Angelina Jolie’s career could have taken a surprisingly different direction. Before becoming an Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker, Jolie seriously considered working as a funeral director. She confirmed the unusual career plan during a 2024 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, explaining that a difficult family funeral inspired the idea.
Jolie is far from the only celebrity who once prepared for another profession. Some stars studied medicine or law, while others pursued sports, firefighting or skilled trades. Their earlier ambitions reveal how uncertain career paths can be, even for people who eventually become internationally recognized performers.
Angelina Jolie’s Funeral Plan
Jolie said she began considering funeral work after feeling dissatisfied with the way her grandfather’s death was handled. She believed funerals could offer families a more thoughtful celebration of a person’s life. Jolie even studied the profession before acting became her main career. She later joked that funeral directing remained a possible backup plan, although her decades of film work have kept that alternative firmly in the background.
Ken Jeong Practiced Medicine
Before The Hangover and Community made him famous, Ken Jeong worked as a physician specializing in internal medicine. He completed medical school and practiced in California while performing stand-up comedy during his free time. Acting eventually became successful enough for Jeong to leave daily medical practice. His previous training was genuine, however, making him one of the rare comedy stars who could have continued working as a licensed doctor.
Gerard Butler Studied Law
Gerard Butler completed law school and worked as a trainee solicitor in Scotland before entering the entertainment industry. He has said he chose law because it appeared to be the responsible career, even though acting had interested him since childhood. Butler was dismissed shortly before completing his legal qualification. He later described the setback as an unexpected opening that allowed him to move to London and finally pursue acting professionally.
Rebel Wilson Earned a Law Degree
Rebel Wilson did more than briefly consider becoming a lawyer. She graduated from the University of New South Wales with a law degree while also studying performance. Wilson has said law was once her intended profession, but comedy and acting gradually became her priority. Her legal education still gives her an unusually relevant background when discussing contracts, court disputes and the complicated business arrangements that often accompany film production.
Ashton Kutcher Studied Engineering
Ashton Kutcher enrolled at the University of Iowa to study biochemical engineering before modeling and acting changed his plans. Kutcher has explained that his academic interest was partly influenced by the serious health problems experienced by his twin brother. He did not complete the degree, but his technical interests continued through his later work as a technology investor. The career he nearly followed would have placed him in a laboratory rather than on television.
George Clooney Chased Baseball
George Clooney once hoped to become a professional baseball player. He played while growing up and attended an open tryout connected to the Cincinnati Reds. Clooney later admitted that he struggled to hit strong pitching and lacked the skill needed to advance. The failed attempt redirected him toward entertainment, where he eventually found success through television, directing and films rather than a place on a Major League Baseball roster.
Stars With Working-Class Careers
Harrison Ford supported his family as a carpenter while struggling to establish himself as an actor. That work indirectly led to his breakthrough when he was asked to read with actors auditioning for Star Wars. Steve Buscemi followed an equally different route, serving as a New York City firefighter before committing to acting. Their experiences show that a practical job can remain important even when a creative career eventually takes over.
Featured Image: “Angelina Jolie” by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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