The Best Celebrity Yearbook Photos

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Jennifer Garner/Instagram; Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library

Jennifer Garner/Instagram; Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library

Well before they became some of the most photographed people on the planet, these stars said “cheese” for some truly spectacular yearbook photos. See your favorite A-listers in their class photos, and find out who had an awkward phase — or who was “most likely to be famous” from a young age.

01of 48Tom HanksTom Hanks/XIt’s only natural that Tom Hanks would go on to be the king of romantic comedies after graduating from Skyline High School in Oakland, Calif. in 1974 — just look how suave he wasin his senior photo.

01of 48

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks/X

It’s only natural that Tom Hanks would go on to be the king of romantic comedies after graduating from Skyline High School in Oakland, Calif. in 1974 — just look how suave he wasin his senior photo.

02of 48Kevin BaconKevin Bacon/Instagram"Ah, ninth grade. Don’t miss it at all,“Kevin Bacon wrote on this throwback photoof him rocking a turtleneck and shoulder-skimming cut.

02of 48

Kevin Bacon

Kevin Bacon/Instagram

“Ah, ninth grade. Don’t miss it at all,“Kevin Bacon wrote on this throwback photoof him rocking a turtleneck and shoulder-skimming cut.

03of 48Jennifer GarnerJennifer Garner/InstagramJennifer Garnerproudly displays her saxophone skills to this day,and is happy to share throwback pics from her marching band moments. “Sally the sexy saxophone, she was a boss,“she captioned this one.

03of 48

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner/Instagram

Jennifer Garnerproudly displays her saxophone skills to this day,and is happy to share throwback pics from her marching band moments. “Sally the sexy saxophone, she was a boss,“she captioned this one.

04of 48Busy Phillipsbusy philipps/instagramFreaks and Geeksfans will love this seventh-grade throwback shot Busy Phillips shared to her Instagram, and she does too,giving it six fire emojis.

04of 48

Busy Phillips

busy philipps/instagram

Freaks and Geeksfans will love this seventh-grade throwback shot Busy Phillips shared to her Instagram, and she does too,giving it six fire emojis.

05of 48Paris HiltonParis Hilton/InstagramParis HIlton posted a whole carousel of throwback snaps from elementary school right up to her graduation from the “Bad Bitch Academy,“as she called it.

05of 48

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton/Instagram

Paris HIlton posted a whole carousel of throwback snaps from elementary school right up to her graduation from the “Bad Bitch Academy,“as she called it.

06of 48Bette MidlerLong before she earned her diva bonafides, the Divine Miss M was no stranger to the spotlight, being voted “Most Talkative” and “Most Dramatic” at Honolulu, Hawaii’s Radford High School,before graduating in 1963.

06of 48

Bette Midler

Long before she earned her diva bonafides, the Divine Miss M was no stranger to the spotlight, being voted “Most Talkative” and “Most Dramatic” at Honolulu, Hawaii’s Radford High School,before graduating in 1963.

07of 48Minka KellyMinka Kelly/InstagramWith her fluffy bangs and killer scrunchie game, it’s clear Kelly had plenty of practice being the queen of high school well before being cast as popular Lyla Garrity onFriday Night Lights.

07of 48

Minka Kelly

Minka Kelly/Instagram

With her fluffy bangs and killer scrunchie game, it’s clear Kelly had plenty of practice being the queen of high school well before being cast as popular Lyla Garrity onFriday Night Lights.

08of 48Seth MeyersNorthwestern University’s improv group launched Seth Meyers' career in comedy — which is how his alma mater must have known he’d have a great sense of humor about them publishing his freshmanandsenior yearbook photos (flipped do and all) on their social media.

08of 48

Seth Meyers

Northwestern University’s improv group launched Seth Meyers' career in comedy — which is how his alma mater must have known he’d have a great sense of humor about them publishing his freshmanandsenior yearbook photos (flipped do and all) on their social media.

09of 48Chris PrattChris Pratt/InstagramPratt shared this school photo as part ofthe “Teenage Dirtbag” Tiktok trend, but we have to say he seemed much more like a clean-cut cutie than a teenage dirtbag.

