Emmy-award winning actor, Sean Hayes, was a music performance major while attending Illinois State.
Arts and Entertainment
Art
Nicholas Africano '71
An internationally acclaimed artist, his paintings have been the focus of solo exhibitions in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco.
Lorenzo Pace, Ed. D. '78
Artist who designed the New York City memorial titled, "Triumph of the Human Spirit" at the site of an 18th century slave burial ground that is now a National Historical Landmark.
Movies, Television and Theatre
Randall Arney, M.F.A. '80
Artistic/Managing Director of the Geffen Theatre Company in Los Angeles.
Gary Griffin, M.F.A. '86
Artistic/Managing Director with the Chicago Shakespeare Company.
Carlos Bernard (Papierski) '91
Was last seen on the Fox television show 24 and was a recurring character on The Young and the Restless.
Gary Cole
A notable lead actor from various TV series. He has also starred in numerous films including: Win A Date With Tad Hamilton!, The Brady Bunch Movie, Office Space, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
Brian Connor '93
Digital Compositor for Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). He has worked on such films as Terminator 3, Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Star Wars Episode II, and Pearl Harbor.
Suzzanne Douglass
Actress who may be seen in the films Tap, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and The School of Rock. She also starred on the WB series The Parent 'Hood and received critical acclaim for her leading role in the Disney Family Classic movie, Sounder.
Juli Gallagher '89
Senior producer for CNN's Larry King Live.
Moira Harris '76
Actress from such films as Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Chicago Cab and Tall Tale. She is married to Steppenwolf Theatre co-founder and Academy Award nominee Gary Sinese.
Reggie Hayes '91
Star of the UPN series Girlfriends and may also be seen in the films Charlie's Angels and Being John Malkovich.
Sean Hayes
Emmy award-winning actor starred as "Jack McFarland" on the hit NBC series Will & Grace. Sean received critical acclaim for his role in the independent film Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss and for his portrayal of Jerry Lewis in CBS TV movie Martin and Lewis. He may also be seen in Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! and heard in The Cat in the HatandCats and Dogs.
Tom Irwin '79
Actor who is a founding member of the renowned Steppenwolf Theatre Ensemble and starred as "Graham Chase" on the acclaimed television series My So-Called Life. He may most recently be seen in the critically acclaimed independent film, 21 Grams.
Judith Ivey '73
Two-time Tony Award-winning actress. She has appeared in numerous films, including Flags of our Fathers, Mystery Alaska, and The Devil's Advocate. She also had starring roles on TV's Designing Women and The Five Mrs. Buchanans.
Terry Kinney '76
Acclaimed theatrical director and co-founder of the renowned Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. He can also be seen in such films as The Firm, Last of the Mohicans, and Save the Last Dance. You may also recognize him from the HBO series Oz.
John LeMay '84
An actor who has done a wide variety of national commercials and who held the starring role in the syndicated television show Friday the 13th: The Series.
Jeff Lewis '92
A make-up artist who has received five Emmy nominations. He has also worked on the films The Grinch and The Flintstones: Viva Los Vegas and the series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Enterprise.
Brad Look '83
Brad is a successful Hollywood make-up artist, nominated for multiple Emmy Awards and won an Emmy as part of Michael Westmore's make-up team for Star Trek: Voyager. He co-authored Star Trek: Aliens and Artifacts. He most recently was part of the make-up team for Poseidon and Pirates of the Carribean: At Worlds End.
Jane Lynch '82
Actress who may be seen in the films Best of Show, A Mighty Wind, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. She played "Mrs. Witter" (Pacey's mom) on Dawson's Creek and had recurring parts on Judging Amy and The West Wing and starred on the short-lived series MD's.
John Malkovich
Two-time Academy Award nominee for the films Places in the Heart and In the Line of Fire, John is an ensemble member at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre. Some of his other notable films include Con Air, Dangerous Liaisons, Rounders, as well as Being John Malkovich.
David McFadzean M.S. '74
Writer and Producer for Wind Dancer Productions. He created and produced the TV show Home Improvement and has served as executive producer for the films Where the Heart Is and What Women Want.
Laurie Metcalf '76
A three-time Emmy Award winner for her role as "Jackie" on the hit television comedy Roseanne. She has also appeared in the films Uncle Buck, JFK, Scream 2, Bulworth, and Runaway Bride.
William O'Leary '80
Actor who appeared in a recurring role as "Marty," Tim's brother on the television series Home Improvement. He has also appeared in feature films Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Bull Durham and Hot Shotsand Miss Congeniality 2.
Jeff Perry
A co-founder of Steppenwolf Theatre, you may recognize him as "Thatcher Grey" on Grey's Anatomy. He starred as "Harvey Leek" on the CBS series Nash Bridges. He is also known for his memorable performance as "Mr. Katimsky" on the TV series My So-Called Life.
Ray Roderick '80
Actor/dancer who has held roles on Broadway in Cats and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Tim Russ
Actor who can be seen as “Frank” on ABC’s Samantha Who? and could be seen as the Vulcan "Lieutenant Tuvok" on the syndicated series Star Trek: Voyager.
Rondi Reed '77
Actor recently starred as "Madame Morrible" in the Chicago production of Wicked. Some notable guest appearances include TV's The Practice, Roseanne, and Seinfeld.
James Spinner '81, M.S. '84
A special effects movie make-up artist with his own special effects company, Figurative Dimensions, Inc. His work has been featured in the films, Men In Black II, The Grinch, Planet of the Apes, Thelma & Louise, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
Cecilia Suarez '95
Actor who starred on the Lifetime TV series For the People and may be seen in the Adam Sandler movie, Spanglish.
Yvonne Suhor '85
Actress who played "Lou" on the television series The Young Riders. Yvonne has since received her M.F.A. from the University of Southern California and is now teaching theatre in Florida.
Gene Weygandt '74
Actor who created the role of "Paul" in Broadway's Big. Most recently was seen as "The Wizard" in Chicago's production of Wicked.
Bruce A. Young '79
Actor who may be seen in the films Enough, Phenomenon, Risky Business, and Jurassic Park 3. He has also been seen on the TV series: Ghost Whisperer, Grey's Anatomy and Prison Break.
Music
Suzy Bogguss '79
Popular country-western-folk musician and winner of the Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Female Vocalist in 1989.
Syleena Johnson
A protégé of R. Kelly, she is an R&B music chart-topper. Most recently, she released an album through Jive Records entitled, Chapter 3: The Flesh. She is also a model for Wilhelmina Modeling Agency.
Rex Martin '81
Professor of Music at Northwestern University. He is one of the world's foremost tuba players and has played a key role in the development of new tubas for manufacturers in Germany and Japan.
Darryl One '77, M.M. '79
Currently serves as Music Director of Modesto Symphony Orchestra and the Victoria Symphony Orchestra in West Texas.
Al Pierson (Pizzamiglio) '54, M.S. '58
Conductor of the world reknowned Guy Lombardo Royal Canadians.
Michelle (Tenitra) Williams
A Grammy-award winning member of the R&B/Pop music group Destiny's Child. She also starred on Broadway in the Tim Rice and Elton John production of Aida. Most recently, she could be seen on stage as "Shug Avery" in the The Color Purple.
News Reporting
Richard Roeper '82
A columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and co-host of Ebert & Roeper At the Movies. He is the co-author of He Rents, She Rents and he authored Urban Legends. He was selected by People magazine in 2001 as one of the "50 most eligible bachelors."
Randy Salerno '85
Anchor for CBS2News in Chicago.
Dan Roan '76
Sports anchor for WGN Television, Chicago.
