# Who are the most famous and/or notable alumni from your high school? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 24, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751 "2009-01-24T02:49:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Suse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Suse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suse)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/81 "2009-01-25T07:21:25Z")
There isn’t anyone that I would call really famous, although the guys from [Saving Litchfield](http://www.last.fm/music/Saving+Litchfield) seem to have a lot of fans in the Midwest. This is a tiny school in a small town, and I guess anyone with real talent in a particular area would probably leave to pursue their interest elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/82 "2009-01-25T07:36:14Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > The most famous are football players, **Joe Theisman** , **Drew Pearson** , **Troy Hill** , and a few others. We’ve also had mysterey writers. I don’t know for a fact that they attended my high school, but **Janet Evanovich** (she of the Stephanie Plum numbered mysteries) grew up in my town. **Troy Soos** , who wrote baseball-flavored mysteries, played Little League in my town\*. > > I can’t say for certain that he attended high school there (although he probably did – my gym teacher had the same last name), but **Joseph Csatari** certainly lived in my town. Who? you say. He’s the guy who took over Normal Rockwell’s commissions after he died, and in the same style. > > \*There was intense competition for Little League in my town. You had to try out and qualify. If you didn’t, or you didn’t make the grade, you had to play JFK League or Shorty League. When I read the first sentence I knew you meant South River High. There is one that I saw that wiki missed for my high school. The producer of _Miracle_, \*The Rookie \*and _Invincible_. He was my brothers age. I knew his brother. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/83 "2009-01-25T09:44:37Z")
Not a single person from either of my high schools, neither of which still exists. (One has become something else, one was demolished and there are now cheap, ugly apartments there.) However, I did graduate from the same [grade school](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falk_School) as [Rob](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0551128/) and [Kathleen Marshall](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1240648/). ---
**Author:** ![Sparrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Sparrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparrow)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/84 "2009-01-25T17:26:23Z")
Here in the UK, I went to the same school as Twiggy. She left a couple of years before I arrived. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/85 "2009-01-25T17:40:18Z")
[Alain Vigneault](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alain_Vigneault). It seems that [Daniel Brière](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Bri%C3%A8re) also went there for a year before he found a better place to pursue his hockey career. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/86 "2009-01-25T18:48:19Z")
Hmmm, there is(was) a Texas Rangers outfielder and the former supermodel Janice Dickinson. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/87 "2009-01-25T20:54:05Z")
You know, I’m used to trotting out the college alumni, so I thought this time I’d check to see if anyone from my hometown showed up. I graduated with [Brendan P. Smith](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendan_Powell_Smith); we were part of the a small circle of friends. I had not heard of his claim to fame, but am exceptionally unsurprised. During the majority of my childhood, I was best friends with [Glen Pine’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Pine) sister; he was a couple years older than us, but I spent a good bit of time at their house. Their mom was AWESOME. My brother and sister were in classes with Dicky Barrett (Mighty Mighty Bosstones) and Tony Rombola (Godsmack); if either Mr. barrett or Mr. Rombola were in the jazz or marching band, they were probably flanked by both of my siblings. Before my time, but Jon Robert Purnell, the ambassador to Uzbekistan. Also well before my time, but apparently our most famous graduate was Richard Joseph Hebner. College: A very lengthy list that includes Ken Burns, John Falsey, Victor Fresco, Daniel Horowitz, Jon Krakauer, Jeph Jacques, Liev Schreiber. I don’t know why Wiki doesn’t include Jacob Dylan (HATED HIM!!)- perhaps he didn’t graduate. Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry went there for a year (LOVED HIM!) but definitely didn’t graduate. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Shroud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@The\_Shroud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Shroud)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/88 "2009-01-25T21:33:37Z")
[Joan Lunden](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Lunden) & [Nicholas Sparks.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Sparks_(author)) ---
**Author:** ![Dosipede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dosipede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dosipede)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/89 "2009-01-25T21:40:18Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > Daryle Lamonica, NFL Raiders Quarterback > Johnny Estrada, All-star, pro-baseball player > Chad McCarty, pro-soccer player, Olympian > Mark Gardner, pro-baseball player > Stephen Spach, pro-football player > Keith Poole, pro-football player > [Amber Frey - G/f of convicted murderer Scott Peterson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amber_Frey) The wife went to your high school. She remembers Spach as a jerk. I couldn’t find a wikipedia entry or similar with alumni for my HS, but I know Kevin Robinson, rookie kick returner for the Chiefs, is a graduate. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/90 "2009-01-26T05:14:24Z")
Off the top of my head, I only knew **Bobby Jindal** (present governor of Louisiana and first U.S. governor of East Indian descent). He came and talked at my school when I was a senior, which would have been shortly before his first (unsuccessful) run for governor against Kathleen Blanco in 2003 (?). Wikipedia also lists (copied-and-pasted): **Jay Dardenne** : Longtime State Senator and Current Louisiana Secretary of State **Karey Kirkpatrick** : Screen writer of such films as Chicken Run, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and Over the Hedge. **Jim Taylor** : Hall of Fame Football Player Johnny Ramistella b.k.a. **Johnny Rivers** : 1950’s & 60’s rock & roll musician **Jimmy Clanton** : 1950’s & 60’s swamp pop and R&B musician **Bob Pettit** : Hall of Fame Basketball Player ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/91 "2009-01-26T07:42:56Z")
Wikipedia lists a dozen or two, most of whom are local LA names. But also NFL player Warren Moon and two from my graduating class (Summer 1960): the late film critic Joel Siegel and OJ attorney Robert Shapiro. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/92 "2009-01-26T08:35:23Z")
The one that’s the most known in the USA at the moment would be Max von Sydow, but considering my [High School](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katedralskolan,_Lund) is 920 years old there are bound to be quite a few others as well 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/93 "2009-01-26T10:57:01Z")
I don’t strike pay dirt until one of the schools where I taught: Hume-Fogg High School, Nashville, Tennessee Dinah Shore (Her real name was Frances Rose Shore) and Bette Page They were both there a long time before I taught there. Honest. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/94 "2009-01-26T11:12:20Z")
Pink Floyd went to my school years before me. One of my friends went to the same school as Guy Fawkes… they didn’t celebrate Bonfire Night as the Headmaster insisted that “we don’t burn former pupils”. ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/95 "2009-01-26T13:09:17Z")
[John DesJardin](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0220755/) ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/96 "2009-01-26T13:56:01Z")
Sanjay Gupta graduated a year ahead of me. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/97 "2009-01-26T14:18:57Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > Pink Floyd went to my school years before me. What do you mean by Pink Floyd in this case? The entire band? Syd Barret or Roger Waters perhaps? Maybe Bob Geldof? ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/98 "2009-01-26T14:31:21Z")
Bob Geldof was not in Pink Floyd, was he? He was in the Boomtown Rats. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/99 "2009-01-26T14:32:51Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > Bob Geldof was not in Pink Floyd, was he? He was in the Boomtown Rats. He played the character Pink in the movie, “[The Wall](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084503/)”. ---
**Author:** ![Gus\_Gusterson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gus\_Gusterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Gusterson)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751/100 "2009-01-26T14:46:19Z")
Boston Latin School: Samuel Adams Ben Franklin Ralph Waldo Emerson John Hancock Leonard Bernstein Arthur Fiedler My high school is old. Half of the guys in our American History book had been students there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-most-famous-and-or-notable-alumni-from-your-high-school/482751.md?page=6)