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20 Famous UCLA Alumni Who Redefined Success

As one of the top universities in the world, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has cultivated many exceptional graduates worthy of admiration since first opening its doors in 1919. It comes as no surprise so many ingenious trailblazers once walked the hallowed hall of the same campus.

The luminaries profiled here have not only climbed to the apex of stardom, but redefined notions of possibility itself for all who dare to dream big in their wake. Ranging from barrier-shattering activists that enlightened society to virtuoso entertainers now eternally etched into pop culture legend, these UCLA alumni soared from Westwood to the global stage on the merits of their brilliance.

While their fields differ vastly, each individual fundamentally changed their areas  of influence through inspirational feats driven by passion and excellence forged at UCLA. Here is a list of 20 famous UCLA alumni who have redefined success.

1.  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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Abdul-Jabbar attended UCLA in the 1960s, where he played on the varsity basketball team and helped lead the Bruins to three consecutive national championships. After college, Abdul-Jabbar went on to have an illustrious 20-year career in the NBA, becoming a six-time league MVP and the all-time leading scorer in NBA history.

Since retiring, he has been an outspoken advocate for racial justice and social change. Abdul-Jabbar has utilized his fame and platform to call attention to issues like systemic racism and economic inequality. He has written articles, given lectures, and created documentary films to educate people on discrimination in America and inspire action against it.

2.  Jackie Robinson

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He attended UCLA in the 1940s. Though he is most famous for breaking baseball’s color barrier in 1947 as the first African American player in Major League Baseball, Robinson was a standout four-sport athlete at UCLA. After college, he endured racism and harassment to excel in the MLB with the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming Rookie of the Year, MVP, and a World Series champion.

Beyond his legendary baseball career, Jackie Robinson was an advocate for civil rights. He participated in the March on Washington, raised funds for the NAACP, and worked with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. to fight discrimination. He paved the way for the integration of sports in America.

3.   Francis Ford Coppola

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Director of iconic films like The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now, completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA’s film school in the 1960s. Regarded as one of Hollywood’s greatest directors, he has won five Academy Awards, including Best Director for two of his films. Coppola was at the forefront of the “New Hollywood” movement in the 1970s that allowed directors more creative control over their movies. His epic storytelling, memorable characters, and stunning visuals have made a lasting impact on cinema. Through his production company American Zoetrope, he gave many young filmmakers their first break in the movie industry.

4.  Tom Bradley

After attending UCLA in the late 1930s and went on to become Los Angeles’ first African American mayor, serving a groundbreaking 20 years from 1973 to 1993. As mayor, Bradley focused on expanding the Los Angeles economy, investing in transportation infrastructure, and increasing employment opportunities.

He helped Los Angeles recover in the aftermath of 1965 Watts Riots and the 1992 Rodney King riots. Bradley also promoted relations between ethnic groups in the diverse city. He demonstrated that African Americans could be electable leaders outside traditional political strongholds, paving the way for other black mayors across America.

5.  Jim Morrison

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Co-founded iconic rock band The Doors while attending UCLA film school in the mid-1960s. As the band’s charismatic lead singer and lyricist, Morrison’s poetic songs and dynamic stage presence made them stars of the 1960s counterculture movement.

Though The Doors were only active for five years before Morrison died young at age 27, hits like Light My Fire and L.A. Woman remain staples of classic rock radio. Known for often improvising spoken word poetry during live shows, Jim Morrison left behind a lasting legacy as a captivating performer and embodiment of rock music’s rebellious spirit.

6.  Sally Ride

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She made history as the first American woman in space in 1983 at the age of 32. An accomplished physicist, she earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at UCLA. Selected for the space program in 1978, Dr. Ride pioneered the path for women in space and technology. She flew into space twice on the Space Shuttle Challenger, operating the robotic arm to deploy satellites.

After retiring as an astronaut, Ride became a scientist and physics professor. She also wrote science books for children to inspire the next generation. Throughout her accomplished career, Sally Ride exemplified how to break barriers with courage, brilliance, and perseverance.

7.  James Franco

He catapulted to fame for his Golden Globe-winning lead role in the 2001 TV film James Dean. He attended UCLA in the 1990s to study English literature and creative writing. Franco has balanced memorable acting roles in acclaimed films like 127 Hours, for which he received an Oscar nomination, with working behind the camera as a director and screenwriter.

Not limiting himself to one medium, James Franco has also published short story collections and poetry. He has taught film classes at universities between acting and directing projects. With an extensive resume spanning over 20 years in cinema and a passion for the written word, James Franco is a modern Renaissance man of the arts.

