This is a list of notable alumni, faculty, and administrators of Emerson College, a private university located in Boston, Massachusetts.
| Name | Description | Student, faculty, or admin | Department or program | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Aaron | Poet | Faculty (1988–present) | Writing, Literature, and Publishing | Poetry |
| Mary Kay Adams | Actress known for work on Guiding Light and Babylon 5 | Student | Acting | |
| Pearl Aday | Singer | Student | Creative writing | Music |
| David Akiba | Photographer | Faculty (part-time) | Photography | |
| Patricia Alvarado Nuñez | Television producer and director | Student (MA, 1993) | Marketing Communication | Television |
| Paul Thomas Anderson | Award-winning filmmaker known for works including Boogie Nights and There Will Be Blood | Student (did not graduate) | English | Film |
| Michael Angelakos | Singer-songwriter, frontman for Passion Pit | Student | Music | |
| Richard Arlook | Talent manager | Student (1983) | Music | |
| Julie Banderas | Television news correspondent and anchor for Fox News | Student (BA) | Journalism | |
| Veronica Belmont | Podcaster, media personality, and journalist | Student (BA, 2004) | Visual and Media Arts | Internet |
| Melia Bensussen | Theater director | Faculty (2000–present) | Performing Arts | Theater |
| Roberto Bentivegna | screenwriter known for writing House of Gucci | Student (BA) | Film | |
| Steve Berthiaume | Sports broadcaster | Student | Broadcasting | |
| Jay Bienstock | Emmy-winning television producer | Student (BFA, 1987) | Television | |
| Sven Birkerts | Literary critic | Faculty | Criticism | |
| Michael Blaiklock | Actor known for roles in Secret Girlfriend and Don't Trust the B----- in Apartment 23 | Student | Television | |
| Dave Blass | Production designer and art director | Student | Visual and Media Arts | Film |
| Warren Bobrow | Mixologist, chef, and author | Student | Communication | Culinary arts |
| Benjamin Bolger | Perpetual student | Faculty (adjunct) | Education | |
| Sarah Borges | Musician | Student | Performing Arts | Music |
| Jared Bowen | Television and radio journalist, news commentator, arts reporter/reviewer | Student (BA) | Broadcast Journalism | Broadcasting |
| Derek Paul Jack Boyle | Visual artist | Student (BA) | Visual arts | |
| Glenn Branca | Avant garde composer and guitarist | Student | Performing Arts | Music |
| Kevin S. Bright | Television executive producer and director | Student | Television | |
| Eddie Brill | Comedian | Student | Comedy | |
| Benjamin Bronfman | Musician, environmentalist, and entrepreneur | Student | Political Communication | Music |
| Bobbi Brown | Founder of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics | Student | Performing Arts | Business |
| Bill Burr | Comedian and actor | Student | Radio | Comedy |
| Mary P. Burrill | Playwright and educator | Student (graduated 1904) | Theater | |
| Kerem Bürsin | Turkish actor of the series Sen Çal Kapımı, producer | Student (graduated 2006) | Marketing Communications | Acting |
| Tim Burton | Saxophonist for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones | Student | Music | |
| Mario Cantone | Comedian | Student (graduated 1982) | Comedy | |
| Tony Cennamo | Radio disc jockey and host | Faculty | Radio | |
| Helen Chasin | Poet | Faculty | Poetry | |
| Anthony Clark | Actor and comedian known for Yes, Dear | Student (graduated 1986) | Communication | Acting |
| Holly Karrol Clark | Actress and model | Student | Acting | |
| Bonnie Comley | Award-winning theater producer | Student | Theater | |
| Jennifer Coolidge | Actress and comedian | Student | Acting | |
| Samuel James Cornish | Poet | Faculty | Creative Writing | Poetry |
| Billy Costa | Television and radio presenter | Student | English | Broadcasting |
