# Most famous or interesting fictional alumni from your school? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 8, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108 "2020-09-08T17:23:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/124 "2020-10-26T16:50:21Z")
I could argue that Marge and Homer Simpson went to my high school. One of the artists back in the early days of the show attended my high school, so he drew Springfield High School like mine. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/125 "2020-10-26T17:13:29Z")
> [@Eclipse\_Chaser](#): > > I went to the same grammar school (English high school before they changed the system) as the sixties model/actress Twiggy. I always thought she must be fictional šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/126 "2020-10-26T17:34:40Z")
Another Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ā€œTuteā€ grad here. Others covered the fictional. Hereā€™s the boring nerd graduates. Many RPI graduates have made important inventions, including [Allen B. DuMont](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_B._DuMont) ('24),[[140]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rensselaer_Polytechnic_Institute#cite_note-140) creator of the first commercial television and radar; [Keith D. Millis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Millis) ('38),[[141]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rensselaer_Polytechnic_Institute#cite_note-141) inventor of [ductile iron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ductile_iron); [Ted Hoff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcian_Hoff) ('58),[[142]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rensselaer_Polytechnic_Institute#cite_note-142) father of the microprocessor; [Raymond Tomlinson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Tomlinson) ('63),[[143]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rensselaer_Polytechnic_Institute#cite_note-143) often credited with the invention of e-mail; inventor of the digital camera [Steven Sasson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Sasson)[[144]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rensselaer_Polytechnic_Institute#cite_note-The_Rediff_Interview/Steven_J_Sasson,_inventor_of_the_digital_camera-144) and [Curtis Priem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Priem) ('82), designer of the first graphics processor for the PC, and co-founder of [NVIDIA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NVIDIA). RPI Prof. [Matthew Hunter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Hunter) invented a process to refine [titanium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium) in 1910. [H. Joseph Gerber](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._Joseph_Gerber) pioneered computer-automated manufacturing systems for industry. In addition to NVIDIA, RPI graduates have also gone on to found or co-found major companies such as [John Wiley and Sons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wiley_and_Sons), [Texas Instruments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Instruments), [Fairchild Semiconductor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Semiconductor), [PSINet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSINet), [MapInfo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MapInfo_Corporation), [Adelphia Communications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelphia_Communications), [Level 3 Communications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_3_Communications), [Garmin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garmin), [Bugle Boy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugle_Boy) and [Vacasa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacasa). Several RPI graduates have played a part in the [U.S. space program](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA): [George Low](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Low) (B.Eng. 1948, M.S. 1950) was manager of the [Apollo 11 project](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_program) and served as president of RPI, and astronauts [John L. Swigert, Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Swigert), [Richard Mastracchio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Mastracchio), [Gregory R. Wiseman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_R._Wiseman), and space tourist [Dennis Tito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Tito) are alumni. Told you it was boring! ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/127 "2020-10-26T19:06:12Z")
You forgot Mark Watney! Definitely in consideration for most famous alumni for University of Chicago, especially after we got him home safely from Mars. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/128 "2020-11-03T23:08:08Z")
University of Virginia: Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs) and Katherine Trammell (Basic Instinct). Probably John-Boy Walton, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Eclipse\_Chaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Eclipse\_Chaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eclipse_Chaser)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/129 "2020-11-04T18:47:09Z")
No way! > **[Twiggy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twiggy)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > Dame Lesley Lawson DBE (nƩe Hornby; born 19 September 1949) is an English model, actress, and singer, widely known by the nickname Twiggy. She was a British cultural icon and a prominent teenaged model during the swinging '60s in London. > Twiggy was initially known for her thin build and the androgynous appearance considered to result from her big eyes, long eyelashes, and short hair. She was named "The Face of 1966" by the Daily Express and vo... ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/130 "2020-11-04T18:49:03Z")
> [@Eclipse\_Chaser](#): > > No way! I think what Colibri is referring to (in a tongue-in-cheek fashion) is the fact that the OPā€™s intent with the thread was purely for fictional alumni, though a number of posters either didnā€™t understand that, or didnā€™t care, and shared actual alumni from their schools. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/131 "2020-11-04T19:02:58Z")
> [@Eclipse\_Chaser](#): > > No way! Right. So per the title and OP of the thread, she doesnā€™t belong in this thread. Admittedly, she seems like she should be fictional. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/132 "2020-11-04T19:05:20Z")
Sheā€™s in two episodes of **Absolutely Fabulous** , so maybe a fictional version of Twiggy does exist and went to that school. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/133 "2020-11-05T02:38:06Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Sheā€™s in two episodes of **Absolutely Fabulous** , so maybe a fictional version of Twiggy does exist and went to that school Sheā€™s just a character from The Blues Brothers. Sheā€™s obviously not a real person; that would be absurd. ---
**Author:** ![Eclipse\_Chaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Eclipse\_Chaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eclipse_Chaser)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/134 "2020-11-05T18:20:50Z")
My bad, I didnā€™t realise it was fictional only. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/135 "2020-11-12T15:36:41Z")
There are these crazy things the kids these days are all calling ā€œthread titlesā€ā€¦ šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/136 "2020-11-12T16:22:36Z")
Honestly the title could be parsed two ways: Most famous or interesting alumni or fictional alumni (in which famous/interesting is one category and fictional is another. Either of those categories would be fun to discuss); Most famous or interesting fictional alumni (in which famous and interesting modified fictional). This sees to be what the OP intended, but it can be read the other way. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/137 "2020-11-12T16:35:36Z")
Given that all of the examples given by the OP are the latter, itā€™s pretty obvious thatā€™s what he meant. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/138 "2020-11-12T16:37:41Z")
Yes, which is why I said thatā€™ it was clear thatā€™s what the OP meant. It wasnā€™t obvious, I guess, that I was replying to the post above mine that critiqued people _not reading the title_. It was the title I was addressing ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/139 "2020-11-12T16:42:15Z")
In my opinion, the title is pretty clear. You have to both parse the title wrongly, and not read the OP to misunderstand the point of the thread. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/140 "2020-11-12T16:45:51Z")
Yes, it was clear to me as well. However, it is not unreasonable that some people, who did read the title (like the poster was suggesting they didnā€™t do) can parse it differently. Having written 100s of crystal clear (to me) assignment or exam instructions, itā€™s obvious that well intended people just read things differently. Again, taking the OP text out of the argument- I was replying to the idea that just reading the title was the only act needed to get it right. I found the two potential parsing an interesting observation. Clearly, YMMV ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/141 "2020-11-12T18:11:35Z")
Just shows to go that you should read both the title and the OP before posting. If I had a nickel for every time someone gave an example that was already listed in the OP (often exclaiming "I canā€™t believe no one else has posted this yet!), boy, would I have a lot of nickels.šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/142 "2020-11-15T01:51:34Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Yes, the thread title is written perfectly correctly But not perfectly /clearly/ (But itā€™s OK: I didnā€™t have anybody /famous/ either.) I donā€™t have anybody, unless I can count Ronny Chieng semi-autobiographical: [https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81004350](https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81004350) ā€“ which I do, because itā€™s a whole fictional netflix short series set at my university. ---
**Author:** ![Kimble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimble/32/19185_2.png) [@Kimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimble)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2020, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108/143 "2020-11-15T03:34:24Z")
I think Major John D. MacGillis from _Major Dad_ went to Vanderbilt. I can neither think of nor google anyone else who did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-famous-or-interesting-fictional-alumni-from-your-school/920108.md?page=8)