Famous Purdue University Alumni

Updated June 14, 2019 68.4k views71 items

List RulesPeople on this list must have gone to Purdue University and be of some renown.

List of famous alumni from Purdue University, with photos when available. Prominent graduates from Purdue University include celebrities, politicians, business people, athletes and more. This list of distinguished Purdue University alumni is loosely ordered by relevance, so the most recognizable celebrities who attended Purdue University are at the top of the list. This directory is not just composed of graduates of this school, as some of the famous people on this list didn't necessarily earn a degree from Purdue University.

List features graduates like Drew Brees, Neil Armstrong and other famous Boilermakers.

This list answers the questions “Which famous people went to Purdue University?” and “Which celebrities are Purdue University alumni?”

Take a look at these notable Purdue University alumni. These very famous Purdue alumn!

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1
Herman Cain
Businessperson, Politician
Age: 74
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Herman Cain (December 13, 1945 – July 30, 2020) was an American business executive, syndicated... more
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#43 of 107 Famous Politicians You'd Want to Have a Beer With#105 of 302 The Most Influential Politicians in American History
2
Drew Brees
Athlete, American football player
Age: 36
Birthplace: Austin, Texas, United States of America
Drew Christopher Brees (; born January 15, 1979) is an American football quarterback for the... more
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#2 of 120 The Best Quarterbacks Of All Time#5 of 1,323 The Best Football Players Ever
3
Jim Gaffigan
Comedian, Television producer
Age: 54
Birthplace: USA, Illinois, Elgin
James Christopher Gaffigan (born July 7, 1966) is an American stand-up comedian, actor,... more
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#24 of 233 The Funniest Stand Up Comedians Of All Time#114 of 339 The Funniest People Of All Time
4
David Crosthwait
Inventor, Engineer
Age: Dec. at 78 (1898-1976)
Birthplace: Nashville, Tennessee
David N. Crosthwait Jr. (May 27, 1898 – February 25, 1976) was an African-American mechanical... more
5
Ted Allen
Journalist, Author
Age: 55
Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
Edward Allen (born May 20, 1965) is an American author and television personality. He was the... more
6
Orville Redenbacher
Businessperson, Entrepreneur
Age: Dec. at 88 (1907-1995)
Birthplace: Brazil, Indiana
Orville Clarence Redenbacher (July 16, 1907 – September 19, 1995) was an American businessman... more
7
Neil Armstrong
Professor, Astronaut
Age: Dec. at 82 (1930-2012)
Birthplace: Ohio, United States of America
Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) was an American astronaut and... more
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#21 of 269 The Most Trustworthy Celebrities in the World#52 of 2,443 The Most Influential People of All Time
8
George Peppard
Film Producer, Actor
Age: Dec. at 66 (1928-1994)
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
George Peppard Jr. (; October 1, 1928 – May 8, 1994) was an American film and television... more
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#361 of 1,017 The Best Actors in Film History#244 of 302 The Greatest Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar (for Acting)
9
Edmund O. Schweitzer, III
Inventor, Electrical engineer
Age: 73
Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois
Edmund O. Schweitzer III (born 1947, Evanston, Illinois) is an electrical engineer, inventor,... more
10
Gary Payton
Pilot, Astronaut
Age: 72
Birthplace: Rock Island, Illinois
Colonel Gary Eugene Payton, USAF, (born June 20, 1948) is an American astronaut, and worked as... more
11
Games Slayter
Inventor
Age: Dec. at 68 (1896-1964)
Games Slayter (9 December 1896 – 15 October 1964) was a prolific U.S. engineer and inventor.... more
12
Robert C. Baker
Inventor, Scientist
Age: Dec. at 85 (1921-2006)
Robert C. Baker (December 29, 1921 – March 13, 2006) was an inventor and Cornell University... more
13
Loren Shriver
Astronaut
Age: 76
Birthplace: Jefferson, Iowa
Loren James Shriver (born September 23, 1944) is a former NASA astronaut, aviator, and a... more

14
Gus Grissom
Astronaut, Military aviator
Age: Dec. at 41 (1926-1967)
Birthplace: Mitchell, Indiana, United States of America
Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom (April 3, 1926 – January 27, 1967) was one of the seven original... more
15
Guy Gardner
Astronaut
Age: 72
Birthplace: Altavista, Virginia
Guy Spence Gardner (born January 6, 1948) is a United States Air Force officer and a former... more
16
Andrew J. Feustel
Geophysicist, Astronaut
Age: 55
Birthplace: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Andrew Jay "Drew" Feustel (; born August 25, 1965) is an American/Canadian NASA astronaut and... more
17
Jerry L. Ross
Flight engineer, Astronaut
Age: 72
Birthplace: Crown Point, Indiana
Jerry Lynn Ross (born January 20, 1948, Crown Point, Indiana) is a retired United States Air... more
18
John Casper
Astronaut
Age: 77
Birthplace: Greenville, South Carolina
John Howard Casper (born July 9, 1943) is an American astronaut and United States Air Force... more
19
David Wolf
Astronaut, Physician
Age: 64
Birthplace: Indianapolis, Indiana
David Alexander Wolf (born August 23, 1956) is an American astronaut, medical doctor and... more
20
Charles D. Walker
Astronaut, Engineer
Age: 72
Birthplace: Bedford, Shawswick Township, Indiana
Charles David "Charlie" Walker (born August 29, 1948) is an American engineer who flew on... more
21
Ray Ewry
Raymond "Ray" Clarence Ewry (October 14, 1873 – September 29, 1937) was an American track and... more
22
Matt Hamill
Mixed Martial Artist
Age: 43
Birthplace: Loveland, Ohio, United States of America
Matthew Stanley Hamill (born October 5, 1976) is an American mixed martial artist and wrestler... more
23
William Afflis
Wrestler, Actor
Age: Dec. at 62 (1929-1991)
Birthplace: USA, Indiana, Delphi
William Fritz Afflis (June 27, 1929 – November 10, 1991) was an American professional wrestler... more

24
Brian Lamb
Journalist, Television producer
Age: 78
Birthplace: Lafayette, Fairfield Township, Indiana, United States of America
Brian Patrick Lamb (; born October 9, 1941) is an American journalist and the founder,... more
25
Toby Moskowitz
Economist
Age: 49
Birthplace: West Lafayette, Wabash Township, Indiana
Tobias Jacob "Toby" Moskowitz (born February 3, 1971) is an American financial economist and... more