Before they catapulted to fame, many of your favorite celebrities were taking their school yearbook photos just like you
NEED TO KNOW
From Oscar winners to some of the biggest names in music, stars lit up the camera on picture day with their smiles
See which celebs went through their awkward phase or gave off "most likely to be famous" energy from an early age
It's time for a massive throwback.
Before your favorite celebrities took over Hollywood or dominatedBillboardcharts, they were just like us — walking the halls of their school, attending class and posing for the yearly chore: the school yearbook photo.
FromAcademy Awardwinners likeTom HanksandViola Davisto music icons likeSnoop DoggandMariah Carey— and even aformer first lady—these stars said "cheese"for some truly spectacular snaps.
These images captured some of the biggest names in entertainment during their awkward teen phase. For some A-listers, these portraits serve as photo proof they've been in their "most likely to be famous" phase from an early age.
Scroll down to see the best celebrity yearbook photos.
Tom Hanks
It's only natural that Hanks would go on to be theking of romantic comediesafter graduating from Skyline High School in Oakland, Calif., in 1974. Just look how suave he was in this senior photo that theForrest Gumpstar sharedon X(formerly Twitter) in May 2020.
Kevin Bacon
"Ah, ninth grade.Don't miss it at all,"FootlooseactorKevin Baconcaptioned a throwback photoon Instagramin May 2024 of him rocking a turtleneck and shoulder-skimming cut for his school portrait.
Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garnerproudlydisplays her saxophone skillsto this day and is happy to share throwback pics from her marching band moments.
"Sally the sexy saxophone, she was a boss," the13 Going on 30star captioned this snapon Instagramin March 2024.
Jack Quaid
"Good morning from Eighth GradeJack Quaid,"The Boysactor captioned this picon Instagramin February 2025, proving he's had a killer head of hair from the jump.
This is around the age that momMeg Ryansaid she had a feeling he'd befollowing her and his dadDennis Quaidinto acting after seeing him steal the show in a middle-school production ofA Midsummer Night's Dream.
"I had my head in my hands and was like, 'Oh,no. He'sgood.He'sreallygood,' " Ryanrecalled in aGlamourcover storyin November 2023. "I leaned forward, and I see Dennis, and he's also leaning forward with his head in his hands. I just knew."
Busy Philipps
Freaks and Geeksfans will love this seventh-grade throwback shotBusy Philippssharedon Instagramin May 2023, and she does, too — hence the six fire emojis.
Paris Hilton
Paris Hiltonposted a carousel of throwback snapson Instagramin August 2024, dating back to elementary school right up to her graduation from the "Bad Bitch Academy," as she called it.
Bette Midler
Long before she earned her diva bona fides,Bette Midler— a.k.a. the Divine Miss M — was no stranger to the spotlight, being voted "Most Talkative" and "Most Dramatic" at Radford High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, before graduating in 1963,per Facebook.
Minka Kelly
With her fluffy bangs and killer scrunchie game, it's clearMinka Kellyhad plenty of practice being the queen of high school well beforebeing cast as popular Lyla GarrityonFriday Night Lights.
Seth Meyers
Northwestern University's improv group launched late-night hostSeth Meyers' career in comedy, which is how his alma mater must have known he'd have a great sense of humor about them posting his freshmanandsenior yearbook photos (flipped 'do and all)on Xin June 2016.
Chris Pratt
Guardians of the GalaxystarChris Prattshared this school photo as part of the"Teenage Dirtbag" TikTok trend, but we have to say he seemed much more like a clean-cut cutie than a teenage dirtbag.
Pam Grier
Blaxploitation iconPam Griershared her East High School senior portraiton X, writing, "My Big hair hid razor blades to fight off country ass girl gangs and scary hairy creatures hiding under the bed at night."
Michelle Obama
To congratulate the class of 2021 on a particularly difficult school year, former first ladyMichelle Obamashared a photo of herself in her graduation attireon Instagram, writing that she could relate to whatever they might be feeling.
"I am so, so proud of you," she captioned the throwback pic. "Because after what we've seen this year, I know you will get through whatever life throws at you."
Snoop Dogg
Behold Snoop Dogg, the artist formerly known as Calvin Broadus Jr. — or, as he referred to himselfon Instagramin November 2019, "High school snoopy."
The "Drop It Like It's Hot" rapper graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1989.
Matt Damon
Excuse us, is this a yearbook shot or a headshot for the Oscar-winning actor?The Ripstar and producerMatt Damonhas always had aSexiest Man Aliveenergy. Damon's throwback snap comes to usvia Ancestry.com.
