Notable Alumni of Brandeis University: From Activists to Artists
Brandeis University, founded in 1948 as a non-sectarian, coeducational institution, has produced a diverse array of accomplished alumni who have made significant contributions to various fields. This article explores the lives and achievements of some of the university's most notable graduates, highlighting their impact on politics, arts, sciences, and beyond.
A Hub of Academic Excellence
Brandeis University is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities - Very high research activity" and has been a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) since 1985, solidifying its position as a leading research institution. The university's motto, "Truth even unto its innermost parts," reflects its commitment to intellectual rigor and the pursuit of knowledge.
Political Activists and Changemakers
Brandeis University has a rich history of fostering social and political activism, and many of its alumni have gone on to become prominent figures in these arenas.
Angela Davis: A renowned Marxist and feminist political activist, philosopher, academic, and author, Angela Davis graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy from Brandeis University. She was a longtime member of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) and a founding member of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism (CCDS). Davis has been actively involved in movements such as the Occupy movement and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign.
Abbie Hoffman: As a co-founder of the Youth International Party ("Yippies") and a member of the Chicago Seven, Abbie Hoffman was a leading figure in the American counterculture movement. He was also a strong advocate for the Flower Power movement.
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Gloria La Riva: A perennial political candidate and communist activist with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Gloria La Riva embodies the spirit of political engagement fostered at Brandeis.
Allan Jay Lichtman: An American historian and political scientist, Allan Jay Lichtman has taught at American University in Washington, D.C. since 1973. He is known for creating the Keys to the White House with Soviet seismologist Vladimir Keilis-Borok in 1981.
Shaping the Entertainment Industry
Brandeis University alumni have made significant strides in the entertainment industry, leaving their mark on film, television, and theater.
Debra Messing: Best known for her role as Grace Adler on the NBC sitcom "Will & Grace," Debra Messing graduated from Brandeis University with a Bachelor of Arts in theater arts. Her portrayal of the funny, smart, quirky (and, of course, Jewish) best friend of two gay men on “Will & Grace” earned her the Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series in 2003. She received seven Golden Globe Award nominations and five Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role.
Tony Goldwyn: An accomplished actor, singer, producer, director, and political activist, Tony Goldwyn is known for his roles in "Ghost," Nixon", and "Scandal." He made his debut appearing as Darren in the slasher film Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986), and had his breakthrough for starring as Carl Bruner in the fantasy thriller film Ghost (1990), which earned him a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor. He went on to star as Harold Nixon in the biographical film Nixon (1995), which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, and as Neil Armstrong in the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon (1998).
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Tyne Daly: With a career spanning over six decades, Ellen Tyne Daly is an American actress who has won six Emmy Awards for her television work, a Tony Award, and is a 2011 American Theatre Hall of Fame inductee.
Jeffrey Lurie: An American businessman, motion picture producer, and owner of the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL) since 1994.
Louise Lasser: An American actress, television writer, and performing arts teacher and director. She is known for her portrayal of the title character on the soap opera satire Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, for which she was Primetime Emmy Award nominated.
Alexander Gould: An American acting agent and retired actor. He is best known for voicing the title character of the Pixar animated film Finding Nemo and for his portrayal of Shane Botwin on the Showtime drama series Weeds, the latter of which earned him two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.
Ian McElhinney: A Northern Irish actor and director. He has appeared in many television series in a career spanning more than forty years; notable appearances include Taggart, Hornblower, Cold Feet, and The Tudors. In recent times his best known roles are as Barristan Selmy in Game of Thrones, Morgan Monroe in The Fall, and Granda Joe in Derry Girls.
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Arunoday Singh: An Indian actor who made his debut with Sikandar. He also appeared in the web series Apaharan (2018-2022) and Mr. I (2026).
Karen Lynn Gorney: An American actress who had roles in television shows and films including the soap opera All My Children and the movie Saturday Night Fever.
Paul L. Smith: An American-Israeli actor and director. Burly, bearded and imposing, he appeared in feature films and occasionally on television since the 1960s, generally playing "heavies" and bad guys. His most notable roles include Hamidou, the vicious prison guard in Midnight Express (1978), Bluto in Robert Altman's Popeye (1980), Gideon in the ABC miniseries Masada (1981), Glossu "Beast" Rabban in David Lynch's Dune (1984) and Falkon in Red Sonja (1985).
Barry Newman: An American actor of stage, screen, and television known for his portrayal of Kowalski in Vanishing Point, and for his title role in the 1970s television series Petrocelli. He was nominated for Golden Globe and Emmy awards.
