Celebrities with REAL (Not Honorary) Doctorates

astorian · February 17, 2007, 2:32pm

How many celebrities can you think of who have earned actual Ph. D’s from actual universities?

Academics who’ve become famous writers (Isaac Asimov, Richard Dawkins, et al.) aren’t really what I’m looking for. Rather, are there any famous musicians, actors, novelists and such who happen to have gone to graduate school and earned doctorates?

I know Bill Cosby got a Ph. D. in education, and Queen guitarist Brian May was in a doctoral program for astronomy (not sure whether he ever actually received the degree). Any others like that come to mind?

Biggirl · February 17, 2007, 2:44pm

Mayim Bialik, from Blossom and Beaches, is working on her PhD thesis in neuroscience. But she isn’t a Dr yet.

twickster · February 17, 2007, 3:00pm

No, he has an Ed.D, which is, IMHO, a lesser degree.

twicks, Ph.D.

Tapioca_Dextrin · February 17, 2007, 3:05pm

A list of celebs with fake degrees

Pamela Stephenson has a doctorate in clinical psychology.

bibliophage · February 17, 2007, 4:01pm

Lots of novelists have non-Ph.D. doctorates. Scott Turow (J.D.) and Michael Chrichton (M.D.), for example.

There are at least a couple of science fiction novelists with a Ph.D.: David Brin in physics and the late Jack Williamson in English.

Sonia_Montdore · February 17, 2007, 4:03pm

Robert Vaughn earned a PhD at the University of Southern California.
William Sanderson has a JD from a university in (IIRC) Tennessee.

Frylock · February 17, 2007, 4:11pm

Gregory Benford is a well known phyicist here at UCI as well as a well known sci fi author.

-FrL-

BrainGlutton · February 17, 2007, 4:13pm

Howard Cosell had a J.D.

Annie-Xmas · February 17, 2007, 4:16pm

Andrew Vachss has a J.D.

JThunder · February 17, 2007, 4:18pm

You also have non-SF Ph.D.-holder Kathy Reichs.

Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party · February 17, 2007, 4:20pm

Brian May is currently finishing his PhD that he placed on hiatus when Queen went big.

Bryan_Ekers · February 17, 2007, 4:29pm

Haing Ngor was an MD when he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

robdavsuss · February 17, 2007, 4:31pm

I believe Peter Weller is working on his Ph.D in history.

Menocchio · February 17, 2007, 4:32pm

Peter Weller has a Masters and is working on a PhD in Roman and Renaissance art. He’s also a lecturer at Ithaca.

I think Terry Jones has a PhD in medieval literature, but I can’t find a cite for that. He has written at least two scholarly works on Chaucer and hosted several popular documentaries on medieval life.

Tapioca_Dextrin · February 17, 2007, 4:41pm

Graham Chapman was an MD.

JThunder · February 17, 2007, 4:44pm

So where did Dr. Dre get his doctorate?

Bryan_Ekers · February 17, 2007, 4:57pm

Probably the same school Doc Severinsen attended.

Polycarp · February 17, 2007, 5:23pm

Alternate-universe maven Harry Turtledove has an earned doctorate in Byzantine history and was a teacher of same for several years.

Zeldar · February 17, 2007, 5:32pm

And Doc Cheatham.

Spoke · February 17, 2007, 5:51pm

Fred Thompson has a JD, of course.