By Diana Garrido
We usually think of celebrities as these unreachable figures who are nothing like us and have their whole lives figured out. We tend to believe that their only concerns are looking good and going to awesome parties and photoshoots. However, for many of your idols, fame is not all there is to life. On the contrary, they often pursue passions and hobbies of their own beyond what they’re famous for, and many even hold second jobs—perhaps because they are not as rich as you think, or because that’s where they started, or simply because they’re passionate about it. Here are ten celebrities who have other jobs that have nothing to do with acting or music.
Bruce Dickinson
History PhD, university professor, aviator, fencing athlete, filmmaker, DJ, author, and brewer
Here’s one of the most prolific celebrities in the world. The Iron Maiden singer holds many degrees that have earned him honors and recognition across the globe—which makes him one of the few celebrities that are actually celebrated for far more than their own particular craft. Besides being among the best heavy metal singers of all time, Dickinson has many skills and a passion for teaching them to other people.
Dylan Sprouse
Brewer and photographer
One of the most entertaining twins in television is now a hot model, but beyond his charm and looks, he has a hidden talent. Sprouse has decided to jump behind the camera and show us he also has an artistic soul. And if that weren’t enough, the Disney Channel star also owns a beer brewery.
Dexter Holland
Molecular biologist
The lead singer and songwriter for The Offspring holds a PhD in molecular biology. But he didn’t simply hang his degree on the wall and call it a day. He is dedicated to the field as well. Holland writes books and collaborates in studio programs, and he also participates on active research at different institutes around the world. So yeah, he might be part of an incredibly successful band and sing punk (or post-punk, if you will) for millions of people everywhere, but he never gave up his studies or abandoned a great academic discipline such as his. Good for him!
Freddie Prinze Jr.
Chef
Though he doesn’t have any formal education in the culinary arts, Freddie Prinze Jr. has participated in plenty of cooking workshops that led him to write his book, Back To The Kitchen. In it, he recounts his experience as a cook and connects that with other anecdotes from his acting career. He also gives conferences and makes regular appearances in cooking shows and magazines.
Trent Reznor
App developer
We know that Reznor breaks the rules of life to create his own through music. We also know he follows trends just as long as they help others achieve their full creative potential. That’s why he’s released several records under the Creative Commons license, so that others can grow personally from his talent. On top of everything, he collaborated with Apple to redesign Beats Music, giving promising new talents a shot at the spotlight.
Mayim Bialik
Neurobiologist
After she finished shooting Blossom, Bialik decided to study at UCLA—though she also got accepted into Harvard and Yale. She earned a BSc degree in Neuroscience, with a minor in Hebrew and Jewish studies. Bialik later went on to earn a PhD in neuroscience and has developed social programs to help the poor and promote young entrepreneurs and researchers.
Gene Simmons
Teacher and businessman
Before being a dark bassist and possessing the longest tongue in the world, Gene Simmons was an elementary school teacher. Legend has it that on some occasions he would give his students comic books rather than official reading material to let them have some fun. When he left the job to become a rock star, he also became a businessman, which has actually earned him more money than his music gigs.
Steve Buscemi
Fireman
Steve Buscemi was actually a fireman before going into acting full time. Though he had left the job behind in order to pursue his artistic interests, he volunteered during the events of 9/11 at a station that was close to ground zero in NY. He’s been willing to jump right into danger in emergencies ever since.
Milo Aukerman
Researcher
Aukerman is one of the most acclaimed punk singers in the world—by the critics as much as the fans. But, as it turns out, in addition to leading one of the most important music groups in history (The Descendants), he holds a PhD in molecular biology, which he uses to teach courses and undertake research in the field. He formerly worked as a plant researcher at DuPont and as an adjunct professor at the University of Delaware.
Ron Jeremy
Special education specialist
Though he’s best known as a porn star, Ron Jeremy is actually a pedagogist who specializes on education for kids with special needs. He has collaborated with middle schools and worked with autistic and schizophrenic children in New York. Jeremy earned a masters degree on the subject and dedicated a good portion of his life to helping children and teenagers before reaching fame in the most unusual way.
Plus: Brian May
Astrophysicist and college professor
There’s not much to say about Brian May’s career in astrophysics that hasn’t been said already. But to sum up what is well known, the Queen guitarist recently finished his PhD thesis, titled “A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud,” some 37 years after he began writing it. He also teaches in London and is a big fan of TV shows about astronomy.
Doesn’t learning about their side jobs make you admire these celebrities even more? They are living proof that it’s possible to succeed in many of life’s paths. All you need is persistence, determination, and true passion. Simple, right?
Translated by Oliver G. Alvar
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