson: Patricia Clarkson is an American actress. She has starred in numerous leading and supporting roles in a variety of films ranging from independent film features to major film studio productions. Her accolades include a Golden Globe Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and a Tony Award.
Faith Evans: Faith Evans studied marketing at Fordham in 1991. She is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and actress. Following her uncredited appearance on labelmate the Notorious B.I.G.'s single "One More Chance", she released her debut studio album, Faith (1995), to critical acclaim and moderate commercial reception. Evans then guest performed alongside 112 on Puff Daddy’s 1997 single "I'll Be Missing You," which won Best Rap Performance at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards and became the first hip hop song to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100.
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David Copperfield: The famous magician attended Fordham in 1975 at the Rose Hill Campus … for three weeks. He is an American stage magician, described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history.
Annie Parisse: Annie Parisse is an American actress. She portrayed Alexandra Borgia on the drama series Law & Order. Parisse has also starred as Julia Snyder on the soap opera As the World Turns, for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award.
Susan Lucci: Actress Susan Lucci attended Marymount and is a member of the Butler Society. Membership is given to students who have achieved the highest honors. She is best known for portraying Erica Kane on the ABC daytime drama All My Children during that show's entire network run from 1970 to 2011. The character is considered an icon, and she was called "Daytime's Leading Lady" by TV Guide, with The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times citing her as the highest-paid actor in daytime television.
Other notable figures in the entertainment industry who attended Fordham include:
- Amanda Seyfried: Amanda Seyfried was supposed to graduate in 2003, but when offered a role in Mean Girls, she left.
- Betty Gilpin: Known for her role in the Netflix series GLOW.
- Robert Sean Leonard: Best known for his role in Dead Poets Society and the TV series House.
- Lea Salonga: A renowned singer and actress known for her work in musical theater.
- Michaela McManus: Known for her roles in One Tree Hill, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Aquarius.
- Dash Mihok: Known for playing Brendan "Bunchy" Donovan in the Showtime drama series Ray Donovan.
- Jonathan Harris: Best known for his role as Dr. Zachary Smith in Lost in Space.
- Tommy Dorfman: Television and film actor.
Political Leaders and Public Servants
Fordham University has also produced numerous leaders in the realm of politics and public service.
Andrew Cuomo: The 56th governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, has been holding office since 2011. He earned a degree in law before following in his father’s footsteps. He began his political career in the 1990s and oversaw the passage of the 2011 Marriage Equality Act during his governorship.
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Geraldine Ferraro: Geraldine Anne Ferraro was an American politician, diplomat, and attorney. She served in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1985, and was the Democratic Party's nominee for vice president in the 1984 presidential election, running alongside Walter Mondale; this made her the first female vice-presidential nominee representing a major American political party.
G. Gordon Liddy: George Gordon Battle Liddy was an American lawyer and FBI agent who was convicted of conspiracy, burglary, and illegal wiretapping for his role in the Watergate scandal during the Nixon administration.
Other notable alumni in politics and public service include:
- Donald Trump: Enrolled in Fordham University in 1964-1966. Before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, where he would graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics in 1968.
- Felipe N. Torres: A pathbreaking Afro-Latino leader and legal trailblazer, was the first Puerto Rican judge appointed to the New York State Family Court and the first Puerto Rican assemblyman elected from the Bronx. He was a founding member of the Harlem Lawyers Association (now known as the Metropolitan Black Bar Association) and the Puerto Rican Bar Association.
- Eunice Carter: By the 1940s her professional and political successes had made her one of the most famous black women in the United States.
- Franklin H. Williams: A civil rights lawyer, world ambassador, national diplomat, and philanthropist whose commitment to combating racial injustice effected great change in American society-and around the globe.
Pioneers and Trailblazers
Fordham University has also been a breeding ground for pioneers and trailblazers who have broken barriers and shattered expectations.
Ruth Whitehead Whaley: Ruth Whitehead Whaley's life is a compelling story of firsts. The first black woman to enroll at Fordham Law, Whaley graduated at the top of her class in 1924. In 1925, she became the first black woman to practice law in New York state, and in 1933, she was the first black woman to practice law in her home state of North Carolina. Fordham has recognized Whaley as one of the most influential and important alumni to ever come out of the university and has created several awards in her honor. Fordham’s Black Law Students Association also created an award in Whaley’s honor for alumni who have shown similar qualities to Whaley.
Vincent T. Lombardi: Vincent T. Lombardi joined Fordham’s football team in 1933 and created an unforgettable legacy. During his nine years of coaching, the Packers were crowned Super Bowl Champions in 1966 and 1967. Lombardi was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971 - one of the highest obtainable honors.
Other Notable Alumni
Beyond the realms of entertainment and politics, Fordham University boasts alumni who have excelled in various other fields. These include:
- Don DeLillo: An acclaimed novelist, short story writer, playwright, screenwriter, and essayist.
- Mary Higgins Clark: A bestselling author of suspense novels.
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