Emerson College Notable Alumni

The son of the legendary martial artist and actor, Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee followed in his father’s footsteps. Trained in martial arts, he made his film debut in the 1980s and became a successful star in his own right. He was accidentally wounded while filming The Crow and died. The film, dedicated to him, became a hit.

Jennifer Coolidge is an American actress. She is known for playing Jeanine Stifler in the sex comedy film series American Pie. Also known for her charity work, Coolidge has had a major impact working with organizations that support animal rights and AIDS assistance. Thanks to her performance in Legally Blonde, her voice has been the subject of a famous impression.

David Cross is an American actor, writer, and stand-up comedian. Cross is credited with creating and developing popular TV series, such as The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret and Freak Show. In 2013, the co-founder of Kickstarter, Yancey Strickler, revealed that David Cross was one of the first investors of Kickstarter, a public benefit corporation.

Maria Menounos began her career with a win at the Miss Massachussetts Teen USA pageant. At 22, she became the youngest person to co-host Entertainment Tonight. Currently the CEO of AfterBuzz TV, she has also been a professional wrestler and has penned several self-help books. She also supports many charitable initiatives.

Denis Leary is an Irish-American actor, producer, writer, and comedian. Leary is credited with creating popular TV series, such as Rescue Me and Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll. Also a humanitarian, Denis Leary established the Leary Firefighters Foundation in 2000. The foundation has been donating money to fire departments in New York City, Boston, and Worcester.

TV writer and producer Norman Lear is best known for producing hit sitcoms such as All in the Family, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, and Sanford and Son. He is also part of the Malibu Mafia and a liberal activist. He also established People for the American Way.

American-Canadian actor Andrea Martin is best known for her roles in movies such as My Big Fat Greek Wedding. She has also won Tony and Drama Desk awards for her performances in plays such as My Favorite Year and Pippin. Her one-woman show Nude, Nude, Totally Nude was a hit.

Matt McGorry is best known as John Bennett from the iconic Netflix series Orange Is the New Black and as Asher Millstone from How to Get Away with Murder. He is a feminist and a social activist, too. He was initially a fitness trainer and a bodybuilder.

Justin Willman is an American comedian, television personality, magician, and producer. He is credited with creating the popular reality television show, Magic for Humans. Justin Willman is also known for his philanthropic efforts; he serves on the board of directors for MagicAid, a non-profit organization that uses magic tricks to improve the hospitalization experience for children.

Shane Hurlbut is an American cinematographer best known for his work in films like Drumline. Hurlbut is one of the most critically acclaimed cinematographers of the current generation. His photographic work in his debut film, The Rat Pack, earned him a nomination from the American Society of Cinematographers, making him the youngest cinematographer to have been nominated by the ASC.