Former UCLA Athletes who are and were actors and more
By Ryan Kay
UCLA had a good amount of former athletes become actors as well as alums who were not athletes who went on to become very successful in the movie and television industry.
First, why have so many actors, producers, and directors come from UCLA in comparison to other schools? Here are some reasons why UCLA may have more famous alumni than other universities.
UCLA is a large and well-respected university. It is one of the most selective public universities in the United States, and it has a strong academic reputation. This attracts talented students from all over the world, many of whom go on to achieve great things such as going into the movie and television industry.
UCLA is located in Los Angeles, a major entertainment and media hub. This gives its students access to opportunities that they might not have at other universities. For example, UCLA students can intern at major studios or networks, or they can participate in film and television productions.
UCLA has a strong alumni network. This network provides its graduates with support and opportunities throughout their careers. For example, UCLA alumni can help each other find jobs, get promoted, or start their own businesses within the television, movie, and streaming industries.
In addition to these factors, UCLA has also been fortunate to have some truly exceptional students and faculty members over the years. These individuals have made significant contributions to their respective fields, and they have helped to make UCLA a world-renowned university in turn, many in the movie, television, and now streaming industries have noticed throughout the year.
. Denny Miller. . player. 518. .
Sport: Basketball
Years played at UCLA: 1953, 57-59
Career stats: Stats as a guard
Most Famous Movie/TV Credits:
Starred in the following movies: Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959), Love in a Goldfish Bowl (1961), The Party (1968), Making It (1971), Buck and the Preacher (1972), The Gravy Train (1974), The Norseman (1978), Caboblanco (1980) and Circle of Power (1981).
Starred in the following TV shows: Wagon Train (1961-64) and Mona McCluskey (1965). He guest starred in Gunsmoke; The Fugitive; Gilligan’s Island; I Dream of Jeannie; The Brady Bunch; The Six Million Dollar Man; The New Adventures of Wonder Woman; Battlestar Galactica; Charlie’s Angels; The Incredible Hulk; M*A*S*H; and Magnum, P.I.
Beau Bridges. . player. 518. . .
Sport: Basketball
Years played at UCLA: 1961, He played in his freshman year under legendary coach John Wooden.
Career stats: 0.6 points and 1.4 rebounds per game
Most Famous Movie/TV Credits:
Starred in the following movies: The Landlord (1970), Greased Lightning (1977), The Fifth Musketeer (1979), Heart Like a Wheel (1983), The Hotel New Hampshire (1984), Alice in Wonderland (1985), The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), Jerry Maguire (1996), The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005), Max Payne (2008), The Descendants (2011), The Mountain Between Us (2017), and End of the Road (2022)
Starred in the following TV shows: Ensign O’Toole (1962-63), United States (1980), Harts of the West (1993-94), The Agency (2001-2003), Stargate SG-1 (2005-2007), My Name Is Earl (2005-2008), The Millers (2013-2015), Bloodline (2016-2017), Homeland (2018-2020), and Robbie (2020)
. Mike Connors. . player. 518. .
Sport: Basketball
Years played at UCLA: 1946-47
Career stats: Stats as a guard
Most Famous Movie/TV Credits:
Starred in the following movies: Sudden Fear (1952), Island in the Sky (1953), The Ten Commandments (1956), Good Neighbor Sam (1964), Where Love Has Gone (1964), Situation Hopeless… But Not Serious (1965), Stagecoach (1966), Avalanche Express (1979), and Gideon (1998).
Starred in the following TV shows: Tightrope! (1959-1960), Mannix (1967-1975), Today’s FBI (1981-1982), and Hercules (1998-199)
518. . . . Andy Hill. . player
Sport: Basketball
Years played at UCLA: 1969-72
Career stats: Games Played: 69, PPG 2.1, REB 0.6, FG% 34.3, and FT% 73.8
Most Famous Movie/TV Credits:
As the president of CBS Productions from 1991 to 1996, he oversaw primetime shows that included Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman; Walker, Texas Ranger; Touched by an Angel; Caroline in the City; and Rescue 911.
From 1997 til 2000, he was president of programming for Channel One News.