Nick Offerman
Growing up outside Chicago,Nick Offermanattended Minooka High School, where he was reportedly president of his senior class and Drama Club.
Not only did theParks and Recreationalum play football and the saxophone in the marching band, but he was also voted for his yearbook superlative "Most Likely to Host theDavid LettermanShow" — a fun fact he revealed during anappearance onJimmy Kimmel Live!in May 2025.
"I lived in a really small town in Illinois called Minooka, and there wasn't a lot to do besides sports and band," he told hostJimmy Kimmel. "I played in the jazz band ... I was in the marching band. I was in the pit orchestra and the regular concert band."
While becoming a late-night host wasn't in his future, the future Emmy winner made his way to the University of Illinois and, later, began acting around the Windy City,perThe News-Gazette.
Laura Prepon
That '70s ShowstarLaura Preponwas oh-so-'90s in this throwback school photo she sharedon Instagramin August 2024.
Ellen DeGeneres
By the twinkle in her eye, you can tellEllen DeGenereswas already cracking people up in high school.
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Jimmy Fallon
We haveClassmates.comto thank forJimmy Fallon's epic senior yearbook photo, which puts theTonight Showhost's growing mustache on full display.
John Legend
John Legend, born John Roger Stephens,is truly ageless, proving that his high school self mirrors his present-day self in his cute yearbook snap.
Anna Faris
Before starring in the 2000 filmScary Movieand on the CBS sitcomMom,Anna Fariswas a student at Edmonds-Woodway High School in Washington.
Melissa McCarthy
Melissa McCarthyhas always been interested in fashion — particularly in high school, when she experimented with her style.
"I was super preppy, and by the end [of high school] blue-black hair that I'd shave in patches," she toldAnderson Cooperon his talk show,per theDaily Mail.
Matthew McConaughey
Surprise, surprise:Matthew McConaughey's high school superlative ("Most Handsome") still rings true to this day.
Taraji P. Henson
Taraji P. Hensonalready had dreams of making it big in Hollywood as a high school student.
"She knew she belonged in #Hollywood right here," theHidden Figuresactress wrote in a since-deleted post on Instagram. "She just didn't know how she was getting there but she DREAMED BIG AF!!!"
Kate Walsh
Grey's AnatomyalumKate Walshtook it back to her junior year in high school, posting a throwback pic of herselfon Xin May 2017.
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thorntongraduated from Malvern High School in Arkansas in 1973. While attending school there, he lived in a house without electricity or running water with quite a few relatives, hetoldThe Wall Street Journalin November 2024.
Matt Bomer
Fact:Magic MikeactorMatt Bomerhas always had a signature megawatt smile.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfusgraduated from the all-girls Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, Md., in 1979.
"There were things I did in school that, had there been boys in the classroom, I would have been less motivated to do," shetoldCapitol Filemagazine in December 2011 of her high school experience. "For instance, I was president of the honor society."
Annette Bening
Annette Beninggraduated from San Diego's Patrick Henry High School in 1975. TheAmerican Beautystar also studied drama while there.
Winona Ryder
Stranger ThingsactressWinona RydertoldInterviewin September 2009 that she graduated from California's Petaluma High School with an impressive 4.0 GPA.
Viola Davis
Davis started acting while attending Rhode Island's Central Falls High School. TheEGOT winnershared this throwback photo from her high school dayson Xin February 2017.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portmanlanded her first major role, as Padmé Amidala inStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,while she was attending Syosset High School in Long Island, N.Y.
Mariah Carey
Carey has been hitting high notes long before becoming the diva we know and love today. The evidence? This glam yearbook photo from her senior year at Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, N.Y.
Barbra Streisand
Brooklyn-bornBarbra Streisandattended Erasmus Hall High School in the borough's Flatbush neighborhood.
Ice Cube
Ice Cubewas straight outta William Howard Taft Charter High School with futureN.W.A.bandmateEazy-E.
Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon(née Tomalin) attended high school in Edison, N.J., in the 1960s.
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeldwas probably the class clown when he attended Long Island's Massapequa High School.
Dolly Parton
As you can see fromDolly Parton's Sevier County High School yearbook photo, the country music star has always had a thing for big hair.
Heather Locklear
Before she won over America's hearts onMelrose Place,Heather Locklearhad her sights on fame.
Cloris Leachman
The lateCloris Leachman's vintage school yearbook photo from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa, is the throwback to end all throwbacks.
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