Discover the notable alumni of California Institute Of The Arts. The list includes people like Tim Burton, David Hasselhoff, Dustin Hoffman, Laraine Newman & Pendleton Ward. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as film & theater personalities, miscellaneous, singers and media personalities etc.

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 1 

Tim Burton

(Film Director Known for His 'Gothic Fantasy' & 'Horror' Films)

Birthdate: August 25, 1958

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Burbank, California, United States

The quintessential filmmaker of gothic fantasy films in Hollywood, Tim Burton's contribution to the long list of American film industry's quirky movies is immense. Since he is also an artist and animator, he is perhaps best-suited for making the kind of films that he has made so far - Edward Scissorhands, Planet of the Apes, and Alice in Wonderland.

Birthdate: December 29, 1982

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Height: 5'3" (160 cm)

Birthdate: January 19, 1954

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Talented film and television actress Katey Sagal’s big break came with the popular comedy series Married.... with Children. Later, she lent her voice for the animated series Futurama and gave an award winning performance in the drama series Sons of Anarchy. Her film credits include Futurama: Bender's Big Score and Pitch Perfect 2. She has also released two music albums.

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 4 

Ed Harris

(Film actor)

Birthdate: November 28, 1950

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Englewood, New Jersey, United States

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

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 5 

Paul Reubens

(Actor, Comedian & Writer Known for His Role as ‘Pee-wee Herman’ in Film ‘Pee-wee's Big Adventure’)

Birthdate: August 27, 1952

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Peekskill, New York, United States

Died: July 30, 2023

Comedian Paul Reubens, or Pee-wee, began his career with the troupe The Groundlings. His popular stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show inspired the CBS show Pee-wee’s Playhouse; the movie Pee-wee's Big Adventure; and a Netflix film. His 1991 arrest due to indecent exposure changed his image to a great extent.

 6 

Sofia Coppola

(Director and Actress Best Known for Her Films: ‘The Virgin Suicides’, ‘Lost in Translation’ and 'Marie Antoinette')

Birthdate: May 14, 1971

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States

The daughter of the popular filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, Sofia Coppola followed in her father's footsteps to become a screenwriter and filmmaker. Sofia became only the second woman to win the Best Director award in the history of Cannes Film Festival when she won the award at the 2017 Festival.

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 7 

David Hasselhoff

(American Actor and TV Personality Who Holds a Guinness World Record as the Most Watched Man on TV)

Birthdate: July 17, 1952

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States

David Hasselhoff played the iconic role of Mitch Buchannon in Baywatch. He has also starred in The Young and The Restless and Knight Rider, judged on America’s Got Talent, released a music album, and appeared in Broadway musicals. He has a Guinness record for being the most-watched man on TV.

 8 

Stephen Hillenburg

(American Creator of the Nickelodeon Animated TV Series ‘Spongebob Squarepants')

Birthdate: August 21, 1961

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Fort Sill, Oklahoma, United States

Died: November 26, 2018

Stephen Hillenburg is best known as the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, the fifth-longest-running animated series in the U.S, which earned him two Emmys and six Annie Awards. He was initially a marine biologist and an instructor at the Orange County Marine Institute. He died of ALS, a neurodegenerative disease.

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 9 

Cecily Strong

(Actress, Comedian and Cast Member of ‘Saturday Night Live’)

Birthdate: February 8, 1984

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Springfield, Illinois, United States

Cecily Strong is an American comedian and actress best known for her work in the popular sketch comedy and variety show Saturday Night Live. In 2015, she was part of the White House Correspondents' Associationdinner where she was the featured entertainer; she took digs at the US Secret Service, news organizations, the state of Indiana, and President Barack Obama.

 10 

Michael Richards

(Actor)

Birthdate: July 24, 1949

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Culver City, California, United States

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

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 11 

John Lasseter

(Animator & Director of Several Pixar Films Like 'Toy Story,' 'A Bug's Life,' & 'Cars')

Birthdate: January 12, 1957

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Animator and director John Lasseter is best known for films such as Toy Story and A Bug's Life. He won two Academy Awards, one for Toy Story and the other for Tin Toy. He was the CEO of Pixar and Walt Disney Feature, but later quit amidst sexual misconduct allegations.

