Where Did Danny Masterson Go To College?

Danny Masterson is an American actor and DJ who is best known for his role as Steven Hyde on the Fox sitcom That ’70s Show. Masterson has had a successful acting career, but before he made it big in Hollywood, he was a college student like many young adults. So where exactly did Danny Masterson go to college?

Masterson’s Early Life and Career

Danny Masterson was born on March 13, 1976 in Long Island, New York. When he was young, his family moved to East Rockaway, New York. As a child, Masterson became interested in acting and appeared in theater productions.

In the early 1990s, a teenage Masterson started booking small parts in television shows and films. His first major role was as a guest star on the sitcom Cybill in 1995. The following year, he landed the part of Steven Hyde on That ’70s Show.

The popular comedy series ran for eight seasons from 1998 to 2006. Masterson’s portrayal of Hyde earned him a Young Artist Award nomination in 2000.

Attending New York University

Prior to being cast on That ’70s Show, 18-year-old Masterson attended New York University in New York City for one semester in 1995. NYU is a prestigious private university that offers degrees in liberal arts, business, education, engineering, law, and more. The school has a highly competitive admissions process, accepting only around 13% of applicants.

Masterson studied at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Tisch is known for its performing arts programs in areas like film, television, photography, drama, and dance. The arts school is located at 721 Broadway in Manhattan. It’s possible Masterson took general education courses or introductory classes in television and film.

However, Masterson only completed one semester at NYU before leaving college to pursue acting full-time. Once he was cast as a series regular on That ’70s Show, he put his education on hold. The opportunity proved to be the right choice, as the show became a major hit and launched Masterson’s career.

Focusing on Acting, Not Academics

Although Masterson attended the prestigious NYU briefly, he ultimately chose to leave higher education behind to focus on his blossoming acting career. In a 2001 interview with NYU Local, Masterson explained why he didn’t continue with college:

“I was there for one semester and then I got my first pilot. I tried to juggle working and going to school and my grades were awful. I told my parents that some people go to college to find out what they want to do with their lives. I already know what I want to do with my life. They understood.”

Rather than staying in school, Masterson moved to Los Angeles and committed himself fully to auditioning, taking acting classes, and booking jobs. Once he started on That ’70s Show just a couple years later, it confirmed he had made the right decision.

For Masterson, getting real on-the-job experience proved more valuable than earning a college degree. However, higher education isn’t for everyone, and Masterson found success by following his own path.

Other Actors Who Didn’t Finish College

Dropping out of college to pursue acting is certainly risky, but it’s not uncommon among those who make it big in Hollywood. Plenty of famous stars got their start by leaving academia early.

Some other actors who didn’t finish their degrees include:

• Brad Pitt dropped out of the University of Missouri 2 weeks before graduation.
• Matthew McConaughey left the University of Texas at Austin one year short of a diploma.
• Jennifer Aniston ditched her studies at New York’s School of Performing Arts after only one year.
• Ryan Gosling quit high school in Ontario, Canada to focus fully on acting.

Of course, not finishing college worked out well for these A-listers. Had their acting careers not taken off, however, dropping out could have left them without many options. The gamble paid off, but it doesn’t work out that way for everyone.

What Degrees Did Masterson’s Co-Stars Earn?

While Masterson never earned a college degree, some of his co-stars on That ’70s Show approached higher education differently. Two of the show’s lead actresses ended up graduating from esteemed universities:

Laura Prepon (who played Donna Pinciotti) – She attended the Total Theatre Lab program at Northwestern University from 1995-1999 and earned a degree in theater. Northwestern is considered one of the top drama schools in the country.

Mila Kunis (who played Jackie Burkhart) – She briefly attended UCLA and Loyola Marymount University in the 1990s before leaving to pursue acting. However, in 2020 at age 36, Kunis later revealed she had quietly finished her bachelor’s degree from LMU.

That ’70s Show also featured stars like Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher who, like Masterson, didn’t complete college. Grace was enrolled at the University of Southern California when he landed the lead role of Eric Forman and left school. Kutcher had attended the University of Iowa for just one semester before heading off to become a model.

So among the young cast of the sitcom, there was a mix of college graduates and those who never finished their studies. For the actors who achieved success early on, Masterson included, getting real-world experience proved more beneficial than earning a degree.

