Most memorable celebrity commencement speeches

Steve Jobs at Stanford, 2005 - Six years before his death, the co-founder of Apple delivered an incredible speech that touched on his own pivotal experiences, including his struggle with cancer. He said, "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose."

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Oprah Winfrey at Harvard, 2013 -

The national treasure spoke to Harvard's graduating class about the inevitability of doubt and wrong turns, but she added, "There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction."

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J.K. Rowling at Harvard, 2008 - The world-famous author behind the 'Harry Potter' franchise spoke about her own immense failure before achieving even greater success in a way that people have yet to forget. She famously said, "It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default."

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Denzel Washington at University of Pennsylvania, 2011 - The immensely talented actor encouraged the graduates to "fall forward" by reminding them that no one remembers Thomas Edison's 1,000 failed experiments because his 1,001st experiment was the light bulb.

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Robert De Niro at Tisch School of the Arts, 2015 - The legendary actor's speech began, "Tisch graduates you made it, and you're f—ed," before proceeding to applaud the graduates for their bravery in following their passion. He assured them that as long as they give their best, everything will be okay.

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Jim Carrey at Maharishi University of Management, 2014 - The Canadian actor's viral speech advocated for love over fear as a guiding principle, emphasizing that "The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is."

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Toni Morrison at Wellesley College, 2004 - The celebrated author urged graduates to use their imaginations to create a world in which humans didn't need wealth, domination, fear, or hatred, adding, "You are your own stories and therefore free to imagine and experience what it means to be human."

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Amy Poehler at Harvard, 2011 - The brilliant actress, comedian, producer, writer, and director can do it all, but she revealed to the graduating class that she only succeeded through collaboration. The biggest lesson she wanted to pass on was: "You can't do it alone. As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration."

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Mindy Kaling at Harvard, 2014 - The actress was her lovable and hilarious self in her commencement speech, where she praised the education system in America in one moment, and in the next praised Harvard for having hosted Elle Woods, "from the trenchant documentary 'Legally Blonde.' It's a very moving film."

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Barack Obama at Howard University, 2016 - The former President of the United States told Howard University grads not to shut out the opinions of people who don't share the same beliefs, advising instead to "Let them talk. If you don't, you just make them a victim, and then they can avoid accountability."

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Meryl Streep at Barnard College, 2010 - The iconic actress could probably have said anything and the crowd would have cheered, but she still blasted them away with her wise words: "This is your time and it feels normal to you but really there is no normal. There's only change, and resistance to it and then more change."

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Kerry Washington at George Washington University, 2013 - The 'Scandal' actress and George Washington alum spoke on the importance of writing your own story, and she warned, "Don't follow the path prescribed from someone else. Don't give into fear, continue to define your unique path.”

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Will Ferrell at University of Southern California, 2017 - The actor's speech had his audience doubled over in laughter, however he balanced humor with wisdom admirably. He advised them, "Enjoy the process of your search without succumbing to the pressure of the result."

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Sheryl Sandberg at Berkeley, 2016 - The Facebook COO talked about love, life, and loss in her emotionally moving speech which empowered the female graduates and encouraged them to be resilient. She said, "I learned that when life sucks you under, you can kick against the bottom, find the surface and breathe again."

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Ellen DeGeneres at Tulane, 2009 - The television host predictably made her audience laugh with her signature dry humor, but she also reflected somberly on her own early struggles, admitting, "It was so important for me to lose everything because I found out what the most important thing is, [it] is to be true to yourself."

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David Byrne at Columbia University, 2013 - The founding member and lead singer of the American band Talking Heads championed the arts in his speech, and he determined success to be a combination of living a creative and happy life.

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Stephen Colbert at Northwestern University, 2011 - The television host and comedian encouraged people to welcome new dreams, explaining, "If everybody followed their first dreams in life, the world would be ruled by cowboys and princesses."

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Stephen Colbert at Knox College, 2006 - He's had practice! His two pieces of advice to the Knox College graduates were as follows: "First, being pre-approved for a credit card does not mean you have to apply for it. And lastly, the best career advice I can give you is to get your own TV show. It pays well, the hours are good, and you are famous. And eventually some very nice people will give you a doctorate in fine arts for doing jack squat."