 12 

Dana Reeve

(Actress, Wife of Superman actor Christopher Reeve who became an outspoken supporter of disability causes)

Birthdate: March 17, 1961

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Teaneck, New Jersey, United States

Died: March 6, 2006

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

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 13 

Brad Bird

(Film Director Best Known for his films 'The Incredibles' franchise and 'Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol')

Birthdate: August 24, 1957

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Kalispell, Montana, United States

Brad Bird is an American animator, screenwriter, voice actor, and filmmaker. Mentored by Milt Kahl, Bird developed a love for animation at an early age. He then went on to work at Pixar and developed films like Ratatouille and The Incredibles, winning Academy Awards for both. He also holds the record for the most number of Annie Award wins. 

 14 

Eliza Coupe

(Actress and Comedian Known for Roles in Comedy Series ‘Happy Endings’, ‘Scrubs’ and 'Future Man')

Birthdate: April 6, 1981

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Plymouth, New Hampshire, United States

Eliza Coupe is an American comedian and actress. She is known for playing important roles in TV series like Happy Endings, Scrubs, Future Man, and Quantico. After being diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia in childhood, Eliza Coupe went on to study improvisational comedy at ImprovOlympic and The Groundlings. She then established herself as a successful film and TV actress.

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 15 

Michael Cudlitz

(Actor)

Birthdate: December 29, 1964

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Long Island, New York, USA

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

 16 

Tanya Haden

(Cellist)

Birthdate: October 11, 1971

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA

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 17 

Kathy Baker

(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Dr. Jill Brock’ on the TV Series ‘Picket Fences’)

Birthdate: June 8, 1950

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Midland, Texas, United States

Kathy Baker, initially a stage actor, later graduated to films, winning a National Society of Film Critics Award for the movie Street Smart. She has also appeared in films such as Edward Scissorhands and Nine Lives. Her performance as Jill Brock in the series Picket Fences won her three Emmys.

 18 

Craig McCracken

(Animator)

Birthdate: March 31, 1971

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Charleroi, Pennsylvania, U.S.

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 19 

Genndy Tartakovsky

(Animator known for his work on such Cartoon Network series as Dexter's Laboratory and Star Wars: Clone Wars)

Birthdate: January 17, 1970

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Moscow, Russia

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Birthdate: December 11, 1986

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Condola Rashad is an American actress known for her work on Broadway, for which she has received four Tony Award nominations so far. Rashad is the youngest person to have received four Tony Award nominations. Her performance in a play called Ruined earned her a Theatre World Award under the Best Debut Performance category in 2009.

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 21 

James Mangold

(Director)

Birthdate: December 16, 1963

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

 22 

Eric Stefani

(Musician)

Birthdate: June 17, 1967

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Fullerton, California, USA

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

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 23 

Pete Docter

(Animator)

Birthdate: October 9, 1968

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Bloomington, Minnesota, USA

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

 24 

Pendleton Ward

(American Animator, Screenwriter, Producer and Voice Actor)

Birthdate: September 23, 1982

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: San Antonio, Texas, United States

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Birthdate: March 13, 1960

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Pasadena, California, United States

Died: August 16, 2005

 26 

Mary Costa

(American Opera Star Who Voiced 'Princess Aurora' in the Disney Musical 'Sleeping Beauty')

Birthdate: April 5, 1930

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Knoxville

Retired American opera singer Mary Costa is best known for voicing Princess Aurora in the Disney animated musical fantasy Sleeping Beauty. Named a Disney Legend later, she has also appeared in iconic operas such as Verdi's in La Traviata. Post-retirement, she has turned into a motivational speaker and fights against child abuse, too.

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 27 

Andrew Stanton

(Director)

Birthdate: December 3, 1965

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

 28 

Butch Hartman

(Known for creating the Nickelodeon series The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, T.U.F.F. Puppy, and Bunsen Is a Beast.)

