Why do we listen to movie stars? Why do people snatch up millions of magazines a year because they featured an interview with Robin Williams or Halle Berry? What makes people take notice when Madonna announces she has adopted yet another child from a third-world country? This phenomenon is difficult to explain. Movie stars make us cry, laugh, and ponder. We watch them for hours. We try to dress and act like them. We steal their jokes and pick-up lines. And when they get up to say something, the media shows up to capture each second. Some can be seen promoting world peace, others promoting world idiocy. Some of their attempts can be very helpful (i.e. Bono vs. AIDS in Africa), others just plain foolhardy and disastrous (i.e. Hanoi Jane). Needless to say, we place a huge amount of trust and credibility on our Hollywood celebrities.

Are they worth listening to? Granted, the entertainment industry is one that has always placed a higher premium on experience than on education. However, given that so many of them raise their voices outside of the film realm, we thought it would be worthwhile to look at the educational backgrounds for some of Hollywood’s most influential stars. How many of them can match the characters they play? How many of them are actually qualified to speak to the complex and multi-faceted problems that afflict the globe? See who makes the grade below:

Will Smith – Despite rumors that the Fresh Prince was once accepted to the pre-engineering program at none other than MIT, Smith has made it clear that he was never accepted to or attended the prestigious school. He does, however, admit to having high SAT scores. Unfortunately, test scores are regularly criticized as being poor indicators of performance. Therefore, personally, I’m more apt to listen to his solider-scientist Robert Neville in this season’s I Am Legend or his cocky Air Force fighter pilot in Independence Day. B

Brad Pitt - Having seen Pitt as the buffed up Achilles and a super-assassin opposite Ms. Jolie, it’s not hard to imagine him at Kickapoo High School (you’ve gotta love those hideous English spellings of Indian words), where he was involved in sports, debating, student government, and acting. Following high school, he attended the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri – Columbia. Journalism isn’t a far cry from Pitt’s current humanitarian work in ravaged New Orleans where he is creating affordable housing in the Ninth Ward for Katrina survivors. Do I believe this role? Yeah. A

Paris Hilton – This key member of the Triad of Embarrassing Bombshells attended Marywood-Palm Valley School in Rancho Mirage, California her freshman year of high school, Dwight School in New York for her sophomore and junior years, and then a few months at Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut before dropping out. Despite her lack of opportunity and resources, Hilton pulled herself up by her bootstraps and eventually earned a GED. Way to go! Seriously, when I hear that Paris decided to become a spokesperson against fur and for vegetarianism, I can’t help but think that she would do more damage than good to any given cause. Note to all do-gooders: until Paris grows enough of an intellect to stop setting herself up for public floggings, keep her away from your cause. D

Sean Penn - This lauded actor and director briefly attended Santa Monica College, where he studied Auto Mechanics and Speech but did not graduate. If you’ve attended college, you know that Auto Mechanics and History, Political Science, or International Relations are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Forgive me then if I don’t quite take Penn’s buddy-buddy relationship with dictator Hugo Chavez or Penn’s views on American foreign policy seriously. As well-intentioned as he may be, Penn doesn’t have the training or experience to justify his claims. His movies are great, but I’m not believing this role. C

Denzel Washington - Before he played an anti-apartheid activist, a black Union soldier, Malcolm X, a detective, a drug kingpin, and a hard-driving football coach, Washington attended the University of Oklahoma. He eventually dropped out but attained a B.A. in Drama and Journalism from Fordham University in 1977. Interesting tidbit: Washington played collegiate basketball under coach P.J. Carlesimo. He still found time to pursue his interest in acting, and after graduation he went to the San Francisco American Conservatory Theatre for one year. As far as causes go, Washington has been an avid supporter of the Girls & Boys Club of America, having benefited from their services as a child. Maybe that’s why he plays the role so well. A+

Sylvester Stallone - In an unexpected example of a book that can’t be judged by its cover, Stallone, who will forever be labeled as the dull tool Rocky Balboa, is actually a scholar. He attended a private boarding school and then the American College of Switzerland in Laysin and the University of Miami for three years. He came within a few credit hours of graduation before deciding to drop out and pursue an acting career. Like his little-engine-that-could onscreen alter ego, Stallone never gave up and later requested that his acting and life experiences be accepted in exchange for his remaining credits. He was granted a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree by the President of the University of Miami in 1999. Stallone isn’t one to open his mouth very often, but I’ll give him my ear when he does. B

