Ben Axelson | baxelson@nyup.com

Upstate NY alumni: Actors you didn't know went to Cornell University

Cornell University has turned out renowned scientists, heads of state and athletes, but did you know that some of your favorite big screen stars earned degrees from the prestigious Upstate New York university as well?

All of these actors either graduated from or attended Cornell. How many did you know about?

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Chris Pizzello | The Associated Press

Jane Lynch

TV and film actress well known for playing Sue Sylvester on "Glee" and numerous supporting roles. Earned an M.F.A. in Theater from Cornell in 1984.

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The Associated Press

Dane Clark

Film and TV actor known for roles in "Moonrise," "Action in the North Atlantic" and "Destination Tokyo." Earned a B.A. from Cornell in 1930. Died September 11, 1998 in Santa Monica, Calif. Pictured second from the left.

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Jordan Clarke

TV actor best known for his role on the CBS soap "Guiding Light." Earned a B.A. in Philosophy from Cornell in 1973 and an M.F.A. in Acting in the same year.

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Jordan Strauss | The Associated Press

Bill Nye

TV presenter best known for his show "Bill Nye the Science Guy." Received a B.S. (1977) in Mechanical Engineering and a M.Eng. (1977).

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Bob Clendenin

TV actor best known for roles in "My Name is Earl," "Scrubs," "That 70s Show" and "Cougar Town." Graduated with a B.S. from Cornell in 1986.

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Charles Sykes | The Associated Press

Maria Teresa Dizzia

TV, film and stage actress known for roles in "Orange is the New Black," "True Story" and "X/Y." Studied theater at Cornell, but did not earn a degree.

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Casey Curry | The Associated Press

Bill Maher

Comedian, TV host and actor known for his own HBO talk show "Real Time with Bill Maher." Earned a B.A. in English from Cornell in 1978.

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Ellen Albertini Dow

Actress known for portraying feisty elderly women. She is known for roles in "Wedding Crashers," "The Wedding Singer" and several appearances as different characters on "Golden Girls." Received a B.A. (1935) and M.A. (1938) in theater from Cornell. Died in 2015 after reaching age 101.

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The Associated Press

Dan Duryea

TV and film actor known for portraying villains in a vast number of productions including "Black Bart," "Winchester '73" and "The Flight of the Pheonix." Duryea received a B.A. in English from Cornell in 1928, and died in 1968 in Los Angeles.

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The Associated Press

Christopher Reeve

Actor best known for playing Superman and for his activism later in life after becoming quadriplegic in 1995. Reeve received a B.A. Theater Arts and English from Cornell in 1974. He died in Mount Kisco, NY, in 2004.

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Art Fleming

Best known as being the original host of "Jeopardy!," Fleming also had numerous acting roles on TV and in film. He attended Cornell, but did not graduate. He died April 25, 1995, in Florida.

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Steven Franken

TV and Film actor known for roles in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," "Curse of the Pink Panther" and "Angels & Demons." Franken is the cousin of Minn. Sen. Al Franken. He received a B.A. from Cornell in 1950. Franken died August 24, 2012, in California.

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Richard Shotwell | The Associated Press

Jimmy Smits

TV and film actor best known for roles in three "Star Wars" films, "L.A. Law" and "NYPD Blue." Earned an M.F.A. from Cornell in 1982.

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Jordan Strauss | The Associated Press

Carla Gallo

Film and TV actress known for roles in "Bones," "Californication" and "Neighbors." Earned a B.A. in Theater from Cornell.

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Richard Shotwell | The Associated Press

Meta Golding

TV and film actress known for roles in "The Hunger Games" and "The Tomorrow People." Earned degrees in Theater Arts and International relations from Cornell.

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Frank Morgan

Actor best known for playing The Wizard in "The Wizard of Oz." Dropped out of Cornell. Died in September, 1949.

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Brian Hallisay

TV and film actor known for roles in "Revenge," "Privilege" and "American Sniper." Earned a degree in Economics and History from Cornell in 2000.

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Catherine Hicks

TV, film and stage actress known for playing Annie Camden in "7th Heaven." Earned a M.F.A from Cornell in 1976.

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The Associated Press

Harold Gould

TV, film and stage actor known for roles on "Golden Girls," "Rhoda" and "The Sting." Gould died September 11, 2010, in California. He earned an M.A. (1948) in Theater and a Ph.D. (1953) in Dramatic Speech and Literature at Cornell, and later became a Professor of Speech and Drama.

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John Hostetter

TV, film and voice actor known for playing John the stage manager on "Murphy Brown," as well as Bazooka in the animated "G.I. Joe" series. Earned an M.A. in acting from Cornell. Died September 2, 2016, in Florida.

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Mia Korf

TV actress best known as Blair Daimler Buchanan on "One Life To Live."

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Peter Ostrum

Actor best known for playing Charlie Bucket in "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory." He earned a D.V.M from Cornell in 1984, and now practices veterinary medicine in Loweville, NY.

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Gardner McKay

Actor known for playing Adam Troy in the TV series "Adventures in Paradise." Attended Cornell for 2 years. Died November 21, 2001 in Hawaii.

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The Associated Press

Adolphe Menjou

Film actor who got his start doing silent films and later had talking roles in films such as "Paths of Glory" and "State of the Union." He died October 29, 1963, in Beverly Hills.

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Barry Brecheisen | The Associated Press

William Sadler

TV and film actor best known for roles in "The Shawshank Redemption," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and a recurring role as President Matthew Ellis in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Earned a Master's in acting from Cornell in 1974.

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Richard Shotwell | The Associated Press

Adepero Oduye

Actress known for "12 Years a Slave" and "Pariah." Graduated pre-med from Cornell, but pursued acting instead.

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Evan Parke

TV and film actor best known for role in Peter Jackson's "King Kong." Earned an Economics degree from Cornell in 1990.

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The Associated Press

Christopher Rich

TV and film actor best known for his roles on "Reba" and "Murphy Brown." Earned an M.A. in Theater Arts from Cornell.

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Richard Shotwell | The Associated Press

Andrea Savage

TV and film actress known for roles in "Step Brothers" and "Dog Bites Man." Earned a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish from Cornell.

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Yale Summers

Actor and producer best known for roles on "Daktari" and "General Hospital." Earned a B.B.A from Cornell in 1955.

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Alfredo Valente | The Associated Press

Franchot Tone

Film, stage and TV actor best known for roles in "Mutiny on the Bounty," "Bonanza" and "Wagon Train." Earned a B.A. from Cornell in 1927. Tone died September 18, 1968 in New York City.

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Mary Woronov

Actress, author and artist best known for roles cult films, and in "Charlie's Angels" and "Knight Rider." Attended Cornell, but did not graduate.

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Lee Jin-man | The Associated Press

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