List of University High School (Irvine, California) alumni explained

The following is a list of notable alumni of University High School in Irvine, California. The list includes notable former pupils who attended the school.

Sports

• Garrett Atkins - Class of 1997 - former Major League Baseball infielder for the Colorado Rockies and Baltimore Orioles^[1]
• Jeff Campbell - Class of 1981 - water polo silver medalist, 1988 Summer Olympics^[2]
• Peter Campbell - Class of 1978 - water polo silver medalist, 1984 Summer Olympics and 1988 Summer Olympics; four-time collegiate All-America^[3]
• Polly Plumer - Class of 1982 - track and field athlete, former national high school girls' record holder in the mile at 4:35.24, four-time collegiate All-America, Track & Field, UCLA Bruins^[4]
• Shar Pourdanesh - Class of 1988 - former NFL player (Redskins, Steelers, Raiders); first Iranian-born player^[5]
• Bojana Todorović - Class of 2009 - NCAA champion beach volleyball player in 2011 at UCLA,^[6] former professional volleyball player in France, Puerto Rico and the Philippines^[7]
• Tim Wallach - Class of 1975 - former Major League Baseball player and Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach^[8]
• Amy White - Class of 1986 - silver medalist in the 100M backstroke, 1984 Summer Olympics^[9]
• Greg Whiteley - Class of 1985 - five-time NCAA all-American and winner of NCAA championship indoor mile^[10]

Music

• Joey Allen (Joe Cagle) - Class of 1982 - lead guitarist for the 1980s hard rock/glam metal band Warrant
• Eddie Breckenridge - Class of 1998 - bass guitarist of hardcore punk band Thrice
• Riley Breckenridge - Class of 1993 - drummer of hardcore punk band Thrice^[11]
• Tim Commerford - Class of 1986 - bassist of rap metal band Rage Against the Machine, former bassist of Audioslave^[12]
• Zack de la Rocha - Class of 1988 - lead singer of rap metal band Rage Against the Machine
• Murphy Karges - Class of 1985 - bassist of alternative rock band Sugar Ray
• Martin Leung - Class of 2004 - video game pianist^[13]
• Vanness Wu - Class of 1996 - Taiwanese singer, actor, director and producer member of JVKV

Film and theater

• Omid Abtahi - Class of 1997 - actor
• Justin Chon - Class of 1999 - actor^[14]
• David Engel - Class of 1977 - Broadway theatre/Off-Broadway singer and dancer best known for originating roles in the musicals Forever Plaid, La Cage aux Folles, and Seussical^[15]
• Will Ferrell - Class of 1986 - actor, comedian, and former Saturday Night Live cast member^[16]
• Robert MacNaughton - Class of 1984 - Hollywood actor best known for his role as Michael in the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
• Cady McClain - Class of 1987 - actress, The Young and the Restless; formerly "Dixie" on All My Children and "Rosanna" on As the World Turns
• Nicole Parker - Class of 1996 - MadTV cast member and comedian, Broadway actress^[17]
• Nasim Pedrad - Class of 1999 - Persian-American comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member^[18]
• Eran Raven - Class of 1990 - aka Eran Feigenbaum, Master Mentalist on NBC's Phenomenon^[19]
• Gary Riley - Class of 1985 - Hollywood actor best known for his role as Charlie Hogan in the movie Stand by Me
• Sotaro Yasuda - Class of 2004 - Japanese American actor, played Ken Hisatsu in the 2007 Super Sentai series

Business

• Mike Cagney - Class of 198? - Co-Founder and CEO of FIgure, Co-Founder and former CEO of SoFi
• Allen Adham - Class of 1984 - Co-Founder of Blizzard Entertainment

Journalism and academia

• David J. R. Frakt - Class of 1987 - law professor
• Ezra Klein - Class of 2002 - Vox website founder and editor-in-chief; formerly Washington Post columnist and blogger, Newsweek columnist and MSNBC contributor^[20]
• Sudhir Alladi Venkatesh - Class of 1984 - sociologist and urban ethnographer^[21]