| David Cross | Actor and comedian known for Mr. Show and Kung Fu Panda | Student (did not graduate) | Acting | |
| Tamara Czartoryska | Athlete and socialite | Student | Athletics | |
| Bill C. Davis | Playwright | Student | Theater | |
| Morton Dean | Television news journalist with ABC News since the 1960s | Student | Journalism | |
| Susan Del Percio | Political strategist | Student | Political communication | |
| Vin Di Bona | Television producer known for America's Funniest Home Videos, MacGyver, and Entertainment Tonight | Student (BA, 1966) | Television | |
| Greg Dickerson | Sports broadcaster | Student | Broadcasting | |
| Paul Dini | Writer and producer known for work on Warner Bros/DC Comics animated television series | Student (BFA) | Creative Writing | Television |
| Sam Doumit | Actress | Student | Acting | |
| Nicole duFresne | Playwright and actress | Student | Theater | |
| Denise Duhamel | Poet | Student (BFA) | Poetry | |
| Gabe Dunn | Writer, podcaster, actor, and filmmaker[1] | Student | Journalism | Internet |
| Richard Dysart | Actor known for L.A. Law | Student | Acting | |
| Judyann Elder | Actress, director, and writer | Student | Theater | |
| Charles Wesley Emerson | Founder and first president of Emerson College | Admin (founder, president) | Office of the President | Academia |
| Rashin Fahandej | New media artist | Professor | Visual and Media Arts | New media |
| DJ Fakts One | Hip hop DJ and producer | Student (graduated 1999) | Music | |
| Ken Fallin | Illustrator and caricaturist | Student (graduated 1974) | Visual arts | |
| Joshua Hale Fialkov | Comic book writer | Student (BFA) | Writing | |
| Jim Finn | Filmmaker | Faculty | Visual and Media Arts | Film |
| Dan Finnerty | Actor and singer | Student | Acting | |
| Andy Fish | Artist, writer, graphic novelist, and cartoonist | Faculty | Writing | |
| Joely Fisher | Actress | Student (did not graduate) | Acting | |
| Frank Fixaris | Sports broadcaster | Student (graduated 1956) | Broadcasting | |
| Emily Kendal Frey | Poet | Student | Poetry | |
| Jaclyn Friedman | Writer and activist | Student (BFA, 2004) | Creative Writing | Writing |
| John Frink | Television writer and producer | Student | Creative Writing | Television |
| Jack Gantos | Author of children's books | Student (BFA, MA) | Writing | |
| Gina Gershon | Actress | Student | Acting | |
| Kizzy Yuanda Constance Getrouw | Actress, singer-songwriter, and television host | Student | Performing Arts | Entertainment |
| Andrew Glassman | Television producer | Student | Television | |
| Joanna Going | Actress | Student (did not graduate) | Acting | |
| Marian Goodman | Art dealer and gallery owner | Student | Business | |
| Seth Grahame-Smith | Novelist | Student | Writing | |
| Geoffrey Gray | American-Israeli professional basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League | |||
| Spalding Gray | Actor and writer | Student | Poetry | Theater |
| Adam Green | Musician known as half of The Moldy Peaches | Student (did not graduate) | Music | |
| Todd J. Greenwald | Television producer and writer | Student (graduated 1991) | Television | |
| Leo Grillo | Actor and activist | Student | Performing Arts | Acting |
| Ted Gup | Writer | Faculty | Journalism | Writing |
| Doris "Granny D" Haddock | Political activist | Student | Activism | |
| Louise Closser Hale | Actress, playwright, and novelist | Student | Theater | |
| John Harrison | Director, writer, producer, composer | Student | Film | |
| Elden Henson | Actor, Daredevil | Student | Acting | |
| Doug Herzog | Television executive, president of MTV Networks | Student | Television | |
| Cutter Hodierne | Filmmaker | Student (did not graduate) | Film | |
| Dave Horwitz | Comedian and writer | Student | Comedy | |
