Doing studies is quite hard, but some people enjoy it so much that they go as far as doing a doctorate study on the discipline they like most of all. What might come as a surprise, though, is that some people obtain a Ph.D. and then switch to a completely unrelated field to pursue their dream job. While others combine a Ph.D. study with their full-time job just because they want to get more educated or enjoy exploring certain disciplines. There are even some Hollywood actors both you and I know and enjoy watching on TV, who have a Ph.D. or are currently in the process of obtaining a degree. Here is a list of people you might know or definitely should watch on a movie night on campus.
Mayim Bialik
Known to many for her role as Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler in the world-famous TV show The Big Bang Theory, Mayim Bialik actually resembles her screen character much more than some would think. For one thing, same as Amy Farrah Fowler, Mayim Bialik also has a Ph.D. in neuroscience. She got her degree at UCLA and wrote a dissertation on hypothalamus activity in people who suffer from Prader-Willi syndrome. This syndrome comes as a result of the loss of function of certain genes.
Ken Jeong
Some people remember Ken for his eccentric role in The Hangover or his lead role in the American multi-camera sitcom called Dr.Ken. Interestingly enough, Ken Jeong actually has an MD, which is an analog to Ph.D., only it’s in medicine. He got his degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Medicine and was a licensed doctor for a while. After that, his wife convinced him to pursue his dream and try his chances at acting.
James Franco
Both an actor and a film-maker, James Franco states that he loves school and proves it with how much time he invests in his own education. James holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University and is currently a Ph.D. student studying English at Yale University. Famous for his roles in “127 Hours” and “Spider-Man,” this actor is a true inspiration for those who want to have it all. In case you find yourself also combining a full-time job and a degree study, consider getting some professional writing help from a service like essayservice.com.
Peter Weller
Peter Weller also does both acting and directing. He is known for his role in RoboCop and RoboCop 2. But what most people don’t know about this actor is the fact that he holds a Ph.D. in the Italian Renaissance, which he obtained at UCLA. He was even invited to be a lecturer and the host of the historical TV show Engineering an Empire, where he talked about architectural achievements of China, Egypt, and Italy.
Dan Grimaldi
Dan Grimaldi is famous for his role on The Sopranos, an American drama series about crime. However, before getting into acting, Dan earned a Ph.D. in data processing at City University in New York City, and he even worked in a lab for a while. These days Dan continues his work in the educational system and works as a professor of computer science and mathematics at Kingsborough Community College, based in Brooklyn.
David Duchovny
This actor got his stardom for his roles in The X-Files and Californication. He is also on the list of the most educated Hollywood actors. David holds an English degree, which he obtained at Princeton University with a thesis titled “The Schizophrenic Critique of Pure Reason in Beckett’s Early Novels.” He later moved on to get a Ph.D. in Literature at Yale University but never finished the study.
Ashley Judd
Ashley is another Hollywood actress who is on the list of the most educated people working in the cinema industry. Famous for her roles in Double Jeopardy and Kiss the Girls, Ashley studied at the University of Kentucky, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in French. She later continued with her education and got a Master’s degree in Public Administration at Harvard University. At the moment, Ashley Judd is said to be pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Policy at UC Berkeley.
Practice suggests that even movie stars get Ph.Ds. Surprisingly, with some of them, like Mayim Bialik, their degree even helps in rendering their character better as they know a certain science from within. There are also famous sportspeople who hold a Ph.D. in a certain sports science. Getting a Ph.D. is not that common these days as it takes a lot of work and time investment. However, to those who genuinely enjoy studying, getting a doctorate comes as a pleasure even if they have a full-time job even if their full-time job is acting in Hollywood.