Miami Beach High School has been educating local kids since 1924 and has produced an impressively diverse roster of alumni.
The names listed here represent just a sampling of the school’s most recognizable graduates. The full list is far longer and includes professionals across countless fields—many of whom have returned to live, work, and contribute to the South Florida community.
Barbara Walters (‘47) is one of the most respected broadcast journalists in history. She was the first female evening anchor for ABC Evening News, spent 10 years as morning anchor on NBC’s Today, and later co-hosted 20/20 for 25 years. Walters currently co-hosts The View.
Entertainment journalism pioneer Jeanne Wolf (circa ’58) honed her skills on Entertainment Tonight before reporting for major print and broadcast outlets including Nightline and Good Morning America. She currently hosts the syndicated radio show Jeanne Wolf’s Hollywood and serves as West Coast editor of Parade Magazine.
Roy Firestone (‘71) turned his passion for sports into a standout broadcasting career. Beginning locally, he eventually joined ESPN’s Sportslook and Up Close Prime Time. Firestone has earned seven Emmy Awards for his work.
Andy Garcia (‘74) began his acting career in South Florida before breaking out in Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables. He earned an Academy Award nomination for The Godfather Part III and later appeared in the Ocean’s film series. His next role is scheduled in The Next Pink Panther (2009).
Fellow actor Mickey Rourke (circa ’74) initially pursued boxing before turning to acting after a concussion ended his time in the ring. He gained critical acclaim in The Pope of Greenwich Village, became a cultural icon in 9½ Weeks, and later appeared in Sin City and its sequel.
Kim Hunter (circa ’40) starred in the original Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire and later won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for the film adaptation. She also portrayed Dr. Zira in the first three Planet of the Apes films.
Diora Baird (circa ’01) served as vice president of the school’s thespian society before appearing in Wedding Crashers and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. She has also modeled for Guess? and appeared in Playboy.
Brett Ratner (‘87) began directing music videos before gaining fame for the Rush Hour trilogy starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. He later directed X-Men: The Last Stand and is currently working on Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra.
Screenwriter Mitch Glazer (circa ’71) is best known for writing Scrooged and adapting Great Expectations for film. He also worked as an associate producer on Lost in Translation.
Playwright and director Marc Medoff (‘58) wrote Children of a Lesser God, which was adapted into an Academy Award–nominated film. His stage work includes directing Waiting for Godot, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Equus.
Daniel Taradash (‘29) won both an Academy Award and a Writers Guild of America Award for From Here to Eternity.
Desmond Child (‘72) is a prolific songwriter and producer whose credits include Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” Cher’s “Just Like Jesse James,” Aerosmith’s “Crazy,” and Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca.”
Rapper Luther Campbell (circa ’78) studied drama at Miami Beach High before becoming a controversial record label owner and performer. His company, Luke Records, helped launch 2 Live Crew.
Duane Starks (circa ’92) played defensive back in the NFL, most recently with the Oakland Raiders. He gained national attention during Super Bowl XXXV after returning an interception for a touchdown.
Neal Walk (‘65), a 6’10” NBA center for the Phoenix Suns, remains the only team member to record more than 1,000 rebounds in a single season.
Pauline B. Eisenstadt (‘56) served as a New Mexico state senator from 1997 to 2000.
Steven J. Green (‘63) served as U.S. Ambassador to Singapore from 1997 to 2001 and is currently Honorary Consul General for Singapore in Miami.
Robert Rubin served as the 70th U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under President Clinton (1995–99) and co-authored the New York Times bestseller In an Uncertain World.
Judge Gerald Kogan (‘50) served as Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court from 1987 to 1998.
Judge Alan S. Gold (‘62) has served as a U.S. Federal District Judge since 1997.
Judy Drucker (‘47) founded the Concert Association of Florida and spent four decades bringing world-class arts and culture to South Florida.
Mitchell Kaplan (‘72) founded Books & Books, Miami’s longest-standing independent bookstore, and co-founded the Miami Book Fair International.
Kenneth Treister (‘48) is the architect and sculptor behind Miami Beach’s Holocaust Memorial, dedicated in 1990.
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Alumni Association President Steve Cohen (‘70) speaks proudly about the school’s legacy. “There isn’t a school in the world that can claim this roster,” he says, crediting Miami Beach’s close-knit community for pushing students to higher levels.
The Hall of Fame, established in 1999, honors five alumni and one faculty member each year. Choosing the inductees is never easy, as nearly everyone has contributed something meaningful.
Miami Beach Senior High School sits near the Convention Center and Botanical Gardens, quietly anchoring a neighborhood filled with history. Its alumni story continues to grow, proving that something about this barrier island has always produced outsized talent, ambition, and personality.
Because in Miami Beach, even your high school yearbook might double as a who’s-who of American culture.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on November 8, 2007. It has been lightly edited for grammar and readability while keeping the author’s signature style intact.
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