West Virginia University

Discover the notable alumni of West Virginia University. The list includes people like Steve Harvey, Katherine Johnson, Jenna Ezarik, Gene Okerlund & Heath Slater. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as miscellaneous, film & theater personalities, lawyers & judges, leaders and sportspersons etc.
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 1 
Steve Harvey
(Comedian, Actor and TV Host)
Steve Harvey
69
Birthdate: January 17, 1957
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Welch, West Virginia, United States

Comedian, businessman and entertainer Steve Harvey has been active in the entertainment world since 1985. Born to parents who were avid movie lovers, he developed an early love for performing. He began his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian and soon started performing in TV shows and films. Also an entrepreneur, he founded Steve Harvey Global (SHG).

 2 
Katherine Johnson
(Mathematician and One of the First African-American Women to Work as a NASA Scientist)
Katherine Johnson
92
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: August 26, 1918
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, United States
Died: February 24, 2020
Katherine Johnson was a physicist and mathematician, remembered as the first African-American female NASA scientist. Her calculations helped launch the space missions of Alan Shepard and John Glenn. She was crucial to the Apollo program and won a Congressional Gold Medal and a Presidential Medal of Freedom for her achievements.
 3 
Jerry West
(American Basketball Executive and Former Player)
Jerry West
15
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 28, 1938
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Chelyan, West Virginia, United States

Basketball player Jerry West, also known as Mr. Clutch, for his ability to snatch games in clutch situations, is known for his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. He was part of the US squads that won an Olympic gold in 1960 and a Pan American Games gold in 1959.

 4 
Don Knotts
(Actor and Comedian Known for His Role in TV Series: 'The Andy Griffith Show' and 'Three's Company')
Don Knotts
22
Birthdate: July 21, 1924
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Morgantown, West Virginia, United States
Died: February 24, 2006

Widely regarded as one of the most beloved American actors of all time, Don Knotts achieved popularity after portraying Barney Fife in the popular TV series The Andy Griffith Show. Knotts is often considered a major influence on other actors and entertainers. In 1979, he was ranked 27th on TV Guide's list of 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time

 5 
Taylor Kinney
10
Birthdate: July 15, 1981
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 6 
Conchata Ferrell
(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Berta’ in the TV Series ‘Two and a Half Men’)
Conchata Ferrell
21
Birthdate: March 28, 1943
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Loudendale, West Virginia, United States
Died: October 12, 2020
Emmy-nominated actor Conchata Ferrell was best known for her portrayal of housekeeper Berta in Two and a Half Men. She began her career with the off-Broadway show The Sea Horse, which won her a Drama Desk and an Obie award. She had also appeared in Krampus and Erin Brockovich.
 7 
Chris Sarandon
6
Birthdate: July 24, 1942
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Beckley, West Virginia, United States

Chris Sarandon is an American actor best known for voicing the popular Disney character Jack Skellington in the film The Nightmare Before Christmas. Apart from voicing the character in the movie, Sarandon has also voiced Skellington for many Disneyland Halloween attractions, such as Halloween Screams and Haunted Mansion Holiday. He has also voiced Skellington in many video games.

 8 
Billy Mays
(American salesperson)
Billy Mays
13
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: July 20, 1958
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: June 28, 2009
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 9 
Geno Smith
(American football quarterback)
Geno Smith
12
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 10, 1990
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Miami, Florida, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 10 
Gene Okerlund
(Professional Wrestling Interviewer)
Gene Okerlund
7
Birthdate: December 29, 1942
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Brookings, South Dakota, United States
Died: January 2, 2019
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 11 
Steve Murphy
(Retired federal agent known for ex-DEA agent responsible for apprehending Pablo Escobar)
Steve Murphy
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1957 AD
Birthplace: Tennessee, United States
 12 
Tavon Austin
(American football player)
Tavon Austin
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 15, 1990
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 13 
Chris Henry
(American football player)
Chris Henry
14
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 17, 1983
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Belle Chasse, Louisiana, United States
Died: December 17, 2009
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 14 
Will Grier
(American football quarterback)
Will Grier
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 3, 1995
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Davidson, North Carolina, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 15 
Paul Dooley
(Actor)
Paul Dooley
4
Birthdate: February 22, 1928
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Parkersburg, West Virginia, USA
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 16 
Joe Manchin
(United States Senator from West Virginia)
Joe Manchin
26
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 24, 1947
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Farmington, West Virginia, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 17 
Josh Stewart
(Best Known for His Roles in the TV Series ‘Dirt’, ‘Criminal Minds’ and ‘Third Watch’)
Josh Stewart
8
Birthdate: February 6, 1977
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Diana, West Virginia, United States

Josh Stewart is best known as Holt McLaren from Dirt and as William LaMontagne, Jr. from Criminal Minds. Fans also loved him in Third Watch, the film The Dark Knight Rises, and the Netflix series The Punisher. He also wrote and directed the found footage film The Hunted.

