Hamilton College: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Hamilton College, a private, independent liberal arts college nestled in Clinton, New York, boasts a rich history and a distinguished alumni network. Its graduates have made significant contributions across diverse fields, leaving an indelible mark on society. This article explores the lives and achievements of some of Hamilton College's most notable alumni.
Arts and Entertainment
Hamilton College has fostered the talents of numerous individuals who have excelled in the arts and entertainment industry.
Peter Falk, an American film and television actor, singer, television director and producer, remains one of the college's most recognizable alumni. Best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo on the NBC/ABC series Columbo (1968-1978, 1989-2003), Falk won four Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of the iconic detective. TV Guide ranked Falk No. 21 on its 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list.
Sarah Rafferty is an American actress, best known for her role as Donna Roberta Paulsen on the USA Network legal drama Suits. She currently co-hosts a podcast with her fellow Suits co-star Patrick J. Adams called 'Sidebar', with them watching through an episode of the legal drama with each podcast.
Tony Goldwyn, an American actor, singer, producer, director, and political activist, 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.
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Nat Faxon, an American actor and comedian, has made a significant impact on comedic films and TV series. He won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing The Descendants (2011). He starred in the Fox comedy series Ben and Kate (2012-2013) and the FX comedy series Married (2014-2015), and voices Elfo in the Netflix adult animated television series Disenchantment (2018-2023).
Terry Brooks, an American writer of fantasy fiction, has achieved remarkable success as a novelist. He has written 23 New York Times bestsellers during his writing career, and has sold over 25 million copies of his books in print, solidifying his position as one of the most successful living fantasy writers.
Ryan Serhant, an American real estate broker, author, and reality television personality, starred on Bravo's television series Million Dollar Listing New York for nine seasons, as well as on its spin-off Sell it Like Serhant. He stars on a Netflix reality show, Owning Manhattan.
Grayson McCouch is an American actor known for his roles as Morgan Winthrop on the daytime soap opera Another World and Dusty Donovan in the daytime soap opera As the World Turns. He also starred as Don Masters on the Nick at Nite family drama Hollywood Heights.
Alexander Woollcott was an American drama critic and commentator for The New Yorker magazine, a member of the Algonquin Round Table, an occasional actor and playwright, and a prominent radio personality.
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Politics and Law
Hamilton College has produced numerous influential figures in the fields of politics and law, shaping policy and contributing to the legal landscape.
S. Days, III, class of 1963, served as the United States Solicitor General from 1993 to 1996.
Mary Bonauto, class of 1983, is a gay rights activist and attorney who successfully argued the Obergefell v. Hodges case, which led to the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide.
William Howell Masters, class of 1938, was a physician and research pioneer in the fields of hormone replacement therapy and sexology; co-author (with Virginia E. Johnson) of Human Sexual Response and other groundbreaking works.
Jack F. Matlock, Jr., served as the United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1987 to 1991, playing a crucial role in the final years of the Cold War.
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Tom Vilsack is an American politician. He served as the 30th and 32nd United States secretary of agriculture from 2009 to 2017, during the Obama administration, and again from 2021 to 2025 during the Biden administration. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 40th governor of Iowa from 1999 to 2007.
Elihu Root was an American lawyer, Republican politician, and statesman who served as the 41st United States Secretary of War under presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt and the 38th United States Secretary of State under Roosevelt. In both positions as well as a long legal career, he pioneered the American practice of international law. He received the 1912 Nobel Peace Prize.
James Schoolcraft Sherman was the 27th vice president of the United States, serving from 1909 until his death in 1912, under President William Howard Taft.
Marc Erik Elias is an American elections attorney for the Democratic Party.
Matt Cartwright represents Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district from 2013 to 2025.
John B. Emerson is an American diplomat, lawyer, business executive and the former United States Ambassador to Germany, having served from 2013 to 2017.
Mike Castle served as the U.S. Representative from Delaware's at-large congressional district from 1993 to 2011.
Alejandro Éder is a Colombian politician. He was elected Mayor of Cali in October 2023 and assumed office on 1 January 2024.
