6 Celebrities Who Dropped Out Of School And Totally Don't Regret It
Some celebrities didn't even graduate from high school but still managed to succeed.
1. Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg's childhood was not easy, she was raised by a single mother, who could barely provide for her family. Falling into bad company, the teenage girl became addicted to cocaine. She had to earn her own money to buy drugs. Finishing school and going to college wasn’t even a dilemma. Goldberg gave up trying to learn any profession. Moreover, the legendary actress still does not even have general secondary education.
2. Joaquin Phoenix
It's hard to believe that Joaquin Phoenix didn't get a proper education. He was born into a hippie family and wandered around America with his relatives for a long time. In fact, the actor's parents were members of the Children of God cult. Later on, they did manage to escape it, but they had to change their name and place of residence. When the family was on the path of correction, Joaquin managed to find a place in school. At the same time, he was engaged in several advertising projects, which brought good money. Because of his constant work on the set, he did not have time to study. He tried to study at home by himself but barely mastered the ninth-grade program, and thus abandoned his attempts to get an education.
3. Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron dropped out of school at 16, sacrificing her education for a modelling career. Her mother supported her and helped her get her first serious contract with an agency. After making a successful career on the catwalk and starring in several major advertising campaigns, Charlize decided to try her hand at filmmaking. Years later, she became an Oscar nominee for her role in Monster. And with all that, she still doesn't have a high school diploma!
4. Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey knew from a very young age that amusing audiences was his vocation. And even then he did not mind making this hobby his life's work. While at school, the teachers often let the young Carrey participate in skits and perform at various events. When the father of the future comedian lost his job as an accountant, and his mother became seriously ill, Jim had to quit school and start earning money. He was only 15 years old at the time. The search for a better-paying job led the comedian to the Toronto Comedy Club. There his career took off, and soon Jim got his first taste of fame. He then moved from Canada to the United States, where he eventually began to take part in film productions.
5. Al Pacino
Al Pacino was raised by his grandparents. In school, he did not show much potential. A bully, a baseball player, and a juvenile delinquent, Al Pacino dropped out and left home at seventeen. Wandering around the world, he often changed jobs and saved a portion of the money to pay for drama courses. All was not in vain, as already at age 27, he managed to become a sought-after theatre and film actor. And at 32, he was recognized as an international star after his role as Michael Corleone.
6. Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp from an early age sought to earn his own money and dreamed of becoming famous. For him, wasting his time at school like all teenagers clearly was an obstacle. When the boy was barely 12 years old, his mother gave him a guitar and he fully immersed himself in music lessons. In his free time, he played with other children in a rock band, so at age 15, he was kicked out of school. After that, Depp never got his diploma.
Trying to build a career in Los Angeles, Johnny realised that the money earned by performing is not enough to live on. To support himself, the future actor had to change several professions. He worked as a salesman, construction worker and even a loader.
When he turned 25, Depp's girlfriend introduced him to Nicolas Cage, who offered the talented young man to audition for the movie A Nightmare on Elm Street. The actor did not think much of it, but his acting impressed the director so much that he gave Depp the role of Glen, one of the main characters. After the film's premiere, Depp's career took off and he got invited to star in many other films.
As a result, he became a brilliant actor who played major roles in legendary motion pictures.