Other

• Barbara Edwards - Class of 1978 - Playboy Playmate of the Year 1984^[22]
• Dita Von Teese - Class of 1990 - aka Heather Sweet, burlesque star and fashion model, divorced from Marilyn Manson^[23]
• Darius Rose - Class of 2003 - aka Jackie Cox, drag performer and fourth place finisher on RuPaul's Drag Race
• Yoo Yoonjin - Class of 2010 - aka Jinnytty, Twitch streamer and YouTuber^[24]

Notes and References

1. News: Zaengle. Neda. Garrett Atkins now pitching in Irvine. 31 July 2012. The Orange County Register. 18 February 2010.
2. News: Beck. Martin. Games are Just the Beginning. 3 August 2012. Los Angeles Times. 24 July 1992.
3. Web site: Peter Campbell - Class of 2000. USA Water Polo. 31 July 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120711024932/http://www.usawaterpolo.org/InsideUSAWaterPolo/HallOfFame/00PeterCampbell.aspx. 11 July 2012.
4. News: Shaver. Brent. Warriors' Babcock defends state title, winning 1,600. 31 July 2012. The Orange County Register. 7 June 2007.
5. Web site: Shar Pourdanesh's Page. https://archive.today/20130129221850/http://www.nevadaalumnifootball.com/profile/SharPourdanesh. dead. 29 January 2013. Nevada Football Alumni Association. 31 July 2012.
6. Web site: Todorovic, Smith champs. Los Angeles Times. 17 December 2011.
7. Web site: Bojana Todorovic » indoor tournaments.
8. Wallach Elected into College Baseball Hall of Fame. Fullerton Titans. 31 July 2012. 21 February 2011.
9. News: Scott. Gerald. Swimming : White Left Her Medal at Poolside. 31 July 2012. Los Angeles Times. 12 June 1985.
10. Web site: 1989-05-29. Whiteley Strives to Train for the Long Run : University Graduate Resists Overtraining, Finds Right Pace for Success. 2021-06-02. Los Angeles Times. en-US.
11. News: Eliot. Ashley. Irvine's Thrice Release New Record, Overcome Online Thieves. 3 August 2012. OC Weekly. 17 Sep 2009.
12. News: Kane. Rich. Anger Is a Gift. 3 August 2012. OC Weekly. 18 Nov 1989.
13. News: Pena. Luis. Let them play it again. 31 July 2012. Daily Pilot. 29 March 2004.
14. News: Chang. Richard. 'Twilight' actor tackles Hollywood from Irvine. 31 July 2012. The Orange County Register. 27 February 2009.
15. News: Applegate. Jane. Publisher Sued for Excluding Gays' Picture. 28 November 2012. Los Angeles Times. 1 September 1987.
16. News: Koltnow. Barry. 25 reasons we still love Will Ferrell . 31 July 2012. The Orange County Register. 13 March 2012.
17. Web site: Boettner. Melissa Tennille. My Students On Broadway: A Father/Daughter Broadway Adventure. Boettner Vocal Studios. 22 September 2010. 31 July 2012.
18. Web site: IPSF's inaugural Spirit of Excellence Gala and Auction raises more than $200,000 for schools. Irvine Unified School District. 31 July 2012. September 2010.
19. Web site: Mesmerizing Program. Orange County Jewish Life. 31 July 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111122015338/http://www.ocjewishlife.com/site/mezmerising-program/. 22 November 2011.
20. Web site: Irvine's Ezra Klein crowned Prince of DC Media by The New Republic. LiberalOC. 3 January 2015.
21. Web site: Gang leader for a day? An academic took the plunge . Rivera, Ryan . 2008-05-05 . . 2008-05-06 .
22. Web site: Arellano. Gustavo. Girls Gone Not So Wild. OC Weekly. OC Weekly. 31 July 2012. 3 February 2005.
23. News: Fadroski. Kelli Skye. Dita Von Teese brings 'Strip Strip Hooray!' to O.C.. 31 July 2012. The Orange County Register. 9 May 2012.
24. Web site: 30 October 2022 . Visiting My High School 12 YEARS Later . live . https://archive.today/20221030175507/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKKL2W3BMf0 . 30 October 2022 . 30 October 2022 . YouTube.