Angelina Jolie - Jolie had a rough go at it through high school. She studied at the Lee Strasburg Theatre Institute for two years as a child. She attended and graduated from Beverly Hills High but never went on to college. Years later, Jolie is known worldwide for her acting skills, martial arts prowess, and her bee-stung lips. No Hollywood celebrity has been as active in the international scene as of late as Jolie. She is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) and visits refugee camps worldwide. She has been highly visible in meetings with U.S. lawmakers and has received numerous distinctions for her efforts. Which begs the question: is she qualified to speak to these issues? Perhaps not from an expert’s perspective. However, one cannot argue with her drive and sincerity. Maybe some causes don’t require a degree. A

Samuel L. Jackson – Jackson attended Riverside High, playing the French horn and trumpet in the school orchestra. He later attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he co-founded the "Just Us Theater" and graduated in 1972. As far as causes go, Jackson is as authentic as they come. He was a part of the civil rights movement of the 1960s and was an usher at the funeral for Martin Luther King, Jr. He held the Morehouse Board of Trustees hostage, demanding reform at the school. He was suspended for two years but returned to get a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama. Following, he got involved buying guns for the Black Panthers. Would I give much credence to Mr. Jackson talking about global warming? Not likely. Would I believe anything he said about civil rights in America? Heck yeah. A-

Madonna – She attended Rochester Adams High School, where she was a straight-A student and a member of the cheerleading squad. Madonna received a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan after graduating from high school. After being convinced by her ballet teacher, she left the University of Michigan at the end of her sophomore year in 1977 and moved to New York City to pursue a dance career. Madonna has always been a controversial figure, promoting open sexuality, openly railing against the Catholic church and the Bush administration, warning against global warming, adopting children from third-world countries, and stirring up Jewish scholars in Israel. Should we consider her a credible voice in these matters? Doubtful. B-

Lucy Liu – All that and brains, too, apparently. This Charlie’s Angels star graduated from New York City’s prestigious Stuyvesant High School in 1986. She attended New York University for one year, before transferring to the University of Michigan, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Asian Languages and Cultures. In addition to speaking five languages, Liu has been involved in several causes. She was a spokesperson for a breast cancer awareness fundraiser, is a U.S. Fund for UNICEF ambassador, has produced documentaries to raise awareness of human trafficking, and has been recognized as the most well-known Asian American in the media today. Looks like a good fit to me. B+

About the author Marcus Varner earned his BA in English from Brigham Young University with a Creative Writing emphasis. He is currently in his second year at BYU’s lauded MBA program studying Marketing. He blogs, writes fiction and screenplays, loves movies, and can’t resist playing superheroes with his kids.

A few weeks ago, I put together an article entitled "Celebrity Actors & Their College Majors," which catalogued what celebrities had studied in college before they got their big break. Evidently, someone at Forbes.com was thinking along similar lines in putting together, "Celebrity First Jobs," which recounts what a few Hollywood celebrities did before they were on the A list. Notables include:

Johnny Depp. Supported himself fronting a Kiss tribute band, which at one point opened for the B52s and Iggy Pop, and by selling pens over the phone — a feat which Depp supposedly called his "first acting job" because of all the different voices he used to alleviate his boredom.

Teri Hatcher. Before landing her first role as a mermaid on The Love Boat, Hatcher was a cheerleader for the San Francisco 49ers.

Quentin Tarantino. The Grindhouse director actually began his career in film in a “grindhouse” of another sort. He was an usher at a porno theater in Southern California.

Chris Rock. Actually started his comedic career as a busboy at a Red Lobster.

Danny DeVito. Worked for eighteen months as a hair dresser in his sister’s salon before enrolling at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts to pursue his true passion — makeup and cosmetology.

What I find most appealing about this article — and why it’s appropriate for a forum dedicated to Education & Careers — is that it proves that first jobs are just that: first jobs. They’re not supposed to be ideal. They’re not accurate predictors of success or satisfaction.

Most of all, they’re not lifelong commitments. At best, they are simply placeholders — just something to keep us occupied until a better job comes along. The real question is: what do you do when something better doesn’t come along? In a sense, that’s precisely the focus of this forum. Hopefully, we’ll be able to answer that question in the coming weeks and months as we examine specific concerns people have when it comes to furthering their education, or enhancing their career.

After all, you can only stand outside in a giant chicken costume waving frantically at passing cars for so long, right? Then again, if that does describe your first job, at least you’re in good company. That’s how Brad Pitt started.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he’s not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking information about online education and online degrees.

Ever wondered what major Hollywood stars studied at college? Sure, most were drama majors, and more than a few attended schools that specialize in performing arts. However, some stars did study "regular" subjects and were working toward "regular" jobs before they got their big break. Here are a few notable examples and their alma maters, in no particular order.

