15 Famous Alumni From Kent State University

We all chose Kent Stent University because we knew that by coming here, we would receive the necessary tools to be successful in the future. We are proud to be Kent State Flashes because Flashes go on to accomplish great things. In case you lost sight of that, take a look at this list of fifteen famous alumni from Kent State University who attended our great university and went on to be award-winning actors, professional athletes, and even astronauts!

Running the Show

1. Steve Harvey

We know him now as the hilarious host of Family Feud, but he once was a Kent State Flash and a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

2. Michael Keaton

Star of Beetlejuice, Mr. Mom, and Batman and its sequel, Keaton is arguably the most famous alumni from Kent State University. Keaton attended Kent State University over 40 years ago and was a Journalism and Speech major. Today, he is a Golden Globe winner and two of his recent films, Birdman and Spotlight, both won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

3. Arsenio Hall

Hall graduated from Kent State University in 1977 and went on to have his own talk show, The Arsenio Hall Show.

4. Ray Wise

Wise is best known for his roles in Twin Peaks, RoboCop, and The Young and the Restless, for which he won a Daytime Emmy.

5. Drew Carey

Throughout his career, Drew Carey has been a part of comedy shows like Whose Line is it Anyway? and The Drew Carey Show. He is currently the host of The Price is Right.

Out of this League

6. Thomas Jefferson

No, not that Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Theodore Jefferson started out as a Kent State Flash before he went on to win a bronze medal for the 200 metres in the 1984 summer Olympics.

7. Jack Lambert

A product of Kent State University, Lambert is a former NFL superstar. Named as the “toughest football player of all time,” he won four Super Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

*Fun Fact- Lambert was also known for his not-so-million-dollar-smile as his four front teeth were missing because of a high school injury.

8. Paul Warfield

Before he received his M.A. from Kent State in 1977, Paul Warfield was a NFL wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns and later the Miami Dolphins. He became a Pro Football Hall of Famer in the 80’s.

Music To Your Ears

9 & 10. Bob Lewis & Mark Mothersbaugh

Bob Lewis graduated from Kent State with a major in anthropology while Mark Mothersbaugh was an art major at Kent. The two students met and together they formed the band Devo. You might recognize them as the guys who sing “Whip-It” which they performed while wearing neon yellow radiation suits and red cone hats.

11. Joe Walsh

Besides being a former Kent State Flash, Joe Walsh was also a member of five successful rock bands, the most popular being The Eagles. In 2011, he was given a spot on the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” list.

12. Chris Vrenna

He was a drummer for “Nine Inch Nails” and “Marilyn Manson” and the founder of the band “Tweaker,” not to mention a Grammy winner and a Golden Flash.

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Worth Writing Home About

13. Jeff Richmond

Actor, director, composer, producer, former Flash, and husband of funny lady, Tina Fey. He is known for his work on 30 Rock, for which he won 3 Emmy awards, and the Netflix hit Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

14. Dav Pilkey

Pilkey is not only a former Kent State attendee, he is also the award-winning author of the Captain Underpants series, which most of us probably read when we were young.

To Infinity and Beyond

15. Carl E. Walz

Walz received his B.S. in physics from Kent State University in 1977. In 1990, he was an astronaut. He was a part of four space flights and has spent a total of 231 days in space.

All of these celebrities came from different backgrounds and had different passions. Today, they all have one thing in common: they all accomplished their dreams with the help of Kent State University!