8. Carol Burnett

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Carol Burnett attended UCLA in the late 1950s to study journalism before pivoting to acting and comedy. Known for her groundbreaking sketch comedy variety show The Carol Burnett Show, she was the first woman to host such a show on television. The popular series with her wacky characters ran for 11 years and received 25 Emmy Awards.

Burnett herself was honored with Golden Globes and a Peabody Award for her acting and comedic talents. She paved the way for future generations of funny women on TV with her fearless physical comedy and funny facial expressions. Beyond the screen, Burnett has done substantial philanthropic work supporting the arts and education.

9.  Mark Harmon

Played quarterback for the UCLA Bruins football team in the early 1970s before embarking on an acting career. He achieved television fame as Dr. Bobby Caldwell on St. Elsewhere in the 80s. However, Harmon’s defining role came when he joined the cast of NCIS as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs in 2003.

As the tough but paternal leader of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service team, Harmon has anchored the crime drama as it became one of the highest-rated shows on TV. Off-screen, Harmon has supported organizations dedicated to protecting the environment and helping children with disabilities or illness.

10. Emily Ratajkowski

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Emily O’Hara Ratajkowski has led a remarkable career evolution from child actress to one of the most in-demand supermodels in the world. She attended UCLA for a year before dropping out to model full-time. Ratajkowski and her family settled down in Encinitas, California when she was just five years old. As a young girl, Ratajkowski knew she wanted to perform and initially pursued acting.

Her big break came in 2009 when she was cast as Tasha in two episodes of the hit Nickelodeon TV series iCarly. However, modeling quickly became Ratajkowski’s true passion during her teenage years. She was soon gracing runways across Europe and the U.S. Then in 2013, Ratajkowski skyrocketed to worldwide fame for her eye-catching appearance in the music video for Robin Thicke’s smash hit Blurred Lines, instantly cementing her status as one of fashion’s hottest models on the rise.

11.  John Wooden

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The “Wizard of Westwood,” attained legendary status as UCLA’s basketball coach from 1948 to 1975. Leading UCLA to 10 national championships, including seven consecutive titles (an unmatched record), the Indiana native implemented his own brand of wisdom. From the “Pyramid of Success” principles to pioneering coaching techniques, Wooden mentored all his players, not just star athletes.

Even after retiring from coaching, he continued dispensing folksy inspiration about character, integrity, and maximizing personal potential. Though Wooden passed in 2010 at age 99, his words and ideals ensure his everlasting influence. 

12.  Marion Lucy Queal

Marion Lucy Queal made history as the first woman to earn a doctorate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She was a trailblazer who paved the way for other women scholars. Queal was born in 1909 and developed a passion for science and the natural world from a young age. She enrolled at UCLA in 1927 when few women pursued higher education, especially in the sciences. Queal earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in zoology in 1931.

Driven by intellectual curiosity, she continued her studies at UCLA, completing a Master of Arts degree in 1935. Still determined to reach the pinnacle of academic achievement, Queal persevered through the male-dominated doctoral program, conducting extensive research in embryology and genetics. After years of tireless work, Queal made UCLA history in 1942 when she became the university’s first female Ph.D. recipient, earning a doctorate in zoology. She stands as an inspirational UCLA alumna who broke barriers for women in academia with her groundbreaking accomplishments.

13.  Ben Stiller

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Renowned actor and filmmaker earned his Hollywood start in sketch comedy, spent some time at  UCLA theater troupe The Groundlings proving formative. However, he dropped out of UCLA after one year. Though often recognized for farcical comedies like Zoolander and Meet the Parents, Stiller’s repertoire also includes poignant roles, writing and directing efforts.

His on and off-screen versatility established Stiller as one of top comedic talents of his era. But with indie darling Greenberg and award-winning films The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Escape at Dannemora, Stiller has crossed into thought provoking drama. All the while, he remains devoted to charitable foundations for children and disaster relief founded by his late parents. 

14.  Mayim Bialik

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Before acting fame as neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory, Mayim Bialik earned a real PhD in neuroscience from UCLA in 2008. Transitioning from younger roles in Blossom and sitcoms to acclaimed scientist character, Bialik portrays women in STEM as multidimensional people with rich inner-lives. She’s an advocate for paid parental leave, fighting misconceptions that women lose dedication to their careers after starting families.

Beyond acting, Bialik speaks frequently about her research into obsessive compulsive disorder and the neuroscience of addiction. Blending science and Hollywood, she remains a positive force reshaping outdated stereotypes in both fields.