Veronica Taylor: An American voice actress known for her dubbing work in English-language adaptations of Japanese anime, in particular for voicing Ash Ketchum and his mother Delia in the Pokémon anime for its first eight seasons. Other voices she has done include Amelia Wil Tesla Seyruun from Slayers, Sailor Pluto from Sailor Moon and Sailor Moon Crystal, Nico Robin in the 4Kids dub of One Piece, April O'Neil in the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series and has voiced video game characters like Cosmos from Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, Dissidia Final Fantasy, and Dissidia Final Fantasy NT.
Stuart Damon: An American actor and singer, he was best known for his 30-year portrayal of Dr. Alan Quartermaine on the American soap opera General Hospital, for which he won an Emmy Award in 1999. Outside the United States, he was known for the role of Craig Stirling in The Champions.
Josh Mostel: An American actor with numerous film and Broadway credits. The son of Zero Mostel, he is best known for his supporting roles in films such as Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), Harry and Tonto (1974), Sophie's Choice (1982), City Slickers (1991), Billy Madison (1995), and Big Daddy (1999).
Marta Kauffman: Co-creator of the hit television show "Friends."
David Crane: Co-creator of the hit television show "Friends."
Literary Figures and Journalists
Brandeis University has nurtured talented writers and journalists who have made significant contributions to the world of literature and media.
Thomas Friedman: A three-time Pulitzer Prize winner and weekly columnist for The New York Times, Thomas Friedman is a renowned political commentator and author. He has written extensively on foreign affairs, global trade, the Middle East, globalization, and environmental issues.
Mitch Albom: An American author, journalist, and musician. As of 2021, he has sold 40 million books worldwide. Having achieved national recognition for sports writing in his early career, he turned to writing inspirational stories and themes-a preeminent early one being Tuesdays with Morrie.
Sidney Blumenthal: An American journalist, political operative, and Lincoln scholar. A former aide to President Bill Clinton, he is a long-time confidant of Hillary Clinton, and was formerly employed by the Clinton Foundation. As a journalist, Blumenthal wrote about American politics and foreign policy. He is also the author of a multivolume biography of Abraham Lincoln, The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln.
Christina Hoff Sommers: An American author and philosopher, specializing in ethics, she is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Sommers is known for her critique of contemporary feminism. Her work includes the books Who Stole Feminism? (1994) and The War Against Boys (2000). She also hosts a video blog called The Factual Feminist.
Howard Fineman: Analyst, NBC/MSNBC.
Paul Solman: Journalist.
Contributions to Science and Academia
Brandeis University's commitment to research and academic excellence has produced notable figures in the fields of science and academia.
Edward Witten: An American theoretical physicist known for his contributions to string theory, topological quantum field theory, and various areas of mathematics. He is a professor emeritus in the school of natural sciences at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. In 1990, he became the first physicist to be awarded a Fields Medal by the International Mathematical Union.
Leslie Lamport: An American computer scientist and mathematician, Leslie B. Lamport is best known for his seminal work in distributed systems, and as the initial developer of the document preparation system LaTeX and the author of its first manual.
Michael Sandel: An American political philosopher and the Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor of Government at Harvard University, where his course Justice was the university's first course to be made freely available online and on television.
Aafia Siddiqui: A Pakistani neuroscientist and educator who gained international attention following her conviction in the United States and is currently serving an 86-year sentence for attempted murder and other felonies at the Federal Medical Center, Carswell, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Deborah Lipstadt: A historian known for her work on Holocaust denial.
Business and Leadership
Brandeis University alumni have also excelled in the world of business and leadership, making significant contributions to various industries.
Christie Hefner: As chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises from 1988 to 2009, Christie Ann Hefner followed in her father's footsteps and led the company with distinction.
Simon Sinek: An English-born American author and inspirational speaker on business leadership. His books include Start with Why (2009) and The Infinite Game (2019).
Mike Harreld: Regional President of PNC Bank for the Greater Washington DC Area.
Lucy Lee Helm: Executive Vice President and Chief Partner Officer, Starbucks.
Legal and Judicial Fields
Brandeis University's influence extends to the legal and judicial realms, with alumni shaping justice and policy.
William Marshall Bullitt: Solicitor General of the United States.
J. Michael Brown: First African American named as Secretary of the Kentucky State Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, Deputy Attorney General, and Assistant Commonwealth Attorney, 30th Judicial District. He was also the first African American President of the Louisville Bar Association.
Dan Canon, Joe Dunman, Dawn Elliott, Shannon Fauver and Laura Landenwich: Represented Kentucky’s plaintiffs in the Supreme Court’s landmark same-sex marriage case, Obergefell v.
Senator Christopher Dodd: Chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Association of America.
Judge Janice R. Martin: The first African American woman to serve on the judiciary in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
William McAnulty: The first African American justice to serve on the Kentucky Supreme Court.
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