University Of California, Los Angeles Notable Alumni

Retired basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a legendary NBA champion and its all-time leading scorer. Known for his trademark skyhook shot, he achieved remarkable feats during his career. Later, he pursued a successful writing and acting career and was even selected U.S. global cultural ambassador. The NBA star is also the proud recipient of the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Russell Westbrook is a professional basketball player. A nine-time NBA All-Star, Russell is only one of two players in the history of the NBA to average a triple-double for an entire season. An eight-time All-NBA Team member, Russell is one of the most athletic NBA players of all time. He also frequently appears in commercials for brands like Air Jordan.

Carol Burnett inspired a lot of women and set off a chain reaction by hosting her groundbreaking show The Carol Burnett Show. Regarded as one of USA's most cherished entertainers, Carol continues to enhance the lives of millions, for which she was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She has also won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

John Williams is an American composer, pianist, trombonist, and conductor. Widely considered the greatest film composer ever, John Williams has played a significant role in the American film industry by composing music for films, such as the Jurassic Park films, Star Wars saga, the Indiana Jones films, and Schindler's List. He has also influenced several other composers like Marcus Paus.

Francis Ford Coppola is an American filmmaker. Widely regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers ever, Francis Ford Coppola was a prominent figure in the Hollywood Renaissance filmmaking movement of the 1960s and 1970s. A much revered and celebrated filmmaker, he is credited with directing some of the greatest films of all time, including The Godfather movie series.

American actress Helen Hunt garnered recognition when she acted in the television series, St Elsewhere, in the 1980s and Mad About You in the 1990s. She has starred in several acclaimed and successful Hollywood films like Twister, What Women Want, Cast Away and The Sessions. She won a Best Actress Oscar for the 1997 film As Good as it Gets.

Actor, director, and comedian, James Franco, has been active in the entertainment industry for over two decades. He was studious as a child and wanted to become a marine biologist. However, fate had other plans and he became an actor instead. In addition to acting, he teaches film classes at many universities, including New York University.

American actress Mariska Hargitay has earned wide acclaim and numerous awards for her work in the long running television series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Daughter of actress Jayne Mansfield, she made her debut with horror film, Ghoulies and appeared in numerous television shows like ER before bagging her big role. She has also established the Joyful Heart Foundation.

From being a licensed physician, Korean-American actor Ken Jeong went on to do stand-up comedy and eventually ventured into acting. He got his breakthrough role with film Knocked Up but he garnered widespread fame with The Hangover film franchise and the acclaimed sitcom Community. His other notable films include Pineapple Express, Crazy Rich Asian and a recent Netflix stand-up special.

Legendary American sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner is still regarded as the fastest woman in the world. Her world records in both the 100m and 200m categories have still not been broken. The three-time Olympic gold medal winner was also known for her six-inch nails and her unconventional outfits.

A popular American actress, Gabrielle Union has been vocal about violence against women and issues pertaining to women's health. Also a writer, she has released a memoir and a children's book. In 2020, she was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list. Gabrielle Union has been an inspiration for women like Oprah Winfrey.

A strong conservative political commentator, author, media host and lawyer, Ben Shapiro became the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the US at the age of seventeen and at twenty published his first book. The host of a daily political podcast ,The Ben Shapiro Show, he has frequently invited criticism for his views on various issues like same-sex marriage and abortion.

Milo Ventimiglia is best known for acting in American television series Gilmore Girls, Heroes and This Is Us. His role in This is Us has been critically acclaimed and he has won three Emmy awards for it. He has also acted in films like The Art of Racing in the Rain, Devil’s Gate, Gamer, The Divide, Rocky 6 and Pathology.

Versatile stage and screen actor Mark Harmon is best known for his work in television series, St. Elsewhere and NCIS, and television film, The Deliberate Stranger. Initially a footballer, Harmon considered a career in law and advertising before eventually entering the world of acting. His big break came with the television movie, Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years. 

American actress Heather Graham gained recognition with her performance in the movie Drugstore Cowboy and Boogie Nights. She further appeared in movies like Lost in Space, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and The Hangover. Her television credits include Law & Order True Crime and Bliss. The beautiful actress also backs numerous charitable causes, especially those related to children.

Sofia Daccarett Char is an American singer and actress known for playing important roles in TV films and series like Adventures in Babysitting and Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists. Apart from being an actress, Sofia also serves as Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation's global ambassador, promoting the foundation's educational programs and mission. She is also the global ambassador of Revlon.

William Theodore Walton III, popularly known as Bill Walton, is a former basketball player. In 1977, he helped the Portland Trail Blazers win an NBA championship and won another NBA championship in 1986 while playing for the Boston Celtics. In 1993, Walton was made an inductee to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Catherine Bell is an actress, producer, and model. She is best known for her roles in the TV series JAG and Army Wives. As a young woman, she enrolled at UCLA but dropped out to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. She struggled for a few years but was eventually able to establish herself as a versatile actress. 

Wil Wheaton is best known for his roles in Stand by Me and Star Trek: The Next Generation. He has voiced countless animation films, audiobooks, and video games. An avid blogger, he has also written several books. He loves poker and has hosted many web shows, such as TableTop.

Patrick J. Adams is a Canadian actor who has established himself as a celebrity in the United States. He befriended Meghan Markle while filming the legal drama series Suits and was included in the guest list at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. Adams is also a passionate photographer; many of his photographs were showcased at Suits' Behind the Lens event.

Marcia Clark is best known as the lead prosecutor of the O.J. Simpson murder trial. She has also written several books, including novels from the Rachel Knight series and the Samantha Brinkman series and a non-fiction about the Simpson case. She has also written crime articles for The Daily Beast.

Red Hot Chili Peppers co-founder and vocalist Anthony Kiedis released 11 rock albums with his band, focusing on issues such as sex, drugs, and loss. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has struggled with drug issues but has been drug-free since 2000. His memoir, Scar Tissue, became a bestseller.

Kal Penn is an actor and former White House staff member. Apart from being a popular American actor of Indian origin, Kal Penn has also contributed as a visiting lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, where he has taught courses, such as 'Images of Asian Americans in the Media'.

Giada De Laurentiis is an Italian-American chef, restaurateur, television personality, and writer. She won the Gracie Award under the Best Television Host category for hosting Giada at Home. The founder of a catering business called GDL Foods, Giada De Laurentiis has been an influential figure in the American culinary business over the last few years.

Many child artistes fade as they grow up. But Taran Killam, who made his film debut at the age of 12, has gone on to make a mark as an actor and comedian, noted for his roles in television shows Saturday Night Live and MADtv series. His portrayal of a teen popstar in Stuck in the Suburbs was well received.

The son of Lloyd Bridges, Beau Bridges followed in the footsteps of his father to become an actor. An award-winning performer, Beau Bridges was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for contributing immensely to the American TV industry. Also a US Coast Guard veteran, Bridges received the prestigious Lone Sailor Award in 2011.

The father of actors Beau and Jeff Bridges, Lloyd Bridges was an American actor who played important roles across all the three major acting mediums. Apart from his acting career, which spanned more than 60 years, Bridges was also known for his involvement in groups, such as Heal the Bay and the American Oceans Campaign. 

One of the "Four Horsemen of Atheism," neuroscientist and author Sam Harris is known for his works on topics such as religion, artificial intelligence, and terrorism. His books include the New York Times bestseller The End of Faith. He hosted the podcast Making Sense and released a meditation app, too.