From the big screen to the wrestling ring, Penn Staters are found in many walks of life.
Penn State is known for its large alumni base with thousands of graduates, so it’s no surprise that some have achieved celebrity status.
Here are some of those Penn Staters.
John Aniston
John Aniston studied theater at Penn State and was a member of the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity during his college years. He has had many roles throughout his career, including a supporting role in a 2002 episode of Gilmore Girls.
He is best known for his role as Victor Kiriakis on the series Days of Our Lives. This role earned Aniston a 2017 Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
Aniston is also known as the father of “Friends” star Jennifer Aniston.
In 2022 he received a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award and died later that year at the age of 89.
Jeff Raskin
While some may not immediately recognize the name of this Penn State graduate, anyone who has recently visited the computer labs at Penn State’s Pattee and Paterno Libraries may be familiar with his most famous project.
Jef Raskin earned degrees in mathematics and philosophy from Stony Brook University before coming to Penn State to pursue his masters in computer science and engineering.
After graduating, he became employee #31 at Apple, a relatively new technology company at the time.
At Apple, Raskin worked as a publications manager and eventually became the leader of the Macintosh project – which he named after his favorite type of apple.
Raskin’s contributions led to the release of the first Macintosh computer in 1984, two years after he left the company. From these computers developed the well-known models that can be seen on campus, such as MacBooks and iMacs.
After leaving Apple, Raskin founded Information Appliance Inc. and authored the book The Humane Interface.
Raskin died in 2005, leaving three children.
Britt Baker
dr Britt Baker is best known for her career as a professional wrestler with All Elite Wrestling, but she also developed a career as a dentist, beginning at Penn State.
Baker graduated from Penn State with a biobehavioural health degree in 2013 and went on to attend the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. She has been a practicing dentist in Florida since 2019.
Baker began her wrestling career in 2015. Since then, she has won multiple trophies including the All Elite Wrestling Women’s World Championship and the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament trophies.
Jonathan Frakes
In his familiar Vulcan greeting, Spock says, “Live long and prosper,” and some would say Penn State graduate student Jonathan Frakes did just that.
A native of Bellefonte County, Center County, Frakes was originally enrolled at Penn State as a psychology student. He eventually changed his major and graduated in theater in 1974.
After graduating, Frakes took on roles on shows like The Doctors and Charlie’s Angels. In 1987 he got the role of Commander William T. Riker in the series “Star Trek: The Next Generation”.
Frakes soon became more involved with the Star Trek franchise, directing Star Trek: First Contact and Star Trek: Insurrection.
He has also appeared on television shows such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Adventure Time, and Criminal Minds.
Victoria Cartagena
Victoria Cartagena is another Nittany Lion to make it to the big screen.
Cartagena studied education at Penn State and later moved to New York City to continue her career and education at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
Cartagena has had many roles in films and TV shows, including Batwoman and You. She is best known for her role as Renee Montoya on the television series Gotham.
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