From D’s to A-List: The Celebrity High School Dropouts Who Made it Big — From Chris Rock and Johnny Depp to Whoopi Goldberg

Johnny Depp, Emma Stone and Katy Perry all made it big after rough school years.
July 7 2025, Published 8:30 p.m. ET
Who needs a good education anyway?
These stars all dropped the grade when it comes to their schoolwork, RadarOnline.com can share, but made it big in movies, music, and television anyway.
Chris Rock

Chris Rock became a comedian.
Ruthlessly bullied at an all-white high school, Chris Rock dropped out but kept his sense of humor and produced the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris based on his past.
Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz starred in 'There's Something About Mary.'
Cameron Diaz abandoned Long Beach Polytechnic High after landing a modeling contract, then quickly starred with Jim Carrey in The Mask.
Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron starred in 'Monster.'
When other girls bullied her like a Monster, Charlize Theron pulled a Fast X one on them by dropping out and becoming an Oscar winner.
Matt Dillon

Matt Dillon was in 'Wild Things.'
The Brat Packer's educational career was a real car Crash – Matt Dillon ditched school to take acting jobs not once, but twice.
Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg was in 'Ghost.'
Finding school too tough, Caryn Johnson dropped out, changed her name to Whoopi Goldberg, won an Oscar – and eventually discovered that she's dyslexic.
Jay-Z

Jay-Z is a 24 time Grammy winner.
Jay-Z had an Empire State of Mind to overcome his youth, which included dropping out of school and dealing drugs before cleaning up his act.
Demi Moore

Demi Moore was also in 'Ghost.'
If you think you don't have a Ghost of a chance of success after dropping out of school at age 16, just ask Demi Moore – her experience has real Substance.
Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen was in 'Hot Shots.'
Mere weeks before his high school graduation, Charlie Sheen was expelled for low grades and poor attendance … yet he became a Major League star.
Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey, Jr is Iron Man.
Former child star Robert Downey Jr. ditched school at 16 and became an Iron Man strong enough to overcome addiction like a superhero.
Al Pacino

Al Pacino knew the 'Scent of a Woman.'
Katy Perry

Katy Perry sings like a firework.
At age 15, Katy Perry followed her Teenage Dream and left Santa Barbara's Dos Pueblos High to be a singer.
Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg was in the 'Transformers' franchise.
Leaving school due to substance abuse at a young age isn't the best path to success, but for the rapper turned actor turned producer Mark Wahlberg, it turned out just right.
Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise is a Scientologist.
Mission: Improbable: Tom Cruise was in school to become a priest, but he found a calling from a place a little lower than heaven… Hollywood.
Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage was in 'Ghost Rider.'
Leaving Beverly Hills High to pursue acting ended in Nicolas Cage's Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas.
Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro is one of the most iconic actors ever.
Ditching high school at a young age to pursue an acting career was an offer The Godfather II Oscar winner Robert De Niro couldn't refuse.
Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp was in 'Cry Baby.'

Before it was a pirate's life for Johnny Depp, he left school at 15 to become a musician, get married, and work odd jobs. He turned to acting after meeting Cage in Los Angeles.
Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain was in 'Molly's Game.'
Too many absences left her unable to graduate, but Jessica Chastain was preparing for her Oscar-winning career – she was cutting class to read Shakespeare in her car.
Emma Stone

Emma Stone was in 'La La Land,' and snagged an Oscar.
Two-time Oscar winner Emma Stone's super-good move was to leave school so she could take a role in 2007's Superbad.
John Travolta

John Travolta was in 'Look Who's Talking.'
Like a story out of Pulp Fiction, John Travolta junked high school so he could move to L.A. and become an actor… a very successful one, at that!
Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams was on 'Dawson's Creek,' and more roles came soon after.
Five-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams changed schools so often that she gave up pursuing acting – at least she decided to get a GED at her own pace.