While some people spend years poring over dusty books and slow computers trying to complete their doctoral dissertations, others simply have a degree given to them. Honorary degrees are often handed out to people who have made important contributions to a field, but sometimes they end up in the hands of celebrities for vague reasons. More than likely, the university wants the publicity that comes with giving a doctorate to someone famous. Whether they deserved the degree or not, here are 9 people you’d be surprised to know have honorary doctorates.
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Tim Allen
We all know Tim Allen as Tim "The Toolman" Taylor in Home Improvement and as the voice of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story, but most of us wouldn’t imagine that he holds a doctorate of fine arts from Western Michigan University. He finished an undergraduate degree at WMU in 1976, and was given an honorary degree in 1998. Maybe Allen’s degree should’ve been in fortune-telling, because in 1995, an episode of Home Improvement portrayed his character receiving an honorary degree from Allen’s alma mater. Just three years later it wasn’t fiction anymore. -
Kim Cattrall
The star who plays the promiscuous Sex and the City character isn’t originally from New York. She was born in Liverpool, England before moving to Canada a few months later and eventually to the U.S. Her home city honored her in 2010 with a degree from John Moores University for her contribution to the arts. She brought her family with her to the ceremony and thanked them from the lectern. She was even fully covered in traditional academic regalia — a far cry from her trademark character’s skin-baring outfits. -
Bob Barker
When this recipient was called to the stage, the announcer should’ve shouted, "Bob Barker, come on down!" In 2007, Barker received an honorary degree from his alma mater, Drury University, where he had earned a degree in economics in 1947 despite an interruption by his service in World War II. A year after receiving his Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Barker gave Drury a $1 million gift for a fund to promote the study of animal rights, and the school named a campus street after the long-time Price Is Right host. -
Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe since 1980, still holds a handful of honorary degrees, but he’s had at least three revoked, along with some other awards. Since 2000, Mugabe’s government has violently seized land and the country’s economy has suffered greatly. After a contested 2008 election, Mugabe retained power even though his party lost. Because of this, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Massachusetts, and Michigan State University revoked the degrees they had given him in the ’80s and early ’90s due to human rights abuse. -
Dolly Parton
When you think of Dolly Parton, you’re more likely to think of double Ds than a Ph.D. But the platinum blonde has held an honorary doctorate of humane and musical letters since 2009 when she accepted the degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She earned the degree from her home state for her legendary career and her charitable works, such as advocating for education through her Imagination Library program and other initiatives. She has also given more than 20 million books to U.S. schools and often provides funds for schools to continue operating when their budgets are low. -
Jack Nicholson
Earlier this year, Brown University awarded Jack Nicholson a Doctor of Fine Arts degree. The reason was that the school considers him "the most skilled actor of our lifetime," and wanted to honor his ability to bring characters to life and make us laugh and cry at the same time. At a ceremony where scientists, poets, and journalists were also honored, it seems like Nicholson may have been brought in to provide the comic relief, which he did when he told the audience that he dabbles in particle research. -
Mike Tyson
Notorious boxer Mike Tyson was awarded a doctorate in humane letters in 1989 from Central State University in Ohio. The school’s president said he deserved the degree because of his influence on young people through his promotion of civic causes and education. As he received the award, he said to the audience, "I don’t know what kind of doctor I am but watching all these beautiful sisters here, I’m debating whether I should be a gynecologist." Since receiving the degree, he has famously bitten off a piece of another boxer’s ear and was convicted of rape. Maybe he thought since he’s a doctor now, any part of the anatomy is fair game. -
William Shatner
From spaceship captain to honorary doctor, William Shatner has certainly had a successful life. Born in Montreal, Shatner attended the city’s McGill University for his undergraduate degree and went back earlier this year to claim his honorary doctorate of letters. Besides playing Captain Kirk on Star Trek, Shatner is famous for his roles on Boston Legal, T.J. Hooker, and the Priceline commercials. Surprising to some, Shatner said he’s actually been offered other honorary degrees, but has turned them down until this special one from his alma mater. -
Kermit the Frog
Many people are green with envy that they don’t have their own honorary doctorates since Muppet favorite Kermit the Frog received one from Southampton College in 1996. The degree is in amphibious letters, probably the only one of its kind. The school says Kermit earned the degree through his advocacy for environmental responsibility, as seen in things like his theme song, "It’s Not Easy Being Green," which is encouraging to environmentalists. The Muppet has also spread positive messages through public service announcements and Sesame Street, and has proven that you can do anything if you set your mind to it, even if you’re a frog.
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