| Alice Moore Hubbard | Feminist and writer | Student | Writing | |
| Shane Hurlbut | Cinematographer | Student (BA, 1986) | Visual and Media Arts | Film |
| Christ Hurst | Member of the Virginia House of Delegates | Student (BS, 2009) | Broadcast Journalism | Journalism, politics |
| Eric Hutchinson | Singer-songwriter | Student | Music | |
| Hussein Ibish | Senior Fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine | Student (graduated 1986) | Communication | Journalism |
| Al Jaffe | Vice President of Talent Negotiation and Production Recruitment at ESPN | Student (graduated 1968) | Communication | Television |
| Suzan Johnson Cook | Presidential advisor, pastor, theologian, author, activist, and academic | Student (graduated 1976) | Oratory | Theology |
| Alden Jones | Writer | Faculty[2] | Writing, Literature & Publishing | Writing |
| Gaynelle Griffin Jones | Jurist, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | Student | Law | |
| Mike Joy | TV sports announcer | Student | Broadcasting | |
| Jeremy Kasten | Filmmaker | Student | Film | |
| Janice Kent | Actress, director, and life coach | Student | Acting | |
| Bavand Karim | Writer and producer | Faculty | Visual and Media Arts | Television and film |
| E. W. Kenyon | Pastor, founder and president of Bethel Bible Institute | Student (did not graduate) | Performing Arts | Theology |
| James "Kibo" Parry | Internet personality, leader of the parody religion Kibology | Student | Visual and Media Arts | Comedy |
| Laura Kightlinger | Actress, comedian, and writer | Student | Acting | |
| Michael W. King | Producer, writer, and director of music videos, documentaries, and films | Faculty | Visual and Media Arts | Film |
| Marci Klein | Television producer best known for her work on 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live | Student | Television | |
| Bill Knott | Poet | Faculty | Poetry | |
| Amir Korangy | Publisher and film producer, founder of The Real Deal | Student | Publishing | |
| Zach Kornfeld | YouTuber | Student | Video Production[3] | Internet |
| William Kowalski | Novelist and screenwriter | Student (did not graduate) | Writing | |
| Paul Kreppel | Actor, producer, and director | Student | Entertainment | |
| Daniel Kwan | Filmmaker, Academy Award winner known for Everything Everywhere All at Once | Student | Film | |
| Katherine G. Langley | Member of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky | Student | Oratory | Politics |
| Wayne Larrivee | Sportscaster | Student | Communication | Broadcasting |
| Gene Lavanchy | Radio and television personality and journalist | Student (BS, 1986) | Communication, Journalism | Journalism |
| Julie Mayberry | Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives | Student (BS) | Communication | Communications and Broadcast Journalism |
| Arasha Lalani | Perfessional Smosh Actor | Faculty (2000–present) | Performing Arts | Theater |
| Norman Lear | Television writer and producer known for sitcoms All in the Family and Sanford and Son | Student (did not graduate) | Television | |
| Denis Leary | Comedian and actor | Student | Comedy | |
| Danny Ledonne | Filmmaker and game developer | Student | Visual and Media Arts | Film |
| Brandon Lee | Actor and martial artist | Student | Performing Arts | Acting |
| Don Lee | Novelist | Student (MFA) | Creative Writing | Writing |
| Jay Leno | Comedian, talk show host | Student (B.A., 1973) | Speech Therapy | Comedy |
| Dan Levy | Comedian, actor, writer, and producer | Student | Comedy | |
| Elma Lewis | Arts educator, founder of the National Center of Afro-American Artists | Student (BLI, 1943) | Education | |
| Dion Lim | Television news anchor | Student | Journalism | Journalism |
| David Lipper | Actor, writer | Student (1991) | Acting | |
| Jamie Loftus | Comedian, journalist, and writer | Student | Writing | |