15.  Danica McKellar

Her first acting role as girl-next-door Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years quickly made her a household name in the early 1990s. While starring on the hit coming-of-age series through her teens, Danica McKellar also nurtured a love of mathematics, earning a degree in math from UCLA in 1998. Later refusing to be pigeonholed as just a pretty actress, she returned to graduate studies in math and co-authored peer reviewed mathematics proofs. She’s written several books to inspire girls in STEM while also continuing acting roles and speaking out to support education initiatives. Breaking barriers in both Hollywood and academia, McKellar exemplifies broadening perceptions of women’s talents. 

16.  Rafer Johnson

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He won Olympic decathlon gold representing UCLA sports in 1956 then used later fame to promote peace and community empowerment. He assisted in apprehending Robert F. Kennedy’s assassin in 1968. As friends, Johnson and Kennedy had strengthened bonds between African American and Jewish American communities. President Kennedy appointed him California chair of Special Olympics in the 1960s.

Years later in the 1970, Johnson expanded Special Olympics inclusivity and joyful competition for people with intellectual disabilities before most considered equality possible. Until his death in late 2020 at age 86, the humanitarian known as “the world’s greatest athlete” continued promoting social justice causes from curbing gang influence and violence to supporting Martin Luther King Jr.’s movement.

17.  Sheila Kuehl

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She made history in 1994 when she became the first openly gay or lesbian person elected to the California Legislature, breaking down barriers for LGBTQ representation in politics. Kuehl earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1962. She began her trailblazing political career in 1994 when she decided to run for California’s State Assembly in Santa Monica’s liberal-leaning 42nd district.

As an openly lesbian candidate who was outspoken about LGBTQ rights, her candidacy initially faced opposition. However, Kuehl ran on a progressive platform emphasizing education, healthcare, public safety and protection of the environment. Her qualifications ultimately triumphed over prejudice. In November 1994, Sheila Kuehl made national headlines when voters elected her by a 16-point margin. She served as Assemblywoman for 6 years followed by 8 years in the State Senate.

18.  George Takei

Actor and activist is now celebrated among sci-fi’s most iconic heroes for playing Sulu across six Star Trek films and numerous TV series after surviving his Japanese American family’s internment as a child during WWII. Both experiences shaped Takei’s five decades amplifying social justice. After earning theater and theater history degrees at UCLA in the 1950s, he broke stereotypes to increase Asian representation on 1960s TV.

Yet Takei‘s intrepidness challenging LGBTQ+ prejudice through coming out publicly in 2005 while in his late 60s truly catalyzed today’s generations viewing him as the pioneering voice he is. Among many accolades, the son of immigrants earned a star on Hollywood Boulevard for his cultural influence spanning from acting to civil liberties. 

19.  Gabrielle Union

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Gabrielle Monique Union-Wade has captivated audiences for over two decades with her work across film and television. She started her higher education at the University of Nebraska before moving on to Cuesta College. She eventually transferred to UCLA and earned a degree in sociology. She moved to Los Angeles in the early 1990s to pursue her Hollywood dreams after graduating college. Union toiled for years in bit parts on sitcoms like Moesha, Clueless and Sister, Sister while working day jobs to support herself.

Finally in 1999, she landed her breakout role as feminist Kat Stratford in the hugely popular teen film 10 Things I Hate About You alongside Julia Stiles. That same year, Union played a snobby high school queen bee in the hit rom-com She’s All That, further bolstering her fame. She has since starred in over 20 major motion pictures and also serving as a judge on America’s Got Talent.

20.  Milo Ventimiglia

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Ventimiglia studied at the American Conservatory Theater for their summer program, subsequently attending the University of California, Los Angeles as a theatre major. The American actor known for his brooding, complex leading roles on popular television shows. After starring as Jess Mariano on Gilmore Girls from 2002-2006, Ventimiglia landed his most iconic role to date in 2016 as Jack Pearson in the award-winning NBC family drama This is Us.

Ventimiglia is also active in production work, having co-founded his own production company DiVide Pictures in 2003. While This Is Us  propelled him to stardom, he  has a diverse resume with roles in Heroes, Rocky Balboa, and indie films like That’s My Boy. 

The storied journey of UCLA that began over a century ago continues ascendant, its pedigree for mentoring society-shaping titans only burnished more illustrious with time. Like the 20 luminaries detailed here transformed into enduring icons by crossing UCLA’s halls, the university remains the incubator supreme for hatching legacies that echo through generations. So, while these 20 names constitute a fraction of the UCLA greats, their success infuses the UCLA legacy with its aura of excellence.