Abijah Gilbert represented New York in the United States Senate.
Joseph Roswell Hawley was a U.S. Senator and Governor of Connecticut.
Theodore M. Pomeroy served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Glenni William Scofield was a U.S. Representative and served as Solicitor of the Treasury.
Gerrit Smith was an American social reformer, abolitionist, businessman, public intellectual, and philanthropist.
Arnold Lewis Raphel was an American diplomat who served as the 18th United States Ambassador to Pakistan.
Business and Entrepreneurship
Hamilton College alumni have also made significant strides in the world of business and entrepreneurship, founding successful companies and leading major corporations.
Marc Bernays Randolph is an American tech entrepreneur, advisor and speaker. He is the co-founder and first CEO of Netflix.
David Michael Solomon, known as DJ D-Sol, is an American investment banker and DJ who has been chief executive officer (CEO) of Goldman Sachs since October 2018 and chairman since January 2019.
Thomas J. Tull is an American billionaire businessman, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is the former chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Legendary Entertainment.
A.G. Lafley is an American businessman who led consumer goods maker Procter & Gamble (P&G) for two separate stints, from 2000 to 2010 and again from 2013 to 2015, during which he served as chairman, president and CEO.
Michael Dubke served as White House Communications Director under President Donald Trump.
Academia and Science
Hamilton College has a strong tradition of producing scholars and scientists who have made important contributions to their respective fields.
B. F. Skinner was an American psychologist, behaviorist, inventor, and social philosopher. He was the Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology at Harvard University from 1958 until his retirement in 1974.
Paul Greengard was an American neuroscientist best known for his work on the molecular and cellular function of neurons. In 2000, Greengard, Arvid Carlsson and Eric Kandel were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning signal transduction in the nervous system.
Cheng Li is a director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution.
Edward Orton Sr. was an American geologist and president of Ohio State University.
Activism and Social Change
Hamilton College alumni have been at the forefront of social change movements, advocating for justice and equality.
Desmond Mpilo Tutu was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist.
Robert Parris Moses was an American educator and civil rights activist known for his work as a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) on voter education and registration in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement.
Theodore Dwight Weld was one of the architects of the American abolitionist movement during its formative years from 1830 to 1844, playing a role as writer, editor, speaker, and organizer.
Albert Barnes was an American theologian, clergyman, abolitionist.
Writers and Journalists
Kamila Shamsie is a Pakistani and British writer and novelist who is best known for her award-winning novel Home Fire (2017).
Mark T. Sullivan is an American author who writes mystery, suspense and historical fiction novels.
Alex Haley was an American writer and the author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family.
Josh Billings was a 19th-century American humorist and lecturer.
Other Notable Alumni
This is only a small selection of the many accomplished graduates of Hamilton College. Other notable alumni include:
- John N. Oliver,
- A. Henry,
- Theodore M. Pomeroy,
- Charles B. Drew,
- Victor H.,
- James S. Sherman,
- Charles F.,
- Alfred W.,
- John B.,
- William H.,
- Edward S.,
- Archibald W.,
- George W.,
- George T.,
- Clarence L.,
- William A.,
- Sarah J.,
- Mark T. Sullivan,
- Edward L.,
- Edward J.,
- David K.,
- John J.,
- Benjamin A.,
- Charles L. Flynn, Jr.,
- John M.,
- Jacobus Jr.,
- Matthew E.,
- Harvey J.,
- James H.,
- John H.,
- Stephen G.,
- William A.,
- J. A. G.,
- David M.,
- Hiram H.,
- Theodore B.,
- Derek C.,
- Quincy D.,
- Edward S.,
- Robert C.,
- Richard N.,
- Frederick M.,
- Edgar B.,
- Jerome B.,
- Stephen G.,
- C. Robert L.,
- C. H. F.,
- David P.,
- Oren Root Jr.,
- Charles Henry Smyth, Jr.,
- David R.,
- Harry C.,
- Eugene M.,
- Michelle J.
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