25 celebrities who dropped out of school and made it big anyway

Gabbi ShawDec 21, 2020, 23:36 IST

Jennifer Lawrence dropped out of middle school.Jeff Spicer/Stringer/Getty Images

Many of your favorite celebrities never finished high school ... or even middle school.
Some were child stars, while others simply didn't feel like higher education was their calling.
Jennifer Lawrence never finished middle school, while Drew Barrymore dropped out after getting emancipated from her parents.

There are a lot of child stars out there, and many of them ended up graduating high school, obtaining their GED, or even continuing on to college.

But these 25 famous figures decided to forego finishing school altogether. Some had already gotten their big break, others chose to ditch school to focus on their dreams, while others again found that academia simply wasn't for them.

From Eminem to Jessica Chastain, see which celebs made their professional lives work without a high school degree.

Ryan Gosling was a child star on the "Mickey Mouse Club," but dropped out of high school to move to New Zealand and film "Young Hercules."

Ryan Gosling. Getty Images/Frazer Harrison

Rihanna was only 16 when she left Barbados to pursue a record deal in the US.

Rihanna's now a full-on mogul. Caroline McCredie/Getty Images for Fenty Beauty by Rihanna

Jennifer Lawrence didn't even finish middle school - she started pursuing acting when she was just 14.

Jennifer Lawrence snagged an Oscar nom at age 20. Jeff Spicer/Stringer/Getty Images

Harry Styles was only 16 when he auditioned for "The X Factor."

He's doing okay for himself now. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Whoopi Goldberg had an undiagnosed learning disability that led to her dropping out of high school at age 17.

She's one of a few actors that has an EGOT. Lisa Lake/Getty Images

Jay-Z is a vocal supporter of the importance of education, even though he doesn't have a degree himself.

The rapper hails from Brooklyn. Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images

John Travolta was already honing his craft in high school, and he was forced to leave his high school sweetheart behind when he moved to New York.

Travolta's first big role was as a high school student in "Welcome Back, Kotter." Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Christina Applegate officially dropped out of high school during her junior year.

Christina Applegate. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Daniel Radcliffe was only 11 when he was cast as Harry Potter, and he has been working ever since.

He was in the "Harry Potter" movies for almost a decade. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Robert Downey Jr. dropped out of school when he was 16 to move across the country to live with his mom in New York.

RDJ is one of Hollywood's most famous comeback stories. Theo Wargo, NBC/Getty Images

Catherine Zeta-Jones left school at 15.

Catherine Zeta-Jones in 2016. Getty/Earl Gibson III

Seth Rogen dropped out to film "Freaks and Geeks," which is ironically about high school students.

Rogen's first role was as a high school student. Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

Jude Law left school to appear on a soap opera when he was 17.

Law has been steadily working ever since. Frazer Harrison/Golden Globes

Hilary Swank is well-known for her role as a high school teacher in "Freedom Writers," but she didn't even get her diploma.

Swank said she felt supported by her mother in her decision. Getty/Larry Busacca

Jim Carrey left school at age 16 to help provide for his family.

Carrey grew up in Canada. Getty Images

Carrey's "The Mask" co-star Cameron Diaz left school early, as well. She was a classmate of Snoop Dogg's.

Diaz has since retired from acting. Getty

Drew Barrymore was in rehab at age 13 and had emancipated from her mother at 14 - since she was legally independent, she decided to quit school.

Barrymore has been famous since her "E.T." days. Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Patrick Dempsey "dropped out of high school [...] to run away with the circus, basically."

Dempsey received a high school degree and a doctorate in the same weekend. Getty Images

Marlon Brando was sent to military school after being an "incorrigible" student, but he was expelled.

He attended military school briefly. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Nicolas Cage left school after taking a summer acting class when he was 15.

Cage is part of the Coppola film dynasty. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Kate Winslet revealed on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" that she left school at 16 and worked in a deli.

She was saving money for the train to London. Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Marilyn Monroe dropped out when she was 15 and was married by 16.

Monroe had a difficult childhood. Baron/Getty Images

Eminem had trouble in school - he failed the ninth grade three times.

Eminem aka Marshall Mathers. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Avril Lavigne was signed by famed producer LA Reid when she was 15, and she immediately dropped out of school in Canada to move to the US.

Lavigne has been famous since she was a teen. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Jessica Chastain didn't exactly drop out - she wasn't able to graduate because she was absent too much.

Chastain has played brainy characters, but she didn't love school herself. Getty

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