Birthdate: January 10, 1965

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Highland Park, Michigan, USA

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

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Birthdate: September 6, 1983

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States

 30 

Laraine Newman

(Actor, Television actor)

Birthdate: March 2, 1952

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Los Angeles

Height: 5'5" (165 cm)

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 31 

Ariel Pink

(Musician)

Birthdate: June 24, 1978

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

 32 

J. G. Quintel

(Creator of the Cartoon Network series Regular Show (2010–2017))

Birthdate: September 13, 1982

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Hanford, California, United States

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 33 

Lou Romano

(Designer, Scenographer, Voice actor, Animator)

Birthdate: April 15, 1972

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: San Diego

 34 

Jesse Borrego

(Actor)

Birthdate: August 1, 1962

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: San Antonio, Texas, USA

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

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 35 

Ravi Coltrane

(Saxophonist, Record Producer)

Birthdate: August 6, 1965

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Long Island, New York, United States

 36 

Chris Lemmon

(Actor)

Birthdate: June 22, 1954

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

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 37 

Walt Dohrn

(Writer)

Birthdate: December 5, 1970

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: United States

 38 

Glen Keane

(Animator)

Birthdate: April 13, 1954

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

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 39 

Thurop Van Orman

(Voice actor, Animator)

Birthdate: April 26, 1976

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Norfolk

 40 

Rich Moore

(Animation director)

Birthdate: May 10, 1963

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Oxnard, California, U.S.

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 41 

Conrad Vernon

(Voice actor)

Birthdate: July 11, 1968

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Lubbock, Texas, U.S.

 42 

Jorge Gutierrez

(Animator who co-wrote and directed The Book of Life, which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film)

Birthdate: 1975 AD

Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico

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 43 

Kelly Asbury

(Animator)

Birthdate: January 15, 1960

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Beaumont, Texas, United States

Died: June 26, 2020

 44 

Mike Kelley

(Artist)

Birthdate: October 27, 1954

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Wayne, Michigan, United States

Died: January 31, 2012

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 45 

Carrie Mae Weems

(Artist)

Birthdate: April 20, 1953

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, United States

 46 

Thor Freudenthal

(Special effects artist best known for his work on Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters)

Birthdate: October 20, 1972

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: West Berlin, Germany

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 47 

Martin Denny

(Pianist)

Birthdate: April 10, 1911

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States

Died: March 2, 2005

 48 

David Salle

(Painter)

Birthdate: September 28, 1952

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Norman, Oklahoma, United States

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 49 

Eric Fischl

(Painter)

Birthdate: March 9, 1948

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: New York City, New York

 50 

Dan Graham

(Artist)

Birthdate: March 31, 1942

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Urbana, Illinois

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The ‘California Institute of The Arts’, also known as ‘CalArts’, is an art lover’s paradise. It is one of the most preferred institutions for students aspiring to learn more about visual and performing art forms. As compared to other notable universities in the United States, CalArts was started rather recently, in 1949. This notable university has felicitated several eminent personalities for their outstanding contributions towards the field of art. The state of the art infrastructure of ‘CalArts’ deserves a special mention. Quite recently, two massive spaces, namely ‘Wild Beast’ and ‘John Baldessari Art Studio Building’ were opened for the students to practice their craft. While ‘Wild Beast’ is a 3200 square feet wide performance space, the ‘John Baldessari Art Studio’ sprawls over 7000 square feet and was constructed in a budget of $3.1 Million. The esteemed institution has produced several talented artistes, some of whom have become great legends in the field of art. These noteworthy personalities include maverick filmmaker Tim Burton, actor and host Paul Reubens, as well as filmmaker Sofia Coppola. Former animation students of ‘CalArts’ have worked on several big-budget Hollywood flicks and have been responsible for producing some of the most remarkable CGI sequences of all time. Chris Buck is one such alumnus of this prestigious university who won an Academy Award for his outstanding work in the animated film ‘Frozen’. These famous people include American jazz musician James Newton, renowned dancer Donald McKayle and playwright Peter Sellers. Here’s a list of former CalArts students who have conquered great heights and left millions of people awestruck with their achievements.