| Thomas Lux | Poet, former Margaret T. and Henry C. Bourne, Jr. Chair in Poetry at Georgia Institute of Technology | Student | Poetry | |
| Pierce Lyden | Actor | Student | Acting | |
| Chris Lynch | Writer | Student | Writing | |
| David Magidson | Clown | Student | Acting | Children's entertainment |
| Joe Mande | Comedian | Student | Comedy | |
| Leslie Marshall | Talk radio host | Student (MA) | Journalism | Radio |
| Andrea Martin | Actress and comedian | Student | Acting | |
| Michael McCusker | Film editor | Student (BA) | Visual and Media Arts | Film |
| Guy McElroy | Art historian | Student (MA, 1975) | Communications | |
| Matt McGorry | Actor known for Orange Is the New Black | Student | Acting | |
| Carl Menninger | Actor, director, playwright, and educator | Student (MA) | Theater | |
| Maria Menounos | Actress, journalist, and television personality | Student (graduated 2000) | Television | |
| Shelley Mitchell | Actress, writer, performance coach and leadership consultant | Student | Performing Arts | Acting |
| Amir Mokri | Cinematographer | Student | Film | |
| Erik Mona | Publisher | Student | Publishing | |
| Tim Neverett | Sports announcer | Student | Broadcasting | |
| Sarah Nicklin | Actress | Student | Performing Arts | Acting |
| Jay Baron Nicorvo | Writer | Student (MFA) | Writing, Literature, and Publishing | Writing |
| Elaine Noble | Politician and activist | Student | Politics | |
| Princess Noor bint Asem | Member of the Jordanian royal family | Student (BS, 2004) | Political Communication | Royalty |
| Lance Norris | Entertainer | Student | Television | |
| Michael Nouri | Actor known for Flashdance | Student | Acting | |
| Peter O'Brian | Film producer | Student (BA, 1969) | Mass Communication, Film | Film |
| Porsha Olayiwola | Boston Poet Laureate | Student (MFA) | Writing, Literature, and Publishing | Writing |
| Jacob Charles Osher | DJ and record producer using the name DJ Jayceeoh | Student | Music | |
| Alicyn Packard | Voice actress | Student (BA) | Visual and Media Arts | Acting |
| Morgan Page | DJ and music producer | Student | Music | |
| Josh Pahigian | Author | Alumnus | Writing | |
| Eddie Palladino | NBA announcer for the Boston Celtics | Student (BS, 1979) | Communication | Broadcasting |
| Don Pardo | Radio and television announcer | Student (graduated 1942) | Broadcasting | |
| Jerry Parisella | Politician | Student (BA, 1988) | Journalism | Politics |
| Penny Peyser | Actress known for Crazy Like a Fox | Student (graduated 1973) | Acting | |
| Chrystee Pharris | Actress known for Passions | Student (BFA) | Performing Arts | Acting |
| Brittany Martin Porter | Emmy-winning television producer | Student | Visual Media Arts | Producing |
| Jon Prescott | Actor | Student | Acting | |
| Sam Presti | Basketball executive, general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder | Student | Business | |
| Felicia Pride | Writer | Student (MA) | Publishing and Writing | Writing |
| Tess Rafferty | Writer and comedian | Student (BA) | Acting | Art history |
| Joe Randazzo | Writer and comedian | Student (BA) | Journalism | Comedy |
| Jacobo Rispa | Filmmaker | Student | Film | |
| Rob Roberge | Writer | Student | Writing | |
| Seth Romatelli | Podcaster and comedian | Student | Communications | |
| Sara Weeks Roberts | Activist | Student | Oratory | Oratory |
| Eugene Roche | Actor | Student | Acting | |
| Kim Roberts | Poet | Student (BFA) | Poetry | |
| Anaridis Rodriguez | Journalist and news anchor for The Weather Channel | Student (MA) | Journalism | Journalism |
| Kathleen Rooney | Writer | Student (MFA) | Writing, Literature, and Publishing | Writing |
| Jason Scott Sadofsky | Historian and filmmaker | Student | Mass Communication | Film |
