Jason English
Friday Happy Hour: Famous People’s Majors
by Jason English - June 5, 2009 - 2:55 PM
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mr-bean.jpg1. My Google ranking took a bit of a hit earlier this year when the Jacksonville Jaguars signed an undrafted free agent wide receiver named Jason English. Jason is actually my middle name, but I wouldn’t have a chance to crack the first page of a Google Search for ‘John English,’ what with the Rowan Atkinson movie and all. (And no, the movie didn’t inspire me to start going by my middle name.) Do you share a name with any notable, infamous or interesting people?

2. When people talk about career highlights, they often mention awards and great successes and that kind of thing. Perhaps because there’s plenty of room in my trophy case, I’d rather think about the little things – like at my first job in advertising, right after my department was swallowed up by a French company and the work took a turn for the soul-sucking, my art director partner and I started taking daily walks to get coffee to discuss the news of the day and complain about our co-workers. Then others started tagging along. By the end of that year, we had a regular entourage and added a cookie run to the itinerary. (Eventually we all found other jobs.) What are some of the little career highlights on your resume?

3. I was a history major. So was Larry David. And I’m sure there are lots of others out there, too. What was/is your major, and what famous people share it? (If the responses are interesting enough, I’ll have someone fact-check them and assemble a blog post. Fact-check the celebrities, that is. We won’t ask to see your transcripts.) Anyone with a truly bizarre major out there?

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Comments (43)

  1. I have a degree in Japanese Language and Literature, but I don’t know if anyone famous outside of academia has one of those. wah wahhhh.

    posted by David on 6-5-2009 at 3:05 pm

  2. 1) My last name is Jonas and I have a brother. So technically I am a Jonas Brother.

    posted by Jonas on 6-5-2009 at 3:21 pm

  3. Mia supposedly had the same major that I did, political science.

    Funny, I also played soccer and never felt that it helped my game any.

    posted by Christina on 6-5-2009 at 3:26 pm

  4. 1. I am the only one in the US with my married name but I share my maiden name with a honky-tonk singer.

    3. I was a history major as well, as were Theodore Roosevelt, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Martha Stewart, Michael Palin and Janeane Garofolo.

    posted by Mother Chat on 6-5-2009 at 3:31 pm

  5. I got my bachelors in Fine Arts. So did Joe Biden and Adam Sandler!

    posted by Kirsten Gronberg on 6-5-2009 at 3:37 pm

  6. 1) @Mother Chat – I am the only one in the US with my first and maiden name, but I share my first and married name with a country singer!

    posted by Renis on 6-5-2009 at 3:39 pm

  7. You could be J.J. English. Sorry if you’ve heard that one and hate it, it just sounds super cool and writerly.

    posted by Branford on 6-5-2009 at 3:48 pm

  8. I’ve got a nice double whammy. My name is Jordan Taylor, shared by one of the Hanson kids from Hanson, but a lot of people call me Chuck. Chuck Taylor. Ta-da!

    I’m also a seminary dropout, which puts me in good company. I can go the Martin Scorsese or Troy Duffy route and be a maker of stylish and violent films, or I can always go the murderous and powerful route of seminary dropout Josef Stalin.

    posted by Chuck on 6-5-2009 at 3:49 pm

  9. 2) My college roommate and I had the same major, so when job offers came at the end of senior year, we got the same job, from the same company, with the same salary. So we both took it and moved to Denver.

    3) I share the same major (electrical engineering) as Rowan Atkinson (Mr.Bean)

    posted by Tiffany on 6-5-2009 at 3:49 pm

  10. I share a name with a fellow in England who consults on medieval armour, weaponry, etc. for movies. Interestingly, my father shares a name with his father, who was a swordfight choreographer and who made the credits of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

    posted by Jon. on 6-5-2009 at 3:51 pm

  11. 3) I got my degree in French from UCF a few years ago. The only famous French major I know of is Ashley Judd (University of Kentucky). And Brooke Shields has a degree in French Lit from Princeton, that’s close enough.

    posted by Martha on 6-5-2009 at 3:52 pm

  12. 1) I’ve recently overtaken him in Google rankings, but a man that shares my name leads tours of the Daintree River in Australia. And, per Google, there appears to be only 3 of us world-wide.

    3) As an aeronautical engineer, I share my major with Neil Armstrong and other astronauts. Too bad I don’t have their brains or ambition.

    posted by Maceo on 6-5-2009 at 3:52 pm

  13. 3)As a chemical engineer, I share my major with actor Dolph Lundgren and Nobel Laureate Lars Onsager. Cindy Crawford was a chemcial engineering major but left school before getting a degree to be a model.

    posted by hound on 6-5-2009 at 4:02 pm

  14. My major was journalism, which was something I guessed many famous people would pick. And I was right. Click my name for a list of journalism and English majors.

    Some people include Connie Chung, Alan Alda and Mitt Romney.

    posted by Tracie on 6-5-2009 at 4:04 pm

  15. 1. There are at least five people in the US with my exact name. Two within two hundred miles. None of any notable relation.

