These ‘Dumb’ Celebrities Are Actually Really Smart

Conan O’Brien Is a Harvard Grad

Photo by NBC

Wisecracking late-night host Conan O’Brien hardly seems stupid, but it’s still rare for a talk show host to be as intelligent as he is. He majored in history and literature at none other than Harvard University, but even back then his knack for comedy prevailed.

His classmates dubbed him the “pre-eminent jokester” in 1985, and he was the president of a semi-secret social organization called Harvard Lampoon, which published a humor magazine. His 72-page thesis studied William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and continues to speak fondly of his college days.