It’s common knowledge that Mahatma Gandhi was a lawyer before becoming one of the greatest figures of the 20th century and that John Grisham practiced law before writing bestselling legal thrillers. And it’s unsurprising that many presidents and other politicians have graduated from or dropped out of law school. But did you know that the following celebrities attended law school, too?
5 celebs who passed the bar
Gerard Butler. The star of “300” and “The Ugly Truth” went to law school at the University of Glasgow. He got a position at an Edinburgh firm as a trainee but was fired a week before qualifying as a lawyer and, luckily for us, turned his attentions to Hollywood.
Rebel Wilson. The Australian comedian and actress of “Pitch Perfect” and “Bridesmaids” fame studied arts as well as law at the University of New South Wales. She decided to pursue acting after malaria treatment caused her to hallucinate winning an Oscar.
John Cleese. As the co-founder of Monty Python, creator of the “Fawlty Towers” television series, and star of movies like “A Fish Called Wanda,” Cleese has an incredible comedy resume. His serious side is equally impressive. Cleese studied law at Cambridge University, though he never ended up using his degree. Instead he got involved with the legendary Footlights theatrical group and went on to a career in comedy.
Julio Iglesias. Spanish songwriter and singer Iglesias is one of the best-selling artists of all time. In addition to playing soccer professionally for a time, he studied law in his hometown of Madrid but never pursued a legal career. He discovered his talent for music after a terrible car accident left him hospitalized and temporarily unable to walk. A nurse gave him a guitar, and the rest is history.
Vladimir Lenin. That’s right, the Communist leader studied law at Kazan University and later worked with peasants in Samara before eventually taking over Russia.
3 famous law school dropouts
Gene Kelly. The images of Gene Kelly dancing with a cartoon mouse in “Anchors Aweigh” or splashing through puddles in “Singing in the Rain” show a man who was born to dance. That’s why it’s hard to believe that this Philadelphia boy studied economics at the University of Pittsburgh before attending law school there for two months. He dropped out to become one of the great movie stars of the ‘40s and ‘50s.
Gabriel García Márquez. The late author of “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and “Love in the Time of Cholera” studied law in Colombia before becoming a journalist and a Nobel Prize-winning writer.
Ted Bundy. The infamous serial killer went to law school at the University of Utah but stopped going right around the time women in the area began disappearing.
More famous celebrity law school dropouts.
3 actors-turned-lawyers
Jeff B. Cohen. Better known to you as Chunk from ‘80s classic “The Goonies.” After leaving the limelight, Jeff Cohen became an entertainment lawyer in Beverly Hills.
Joshua D. Saviano. Better known to you as Kevin’s friend Paul on the ‘80s show “The Wonder Years.” He now practices corporate law and intellectual property law in New York.
Charlie Korsmo. Also known as the son in “Hook,” the son in “What About Bob?” or the nerd out for revenge in “Can’t Hardly Wait.” Korsmo turned out to be an academic superstar, earning a physics degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a law degree from Yale. He’s so great, even President Barack Obama took notice.
7 comments
Kevin Swanton
Whow, I just want to meet a Lawer that can do what I ask him to do without ripping me off with so called billable hours. An Lawer that will take a reasonable retainer fee and get the job done and get his Lawer fees from the law suit by the person who owes me so they have a reason to win and do it right the first time????????????????????????
Danielle Post
Hi Kevin, I'm so sorry to hear about your situation. I would recommend locating an attorney using Avvo's Legal Directory. You can search by practice area as well as location to find one close to you. Avvo profiles contain an attorney’s experience as well as client and peer reviews. Many offer free consultations, so be sure to ask if you decide to contact them on your own or through Avvo. Here’s the link to get started on your search: http://www.avvo.com/find-a-lawyer Depending on where you live, you may also want to look into Avvo Advisor, where you can speak to an attorney for on $39: https://advisor.avvo.com/ I hope this is helpful. Kindly, Danielle
Laurie
*or you wouldn't have posted.
Laurie
And, Brian? You give a poop it you wouldn't have posted. Slam!
Laurie
Brian, you're an idiot. Jealous much? Tw was sharing interesting information. I enjoyed it a whole lot.
Truth
My goodness Brian. Why in the world are you so hostile? Some people are actually inspired when they see that others have the fortitude to apply themselves to more than one field or means to earning a living. No disrespect intended however the benefit to this is for you, read something you enjoy like, "critiquing the world".
Brian
Who gives a good shit who was a Lawyer or actor!!! Actors & Actress's & Lawyers, eat, sleep, breath air & dedicate just like everyone else.
Stop putting individuals on pedestals like their special!! Because their not especially Lawyers which are nothing more than "COCKROACHES"