    2. One of my jobs included washing eggs.

    3. I have yet to meet anyone with my particular combination of majors – Agricultural Education and Political Science

    posted by katie on 6-5-2009 at 4:09 pm

  16. Well, admittedly, he didn’t -graduate- from the school I went to, but Jason Mraz (the singer) went to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy for musical theatre. I learned then when one of my dance teachers informed me as such. I think it’s interesting.

    posted by Jason on 6-5-2009 at 4:28 pm

  17. At other schools, my major would be called something like Urban Studies. But at mine it was called Growth and Structure of Cities, which I think sounds much cooler!

    posted by Caroline on 6-5-2009 at 4:50 pm

  18. My first name is rare, Marty, and my last name is as well, Ely. So when you combine them, it becomes impossible to find anyone. But I did find one in Florida during a google search. Apparently, he is me but much better …he is a pilot and a premier golfer.

    posted by Marty on 6-5-2009 at 5:09 pm

  19. I share my maiden name with someone who is not famous (at least here), but more likely infamous. She was an 18 year old prostitute whose boyfriend murdered her when she would not do it with him because of a headache, and made fun of his *size*. Makes me feel nice and normal.

    posted by Rebecca on 6-5-2009 at 5:51 pm

  20. 1) I share my name with a famous actress of Yiddish theater from the early 1900s. When taking Yiddish last year we happened to be listening to a recording of hers, so you can expect that I was a bit surprised to see my name on it.

    3) I was an English major and (if I’m not mistaken) I share that with quite a few celebrities including Harrison Ford, Alan Alda, Conan O’Brien, Paul Simon, Martin Scorsese, etc.

    posted by Rebecca on 6-5-2009 at 5:51 pm

  21. I am starting a two year program in September. My major will be Paralegal Studies. I will also work full time and am helping raise a 4year old grandson. Oh, I’m 52 years old. How strange is all that?

    posted by gus on 6-5-2009 at 8:55 pm

  22. 1 – I’m the only person (according to Google, anyway) with my first and maiden name, and I’m also the only person with my first and married name. Guess I’m one of a kind ;0)

    2 – I wouldn’t call this a “career highlight,” but when I was a hostess at an Italian restaurant in high school, Emmanuel Lewis (TV’s “Webster”) came into the restaurant. Not realizing who he was, I actually gave him a kids’ menu! Of course, he was like 35 at the time. He was very gracious about it though – I guess it probably wasn’t the first time that had happened to him.

    3 – I actually majored in German and English. I’m sure plenty of famous people majored in one or the other, but I don’t know anyone who did both.

    posted by Lynley on 6-5-2009 at 9:12 pm

  23. A little tidbit about my first name. It’s an Indian first name, derived from Sanskrit. However, it’s also an adjective in English. Now here’s the kicker… They are almost opposites of each other (sorta)

    posted by HP on 6-5-2009 at 10:57 pm

  24. When I google my name, several of the listings are actually about my brother (I guess my last name is so strange that google just ignores the fact that our first names are totally different).

    Work highlights: I worked at blockbuster and one of my coworkers and I always closed on Sunday nights, so we decided to go see a movie one Sunday evening. By the time I stopped working there, almost every employee at our store and several people from a neighboring store were going to movies every other Sunday.

    My major is Communications. There are apparently a lot of big-deal people who also have said major, but I don’t know who they are.

    posted by fyiagcg on 6-6-2009 at 12:15 am

  25. My first name used to be rather rare. Apparently it was more popular in the 1930′s, but recently thanks to several celebrities, it is becoming popular again. John Travolta and Ben Stiller both have daughters named Ella.

    I began my college career as a business major but changed several time. I tried out Nursing and Biochemistry before I finally settled on Psychology. Here is a tip to all the potential Psych majors out there….. you can’t do ANYTHING with a psych degree unless you go to grad school. The 4 year pswychology degree really only qualifies you to read journal articles and sound like a snob at parties.

    posted by Ella on 6-6-2009 at 1:23 am

  26. 1) My name is Hannah Davis. I share it with an Australian Olympic bronze medalist (she kayaks!), an American model and a British filmmaker.

    2) My first job was at Universal Studios. They had an international student program, so I met a lot of really amazing people from all around the world, including China, Mexico, England and Macedonia. I still keep in touch with all of them through Facebook!

    3) I’m majoring in music… so I share it with the many, many famous musicians in the world.

    posted by hans on 6-6-2009 at 3:59 am

  27. I majored in accounting, so did John Grisham, Kenny G (the saxophinist), JP Morgan, and the guys who worked at Arthur Andersen (think Enron).

    posted by AG on 6-6-2009 at 9:55 am

  28. OK so my name is Norm McDonald and outside of my grandfather I never dreamed growing up I’d share the name with anyone, but now every time I had someone my credit card I get a “really? cool.” I swear there are people following me on Twitter who are very disappointed by the lack of sarcastic wise-cracks!

