Hollywood Actors Who Didn’t Finish High School

Many of the most celebrated figures in the entertainment industry took unconventional paths to stardom that did not include a traditional graduation ceremony. These performers chose to leave the classroom environment early to pursue their artistic passions or to support their families during difficult financial times. While education is universally valued, the success stories of these individuals demonstrate that talent and determination can sometimes carve out a different route to achievement. This list highlights fifty prominent male actors who made the life-altering decision to drop out of high school before receiving their diplomas.

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp dropped out of Miramar High School at the age of fifteen with dreams of becoming a rock musician. He initially attempted to return to school after two weeks but was encouraged by the principal to follow his musical ambitions instead. This pursuit eventually led him to Los Angeles where he transitioned into acting after a meeting with Nicolas Cage. He later found massive global success with roles in films like ‘Edward Scissorhands’ and the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio left John Marshall High School in Los Angeles following his junior year to focus entirely on his burgeoning acting career. He had already been working in commercials and television shows before making his film breakthrough. The actor later earned his General Educational Development certificate to complete his formal education credentials. His decision paid off as he became one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation with an Academy Award for ‘The Revenant’.

Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. struggled with the structure of traditional schooling and decided to drop out of Santa Monica High School at the age of seventeen. He moved to New York City to pursue acting full-time and worked various service jobs while auditioning for roles. His early career gained momentum with films like ‘Less Than Zero’ before he cemented his legacy as Tony Stark in ‘Iron Man’. His career trajectory proves that leaving school early did not hinder his ability to command the screen.

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling faced difficulties in the Canadian school system and experienced bullying that led to a suspension. He decided to drop out of Lester B. Pearson High School at the age of seventeen to focus on his acting career. The actor had already gained experience as a child performer on ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’ alongside other future stars. He has since received multiple Academy Award nominations for his work in films such as ‘La La Land’ and ‘Barbie’.

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg left Copley Square High School in Boston at the age of fourteen after a troubled youth involving legal issues. He initially found fame as a rapper and model before transitioning into a highly successful acting career. The actor eventually decided to complete his high school education and received his diploma online in 2013 at the age of forty-two. He has starred in major blockbusters including ‘The Departed’ and the ‘Transformers’ series.

Al Pacino

Al Pacino attended the High School of Performing Arts in New York City but struggled academically in classes that were not related to acting. He dropped out at age seventeen following a disagreement with his mother and subsequently left home. The actor worked a series of low-paying jobs to finance his acting studies before breaking through on stage and screen. He is now regarded as a cinema legend for his roles in ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Scarface’.

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro attended several private schools before enrolling at the High School of Music and Art in New York. He decided to leave shortly after his sixteenth birthday to pursue acting with complete dedication. He studied under renowned acting coaches like Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg to refine his craft. His intense commitment led to legendary performances in ‘Taxi Driver’ and ‘Raging Bull’.

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage felt disconnected from the social environment of Beverly Hills High School and decided to leave early. He passed the GED exam at the age of seventeen so he could focus entirely on auditioning for roles. The actor wanted to forge his own path separate from his famous Coppola family lineage. He eventually won an Academy Award for his performance in ‘Leaving Las Vegas’.

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey was forced to leave high school at the age of sixteen to help support his family during a severe financial crisis. He worked as a janitor and security guard while trying to launch his career as a stand-up comedian in Toronto. His perseverance through poverty eventually led him to Hollywood where he became a comedy icon. He dominated the box office in the nineties with hits like ‘The Mask’ and ‘Dumb and Dumber’.

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves attended four different high schools in five years and struggled with dyslexia and authority figures. He was expelled from the Etobicoke School of the Arts and eventually dropped out completely to pursue an acting career. He moved to Los Angeles three years later to chase his Hollywood dreams. He has since become an action superstar known for ‘The Matrix’ and the ‘John Wick’ franchise.

Jude Law

Jude Law left school at the age of seventeen to star in the daytime television soap opera ‘Families’. He felt that practical experience on set would be more valuable to his career than finishing his A-levels in England. This early entry into the professional world allowed him to build a strong resume in theater and television. He later gained international fame with roles in ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ and ‘Sherlock Holmes’.

Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor decided to leave Morrison’s Academy in Scotland at the age of sixteen. His parents allowed him to drop out and he began working as a stagehand at the Perth Repertory Theatre. This behind-the-scenes experience solidified his desire to become a professional actor and led him to drama school. He is now globally recognized for his portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the ‘Star Wars’ prequels.

Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom left St Edmund’s School in Canterbury at the age of sixteen to move to London. He joined the National Youth Theatre and later earned a scholarship to train at the British American Drama Academy. His career skyrocketed shortly after drama school when he was cast as Legolas in ‘The Lord of the Rings’. He has remained a major figure in Hollywood with roles in the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ series.

Kiefer Sutherland

Kiefer Sutherland attended several schools in Canada including St. Andrew’s College and Malvern Collegiate Institute. He decided to leave formal education at the age of fifteen to pursue acting in Toronto. He moved to Hollywood shortly after and gained recognition for his role in ‘Stand by Me’. He is best known for his long-running portrayal of Jack Bauer in the television series ’24’.

Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen dropped out of Point Grey Secondary School in Vancouver at the age of sixteen. He had landed a role in the television series ‘Freaks and Geeks’ and moved to Los Angeles to work on the show. He continued to write and perform comedy while working on set. He has since become a major force in comedy as both an actor and writer for films like ‘Superbad’.

Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen attended Santa Monica High School but was expelled just a few weeks before graduation due to poor grades and attendance. He had already begun making amateur films with friends and decided to focus on professional acting immediately. His career took off in the eighties with acclaimed roles in ‘Platoon’ and ‘Wall Street’. He became one of the highest-paid television actors during his time on ‘Two and a Half Men’.

Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino dropped out of Narbonne High School in California at the age of fifteen because he felt he could learn more on his own. He worked as an usher at an adult movie theater and later at a video rental store where he absorbed vast amounts of film knowledge. This unconventional education shaped his unique directorial and acting style. He has created modern classics such as ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘Django Unchained’.

Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando was expelled from Shattuck Military Academy in Minnesota for insubordination and various pranks. He dug up the town’s main celebratory bell and buried it as a joke which led to his dismissal. He moved to New York City to study acting and never completed his high school education. He revolutionized the art of acting with his performances in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and ‘The Godfather’.

Chris Rock

Chris Rock endured severe bullying in schools in Brooklyn which led his parents to pull him out of James Madison High School. He dropped out in the tenth grade and later earned his GED while working various minimum wage jobs. He began performing stand-up comedy at small clubs in New York City. He eventually became one of the most successful comedians and actors in the world with films like ‘Madagascar’.

Kevin Bacon

Kevin Bacon left home and high school at the age of seventeen to pursue a theater career in New York City. He applied for and received a scholarship to the Circle in the Square Theatre School. He worked as a waiter and busboy while auditioning for roles in theater and television. His breakout role in ‘Footloose’ turned him into a pop culture icon.

John Travolta

John Travolta dropped out of Dwight Morrow High School in New Jersey at the age of sixteen. He moved to New York City to find work in commercials and summer stock theater. His persistence paid off when he landed a role in the touring company of ‘Grease’ and later the TV show ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’. He became a global superstar with the film versions of ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and ‘Grease’.

Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox left high school in Canada before his graduation to move to Los Angeles for his acting career. His teachers told him he was making a mistake but he was determined to succeed in Hollywood. He struggled initially and gathered significant debt before landing the role of Alex P. Keaton on ‘Family Ties’. He became a cinema icon in the eighties with the ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy.

Matt Dillon

Matt Dillon was discovered by casting directors while he was cutting class at Hommocks Middle School. He continued to act throughout his teenage years and eventually dropped out of Mamaroneck High School to focus on films. He became a teen idol with roles in ‘The Outsiders’ and ‘Rumble Fish’. He has maintained a steady career with acclaimed performances in films like ‘Crash’.