Masterson’s Other Pursuits and Passions

In addition to acting, Masterson has other creative passions he has pursued over the years. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when That ’70s Show was still on the air, Masterson developed an interest in DJing. He even started moonlighting as a DJ at Los Angeles hot spots under the name DJ Mom Jeans.

Masterson also co-founded a music label called Bijou Records in 1999. The indie label released music in underground genres like electronic, reggae, rock, and hip-hop. Through Bijou Records, Masterson produced an album for the rock band Deadbeat Darling in 2006.

More recently, Masterson has even explored his love of food by hosting a cooking show. In 2016, he started starring in The Reserve, a YouTube series focused on gourmet dining and cocktails. Masterson invited chef friends over to cook meals while also mixing drinks.

So even without a college degree, Masterson has managed to enjoy creative work as both an actor and a DJ, start his own record label, and produce a cooking show. He certainly hasn’t let his lack of a diploma hold him back.

Sexual Assault Allegations and Firing

In 2017, Masterson was fired from the Netflix comedy The Ranch amid allegations of sexual assault from multiple women. The accusations dated back to the early 2000s, with four women claiming Masterson had violently raped them.

Masterson denied all the allegations and was never charged with any crimes. However, the controversy still led to Netflix severing ties with the actor. After the firing, Masterson stated:

“I am obviously very disappointed in Netflix’s decision to write my character off of The Ranch. From day one, I have denied the outrageous allegations against me. Law enforcement investigated these claims more than 15 years ago and determined them to be without merit.”

Nonetheless, Masterson was written out of the show’s third season, spelling a major career setback for the actor. The whole situation represents a stark contrast from his early days playing the wise-cracking Hyde on That ’70s Show.

Since the allegations surfaced, Masterson has maintained a low profile and has not appeared in any new acting roles. At this time, it’s unclear if he will make an acting comeback or if the accusations have effectively ended his Hollywood career.

Conclusion: A College Dropout Finds Early Fame

In summary, while Danny Masterson spent a brief semester at New York University in 1995, he ultimately dropped out to focus on acting. The decision paid off quickly when he landed the career-making role of Steven Hyde on That ’70s Show soon after.

Rather than continue his studies, Masterson moved to L.A. and committed himself fully to television work. His sitcom part didn’t require a college degree and brought him major fame and success in his early 20s.

Masterson followed an unconventional path, but it worked out well for him – at least for a time. However, later sexual assault allegations seriously damaged his reputation and led to him being fired from a Netflix series.

Still, Masterson proved that for some, skipping college to pursue a dream can be rewarding, even if short-lived. While he didn’t earn a degree, Masterson made a name for himself in Hollywood thanks to raw talent and lucky breaks. For the actor, seizing early opportunities was a better choice than staying in school. But of course, his route isn’t the path for everyone.

FAQs about Danny Masterson’s Education

What university did Danny Masterson attend?

Danny Masterson attended New York University (NYU) for one semester in 1995. He was enrolled in the Tisch School of the Arts program but left college after booking his first major acting role.

How long was Masterson at NYU?

Masterson only completed one semester at NYU before leaving to focus on his blossoming acting career.

Where is NYU located?

New York University is a private college located primarily in Greenwich Village in downtown Manhattan, NYC. The Tisch School of the Arts, where Masterson studied, is on 721 Broadway.

Does Masterson have a college degree?

No, Danny Masterson does not have a college degree. He left NYU after one semester to pursue acting full time.

Did any That ’70s Show actors graduate college?

Yes, Laura Prepon and Mila Kunis both eventually earned bachelor’s degrees from their universities. Prepon graduated from Northwestern and Kunis discreetly finished her degree from Loyola Marymount years after acting on That ’70s Show.

Why didn’t Masterson finish school?

Masterson said he left NYU because once he got his first major acting job, it became too difficult to balance both work and school. His grades suffered, so he dropped out to focus solely on advancing his career.

Was Masterson successful without a degree?

Yes, Masterson found huge success as an actor without finishing college. He starred on That ’70s Show for eight seasons and did DJ work and record label management on the side. However, sexual assault allegations later severely damaged his reputation and career.

Did Masterson go to college before or after That ’70s Show?

Masterson attended one semester at NYU in 1995, which was prior to being cast on That ’70s Show. The show premiered in 1998, at which point he had stopped going to college.

So in summary, while Masterson spent a brief time enrolled in a prestigious program, he ultimately chose to drop out of college to fully pursue acting. And for a period, that path led to major Hollywood success.