 18 
Heath Slater
(American Professional Wrestler)
Heath Slater
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 15, 1983
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Pineville, West Virginia, United States
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 19 
Anthony McAuliffe
(Military Leader)
Anthony McAuliffe
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 2, 1898
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Died: August 11, 1975
 20 
Jevon Carter
(Basketball player)
Jevon Carter
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 14, 1995
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Maywood, Illinois, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 21 
Oliver Luck
(Business executive, American football player)
Oliver Luck
2
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: April 5, 1960
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 22 
Kathy Mattea
(Singer-songwriter)
Kathy Mattea
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: June 21, 1959
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: South Charleston, West Virginia, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 23 
Rich Rodriguez
(American football coach and former player)
Rich Rodriguez
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 24, 1963
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
 24 
David Selby
(Actor)
David Selby
5
Birthdate: February 5, 1941
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Morgantown, West Virginia
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 25 
Kevin White
(American football wide receiver)
Kevin White
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 25, 1992
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Plainfield, New Jersey, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 26 
Jimmy Dickens
(Singer)
Jimmy Dickens
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 19, 1920
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bolt, West Virginia, United States
Died: January 2, 2015
Height: 4'11" (150 cm)
 27 
Tommy Bowden
(Head coach, American football player)
Tommy Bowden
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 10, 1954
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama, United States
 28 
Sedale Threatt
(Basketball player)
Sedale Threatt
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 10, 1961
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 29 
Alek Manoah
(Baseball player)
Alek Manoah
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 9, 1998
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Homestead, Florida, United States
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
 30 
Niccolò Campriani
(Sport shooter)
Niccolò Campriani
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 6, 1987
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Florence, Italy
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 31 
Oscar Tshiebwe
(Basketball player - Center)
Oscar Tshiebwe
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 27, 1999
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Height: 6'9" (206 cm)
 32 
David Sills
(American Football Player)
David Sills
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 29, 1996
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Wilmington, Delaware, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 33 
Marc Bulger
(American football player)
Marc Bulger
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 5, 1977
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 34 
Sam Huff
(American football player)
Sam Huff
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 4, 1934
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Edna, West Virginia, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 35 
Pat White
(American football player)
Pat White
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 25, 1986
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Daphne, Alabama, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 36 
Pat McAfee
(American sports analyst)
Pat McAfee
12
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 2, 1987
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Plum, Pennsylvania, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 37 
Jeff Hostetler
(American football player)
Jeff Hostetler
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 22, 1961
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Hollsopple, Pennsylvania, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 38 
Ish Kabibble
(Comedian, Cornet Player)
Ish Kabibble
2
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 19, 1908
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: North East, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: June 5, 1994
 39 
John T. Chambers
(Businessman)
John T. Chambers
1
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: August 23, 1949
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
 40 
Kysre Gondrezick
(Basketball player)
Kysre Gondrezick
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 27, 1997
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 41 
Clint Trickett
(American Football Player)
Clint Trickett
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 19, 1991
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Tallahassee, Florida, United States
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 42 
Ben Schwartzwalder
(Football Coach)
Ben Schwartzwalder
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 2, 1909
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Point Pleasant, West Virginia, United States
Died: April 28, 1993
 43 
Mike Vanderjagt
(Canadian Former Football Placekicker)
Mike Vanderjagt
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 24, 1970
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 44 
Rod Thorn
(Basketball Player)
Rod Thorn
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 23, 1941
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Princeton, West Virginia, United States
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 45 
Hy Zaret
(Lyricist)
Hy Zaret
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 21, 1907
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: July 2, 2007
 46 
Virginia Thrasher
(American Sports shooter)
Virginia Thrasher
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 28, 1997
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Rome, New York, United States
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
 47 
Nick Kwiatkoski
(American football player)
Nick Kwiatkoski
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 26, 1993
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 48 
Joe Alexander
(Basketball player)
Joe Alexander
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 26, 1986
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Height: 6'8" (203 cm)
 49 
Jordan McCabe
(Basketball player)
Jordan McCabe
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 3, 1998
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 50 
Jeff Chase
(Actor)
Jeff Chase
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 17, 1968
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Paterson, New Jersey, United States
Height: 6'7" (201 cm)