If we can all agree on one thing, it’s that teachers don’t get nearly enough credit for all the hard work they do.
Except sometimes, they go to become famous celebrities…
This list of people who used to work as teachers might surprise you just a little bit.
Gene Simmons?!?! Who knew?
1. Hugh Jackman
Jackman was a high school gym teacher in England before hitting it big as an actor.
2. Gene Simmons
Before becoming a superstar in KISS, Gene Simmons was a sixth-grade teacher in Harlem in New York City.
3. John Krasinski
The actor taught English abroad in Costa Rica.
4. Jon Hamm
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Mr. Don Draper of Mad Men fame worked as a daycare teacher and a high school drama teacher.
5. Sting
Sting, aka Gordon Sumner, taught school in England before he was a member of The Police.
6. J.K. Rowling
The Harry Potter author taught English in Portugal.
7. Craig Robinson
The funnyman taught music to elementary and middle school students in Chicago.
8. Andy Griffith
Photo Credit: Public Domain
The beloved actor taught high school music.
9. Mr. T
I pity the fool who got on Mr. T’s bad side when he was a gym teacher in Chicago.
10. Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow taught music while she played in bands on weekends.
11. Art Garfunkel
Garfunkel worked as a math teacher in the early 1970s.
12. Stephen King
The Master of Horror taught high school English in his native Maine while he worked on his writing during nights and weekends before he published his first novel.
13. Benedict Cumberbatch
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Cumberbatch taught English abroad in India.
14. Billy Crystal
When Crystal first started doing standup comedy he worked as a substitute teacher.
15. Brian May
Queen’s famous guitar player taught math before hitting the big time.
Hats off to all the teachers out there!