    I was also a Journalism Major at University of Missouri with an Advertising emphasis only 5 years or so behind the department’s famous drop-out, Brad Pitt. I heard countless stories from several professors who had had him in class and even tried to talk him out of running off the Hollywood. I even knew a girl who had turned him down when he asked her out.

    posted by Norm McDonald on 6-6-2009 at 12:20 pm

  29. 1.) Apparently, there is an individual who has “electronica infused with diverse, ethereal vocals” who shares her name with my first and married last name. She has an official website and everything. We look nothing alike.

    2.) I like to think I have many career highlights. Every person I help along their path in life is a highlight for me. The individuals who gained some hope and insight, to continue to try to exist, are not people I can reference on my resume, but I assure you they exist :)

    3.) I have a Master’s in Social Work . . . can’t think of any famous folks with that degree. My BA is in Psychology, a fairly more common degree. A google search provided the following names who share a major in psychology: Jerry Bruckheimer, Gloria Estefan, Hugh Hefner, Katherine Hepburn, Ted Bundy, Timothy Leary, Monica Lewinsky, and Jon Stewart. What an interesting group of individuals!

    posted by Lori on 6-6-2009 at 12:34 pm

  30. I share a name (Brian Jackson) with a famous jazz flautist and also with a guy who was arrested for telling people that he was Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger.

    I majored in Aerospace Enginneering, the only famous AE’s are astronauts.

    posted by Brian on 6-6-2009 at 1:21 pm

  31. my mother’s maiden name was “hoar.” i think that covers it. oh, and i NEVER use that as a security question, for obvious reasons…

    posted by mri on 6-6-2009 at 1:52 pm

  32. If you are going to share your major with a celebrity — go big. Mine (Geography) is shared with the heir to the throne of Britain, Prince William. I went on to be a professor; he is destined for a somewhat more prestigious position. At least there will be a king who knows where he is!

    posted by Gollum on 6-6-2009 at 9:54 pm

  33. It would be great if my name got me free food at Wendy’s. I frequently get the nickname “Founder” because I’m named Dave Thomas like 14,000 other USA residents. One is a famous actor (starred with Rick Moranis in StrangeBrew). Another is a singer with the group Take 6. I even joined a group on FaceBook called “People Named David Thomas”.

    posted by David Thomas on 6-7-2009 at 12:52 am

  34. 2. The biggest highlight for me was my last job in the US. Ever since studying Accounting in college, I wanted to go into international taxation. It was difficult to find a job in that for the first half of my career, but I finally stumbled upon an international tax position when living in Maryland. Best job of my life – and I worked for and with fantastic people.

    A couple years ago, I decided to move to New Zealand after taking a side holiday during a business trip to Singapore. To do that, I needed a job! After applying for a couple, and landing an interview, I just needed a reference. They specifically wanted to talk to my current boss (at that time). I finally had to tell her about my plans to move across the world. She gave me an excellent reference, which got me the job out here, which qualfied me and my husband for immediate permanent residency visas.

    I miss that job, and my former boss almost every day. I will always be grateful for her gift of an excellent reference!

    posted by dawn on 6-7-2009 at 3:22 am

  35. I actually share my major with Ray Romano….kinda. He was supposed to study accounting in Queens.

    posted by emily p on 6-7-2009 at 6:36 pm

  36. Chuck-Tom Cruise flunked out of Seminary. No, he was expelled.

    posted by Sara in AL on 6-7-2009 at 6:50 pm

  37. 1) Sadly my name is shared with a Playmate of the year; Sara(h) Underwood.

    3) Ted Bundy, Jon Stewart, and Abbie Hoffman. Psych majors are always diverse it seems.

    posted by Sarah on 6-7-2009 at 7:39 pm

  38. I am an English major; they say the astronaut Sally Ride has a B.A. in English.
    I will minor in Art History. The model Sasha Pivovarova actually majored in Art History. And they say models aren’t educated.

    posted by Monica on 6-7-2009 at 9:13 pm

  39. I share my first name with a surprising number of *ahem* adult movie stars, it would seem ‘Tiana’ is quite popular in that circle. I always liked that my name (including my surname) is very unique and no one else has my full name (that I know of). However, I understand that a new Disney animated movie coming out this year has a Princess Tiana – soon everyone will have or know a kid called Tiana… well it was fun being on the unique end of the name scale while it lasted…

    posted by dangermouse on 6-7-2009 at 9:29 pm

  40. 2. I had a major role in reducing the average response time of Fire, Police, and EMS in a few cities.

    posted by PartiallyDeflected on 6-8-2009 at 12:39 am

  41. 1) I share my name with a web-savvy photographer and a developer for a major Linux brand.

    Needless to say, whenever a new email or social networking service opens up, I do *not* get to register under my own name.

    posted by grover on 6-8-2009 at 4:09 am

  42. Philosophy major in good company with Bruce Lee, Alex Trebeck, Steve Martin, Harrison Ford, and Thomas Jefferson.

    posted by rob on 6-8-2009 at 10:18 am

  43. Not so much myself, but my younger brother is Michael Collins, the Apollo 11 astronaut. BTW, my brother had his 11th birthday the day man walked on the moon, 7/11/69.

    posted by Steve C on 6-8-2009 at 11:06 am

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