You’ve probably walked past Broad and Montgomery and felt that specific energy. It’s gritty. It’s loud. It’s unapologetically Philadelphia. But what’s wild about Temple University is how that specific "Diamond Street" DNA translates into the real world once students toss their caps in the Liacouras Center. When we talk about Temple University famous alumni, people usually jump straight to the obvious names, but the list is actually a weird, impressive mix of sitcom legends, heavy-hitting journalists, and the people who basically invented modern advertising.
Temple isn't an Ivy. It never tried to be. It’s a "working class" elite school, and you can see that in the careers of the people who graduated from there. They don't just occupy spaces; they dominate them.
The Screen Giants You Didn’t Realize Were Owls
If you’ve watched TV in the last thirty years, you’ve been watching Temple grads. It’s kind of a thing. Take Bob Saget, for instance. Before he was America’s Dad on Full House or the voice of future Ted Mosby, he was a student at Temple’s School of Communications and Theater (now Klein College). He actually won a Student Academy Award while he was there for a black-and-white documentary called Through Adam's Eyes. He was a North Philly kid through and through, often crediting the school for sharpening his comedic timing, which, if you ever saw his stand-up, was way darker than Danny Tanner ever let on.
Then there’s Quinta Brunson.
She’s basically the queen of network television right now. Abbott Elementary is a love letter to Philadelphia public schools, and that perspective comes directly from her time at Temple. She didn’t actually finish her degree—she headed to LA to pursue comedy—but her roots in the city and her time on campus are baked into every script she writes. It’s that authenticity that makes the show work. You can't fake the Philly vibe.
And we have to mention Kunal Nayyar. You know him as Raj from The Big Bang Theory. He got his Master of Fine Arts from Temple. It’s a prestigious program, and he’s often spoken about how the rigor of the theater department prepared him for the grind of Hollywood.
The Journalists Who Set the Agenda
Temple’s journalism program is arguably its crown jewel. If you turn on a major news network, there is a statistically high chance a Temple grad is either in front of the camera or running the control room.
Tamron Hall is the standout here. She’s a broadcast powerhouse with a Peabody and multiple Emmys. She graduated in '92 and has remained incredibly involved with the university, even getting a broadcast studio named after her in Annenberg Hall. She’s often talked about how the "toughness" of North Philly gave her the skin she needed for the newsroom.
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Then there’s Marc Lamont Hill. He’s a bit of a polarizing figure depending on your politics, but his intellectual weight is undeniable. He’s a professor, an author, and a recurring face on news panels. He embodies that Temple spirit of being socially conscious and outspoken.
Other Media Heavyweights
- Kevin Negandhi: A staple on ESPN’s SportsCenter. He was the first Indian-American to serve as an anchor on a national sports network.
- Zanny Minton Beddoes: She’s the Editor-in-Chief of The Economist. Think about that. One of the most influential economic publications on the planet is led by a Temple alum.
- Steve Capus: Former President of NBC News.
The Sound of Philadelphia (and Beyond)
Music and Temple go hand-in-hand. You can’t live in Philly without hearing the influence of the Boyer College of Music and Dance.
John Coltrane studied at the Ornstein School of Music, which eventually became part of Temple. While he didn’t "graduate" in the traditional modern sense, his connection to the institution is a massive point of pride.
But it’s not just jazz. Hall & Oates? Yeah, they met at Temple. Daryl Hall and John Oates were both students there in the late 60s. Legend has it they were escaping a gang fight at a band competition at the Adelphi Ballroom and ended up in the same elevator. They started talking, realized they were both Temple students, and the rest is literal pop history. You don't get "Rich Girl" or "Maneater" without a chance encounter in a North Philly elevator.
And for the younger crowd, look at Diplo. Thomas Wesley Pentz was a film student at Temple. He started DJing at local parties in the city, which is where the Hollertronix sound was born. He took the grit of the Philly club scene and turned it into a global EDM empire.
The Court and the Field
You can't talk about Temple University famous alumni without hitting the hardwood.
Dawn Staley.
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If there is a goddess of North Philly, it’s her. She’s a three-time Olympic gold medalist as a player and has become one of the greatest coaches in the history of college basketball at South Carolina. But before all that, she was a standout at Dobbins Tech and then the pride of Temple. She even returned to coach the Owls for several years, proving that once you’re part of the Temple ecosystem, you never really leave.
And then there’s Aaron McKie. He’s a local legend who went from starring at Temple to playing for the 76ers during their iconic 2001 Finals run.
In the NFL world, Haason Reddick is the name everyone knows now. He was a walk-on at Temple. Let that sink in. He wasn't recruited. He had to fight for a spot on the roster, eventually became a first-round pick, and established himself as one of the most feared pass rushers in the league. That is the most "Temple" story ever told.
Business and "The Big Idea"
A lot of people think fame only means TV or movies. But Temple grads run the companies that run your life.
Ever heard of Vitaminwater? J. Darius Bikoff is the guy behind it. He founded Energy Brands and eventually sold it to Coca-Cola for billions. He’s a Temple guy.
Then there’s Richard Mansell, who co-founded the massive health tech company, or the various CEOs who came out of the Fox School of Business. The school has had its share of controversy regarding rankings in recent years—honestly, it was a whole thing—but the quality of the graduates themselves hasn't wavered. They tend to be entrepreneurial types who aren't afraid of a little risk.
Why This List Actually Matters
A lot of universities have famous alumni. But Temple's list feels different because so many of these people weren't born into privilege. They weren't "legacy admits." Most Temple students are first-generation college goers. When you see a guy like Jesse Williams (from Grey’s Anatomy) who was a teacher in the Philly public school system before becoming a massive star and activist, it hits differently.
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It’s a school that rewards hustle.
The alumni list reflects a specific kind of person: someone who knows how to navigate a city, how to talk to people from all walks of life, and how to work harder than the person sitting next to them. Whether it’s Tina Fey’s husband Jeff Richmond (a huge composer and producer) or trailblazing writers like Benjy Sarlin, the common thread is a lack of pretension.
Notable Mentions You Might Have Missed
- Paulie Walnuts (Tony Sirico): Okay, he didn't graduate, but he had ties to the area and the school's aura. (Actually, let's stick to the confirmed ones: Tom Sizemore attended for a bit).
- Sondra Locke: The Academy Award-nominated actress.
- Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim: The geniuses behind Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! met at Temple. Their bizarre, surrealist comedy is deeply rooted in the weirdness they found while studying film at the university.
What This Means for Your Career
If you're looking at Temple or just curious about its impact, the takeaway is simple: your pedigree isn't about how much your parents donated to a library. It’s about the environment you're forged in. Temple alumni succeed because they aren't afraid of the "real world"—North Philly is the real world.
If you want to tap into this network, you should:
- Leverage the Owl Network: Temple has one of the most active alumni associations in the country. They take "Owls are everywhere" very seriously.
- Focus on the Professional Schools: Whether it's Klein (Media), Fox (Business), or Beasley (Law), the alumni specialized early.
- Embrace the Philly Factor: The city is your campus. The alumni who made it big—like Quinta Brunson—didn't ignore the city; they used it as their muse.
Temple isn't just a place where you get a degree. It’s a place where you find your voice, usually while trying to find a parking spot on 12th street or grabbing a crepe at the trucks. And that voice, as it turns out, is exactly what the world wants to hear.
To really understand the impact of these figures, look into the specific programs they graduated from. You'll find that the mentors they had at Temple are often still there, churning out the next generation of industry leaders. Check out the latest alumni spotlights on the Temple University official site to see who the next breakout stars are.