Celebrity Commencement Speakers

Seasoned academics? Nah. Nobel laureates? Who needs 'em?! The best college commencement speakers this year have been good old fashioned celebrities, who clearly have so much to teach us. Click through to see a gallery of our favorite advice-doling, gown-wearing stars.

Consummate intellectual Jimmy Fallon looks somewhat puzzled by a diploma at St. Rose College commencement in Saratoga, N.Y.

Ellen DeGeneres joked with graduates at Tulane University, "When I was asked to make the commencement speech, I immediately said yes. Then I went to look up what 'commencement' meant."

President Barack Obama pulled double duty commencement gigs, speaking at both Notre Dame and Arizona State University. Strangely enough, a performance from Alice Cooper followed his speech at ASU. No word on whether the two plan to tour together.

We wonder if the red staters knew that Stephen Colbert's ardent conservatism is just a gag when they booked him to speak at the McCain-voting University of South Carolina.

Oprah Winfrey spoke at Duke University's commencement. Graduates became displeased when they found out they wouldn't get any free swag (except a crummy diploma) just for being in the audience.

Recent graduate James Franco is set to advise graduates at his alma mater, UCLA, on how to balance smarts and dashing handsomeness.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, pictured here at New York University commencement at Yankee stadium, did triple academic duty by also speaking at Barnard and Yale.

Steven Spielberg speaks to future Raiders of the Lost Economy at Boston University.

Mentor extraordinaire Tim Gunn spoke to the graduating class at his alma mater, the Corcoran College of Art in Washington, D.C. We're not sure what was in his speech, but he probably looked over his glasses approvingly at the graduates while giving it.

Even though she spoke to a captive audience at the University of Tennessee, Dolly Parton refused to be photographed in some silly hat that would smush down the signature spikiness of her hairdo.

Laura Linney shares her unfathomable awesomeness with a crowd of graduates at her alma mater, Juilliard.

Geena Davis spoke before the graduating class of Bates College in Maine. Apparently Michael Keaton was busy so they went with their second favorite "Beetle Juice" star.

Michelle Obama spoke at the first-ever commencement at newbie college University of California, Merced, after receiving thousands of hand-written love letters and valentines from students. It pays to be a foxy first lady, doesn't it?

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger imparts his infinite wisdom and muscle mass upon a crowd at the University of Southern California.