The University of Georgia has long been known for its athletic dominance and academic excellence—but it’s also been the starting point for some of the most recognizable names in entertainment, sports, and media.
Here’s a list of 16 celebrities who once roamed the campus in Athens. Some graduated, others didn’t, but all made their mark.
Megan Moroney
Megan Moroney performs at CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, June 7, 2025.
Graduating from UGA in 2020, Megan Moroney went from Athens to Nashville, making waves in country music with hits like “Tennessee Orange.”
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest is interviewed
The American television producer and presenter studied journalism at UGA but left at 19 to chase his Hollywood dreams.
Kim Basinger
Kim Basinger attends the Last Chance for Animals’ 35th anniversary gala at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Oct. 19, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California.
Born in Athens, Basinger, an actress, singer, and former fashion model attended UGA.
Titus Burgess
The “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” fan favorite earned a B.A. in music from UGA and grew up in Athens, attending Cedar Shoals High School.
Kyle Chandler
Kyle Chandler attends Netflix’s “Slumberland” world premiere at Westfield Century City on November 09, 2022
Before starring in “Friday Night Lights,” Chandler was a drama major at UGA. He left just seven credits short to pursue acting full-time.
Bubba Watson
Bubba Watson video thumbnail
Not only did the two-time Masters winner attend UGA, he helped lead UGA’s golf team to an SEC title in 2000.
Dominique Wilkins
February 19, 2022; Cleveland, OH, USA; NBA great Dominique Wilkins during the Slam Dunk Contest during the 2022 NBA All-Star Saturday Night at Rocket Mortgage Field House. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
A basketball legend and UGA’s greatest hoops player, Wilkins dominated college ball from 1979–1981 before heading to the NBA.
Alton Brown
Co-host Alton Brown attends a screening, Q&A and dinner for Netflix’s Iron Chef
The “Good Eats” creator left UGA just one credit short in 1985. He finally earned his drama degree in 2004 after curriculum changes removed the missing requirement.
John Isner
John Isner serves against Emilio Nara on day three of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.
Known for playing the longest match in tennis history, Isner was a standout for the UGA Bulldogs and graduated with a degree in speech communications.
Wayne Knight
Actor Wayne Knight and his wife attend the 2003 Presentation of the 18th Annual American Cinematheque Award
This actor and comedian left UGA with one credit short, but he eventually earned his degree in 2008. years after becoming a sitcom legend for playing Newman on Seinfeld.
Josh Holloway
It’s not hard to tell that Josh Holloway played a villain in “Yellowstone.” And he played it well.
Holloway, American actor and producer, briefly attended UGA but left after one quarter due to financial constraints.
Todd Gurley
December 21, 2019; Santa Clara, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
From breaking tackles at Sanford Stadium to starring in the NFL, Gurley played at UGA from 2012–2014 before being drafted 10th overall by the Rams.
Forrest Griffin
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Before stepping into the UFC, Griffin studied political science at UGA and served as a patrol officer with the university’s police department.
Terrell Davis
Terrell Davis (1995 draft, sixth round, No. 196 overall) — One of nine running backs in NFL history to post a 2,000 yard rushing season, Davis helped the Denver Broncos win back-to-back Super Bowls during the 1997-98 seasons, earning MVP honors in Super Bowl 32. He earned league MVP honors in 1998 during his 2,000-yard season, and compiled three Pro Bowl nods and three All-Pro selections. Davis is a member of the 1990s All-Decade Team and a 2017 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Davis, former professional athlete, transferred from Long Beach State to UGA, where he played running back for the Bulldogs from 1992-1994 before becoming a Denver Broncos legend.
R.E.M.
Musicians Mark McGrath, Mike Mills of R.E.M and John Payne of Asia pose backstage at the 2025 Rheneypalooza Jam.
This rock band was formed in 1980 by UGA students: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe.
Quavo
Recording artist Quavo of the rap group Migos celebrates the Georgia Bulldogs victory
According to Vibe Magazine, this rapper expressed plans to enroll to UGA in 2023.
Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: 16 celebrities that went to the University of Georgia
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