09of 48

Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt/Instagram

Pratt shared this school photo as part ofthe “Teenage Dirtbag” Tiktok trend, but we have to say he seemed much more like a clean-cut cutie than a teenage dirtbag.

10of 48Pam GrierPam Grier/TwitterThe actress shared her East High School senior portrait onTwitter, adding that her “Big hair hid razor blades to fight off country ass girl gangs and scary hairy creatures hiding under the bed at night.”

10of 48

Pam Grier

Pam Grier/Twitter

The actress shared her East High School senior portrait onTwitter, adding that her “Big hair hid razor blades to fight off country ass girl gangs and scary hairy creatures hiding under the bed at night.”

11of 48Michelle ObamaMichelle Obama/InstagramTo congratulate the class of 2021 on a particularly difficult school year,theBecomingauthor and former First Lady shared a photo of herselfin her graduation attire, saying she could relate to whatever they might be feeling “I am so, so proud of you. Because after what we’ve seen this year, I know you will get through whatever life throws at you.”

11of 48

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama/Instagram

To congratulate the class of 2021 on a particularly difficult school year,theBecomingauthor and former First Lady shared a photo of herselfin her graduation attire, saying she could relate to whatever they might be feeling “I am so, so proud of you. Because after what we’ve seen this year, I know you will get through whatever life throws at you.”

12of 48Snoop DoggSnoop Dogg/InstagramBehold the artist formerly known as Calvin Broadus, or,as he put it, “High school snoopy.”

12of 48

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg/Instagram

Behold the artist formerly known as Calvin Broadus, or,as he put it, “High school snoopy.”

13of 48Matt DamonAncestry.comExcuse us, is this a yearbook shot or a headshot? Damon already had thoseSexiest Man Alive looksas a teen.Damon’s pic comes viaAncestry.com, which recently expanded its Yearbooks collection to include more than 420,000 yearbooks from 1990 to 1999, covering all 50 states.

13of 48

Matt Damon

Ancestry.com

Excuse us, is this a yearbook shot or a headshot? Damon already had thoseSexiest Man Alive looksas a teen.

Damon’s pic comes viaAncestry.com, which recently expanded its Yearbooks collection to include more than 420,000 yearbooks from 1990 to 1999, covering all 50 states.

14of 48Nick OffermanAncestry.comGrowing up outside Chicago, Offerman eventually made his way to the University of Illinois and later, began acting around the Windy City.

14of 48

Nick Offerman

Growing up outside Chicago, Offerman eventually made his way to the University of Illinois and later, began acting around the Windy City.

15of 48Ellen DeGeneresAncestry.comBy the twinkle in her eye, you can tell DeGeneres was already cracking people up in high school.

15of 48

Ellen DeGeneres

By the twinkle in her eye, you can tell DeGeneres was already cracking people up in high school.

16of 48Jimmy FallonClassmates.comWe haveClassmates.comto thank for Fallon’s epic photo, which puts theTonight Showhost’s growing mustache on full display.

16of 48

Jimmy Fallon

Classmates.com

We haveClassmates.comto thank for Fallon’s epic photo, which puts theTonight Showhost’s growing mustache on full display.

17of 48John LegendClassmates.comLegend is truly ageless, proving that his high school self mirrors his present-day self in his cute yearbook pic.

17of 48

John Legend

Legend is truly ageless, proving that his high school self mirrors his present-day self in his cute yearbook pic.

18of 48Anna FarisClassmates.comBefore starring inScary MovieandMom, Faris was a student at Edmonds-Woodway High School in Washington.

18of 48

Anna Faris

Before starring inScary MovieandMom, Faris was a student at Edmonds-Woodway High School in Washington.

19of 48

Melissa McCarthy

20of 48Matthew McConaugheyClassmates.comSurprise, surprise: McConaughey’s high school superlative (“Most Handsome”) still rings true to this day.

20of 48

Matthew McConaughey

Surprise, surprise: McConaughey’s high school superlative (“Most Handsome”) still rings true to this day.

