Celebrities with PhDs

We might not always think of celebrities as being the sharpest tools in the toolshed, but you may be surprised to hear that in addition to many celebrities with degrees at bachelor and master’s level, there are also a number of celebrities with PhDs; this is the highest degree level in many countries, and you may be surprised to see some unexpected names!

See below for a look at an eclectic selection of famous people and celebrities with PhDs, plus an image gallery of some lucky celebrities awarded honorary degrees, from famous frogs to heavyweight boxers!

1. Shaquille O’Neal

Perhaps an unlikely addition to the list of celebrities with PhDs is NBA basketball champion Shaquille O’Neal; well known as a big player on the pitch, O’Neal is also an advanced academic. After finishing his professional basketball career, O’Neal went back to school in Florida to earn his doctorate degree in leadership and education. His prior degrees were gained while playing for the NBA.

O’Neal says the main motivation behind his PhD studies was to fulfill a promise to his mother and to ensure he could hold his own in conversation with business executives.

2. Brian May

Lead guitarist for world-famous rock band Queen, Brian May is also a pretty smart guy. Born in the UK, May took his first degree in mathematics and physics at Imperial College London before undertaking a doctorate degree in astrophysics research. Before May was able to complete his PhD, however, Queen shot to fame and he was forced to abandon his academic research – though not before co-authoring a number of research papers.

It wasn’t until 2006 that May returned to finish his PhD at Imperial College, but he’s now a fully qualified member of the celebrities with PhDs club, continuing to pursue his academic interests with the Imperial Astrophysics Group.

3. Martin Luther King Jr.

One of the most memorable civil rights activists of the 20th century, Martin Luther King Junior (Jr.) was also a Baptist minister, humanitarian and theologian.

Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, King led a number of non-violent protests and boycotts to further the cause of racial equality before being assassinated in 1968. His death led to many riots and protests in the US, as well as international outrage.

Before becoming a well-known activist, King studied a great deal, earning a BA in sociology and a B.Div (Bachelor of Divinity) in Georgia and Pennsylvania before moving on to complete his doctorate studies in systematic theology at Boston University in Massachusetts in 1955.

4. James Franco

One of many celebrities with degrees from multiple universities, James Franco is also well on his way to adding his name to the somewhat shorter list of celebrities with PhDs. He is currently studying towards a PhD in English at Yale University, in between various film projects.

Perhaps best-known for his acting roles in films such as Rise of the Planet of the Apes and This is the End, Franco also has a history of writing and directing short films and TV shows.

Franco’s Hollywood success, however. has not stopped him from pursuing his education. In 2006 he completed his undergraduate degree in creative writing at UCLA, before moving on to undertake an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) atColumbia University, a filmmaking program at New York University and a fiction-writing program at Brooklyn College (CUNY).

See the full list on TopUniversities.com.