| Princess Sarah bint Asem | Member of the Jordanian royal family | Student | Royalty | |
| Hartley Sawyer | Actor | Student | Acting | |
| Carl Schmehl | Theater/stage director and producer | Student | Theater | |
| Daniel Scheinert | Filmmaker, Academy Award winner known for Everything Everywhere All at Once | Student | Film | |
| Adam Schneider | Voiceover actor, audio producer | Student (BA, 2001) | Radio | Broadcasting |
| Bill Schulz | Journalist and television personality | Student (BA, 1998) | Journalism | Journalism |
| George Scribner | Director and animator | Student | Film | |
| Jeffrey L. Seglin | Writer and teacher | Faculty (1999–2011) | Publishing | Academia |
| John Sencio | Television host and journalist | Student | Television | |
| Lauren Sherman | Journalist | Student | Journalism | |
| Iliza Shlesinger | Comedian and television personality | Student | Comedy | |
| Juniper Shuey | Visual artist | Student | Visual arts | |
| Emily Skeggs | Actress | Student | Theater | |
| Paul Solet | Filmmaker | Student (BA, 2002) | Film | |
| Henry Lawrence Southwick | Performer and teacher and college president | Student and faculty and president 1908–1935 | Office of the President | Academic |
| Jessie Eldridge Southwick | Performer, teacher, and author | Student (BLI (1885) and Faculty | Literary Interpretation | Oratory |
| Matt Spiegel | Sports broadcaster | Student | Broadcasting | |
| Mary Starrett | Politician and broadcaster | Student | Politics | |
| Olen Steinhauer | Author of spy fiction novels | Student (MFA) | Creative Writing | Writing |
| Laurie Faria Stolarz | Author of young adult fiction | Student | Writing | |
| Janaka Stucky | Poet | Student | Poetry | |
| Steve Sweeney | Comedian | Student | Comedy | |
| Mark Hsu Syers | Broadway actor | Student (graduated 1974) | Acting | |
| Cecilia Tan | Writer, founder of Circlet Press | Student (MA, 1994) | Writing, Literature, and Publishing | Publishing |
| Rose Tarlow | Interior designer | Student (BS, 1960) | Theater arts | |
| Kristin Tate | Author, political columnist | Student | Journalism | Broadcasting |
| Michael Grant Terry | Actor best known for his role on Bones | Student | Visual and Media Arts | Acting |
| Alex Tse | Screenwriter known for Sucker Free City and Watchmen | Student | Journalism | Film |
| Spencer Tunick | Photography known for organizing large-scale nude shoots | Student (BA, 1988) | Photography | |
| Daphne Valerius | Filmmaker | Student | Journalism | |
| Lilly Wachowski | Film director, screenwriter, and producer | Student (did not graduate) | Film | |
| David Foster Wallace | Author, essayist, and professor | Faculty | English | Literature |
| Natasha Gregson Wagner | Actress | Student (did not graduate) | Acting | |
| Jessie Ward | Professional wrestler | Student (graduated 2007) | Visual and Media Arts | Sports |
| George Watsky | Rapper and poet | Student (graduated 2010) | Music | |
| Armen Weitzman | Comedian and actor | Student | Acting | |
| Frances Hodges White | Children's author | Student | ||
| Justin Willman | Magician and television personality | Student | Journalism | Television |
| Henry Winkler | Actor and television personality; awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Emerson in 1978 | Student (BA, 1967) | Acting | |
| Harris Wittels | Actor and comedian | Student (graduated 2006) | Visual and Media Arts | Television |
| Gene Wood | Game show announcer and television personality | Student | Performing Arts | Television |
| Susan Wornick | Television news anchor | Student (BA, 1971) | Journalism | |
| Steven Wright | Comedian | Student (BA, 1978) | Comedy | |
| Elisha Yaffe | Actor and writer | Student | Acting | |
| Nicola Yoon | Author | Student | Creative Writing | Writing |
| Landry Allbright | Actress | Student | Fine Arts | Acting |