Most celebrities attended high school, much like any child, before becoming a household name. Sure, your favorite stars also had to endure gym class, pop quizzes and cafeteria food, but their classmates sometimes grew up to become Hollywood mainstays as well.
Dozens of celebrities knew one another before they were famous, because they were walking the halls of the same high school. For most people, it’s hard to imagine having even one major star in your yearbook, but some schools boast many.
Curious about which celebrities were once classmates? PrettyFamous gathered high school details on more than 50 top stars to show which celebrities not only attended the same high school, but overlapped in their time there. Keep reading to see who may have sat together at lunch, attended the same prom and even rode the bus together.
Note: PrettyFamous estimated celebrity entrance into high school by assuming they started at the age of 14 and adding that number to the year of their birth. If they overlapped over a normal four-year high school career with another celebrity, they were considered to have attended together.
#1. Nicolas Cage and Crispin Glover
Nicholas Cage and Crispin Glover both started at Beverly Hills High School in 1978. Cage went on to become an incredibly successful actor, known for films such as “Leaving Las Vegas,” “Face/Off,” “Peggy Sue Got Married” and “Valley Girl.” Glover is also a well-known actor, known for hits like “Back to the Future,” “River’s Edge” and “Charlie’s Angels.”
#2. Lenny Kravitz and David Schwimmer
Lenny Kravitz started at Beverly Hills High School in 1982 and David Schwimmer followed two years later in 1984. Kravitz eventually became a chart-topping musician, with hits like “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over,” “Again” and “Fly Away.” Schwimmer went on to find success as an actor, best known for his role as Dr. Ross Geller on the hit television show “Friends.”
#3. Tori Spelling and Alicia Silverstone
Tori Spelling started at Beverly Hills High School in 1987 and Alicia Silverstone became a student in 1990. Both went on to become successful actresses, with Spelling best known for her work as Donna Martin on the hit television series “Beverly Hills 90210” and Silverstone most revered for the role of Cher in the cult classic movie “Clueless.”
#4. Sean Penn and Emilio Estevez
Sean Penn started his freshman year at Santa Monica High School in 1974 and Emilio Estevez arrived two years later in 1976. Penn went on to become one of the biggest actors in Hollywood, with hits like “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “Milk,” “Dead Man Walking” and “Bad Boys.” Estevez also achieved major success as an actor, best known as part of the “Brat Pack” for starring in hits like “The Breakfast Club” and “St. Elmo’s Fire.”
#5. Rob Lowe, Robert Downey Jr. and Charlie Sheen
Rob Lowe started at Santa Monica High School in 1978, with Robert Downey Jr. and Charlie Sheen following close behind in 1979. All three achieved success as actors early on and have managed to maintain it for decades.
Lowe is best known as part of the “Brat Pack” for starring in films like “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “About Last Night.” Downey Jr. has played the leading role in a number of big budget films such as “The Avengers” and “Iron Man.” Sheen was one of the main characters in the television series “Two and a Half Men” — among countless other projects.
#6. Brian Austin Green and Alyson Hannigan
Brian Austin Green started his freshman year at North Hollywood High School in 1987 and Alyson Hannigan began one year later in 1988. Both students went on to become successful actors, with Green best known for his role as David Silver on the television series “Beverly Hills 90210” and Hannigan for playing the role of Lily Aldrin on the hit series “How I Met Your Mother.”
#7. Rainn Wilson and Hal Sparks
Rainn Wilson started at New Trier High School in 1980 and Hal Sparks followed behind in 1983. Each student went on to find success as an actor, with Wilson portraying the iconic character Dwight Schrute on the hit series “The Office” and Sparks best known for his role as Michael Novotny on the series “Queer as Folk.”
#8. Jon Cryer and Jon Favreau
Jon Cryer started his freshman year at Bronx High School of Science in 1983 and Jon Favreau started one year later in 1984. Both grew up and found success in Hollywood, with Cryer best known for playing the role of Alan Harper on the television series “Two and a Half Men.” Favreau has made a name for himself in front of and behind the camera, with projects like “Chef,” “Swingers” and “Iron Man.”
#9. Timothy Hutton and Demi Moore
Timothy Hutton started at Fairfax High School in 1974 and Demi Moore followed two years later in 1976. Each went on to become successful actors, with Hutton best known for his work on the films “Ordinary People,” “Kinsey” and “Q & A.” Moore rose to fame as part of the “Brat Pack,” starring in a slew of hits, such as “About Last Night,” “St. Elmo’s Fire,” “Indecent Proposal,” “A Few Good Men” and “G.I. Jane.”
#10. Jennifer Aniston, Marlon Wayans and Adrien Brody
Jennifer Aniston started at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School in 1987, followed by Marlon Wayans in 1990 and Adrien Brody in 1991. All three students grew up to become hugely successful actors.
Aniston is best known for playing the role of Rachel Green on the iconic television series “Friends”; Wayans made a name for himself by writing, producing and starring in “Scary Movie” and “White Chicks”; and Brody has starred in a number of hit films, such as “The Pianist” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”
#11. Dustin Hoffman and George Takei
Dustin Hoffman and George Takei started their freshman year at Los Angeles High School in 1951. Both boys went on to have illustrious careers as actors. Hoffman has starred in countless hits, such as “Death of a Salesman,” “Rain Man,” “The Graduate” and “Kramer vs. Kramer,” while Takei is best known for his onscreen portrayal of Lieutenant Hikaru on “Star Trek” and his off-screen work as an activist.
