15 Celebrities Who Did Not Complete High School
Education is crucial, but not everyone follows the traditional path. Here are 15 celebrities who chose to leave high school early to pursue their dreams.
1. Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence left middle school at 14 to focus on acting. In a 2018 interview, she mentioned she felt more intelligent when engaging with scripts, despite not having a formal diploma.
2. Ryan Gosling
After his stint on the Mickey Mouse Club, Ryan Gosling returned to public school in Canada but eventually left to pursue acting full-time.
3. Hilary Swank
Hilary Swank grew up in a trailer park and dropped out of high school. Despite this, she pursued her dream, even when some teachers doubted her.
4. Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino left school in ninth grade, continuing his education independently, focusing on subjects he was passionate about.
5. Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen dropped out while working on a show, claiming he was doing correspondence school but instead wrote Superbad.
6. Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro left school at 16 to study acting in Manhattan, eventually collaborating with Martin Scorsese and earning an Academy Award.
7. Al Pacino
Al Pacino also left school at 16 to pursue acting, taking on various jobs to support himself in the theater scene.
8. Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg dropped out in ninth grade after legal troubles but later earned his diploma at 41.
9. Drake
Drake left school for Degrassi but completed his GED at 25, expressing pride in finishing his education.
10. Katy Perry
Katy Perry left high school at 15 to pursue music but later earned her GED, valuing education and cultural experiences.
11. Gisele Bündchen
Gisele Bündchen was discovered at a young age and began modeling for top designers by 16.
12. Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio disliked high school and left after junior year, later earning his GED while focusing on acting.
13. Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet left school to work and fund her auditions, ultimately pursuing her acting career.
14. Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. left school at 16 to pursue acting, later reflecting on his unconventional path.
15. Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain had too many absences to graduate, often skipping class to read Shakespeare, but later earned her diploma.