Ashton Kutcher. Known mostly for being a comic actor and prankster, Kutcher was once a very earnest student at the University of Iowa, where he studied biochemical engineering with the hope of developing a cure for his brother’s heart problem.

Kate Beckinsale. Just before her big-screen break in Kenneth Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing, Beckinsale was studying French and Russian literature at Oxford. Evidently, Beckinsale believed this would give her greater range as an actress. Think: werewolf huntress.

Reese Witherspoon. Famous for playing a Harvard girl in Legally Blonde, Witherspoon was actually a Stanford girl — at least for a year — where she studied English literature.

Courteney Cox. This erstwhile Friend once studied interior design and architecture at Mount Vernon College for Women. (Perhaps that’s where “Monica” first kindled her obsessive cleanliness and her infatuation with domestic spaces.)

Eva Longoria. Long before she was a desperate housewife, Longoria was a student at Texas A&M University-Kingsville where she completed a degree in kinesiology in 1998. Ultimately, Longoria opted not to become a physical therapist and instead put kinesiology — the study of body movement — to work on Wisteria Lane.

Ray Romano. This Everybody Love’s Raymond star was almost everybody’s favorite taxman. That’s right, before getting his big break, Romano attended Queens College in Flushing, New York, where he intended to study accounting.

Halle Berry. Before she was the first African-American to represent the United States in the Miss World competition — and long before she was Catwoman — Berry studied broadcast journalism at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio.

Incidentally, the man Berry once claimed to have a crush on — George Clooney — also majored in journalism, though apparently most of his time was spent on, ahem, other college activities.

Will Ferrell. While many people know this actor for his portrayal of Ron Burgundy, anchorman extraordinaire, most people don’t know Ferrell actually studied to be a real anchorman at the University of Southern California, where he completed a degree in sports broadcasting in 1989.

Maggie Gyllenhaal. Though an accomplished actress, many people are familiar with Gyllenhaal for her comments after 9/11 that the United States was "responsible in some way" for the attacks. Interesting to note that her perspective was likely influenced by her study of Eastern religions at Columbia University. (She received her degree in 1998.)

Incidentally, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie’s brother, also studied Eastern religions at Columbia, though never finished.

Gwyneth Paltrow. She played a bookish English professor in Possession and other literary characters such as Emma and Estella from Great Expectations, but apparently Paltrow’s real interest — at least when she went to UC Santa Barbara — was art history.

Kevin Costner. Before he was Eliot Ness, Robin Hood, Wyatt Earp, and, well, the Mariner from Waterworld, Costner was a student at California State University at Fullerton, where he graduated with a degree in business in 1978. Costner even worked for a marketing firm after graduation.

Ashley Judd. Anyone who follows college basketball has probably seen Ashley Judd cheering in the stands at University of Kentucky basketball games. As a student, Judd majored in French, with minors in anthropology, art history, theater, and women’s studies. After leaving school in 1990 just one course shy of graduation, Judd finally graduated last month.

Sean Penn. Made famous by attending Ridgemont High, Penn actually attended Santa Monica College, where he studied auto mechanics and speech.

Tommy Lee Jones. This Oscar-winner and Texas native is also an alumnus of Harvard University, where he completed a degree in English in 1969, and was roommates with John Lithgow and former Vice-President Al Gore.

Incidentally, Harvard boasts at least one more Oscar-winning English major — Matt Damon — who left school in 1992 just three classes shy of graduation.

Brad Pitt. Legend has it that before Brad Pitt was, well, Brad Pitt, he once aspired to be a famous journalist. Pitt studied journalism at the University of Missouri but dropped out just two credits shy of graduation.

Another mega-actor that studied journalism, graduating with a degree from Fordham University in 1977 — Denzel Washington.

Tim Allen. Though marred by his well-documented problem with cocaine, for which he served two years in prison, this Tool-Time star did in fact graduate from Western Michigan University in 1976 with a degree in communications as well as minors in — *manly grunt* — philosophy and design.

Forest Whitaker. Granted, this Academy-Award winning actor did graduate in 1982 from the University of Southern California with a degree in drama, he was initially accepted to the Music Conservatory to study opera as a tenor.

And finally … Benjamin Welch. Renowned for his break-out performance as the Mayor of Munchkin City in American Fork High School’s production of The Wizard of Oz, Welch later studied comparative literature at Brigham Young University, where he completed a master’s degree in 2005.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he’s not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking information about online education and online degrees.