#12. Rachel Bilson, Michelle Trachtenberg and Katharine McPhee
Rachel Bilson and Michelle Trachtenberg started at Notre Dame High School 1999, and Katharine McPhee followed in 2002. All three have achieved success as actresses. Bilson is best known for her work as Summer Roberts on the series “The O.C.” and as Dr. Zoe Hart on the show “Hart of Dixie.”
Trachtenberg made a name for herself as Dawn Summers on the hit series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” McPhee competed on Season 5 of “American Idol” and went on to star as Karen Cartwright on the musical drama “Smash.”
#13. Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel and Jerry Springer
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel started their freshman year at Forest Hills High School in 1958, and Jerry Springer joined them in 1961. Simon and Garfunkel formed an incredibly successful folk rock duo, with hits like “Mrs. Robinson,” “The Sound of Silence” and “The Boxer.” Springer went on to have his own self-titled talk show, “The Jerry Springer Show.”
#14. Robin Williams and Peter Horton
Robin Williams started at Redwood High School in 1969, and Peter Horton followed two years later in 1971.
The late Williams achieved phenomenal success as an actor, known for films such as “Aladdin,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Hook,” “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” and “Good Will Hunting.” Horton has made a name for himself both in front of the camera and behind it, with projects including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Thirtysomething” and “Children of the Corn.”
#15. Lisa Kudrow, Robin Wright and Ice Cube
Lisa Kudrow was a freshman at Taft High School in 1977, followed by Robin Wright in 1980 and Ice Cube in 1983. All three students have enjoyed decades of success in the entertainment industry. Wright is best known for her role as Claire Underwood on the hit show “House of Cards.”
Kudrow made a name for herself as Phoebe Buffay on the series “Friends.” Ice Cube rose to fame as a member of the rap group N.W.A., eventually becoming an actor and starring in hit movies like “Boyz n the Hood” and “21 Jump Street.”
#16. Fran Drescher and Ray Romano
Fran Drescher and Ray Romano started their freshman year at Hillcrest High School in 1975. Both students went on to become very successful actors, with Drescher starring on the hit series “The Nanny” and Romano creating and starring in the sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” as Ray Barone.
#17. Forest Whitaker and Jennifer Jason Leigh
Forest Whitaker started his freshman year at Pacific Palisades High School in 1975 and Jennifer Jason Leigh followed in 1976. Whitaker has achieved success in front of and behind the camera, best known for his work on “The Last King of Scotland,” “The Crying Game” and “Waiting to Exhale.” Leigh is an actress with a number of hits to her name, including “The Machinist,” “Road to Perdition” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” — which Whitaker also appeared in.
#18. Regina King and Nia Long
Regina King started at Westchester High School in 1988 and Nia Long joined her in 1989. Both girls grew up to be successful Hollywood actresses. King is best known for her work on “Jerry Maguire,” “Enemy of the State” and “Ray,” while Long has made a name for herself with hits like “The Best Man Holiday,” “Big Momma’s House” and “Friday.”
#19. Ron Howard and Rene Russo
Ron Howard and Rene Russo started their freshman year at Burroughs High School in 1968. Howard has enjoyed an immensely successful career both in front of and behind the camera, with dozens of credits to his name, including “Arrested Development,” “Happy Days,” “The Andy Griffith Show” and “A Beautiful Mind.” Russo is best known for her work on “Ransom,” “Nightcrawler” and “Get Shorty.”
#20. Jeremy Piven and John Cusack
Jeremy Piven started at Evanston Township High School in 1979 and John Cusack followed one year later in 1980. Both have enjoyed tremendous success as actors. Piven is best known for playing the role of Ari Gold on “Entourage” and Cusack has starred in a number of hits, such as “High Fidelity,” “Being John Malkovich” and “Serendipity.”
#21. Lee Pace and Matt Bomer
Lee Pace started at Klein High School in 1993, and Matt Bomer followed in 1996. Since then, they’ve both enjoyed successful acting careers. Pace is best known for his work on the television series “Pushing Daisies,” “Lincoln” and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” while Bomer made a name for himself on the show “White Collar,” “Magic Mike XXL” and “American Horror Story.”
#22. Lauren Conrad and Kristin Cavallari
Lauren Conrad started at Laguna Beach High School in 2000 and Kristen Cavallari became her classmate one year later in 2001. After co-starring on the shows “Laguna Beach” and “The Hills” together, the two went their separate ways.
Both found careers in fashion, as Conrad designs her own line for Kohl’s and Paper Crown, while Cavallari has partnered with Chinese Laundry for a shoe line.
#23. Ben Stein, Goldie Hawn and Connie Chung
Ben Stein started at Montgomery Blair High School in 1958, followed by Goldie Hawn in 1959 and Connie Chung in 1960. Stein went on to become a writer, lawyer, political and economic commentator and actor. Hawn has enjoyed great success behind the camera and in front of it, starring in hits like “Cactus Flower,” “The Banger Sisters,” “Overboard” and “The First Wives Club.”
Chung made a name for herself as a journalist, becoming the first woman to co-anchor the CBS Evening News and the first Asian and the second woman to anchor a major U.S. newscast.
#24. Shirley MacLaine and Warren Beatty
Shirley MacLaine started her freshman year at Washington-Lee High School in 1948 and Warren Beatty followed three years later in 1951. Since then they’ve both become iconic Hollywood actors. MacLaine is best known for her work on “Terms of Endearment,” “Steel Magnolias,” and “Guarding Tess,” while Beatty made a name for himself with films like “Reds,” “Heaven Can Wait,” and “Dick Tracy.”