Sean Connery

Sean Connery left school in Edinburgh at the age of thirteen to work and help support his family during difficult economic times. He worked as a milkman and a laborer before joining the Royal Navy at age sixteen. After being discharged he pursued bodybuilding and eventually found his way into acting. He became the first and arguably most iconic actor to portray James Bond in ‘Dr. No’.

Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan left school at the age of sixteen in London to pursue a career as a commercial artist. He later discovered acting at a theater workshop and decided to change his career path entirely. He studied drama at the Drama Centre London before finding success on television and film. He famously took on the role of James Bond in ‘GoldenEye’ and starred in ‘Mamma Mia!’.

Colin Farrell

Colin Farrell was expelled from Gormanston College in Dublin for fighting with a teacher. He traveled around Australia for a year before returning to Ireland to attend the Gaiety School of Acting. He dropped out of the acting school as well when he was cast in the BBC series ‘Ballykissangel’. He successfully transitioned to Hollywood with roles in ‘Phone Booth’ and ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’.

Russell Brand

Russell Brand had a tumultuous education and was expelled from boarding school for having girls in his room. He later attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts but was expelled during his first year for poor behavior and drug use. He found success as a stand-up comedian and television presenter before moving into film. He starred in hit comedies like ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ and ‘Get Him to the Greek’.

Patrick Dempsey

Patrick Dempsey dropped out of high school in Maine at the age of seventeen to tour as a juggler and magician. He won a talent competition that led to an agent and his first acting auditions. He gained early fame in teen comedies like ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ during the eighties. He later achieved massive success and heartthrob status as Dr. Derek Shepherd in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’.

Emile Hirsch

Emile Hirsch attended the Alexander Hamilton High School Academy of Music but left before graduating to focus on his career. He had been acting since he was a child and wanted to pursue more serious film roles. His dedication was rewarded with lead roles in ‘The Girl Next Door’ and the critically acclaimed ‘Into the Wild’. He continues to work steadily in both independent and studio films.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale left school at the age of sixteen to focus on his acting career after finding early success as a child actor. He had already starred in Steven Spielberg’s ‘Empire of the Sun’ at age thirteen and felt school was no longer necessary. He has since become known for his extreme physical transformations and method acting. He won an Academy Award for ‘The Fighter’ and starred as Batman in ‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy.

Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger left school in Perth at the age of seventeen to pursue acting in Sydney with his best friend. He took on small roles in Australian television before making the leap to Hollywood. His breakout role came in the teen comedy ’10 Things I Hate About You’. He delivered a legendary posthumous performance as the Joker in ‘The Dark Knight’ which earned him an Academy Award.

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix had an unconventional upbringing and was largely home-schooled but stopped formal education early. He and his siblings performed on the streets to support the family before finding agents in Hollywood. He stepped away from acting for a period after the death of his brother River but returned to build an acclaimed career. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in ‘Joker’.

River Phoenix

River Phoenix never attended formal high school as his family traveled frequently as missionaries. He began acting at a young age to help provide for his family and quickly became a star. He received an Academy Award nomination for ‘Running on Empty’ at just eighteen years old. His promising career was tragically cut short when he died at the age of twenty-three.

Tracy Morgan

Tracy Morgan dropped out of DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx after learning his father had contracted AIDS. He turned to selling crack cocaine briefly to support his family before finding comedy as an outlet. He began performing stand-up and eventually landed a spot on ‘Saturday Night Live’. He found immense success starring in the sitcom ’30 Rock’.

Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart attended the prestigious Phillips Academy in Andover but was expelled before he could graduate. The reasons for his expulsion vary but most accounts cite bad behavior and poor academic performance. He joined the U.S. Navy shortly after leaving school and then pursued a career in theater. He became a Hollywood legend with roles in ‘Casablanca’ and ‘The Maltese Falcon’.

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra was expelled from A.J. Demarest High School in New Jersey for rowdy conduct. He never returned to school and instead focused on his singing career by performing in local clubs. His acting career flourished alongside his music and he won an Academy Award for ‘From Here to Eternity’. He remains one of the most influential entertainers of the twentieth century.

