The Best Celebrity Yearbook Photos—See What Your Favorite Stars Looked Like In School

Long before the paparazzi, these A-listers flashed their best smiles.

Damjan

• Published in Film & TV
• August 27, 2024

Everyone has those old-school photos that show a younger, less polished version of themselves. For many, these yearbook pictures are fun memories of their school days. They capture what we looked like before we became adults, often in our awkward teenage years.

Famous people also have their yearbook photos, which can be pretty surprising. Before they were the stars we see on TV and in movies, they were regular students like everyone else.

Looking at these old photos can be pretty eye-opening. They show us that even the most prominent celebrities once had braces, weird haircuts, and dreams of making it big.

In some yearbooks, you might find that these future stars were already being recognized for their potential. They could have been named "Most Likely to Succeed" or "Future Celebrity" by their classmates or teachers. It's interesting to see how some of these early guesses were true.

Other celebrities may have looked ordinary in their yearbook photos, and their rise to fame surprised many. These photos also remind us that growing up is something we all experience.

Like us, celebrities went through school, attended events, and participated in yearbook traditions. Seeing their old photos makes them feel more like real people and less like the glamorous figures we see on screen.

Tom Hanks

It's no surprise that Tom Hanks became the go-to guy for romantic comedies after graduating from Skyline High School in Oakland in 1974. His senior photo alone shows just how smooth he was then.

Kevin Bacon

Kevin Bacon shared a throwback photo of himself in ninth grade, wearing a turtleneck and a shoulder-length haircut, saying he doesn’t miss those days.

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner still shows off her saxophone skills and enjoys sharing throwback photos from her marching band days. One of her posts highlights her saxophone with a nod to its former glory.

Busy Phillips

Freaks and Geeks fans will appreciate this throwback from Busy Phillips' seventh-grade days that she shared on Instagram, giving it six fire emojis to show her enthusiasm.

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton shared a series of throwback photos spanning from her elementary school days to her graduation from what she humorously dubbed the "Bad Bitch Academy."

Bette Midler

Before becoming the icon she is today, the Divine Miss M was already making waves in the spotlight. While attending Radford High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, she was recognized as "Most Talkative" and "Most Dramatic" before graduating in 1963.

Minka Kelly

With her signature fluffy bangs and impressive scrunchie collection, Kelly had mastered the art of high school popularity long before she took on the role of Lyla Garrity in Friday Night Lights.

Seth Meyers

Northwestern University's improv group played a crucial role in Seth Meyers' comedy career. It seems his alma mater knew he’d find the humor in them sharing his freshman and senior yearbook photos—complete with flipped hairstyles—on social media.

Chris Pratt

Pratt posted this school photo for the "Teenage Dirtbag" TikTok trend, but he looked more like a fresh-faced charmer than a rebellious teen.

Pam Grier

The actress posted her senior portrait from East High School on Twitter, mentioning that her "big hair was a clever disguise to fend off troublesome local gangs and any creepy creatures lurking under the bed at night."

Michelle Obama

To acknowledge the class of 2021 for their challenging school year, the author of Becoming a former First Lady posted a graduation photo of herself. She expressed her pride and confidence in their ability to handle whatever comes next, reflecting on their resilience throughout the year.

Snoop Dogg

Here's the artist once known as Calvin Broadus, or, as he playfully described himself, "High school snoopy."

Matt Damon

Damon was already showing those Sexiest Man Alive vibes as a teenager.

Nick Offerman

Raised just outside Chicago, Offerman later attended the University of Illinois and started his acting career in the city.

Ellen DeGeneres

Jimmy Fallon

John Legend

Anna Faris

Melissa McCarthy

Matthew McConaughey

Taraji P. Henson

Kate Walsh

Meryl Streep

Jessica Chastain

Billy Bob Thornton

Matt Bomer

Jeff Bridges

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Emma Stone

Annette Bening

Kelly Clarkson

Winona Ryder

Reese Witherspoon

Viola Davis

Jamie Foxx

Megan Fox

Nick Nolte

Natalie Portman

Mariah Carey

Keith Urban

Barbra Streisand

Ice Cube

Susan Sarandon

Jerry Seinfeld

Dolly Parton

Heather Locklear

Cloris Leachman

Yearbook photos offer a fascinating glimpse into the past. They reflect fashion trends, hairstyles, and school awards, revealing details about when these celebrities were students. These yearbook snapshots provide a unique view of celebrities before they became famous.

They remind us that even the most prominent stars once led ordinary school lives, making it easier to relate to them. These images capture a moment when they were beginning their journeys and dreaming about what lay ahead.

Damjan