If you’re planning to take postgraduate studies in Malaysia or anywhere else in the world, there will tons of paperwork and a long journey ahead of you. What you would probably think about a university postgraduate student is that he or she is someone nerdy and a bookworm. We’re here to prove you wrong. Check out these famous people below who have a masters or bachelor’s degree. They may surprise you!

Dolph Lundgren – Master in Chemical Engineering, University of Sydney
A Swedish actor, director and martial artist, Dolph Lundgren is popular as Ivan Drago in the film Rocky IV with Sylvester Stallone. Other notable films are Masters of the Universe (He-Man) and the recent The Expendables, The Expendables 2. He received his master’s degree and a Fullbright Scholarship before trying his luck as an actor after meeting drama coach Warren Robertson.

Bill Cosby – Doctorate degree from University of Massachusetts
William Henry “Bill” Cosby Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. Bill Cosby produced and starred in one of the most popular sitcoms, The Cosby Show which aired from 1994 to 1992. He earned his Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree in 1976 with a dissertation entitled, “An Integration of the Visual Media Via ‘Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids’ Into the Elementary School Curriculum as a Teaching Aid and Vehicle to Achieve Increased Learning.”

Peter Weller (Robocop) – Master’s in Roman and Renaissance Art, Syracuse University
Peter Weller is best known as RoboCop in the two blockbuster hits RoboCop and RoboCop 2. Besides this, Weller has appeared in more than 50 films and television series ranging from The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension and the recent horror film Prey released in 2007. He occasionally teaches courses in ancient history at Syracuse University as an instructor (adjunct faculty position) for several years.

Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Ghostbusters) – Master of Fine Arts, Yale University School of Drama
Sigourney Weaver is especially known for her role as Ellen Ripley in the Alien Trilogy which consists of Alien, Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien Ressurection. Other notable roles are Dana Barrett in Ghostbusters 1 and 2 as well as Grace Augustine in the recent Avatar film by James Cameron. Weaver only found work in experimental plays produced well away from Broadway after earning her degree but she made her debut after getting her first real break in the soap opera Somerset.

David Duchovny (X-Files) – Master of Arts in English Literature, Yale University
David Duchovny is the notable FBI agent, Fox Mulder in The X-Files and Hank Moody in Californication. Besides these, Duchovny also played roles in The Simpsons, Sex and the City and other films. He initially planned to pursue his Ph.D but he fell in love with acting during this period and decided to pursue a professional career in show business.

James Franco – PhD student in English, Yale University
James Franco is an actor, filmmaker, artist and author. His first role was the cult hit television programme Freaks and Geeks and later recognised in James Dean. He achieved international fame portraying Harry Osborn in the previous Spider-Man trilogy. Franco pursued his Ph.D during shooting Oz, the Great and the Powerful by having online sessions with his supervisor and never missing a discussion. He does it because of his passion for filmmaking.

Rowan Atkinson – Master in Electrical Engineering, Oxford University
Rowan Sebastian Atkinson is best known as Mr. Bean here although he is famous for his other works such as Not the Nine O’Clock News, Blackadder and The Thin Blue Line. Besides these sitcoms and comedy shows, he was also known in movie adaptations of Mr. Bean as well as Johnny English and Johnny English Reborn. It was during his masters degree at Oxford where he joined the Oxford University Dramatic Society that he decided to pursue his career in comedy.

Shaquille O’Neal – Doctorate Degree, Barry University
Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal is a famous basketball player in the NBA. He played in teams such as Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics before retiring. Besides that, he was also a former rapper with three albums and is currently an analyst on the television programme Inside the NBA. Besides the recently acquired doctorate degree, Shaquille O’Neal has an MBA from the University of Phoenix. He continued his studies after retiring from the NBA because of his passion towards education.

Brian May (Lead guitarist, Queen) – PhD in Astrophysics
Brian Harold May is known as the guitarist, songwriter and occasional singer in the rock band Queen. He composed hits such as “Tie Your Mother Down”, “I Want It All”, “We Will Rock You”, “Fat Bottomed Girls” and “Who Wants to Live Forever”. Besides that, he was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2005 for his services in the music industry and charity work. He earned his Ph.D in astrophysics from Imperial College in 2007 and is currenly the Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.

Leonard Nimoy – Master degree, University of California
Leonard Nimoy is best known for his role of Spock in the original Star Trek series which was aired from 1966 to 1969. After starring in the Star Trek series, Nimoy starred in Mission: Impossible, hosted the documentary series In Search of…, and narrated Civilisation IV besides a few well-received stage appearances. He has a Master of Fine Arts degree in photography.

Famous People With a Bachelor’s Degree
Natalie Portman, Bachelor’s of Psychology at Harvard University
Ashton Kutcher, Biochemical engineering at University of Iowa (dropped out)
Kate Beckinsale, French, and Russian Literature at Oxford University (dropped out)
Eva Longoria, Degree in Kinesiology, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Will Ferrell, Degree in Sports Broadcasting, University of Southern California
Ray Romano, Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Queens College
Brooke Shields, Bachelor in French Literature, Princeton University
Lisa Kudrow, Bachelor in Psychology, Vassar College
Jay Leno, Bachelor’s degree in Speech Therapy, Emerson College
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Physiology, University of Miami
Edward Norton, Major in History, Yale University
Lucy Liu, Major in Chinese Language and Culture, University of Michigan

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