21of 48Taraji P. HensonTaraji P Henson/InstagramTheHidden Figuresactress already had dreams of making it big in Hollywood as a high school student. “She knew she belonged in #Hollywood right here,“Henson wrote on Instagram. “She just didn’t know how she was getting there but she DREAMED BIG AF!!!”

21of 48

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P Henson/Instagram

TheHidden Figuresactress already had dreams of making it big in Hollywood as a high school student. “She knew she belonged in #Hollywood right here,“Henson wrote on Instagram. “She just didn’t know how she was getting there but she DREAMED BIG AF!!!”

22of 48Kate WalshKate Walsh/TwitterThe13 Reasons Whyactress took it back to her junior year in high school,posting a throwback pic of herselfon Twitter.

22of 48

Kate Walsh

Kate Walsh/Twitter

The13 Reasons Whyactress took it back to her junior year in high school,posting a throwback pic of herselfon Twitter.

23of 48Meryl StreepStreep started acting while in high school, thoughher list of extracurricularsalso included swimming and cheerleading.

23of 48

Meryl Streep

Streep started acting while in high school, thoughher list of extracurricularsalso included swimming and cheerleading.

24of 48Jessica ChastainChastain was unable to graduate from high school with the rest of her class after having whatshe describedas a “difficult time,” though she later earned her GED and went on to get a BFA from Juilliard.

24of 48

Jessica Chastain

Chastain was unable to graduate from high school with the rest of her class after having whatshe describedas a “difficult time,” though she later earned her GED and went on to get a BFA from Juilliard.

25of 48Billy Bob ThorntonThornton graduatedfrom Malvern High School in Arkansas in 1973. While attending school there, he lived in a house without electricity or running water with over 12 relatives.

25of 48

Billy Bob Thornton

Thornton graduatedfrom Malvern High School in Arkansas in 1973. While attending school there, he lived in a house without electricity or running water with over 12 relatives.

26of 48Matt BomerClassmates.comFact: theMagic Mikeactor continues to show off his signature megawatt smile in 2019.

26of 48

Matt Bomer

Fact: theMagic Mikeactor continues to show off his signature megawatt smile in 2019.

27of 48Jeff BridgesWhile attendingUniversity High Schoolin Los Angeles, Bridges was a member of — go figure — the school’s yearbook staff.

27of 48

Jeff Bridges

While attendingUniversity High Schoolin Los Angeles, Bridges was a member of — go figure — the school’s yearbook staff.

28of 48Julia Louis-DreyfusLouis-Dreyfus' parents divorced when she was a child, and she consequently split her time growing up between New York City and Washington, D.C.

28of 48

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Louis-Dreyfus' parents divorced when she was a child, and she consequently split her time growing up between New York City and Washington, D.C.

29of 48Emma StoneSeth Poppel/Yearbook LibraryDoesn’t Stone resemble a young Jodie Foster here?

29of 48

Emma Stone

Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library

Doesn’t Stone resemble a young Jodie Foster here?

30of 48Annette Beningclassmates.comThe actress graduated from Patrick Henry High School, where she studied drama, in 1975.

30of 48

Annette Bening

classmates.com

The actress graduated from Patrick Henry High School, where she studied drama, in 1975.

31of 48

Kelly Clarkson

32of 48Winona RyderRyder graduatedfrom California’s Petaluma high school with an impressive 4.0 GPA.

32of 48

Winona Ryder

Ryder graduatedfrom California’s Petaluma high school with an impressive 4.0 GPA.

33of 48Reese WitherspoonSeth Poppel/Yearbook LibraryPictured here in sixth grade in in 1988, Witherspoon was modeling and acting in commercials and had won the Ten-State Talent Fair at age 11.

33of 48

Reese Witherspoon

Pictured here in sixth grade in in 1988, Witherspoon was modeling and acting in commercials and had won the Ten-State Talent Fair at age 11.

34of 48Viola DavisDavis started acting while attending Central Falls High School in Central Falls, Rhode Island.

34of 48

Viola Davis

Davis started acting while attending Central Falls High School in Central Falls, Rhode Island.

