There are several famous actors, musicians, and celebrities who have PhDs or advanced degrees in the world. While we might recognize them for their skills with the public and in front of a screen, they’re also known for their incredible intelligence with these advanced degrees. Let’s dive into the world of celebrities to see who has an impressive background.
7. Robert Vaughn
Robert Vaughn, best known for his secret agent Napoleon Solo role on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964-1968). Not only was he a familiar actor with roles that spanned over six decades, but he was also a political activist. But that’s not all. In 1970, he earned a PhD in communication from the University of Southern California, then later published his dissertation, titled “The Influence of the House Committees on Un-American Activities on the American Theater 1938-58,” in 1972.
6. Shaquille O’Neal
The legendary basketball player is not only a beloved and well-known athlete, but he’s also one of the many celebrities who has an advanced degree. At Barry University, Shaquille O’Neal officially became Dr. O’Neal following his graduation with a doctoral degree in Education back in 2012. His degree is specifically in Organizational Learning and Leadership with a specialization in Human Resources Development.
5. Dexter Holland
Bryan Keith “Dexter” Holland is best known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, guitarist, main songwriter, and composer of the punk rock band Offspring. He’s also the co-founder of record label Nitro Recordes, which was sold in 2013. But he’s also one of the many celebrities who have PhDs, for instance, his is in molecular biology from the University of Southern California. Interestingly enough, he had an M.S. in molecular biology, but paused on his studies when Offspring gained success, then eventually resumed and earned his PhD in 2017.
4. James Franco
James Franco is known for having strong versatility in the acting world, from comedy to drama. Some of his most well-known roles include Spring Breakers (2012), Pineapple Express (2008), The Disaster Artist (2017), and 127 Hours (2010). But he’s also a hardworking student with one degree and the possibility of another. Currently, he holds a Master of Fine Arts, or an MFA, from Columbia University for filmmaking. Along with that, he’s currently pursuing a PhD in English at Yale University.
3. Brian May
Brian Harold May, the English musician for the beloved rock band Queen, as well as an animal welfare activist, is one of the many celebrities who have a PhD. Even during his time as the legendary guitarist of the band, he earned his PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College London in 2007. His thesis, titled “A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud“, which focused on measuring the speed and motion of interplanetary dust particles that form the Zodiacal Cloud.
2. Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter Stockton Thompson was a renowned journalist and author, regarded as a pioneer in journalism alongside other well-known names like Gay Talese and Tom Wolfe. His book Hell’s Angels (1967), where he lived a year among the Hells Angels motorcycle club, is what really raised him to prominence. It might not be shocking to realize that his powerful journalism skills come from his PhD in Journalism from Columbia University.
1. Mayim Bialik
Most known for her role as Amy Farrah Fowler in The Big Bang Theory, Mayim Bialik played a neuroscientist. The reason her role is so iconic is that that’s exactly who she is, as Bialik has a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA in 2007. Her dissertation is titled “Hypothalamic regulation in relation to maladaptive, obsessive-compulsive, affiliative and satiety behaviors in Prader–Willi syndrome.”