Helen Mirren once trained to be a teacher before fully committing to acting. She enrolled in a London teaching college but soon realized her real passion was on the stage. That choice paid off when she was cast as Cleopatra with the National Youth Theatre, a role that set her on the path to stardom. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
Greg Davies didn’t just play teachers on TV, he spent over a decade actually doing the job. After studying English and drama, he taught at several secondary schools and even became Head of Drama before moving into comedy. His classroom years gave him endless material, inspiring his stand-up and the sitcom Man Down, where he once again stood in front of a class, this time on screen. | © The Graham Norton Show
Before he became the “King of Horror,” Stephen King was teaching English at Hampden Academy in Maine. He spent his days in the classroom and his nights writing, eventually finishing Carrie, the novel that launched his career. Even after worldwide success, King stayed connected to education by teaching creative writing at the University of Maine and funding scholarships for local students. | © PBS NewsHour
Before becoming Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone spent time teaching PE at a girls’ boarding school in Switzerland. He was only 18, working as a teacher, dorm bouncer, and even flipping burgers on campus to get by. That period gave him space to discover his interest in theater, a passion that would eventually launch his Hollywood career. | © Amazon Prime
Before his rise as Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch spent a gap year teaching. He volunteered at a Tibetan monastery in India, where he taught English to monks. That experience came before he returned to London to study acting and begin the career that would make him a global star. | © TWC
Before stepping into politics, Barack Obama spent over a decade teaching at the University of Chicago Law School. As a senior lecturer, he taught Constitutional Law and Race Theory, earning a reputation for sparking discussions instead of just delivering lectures. The experience not only shaped his skills as a communicator but also influenced the way he engaged with people throughout his political career. | © CNN
Before becoming the world’s most famous author, J.K. Rowling worked as an English teacher both abroad and in Scotland. She taught classes in Portugal at night while writing the first ideas for Harry Potter during the day, and later training as a teacher in Edinburgh. Rowling finished her debut novel while still teaching, and the series’ success finally allowed her to leave the classroom for full-time writing. | © Saandy
Before Mad Men made him a household name, Jon Hamm spent a year teaching drama at his old high school in St. Louis. One of his students was future actress Ellie Kemper, who later credited him as an inspiring teacher. Hamm has said he still thinks about returning to the classroom, calling teaching one of the greatest professions. | © Lionsgate
Long before the face paint and stadium tours, Gene Simmons taught sixth-grade general studies in New York City. He’s joked that teaching and performing aren’t all that different, both put you in front of an audience that may or may not want to listen. The big difference, he said, is that one audience worships you, while the other just wants the bell to ring. | © AXS TV
Before his comedy career took off, Billy Crystal spent time as a substitute teacher at his old middle school on Long Island. He filled in for every subject, from English to auto shop, often relying on humor to get through the day. Crystal later joked that he was so fresh out of school himself he couldn’t even call the teachers by their first names. | © Apple TV+
Mayim Bialik took a break from Hollywood to dive into academia, earning her PhD in neuroscience from UCLA in 2007. She went on to teach college courses in biology, chemistry, and neuroscience before returning to acting. Her scientific background later blended perfectly with her role as Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory and her work as a Jeopardy! host. | © Warner Bros. Television
Before his Grey’s Anatomy fame, Jesse Williams spent time teaching in the classroom. He mostly worked with high school students, saying he connected with them because those years had been such a turning point in his own life. Williams also subbed for kindergarten and joked that the experience felt straight out of Kindergarten Cop. | © 20th Television
Before acting became his path, Liam Neeson worked as a teacher at St. Mary’s College in England. He later recalled how classroom discipline was a real challenge, and one incident even turned dangerous when a student pulled a knife on him. Neeson admitted he reacted by throwing a punch, a decision that cost him the job but also showed the tough situations teachers can face. | © Paramount Pictures
Sheryl Crow started out in the classroom before hitting the stage, earning her degree in music education from the University of Missouri in 1984. She spent two years teaching music to children with special needs, sharing her passion and skills with young students. After that, she packed up for Los Angeles to chase her dream of becoming a recording artist. | © Apple Music
Before his movie career took off, Hugh Jackman spent a gap year in 1987 working as a gym teacher at Uppingham School in England. Decades later, he bumped into one of his old students, journalist Rollo Ross, on the red carpet at the Zurich Film Festival. The lighthearted reunion quickly went viral after Ross joked on Twitter about avoiding push-ups this time around. | © Marvel Studios
Before stepping into the spotlight, some celebrities spent time in the classroom. From teaching drama and English to leading gym classes or lecturing at universities, these stars once shaped young minds before chasing fame. Here are 15 famous faces who were teachers first.
