TIME Magazine released the annual TIME100 list on April 16, 2025, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
TIME Editor in Chief Sam Jacobs writes in his letter to readers, "TIME's founders knew that focusing on the individuals who are transforming the world is the best way to help readers understand it."
We are proud to celebrate the Tisch alumni and friends recognized on this list. See below for the Tisch list, and find the full list of TIME100 2025 here.
TITANS
Lorne Michaels, Tisch Dean's Council, written by Will Ferrell
"It’s still hard for me to believe I know Lorne Michaels. It is also still hard for me to comprehend that I ever got picked by Lorne to be on the show.
I remember before my first episode of Saturday Night Live, there was a party where the cast got our photos taken for the opening credits. We were all very nervous, and Lorne came up to me and told me how funny he thought I was. How I reminded him of Chevy Chase and he thought I would do well. Well, guess what? I believed him. In one moment, Lorne filled me with confidence that allowed me to think I could be on national television—as part of the show I had always dreamed about, the show that has defined American comedy for 50 years. Lorne has seen something special in every one of us who’ve had the thrill of saying, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” He cultivates new talent and gives us the ability to express ourselves in ways we didn’t know were possible. It’s that ability, paired with his format, that makes us all come back again and again to watch on Saturday night.
And yes, it is live. Still."
ARTISTS
Daniel Dae Kim '96 (MFA, Graduate Acting) written by J.J. Abrams
"Daniel Dae Kim contains multitudes. A beloved star of shows such as The Good Doctor, Hawaii Five-0, and Lost, Kim is also a successful producer and director and a devoted husband and father. And he was named one of People’s Sexiest Men Alive. Twice.
When Kim combines his talent, skill, and humanity as an advocate for equality, he becomes a force of nature. I’ve seen this firsthand. When we made the Lost pilot, Kim insisted his character’s arc defy stereotypes. Years later, when he learned of a significant pay disparity between himself and his white Hawaii Five-0 co-stars, Kim, along with Grace Park, made the bold decision to publicly walk away from the series, demanding equity even at personal cost. His advocacy extends beyond Hollywood—in 2021, as anti-Asian violence surged in the U.S., Kim testified before the House Judiciary Committee, calling on lawmakers to take action. And in 2024, Kim returned to Broadway to star in Yellow Face, David Henry Hwang’s acclaimed satire exploring Asian American identity, cultural appropriation, and the complexities of activism.
A career like Kim’s is rare. But even rarer is a willingness to use success not just for oneself, but for others—a quality that makes Daniel Dae Kim a leading voice in the fight for change."
Kristen Bell (Drama) written by Ted Danson
"Kristen Bell is one of the most remarkable human beings I’ve ever known. It may seem odd to start by labeling her as human, but it is important to clarify that although she appears to be from some other, highly evolved planet, she is not. She’s human. And I adore her. I met Kristen while we were shooting Big Miracle in Alaska, but I really got to know her during our four years on The Good Place. On set, she is a dazzling combination of talent and efficiency. The efficiency comes with the caveat that no one should stop her from getting home in time to have dinner with her kids. While she shines as an actor-writer-director-producer (and took the world by storm last fall in Nobody Wants This), that’s not her true calling. She’s really here to use her big, beautiful brain to make the world a better place. Kristen and her amazing husband Dax Shepard spend a great deal of their time and money supporting and creating organizations that provide essential items and care for families in need across the world. Oh yeah, and she sings—like an angel! To be able to call Kristen Bell a friend is a grace upon my life."
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins '07 (MA, Performance Studies) by Michael R. Jackson '03 (BFA, Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing)/ '05 (MFA, Graduate Musical Theatre Writing)
"The first time I ever saw a play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, my jaw hit the floor. I had never seen anything so sophisticated, experimental, and intelligent that also used black (and Black) humor to such great effect. It was immediately clear to me that I was in the hands of a master. As I’ve gotten to know Branden over the years, his genius has only become more apparent. He is a creator of trends, not a follower, so his work is always original and interesting. And with an unflappable nature and a genuine curiosity about the world, it feels like he was simply born with the ability to create singular, knockout shows—including An Octoroon, Appropriate, and his latest to arrive on Broadway, Purpose.
Even though he’s younger than me, I look up to Branden in so many ways. He is truly in a class of his own, and, as history unfolds, there is no doubt that he will be noted as one of the greats."
*We apologize for omissions! Please send edits or additions to tsoa.alumni@nyu.edu