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Maya Rudolph at Tulane, 2015 - The brilliant actress delivered a sharp and poignant speech, advising the graduating class: "Hold on to your old friends. Kiss your Mama. Admit what your dreams are. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t know what you’re gonna do tomorrow. But work hard and don’t be lazy. And put away your damn phone once in a while."

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Steven Spielberg at Harvard University, 2016 - The billionaire director, producer, and screenwriter championed education in his speech, explaining that he dropped out of college in his sophomore year but went back decades later because the greater worldview that education gives you is so incredibly essential.

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Zadie Smith at The New School, 2014 - The British author behind acclaimed novels 'Swing Time' and 'White Teeth' encouraged her audience to be open and grateful, as well as to be wary of those endorsing privacy and exclusivity: "They are trying to convince you that hell is other people. Don't believe it. We are far more frequently each other's shelter and correction, the antidote to solipsism, and so many windows on this world."

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George Saunders at Syracuse University, 2013 - The American author spurred the Syracuse graduating class on by admitting, "What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness. Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded… Sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly."

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Jon Stewart at The College of William and Mary, 2004 - The comedian, director, actor, and former host of 'The Daily Show' delivered a very down-to-earth speech, and one of the most poignant moments was when he said, "So how do you know what is the right path to choose to get the result that you desire? The honest answer is this: You won't."

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Elizabeth Warren at Suffolk University, 2016 - The Senator from Massachusetts rallied the new graduates to "Fight for the job you want, fight for the people who mean the most to you and fight for the kind of world you want to live in...if you fight for what you believe in, I can promise that you will live a life that is rich with meaning."

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Neil Gaiman at University of the Arts, 2012 - The English author behind the novel 'Coraline' had one clear message for the graduates: "Husband runs off with a politician? Make good art. Leg crushed and then eaten by mutated boa constrictor? Make good art. IRS on your trail? Make good art. Cat exploded? Make good art."

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Conan O’Brien at Dartmouth, 2011 - The television host addressed the "graduates, faculty, parents, relatives, undergraduates, and old people that just come to these things" and encouraged the graduates to do as many silly, irrational, and unconventional things as possible.

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Bill Gates at Harvard University, 2007 - The second richest man in the world delivered a riveting speech that encouraged the new graduates to take on complex issues of inequity. He said, "Don't let complexity stop you. Be activists. Take on the big inequities. It will be one of the great experiences of your lives."

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Jane Lynch at Smith College, 2012 - The actress spoke eloquently and realistically to the graduates about rolling with the punches. She told them, "Life is just one big improvisation."

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David Foster Wallace at Kenyon College, 2005 - The late American writer delivered an unconventional commencement speech, which he concluded by saying, "The capital 'T' truth is about life BEFORE death. It is about the real value of a real education, which has almost nothing to do with knowledge, and everything to do with simple awareness; awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, all the time."

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Lisa Kudrow at Vassar College, 2010 -

Best-known as Phoebe Buffay, the actress and Vassar alum shed light on her pre-'Friends' failures and obstacles to emphasize her point that "failure" isn't always what it seems.

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Most memorable celebrity commencement speeches

Barack Obama addressed the Coronavirus Classes of 2020

18/05/20 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY School

For many, graduation is a critical moment marking the beginning of an entirely new phase of life, not to mention an opportunity for some well-deserved celebration. Unfortunately, the graduating classes of 2020 have had the end of their studies and the beginning of their futures stunted by the effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic, and the transition has left them feeling lost.

Enter: former US President Barack Obama, honoring the collegiate tradition of commencement speeches to lift their spirits. He virtually addressed all graduating classes and delivered both encouragement and large doses of reality, including subtly criticizing the current government by adding, "All those adults that you used to think were in charge and knew what they were doing? It turns out that they don’t have all the answers. A lot of them aren’t even asking the right questions."

Check out this gallery to see which celebrities offered their greatest advice in the most entertaining commencement speeches that won't soon be forgotten.