Your tip
Your tip
RadarOnlineRadarOnline
or
Sign in with lockrMail

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

split photo of Johnny Depp, Emma Stone, Katy Perry
Source: MEGA

Johnny Depp, Emma Stone and Katy Perry all made it big after rough school years.

July 7 2025, Published 8:30 p.m. ET

RadarOnline CommentsLink to FacebookShare to XShare to FlipboardShare to Email

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Chris Rock

chris rock
Source: MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Cameron Diaz

cameron diaz
Source: MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Charlize Theron

charlize theron
Source: MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Matt Dillon

matt dillon
Source: MEGA

Matt Dillon was in 'Wild Things.'

The Brat Packer's educational career was a real car CrashMatt Dillon ditched school to take acting jobs not once, but twice.

Article continues below advertisement

Whoopi Goldberg

whoopi goldberg
Source: MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Jay-Z

jay z
Source: MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Demi Moore

demi moore
Source: MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Charlie Sheen

charlie sheen
Source: MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Robert Downey Jr.

robert downey jr
Source: MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Al Pacino

al pacino
Source: MEGA

Al Pacino knew the 'Scent of a Woman.'

Al Pacino didn't have a whiff of luck in school due to bad grades, but he came out smelling like a rose with his Oscar for Scent of a Woman.

Article continues below advertisement

Katy Perry

katy perry
Source: MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Mark Wahlberg

mark wahlberg
Source: MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Tom Cruise

tom cruise
Source: MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Nicolas Cage

nicolas cage
Source: MEGA

Nicolas Cage was in 'Ghost Rider.'

Leaving Beverly Hills High to pursue acting ended in Nicolas Cage's Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas.

Article continues below advertisement

Robert De Niro

robert de niro
Source: MEGA

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.

READ MORE ON PHOTOS
Article continues below advertisement

Johnny Depp

johnny depp
Source: MEGA

Johnny Depp was in 'Cry Baby.'

Radar Logo

Never Miss an

Exclusive

Daily updates from the heart of Hollywood, right to your inbox

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Jessica Chastain

jessica chastain
Source: MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Emma Stone

emma stone
Source: MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

John Travolta

john travolta
Source: MEGA

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!

Article continues below advertisement

Michelle Williams

michelle williams
Source: MEGA

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.

Opt-out of personalized ads

© Copyright 2025 RADAR ONLINE™️. A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC. RADAR ONLINE is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.