Dean Martin

Dean Martin dropped out of Steubenville High School in the tenth grade because he thought he was smarter than his teachers. He worked various odd jobs including bootlegging and dealing craps before finding success as a singer. He teamed up with Jerry Lewis to form a wildly successful comedy duo. He later established a successful solo acting career in films like ‘Rio Bravo’.

Michael Caine

Michael Caine left school at age sixteen after passing his school certificate in six subjects. He worked as a filing clerk and a messenger before being called up for national service in the British Army. Upon his return he struggled for years in small theater roles before finding fame. He is a two-time Academy Award winner known for ‘The Cider House Rules’ and ‘The Dark Knight’.

Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman left West Greenwich School in London at the age of sixteen to work in a sports shop. He studied drama at the Young People’s Theatre in Greenwich while working various jobs to support himself. He was initially rejected by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art but persisted in his studies elsewhere. He won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in ‘Darkest Hour’.

Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy was expelled from Reeds School in Surrey for theft and behavioral issues. He later studied at the Richmond Drama School and the Drama Centre London to refine his acting skills. He battled personal struggles with addiction in his youth before establishing himself as a premier actor. He is known for intense roles in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ and ‘Venom’.

Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe left Mount Roskill Grammar School in New Zealand at the age of sixteen to pursue his ambition of becoming an actor and musician. He worked as a DJ and a waiter while auditioning for roles in Australia. His breakout role in ‘Romper Stomper’ caught the attention of Hollywood producers. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in ‘Gladiator’.

Dave Bautista

Dave Bautista had a difficult childhood and left high school before graduating to escape a violent environment. He worked as a bouncer and struggled financially before turning to professional wrestling. His success in the ring allowed him to transition into acting where he found a niche in action and sci-fi films. He gained global fame as Drax the Destroyer in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’.

Danny Trejo

Danny Trejo was in and out of juvenile detention centers and prison throughout his youth and never finished high school. He discovered boxing while incarcerated and later became a drug counselor upon his release. He was discovered on a movie set while visiting a client and was offered a role as an extra. He became a cult icon with leading roles in films like ‘Machete’.

Harvey Keitel

Harvey Keitel dropped out of Alexander Hamilton Vocational High School at the age of sixteen. He joined the United States Marine Corps and served in Lebanon before returning to New York. He studied acting under Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler while working as a court reporter. He became a frequent collaborator with Martin Scorsese in films like ‘Mean Streets’ and ‘Taxi Driver’.

Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson failed to graduate from New Trier High School due to academic struggles. He worked as a vacuum cleaner salesman and truck driver before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting. He had to overcome a lack of formal training and initial difficulty remembering lines. He eventually became one of the biggest movie stars of the fifties in films like ‘Giant’.

Cary Grant

Cary Grant was expelled from Fairfield Grammar School in Bristol at the age of fourteen. He lied about his age to join a comedy troupe and traveled with them to the United States. He decided to stay in America and honed his skills in vaudeville before moving to Hollywood. He became the epitome of the leading man in classics like ‘North by Northwest’.

Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier left school at the age of twelve in the Bahamas to help support his family. He moved to Miami and then New York City where he worked as a dishwasher while learning to read properly. He auditioned for the American Negro Theater and worked tirelessly to eliminate his Bahamian accent. He became the first Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for ‘Lilies of the Field’.

Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton attended high school but earned poor grades and dropped out to play in a band. He worked odd jobs including laying asphalt and working in a sawmill while pursuing music and acting. He moved to Los Angeles and struggled for years before writing and starring in ‘Sling Blade’. The film won him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and launched his A-list career.

Joe Pesci

Joe Pesci dropped out of Belleville High School in New Jersey to pursue a musical career. He played guitar in several bands and worked as a barber before trying his luck in acting. He actually quit acting to run a restaurant until Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese tracked him down for ‘Raging Bull’. He later won an Academy Award for his volatile role in ‘Goodfellas’.

Share your favorite performance by one of these self-made stars in the comments.