Even though she’s been called one of Entertainment Weekly’s “25 Funniest People in America,” Wanda Sykes has not always been a comedian. She received a degree in science and marketing from Hampton University. She was also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. After graduating, Sykes got a job as a contracting specialist at the National Security Agency. But it seems like her job as a procurement officer did not suit her.
She belonged on the stage. Sykes first performed at a Coors Light Super Talent Showcase in Washington, DC, indicating the start of her stand-up career, that would soon blossom into a TV and film career as well.
Weird Al Yankovic Has a Bachelor's in Architecture
Weird Al Yankovic, whose real name is Alfred Matthew Yankovic, is known for his hilarious songs and parodies of hit music. But the degree he took in university is anything but hilarious. Yankovic graduated as valedictorian at Lynwood High School and went to California Polytechnic State University, where he studied architecture.
It was at Cal Poly that he earned the moniker “Weird Al” on his radio show. He also created his first parody, My Bologna, which was from The Knack’s song, My Sharona. Once he graduated in 1980, Yankovic recorded another parody, this time inspired by Queen’s hit, Another One Bites The Dust and followed it with a few other releases until he found soaring success.
Eva Longoria Has a Master's in Chicano Studies
Eva Longoria is packed with a lot of beauty and brains, with not just a bachelor, but also a master’s degree. The Desperate Housewives star graduated with a bachelor of kinesiology from Texas A&M University.
When Desperate Housewives ended in 2012, Longoria kept a low profile and earned her master’s degree in Chicano studies from California State University after three years. Her thesis was entitled “Success STEMS From Diversity: The Value of Latinas in STEM Careers.” Wow, it’s one thing to receive a bachelor’s degree, but it’s another thing to have a master’s degree too. Longoria tweeted back then: “You’re never too old or too busy to continue your education!” And we can all agree on that.
David Spade Has a Bachelor's in Business
David Spade is a natural prankster, so he was instinctively drawn to making people laugh and was pushed by his friends to try stand-up comedy. But little do we know that he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business from Arizona State University, in 1986. He was even a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
However, Spade could never run away from comedy. He had already started performing stand-up in college and wanted to make it his full-time career. In 1990, he joined Saturday Night Live as a writer and later became a cast member. He then built a strong acting career on both the small and big screens.
Chris Martin Has a Degree in Latin and Greek
The noted musician did a great job of balancing school and music back when he was still a student. Chris Martin was previously educated at the esteemed Sherborne School in Dorset. He later earned his degree in ancient Latin and Greek studies with first-class honors at the University College London (UCL). It was in UCL where he met his Coldplay bandmates.
While in college, Martin pursued music and formed a band in 1996 with Johnny Buckland, Will Champion, and Guy Berryman. Their band was initially called Pectoralz. They later changed it to Starfish and finally settled on Coldplay. Definitely the best of the three!