35of 48Jamie FoxxSeth Poppel/Yearbook LibraryPictured in sixth grade, Foxx — then known as Eric Bishop — had already been playing the piano for a decade at this point.

35of 48

Jamie Foxx

Pictured in sixth grade, Foxx — then known as Eric Bishop — had already been playing the piano for a decade at this point.

36of 48Megan FoxSeth Poppel/Yearbook Library"I remember having that unibrow, which I always hated,” Fox, seen here in 1994 as a second-grader, toldAllureof her elementary-school brows. “I used to beg my mother to let me pluck my eyebrows.”

36of 48

Megan Fox

“I remember having that unibrow, which I always hated,” Fox, seen here in 1994 as a second-grader, toldAllureof her elementary-school brows. “I used to beg my mother to let me pluck my eyebrows.”

37of 48Nick NolteNolte studied at Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was the kicker on the football team. He also attended the area’s Benson High, but was expelled for fighting and underage drinking.

37of 48

Nick Nolte

Nolte studied at Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was the kicker on the football team. He also attended the area’s Benson High, but was expelled for fighting and underage drinking.

38of 48Natalie PortmanPortman had to take some time off from attending Syosset High School in Long Island, New York, to filmStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

38of 48

Natalie Portman

Portman had to take some time off from attending Syosset High School in Long Island, New York, to filmStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

39of 48Mariah CareyClassmates.comLike Portman, Carey also attended high school in Long Island.

39of 48

Mariah Carey

Like Portman, Carey also attended high school in Long Island.

40of 48

Keith Urban

Splash News Online

41of 48Barbra StreisandClassmates.comBrooklyn-born Streisand attended Erasmus Hall High School in the borough’s Flatbush neighborhood.

41of 48

Barbra Streisand

Brooklyn-born Streisand attended Erasmus Hall High School in the borough’s Flatbush neighborhood.

42of 48Ice CubeClassmates.comCube attended William H. Taft High School, in Woodland Hills, California, with his future NWA bandmate Eazy-E and House of Pain member Daniel “Danny Boy” O’Connor.

42of 48

Ice Cube

Cube attended William H. Taft High School, in Woodland Hills, California, with his future NWA bandmate Eazy-E and House of Pain member Daniel “Danny Boy” O’Connor.

43of 48Susan SarandonClassmates.comSarandon attended high school in Edison, New Jersey, in the 1960s.

43of 48

Susan Sarandon

Sarandon attended high school in Edison, New Jersey, in the 1960s.

44of 48Jerry SeinfeldClassmates.comAnother Long Islander, Seinfeld attended Massapequa High School.

44of 48

Jerry Seinfeld

Another Long Islander, Seinfeld attended Massapequa High School.

45of 48Dolly PartonClassmates.comAs you can see, Parton’s always had a thing for big hair — “the higher the hair, the closer to God,” it’s often said.

45of 48

Dolly Parton

As you can see, Parton’s always had a thing for big hair — “the higher the hair, the closer to God,” it’s often said.

46of 48Chris PrattClassmates.comPratt was well-liked at his high school in Lake Stevens, Washington. Not only was he a fullback for the football team, a state-qualifying wrestler, and a member of the track team, but he delivered his class’s graduation speech.

46of 48

Pratt was well-liked at his high school in Lake Stevens, Washington. Not only was he a fullback for the football team, a state-qualifying wrestler, and a member of the track team, but he delivered his class’s graduation speech.

47of 48Heather LocklearClassmates.comAfter being rejected for the Newbury Park High School cheerleading squad in California, Locklear tried at for drama club, where she fell in love with her eventual calling.

47of 48

Heather Locklear

After being rejected for the Newbury Park High School cheerleading squad in California, Locklear tried at for drama club, where she fell in love with her eventual calling.

48of 48Cloris LeachmanClassmates.comCheck out the late Leachman’s vintage 1940s-era victory rolls.

48of 48

Cloris Leachman

Check out the late Leachman’s vintage 1940s-era victory rolls.

source: people.com