10 celebrities who went to college in Michigan

Learn about 10 stars of stage and screen who spent their university glory days right here in Michigan.

Hollywood might seem like a long way from Michigan, but the two destinations have more in common than initially meets the eye. For starters, as you’ve undoubtedly noticed, they’re both situated near spectacularly beautiful beaches and offer endless attractions for all ages (albeit with slightly different vibes).

But beyond these surface-level similarities, they’ve both housed iconic artists and performers over the decades. For many stars of the stage, screen, and political arena, the Mitten played a central role in their formative years—and we’d like to think we can take partial credit for their success. Here are ten celebrities who attended college in Michigan.

1. Jeff Daniels

It’s no secret that Jeff Daniels is proud to be from Michigan. The actor, who’s perhaps best known for his hilarious role in “Dumb and Dumber” and his more serious performances in shows like “The Newsroom” and “Godless,” grew up in the small town of Chelsea and still resides there with his family today.

During his years at Central Michigan University, Daniels’ acting chops shone. He was a standout in the campus theater program, though he did not graduate from CMU—instead, he left in 1976 to pursue stage work more seriously. We’d say it paid off!

2. Darren Criss

Theater kids of all ages will undoubtedly be familiar with Darren Criss, whose mainstream success skyrocketed when he appeared on “Glee” and subsequently took on roles ranging from a dangerous killer in “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace” to a Tony-winning performance in “Maybe Happy Ending” on Broadway.

In his college years, though, Criss called Ann Arbor home. He graduated with a fine arts degree from the University of Michigan in 2009, but his education was well-rounded: He also left U of M with minors in Italian and musicology.

3. Terry Crews

From acting to professional football, there’s not much Terry Crews hasn’t tried. Comedy fans will know him from his work on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Everybody Hates Chris,” while others will appreciate his work as the host of “America’s Got Talent.” 57-year-old Crews was born in Flint and attended our state’s beloved fine arts camp, Interlochen, as a child.

By the time he reached his late teens, he’d earned an arts scholarship to Western Michigan University and, within a year of his arrival in Kalamazoo, he’d also earned a football scholarship. Crews ultimately did not graduate, instead opting to dive into his NFL career in the early 90s.

4. Lucy Liu

Yep, one of Charlie’s Angels went to college right here in our own backyard. Lucy Liu has been a Hollywood icon for decades now, starring in hits like “Ally McBeal,” “Kill Bill,” “Elementary,” and, of course, the “Charlie’s Angels” series.

Liu transferred to the University of Michigan after a brief stint at NYU, ultimately graduating in 1990 with a degree in Asian languages and cultures. That’s not all, though: Liu was a bona fide Ann Arbor sorority girl, joining Chi Omega during her time on campus.

5. Gerald R. Ford

You might have heard that President Gerald R. Ford was a football player in his younger years, but did you know he led the Michigan Wolverines to multiple championships (in 1932 and 1933) as a college player in Ann Arbor?

His football prowess almost took him down an entirely different path after his graduation with an economics degree in 1935. In fact, Ford was pursued by multiple NFL teams (including our beloved Detroit Lions!) in his post-grad years, but he turned down these offers and ultimately landed in law school. Today, Michigan students and campus visitors will see plenty of nods to Ford around campus.

6. Madonna

Madonna truly needs no introduction. But most of us know far less about her early years than we do about her career—including the fact that she attended the University of Michigan on a dance scholarship.

Madonna didn’t come to Michigan for the first time in college, though: She was born in Bay City and raised in Metro Detroit, so Ann Arbor wasn’t a far leap from home. While she didn’t ultimately graduate from Michigan, her decision to leave college and pursue a career in the performing arts in New York City likely shaped the Queen of Pop as we know her today.

7. Keegan-Michael Key

The next time you rewatch one of your favorite “Key & Peele” sketches, you’ll feel a dash of extra camaraderie with the knowledge that Keegan-Michael Key has Michigan roots.

Born in Southfield, the actor and comedian remained in the Great Lakes State through his college years, graduating from the University of Detroit Mercy in 1993 with a BFA in theater (and an allegiance to the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity). Despite his success, he never left Michigan behind completely, and even co-founded Hamtramck’s Planet Ant Theater, where improv arts shine.

8. Lily Tomlin

Comedy legend Lily Tomlin is another Michigan native whose connection to the state is sometimes overlooked. Born in Detroit, Tomlin has enjoyed a decades-long career in acting, comedy, and just about everything in between—in fact, she’s only an Oscar away from a coveted EGOT (though she was nominated for her role in the film “Nashville”).

Tomlin enrolled at Wayne State University after graduating from Detroit’s acclaimed Cass Tech High School, initially intending to pursue a science degree. But it was at Wayne State that she discovered a love for performing and comedy that pulled her out of college and toward a burgeoning career.

9. James Earl Jones

The late, great James Earl Jones, an EGOT winner, is nothing short of an icon in American entertainment, known best for his booming voice (Darth Vader, anyone?), his Shakespearean performances, and his roles in films like “Coming to America” and “Field of Dreams.”

But before he was Luke’s father, Jones was a student at the University of Michigan. He spent his younger years in the small community of Dublin, Michigan, and went on to graduate from U of M with a drama degree in 1955. But his path at the university wasn’t singularly focused on acting: Jones was involved in everything from the Drill Team to ROTC during his college years.

10. Steven Yeun

Though he’s perhaps most famous for his role as Glenn in the zombie drama “The Walking Dead,” Steven Yeun has branched out into film and other television series throughout the years. You might have caught him in the Netflix series “Beef,” Jordan Peele’s horror film “Nope,” or the film “Minari” in 2020.

Born in Korea, Yeun moved to the Detroit suburb of Troy with his family as a child and graduated from high school there. His next move was to Kalamazoo, where he became part of the tight-knit Kalamazoo College community and graduated with concentrations in neuroscience and psychology. Despite his heavy science focus in college, Yeun’s ambitions ultimately led him to Hollywood.