Famous USC Alumni
Hello, future Trojans! Today I’m here to highlight some of the amazing, iconic and downright legendary USC alumni who once walked the same palm-tree-lined pathways you might soon walk too.
George Lucas: The Force Was Definitely with This Trojan
Before building a galaxy far, far away, George Lucas was wandering around campus like any other film student… except maybe with slightly more star-shaped dreams. George is a great example of why our School of Cinematic Arts is the best film school in the world!
Will Ferrell: The Human Spirit of USC
Will Ferrell didn’t just graduate from USC; he practically radiates Trojan energy. Golden voice? Check. Legendary jokes? Check. Ability to hype up an entire football stadium? DOUBLE check. He even delivered a commencement speech that is a must see for all future Trojans.
Allyson Felix: The Fastest Trojan Ever (Literally)
With 11 Olympic medals, Allyson Felix is one of the most decorated track athletes in history. And yes, she trained right here at USC. She makes sprinting look easy. I, meanwhile, sprint only when I hear “Free food in the quad.”
Ludwig Göransson: The Soundtrack of Coolness
The Oscar-winning composer behind Black Panther, The Mandalorian and some very catchy Childish Gambino hits? Yep. Trojan. Some say if you walk by the Thornton School of Music after sunset, you can still hear the faint echoes of this creative genius… or a stressed music student practicing scales. Hard to tell.
Shonda Rhimes: Queen of Dramatic Plot Twists
What’s more dramatic than a college admissions cycle? One word: Shonda. Creator of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and even more viral hits, she has been making us gasp, cry and text our group chats “OMG WHAT” for years. And it all started here at USC.
Robert Zemeckis: Back to the Trojan Future
The director of Back to the Future, Forrest Gump and many more classics? Yep, he’s one of ours too. We like to think that he perfected time-travel storytelling because he had to run between classes across campus.
Neil Armstrong: Yes, That Moon Man
Before he took one giant leap for mankind, Neil Armstrong earned his master’s degree in aerospace engineering at USC. Honestly? Peak Trojan flex: “Where’d you go to grad school?” “Oh, just USC. Then I walked on the moon.”
DeMar DeRozan: One-and-Done, but Trojan for Life
DeMar DeRozan dominated the court during his single season at USC, then took his talents to the NBA and never looked back. But he didn’t forget home, later gifting USC a brand-new state-of-the-art weight room. Short stay, huge legacy, endless Trojan pride.
Grant Imahara: The Robot-Whispering Trojan
Before he was busting myths and building high-tech robots, Grant Imahara was an electrical engineering student at USC, probably tinkering with something in a lab he wasn’t technically supposed to modify. His career blended science, creativity and fearless curiosity—the ultimate Trojan combo.
Sean Rad: Match Made in Marshall
Know most for being the Founder of Tinder, Sean Rad is one of our notable Marshall alumni. He dreamed big at USC, then built something even bigger and still gives back generously to students who are dreaming now. Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet your match in one of your 9AMs. Go to class, folks! Love awaits.
USC’s alumni world is like the most fun, eclectic family reunion ever: Olympians chatting with movie directors, comedians sharing lunch tables with composers, visionaries swapping ideas under the same palm trees you could soon stroll under.
If they can launch their dreams from here, why not you?
Written by: Jessie Beeman, Assistant Director – Office of Undergraduate Admission