No amount of fame or fortune can take away the fact that every adult was once a teenager. And, as we’re all well aware, teen years are some seriously awkward years—yes, even for celebrities. Before the makeup artists and suave wardrobes, celebs were giant dorks, just like the rest of us.
Need proof? Here are 30 teen photos celebrities were brave enough to share with the world. They range from mildly awkward to painfully embarrassing to completely unrecognizable. So read on for some serious laughs.
1 Abbi Jacobson
Looks like even Broad City star Abbi Jacobson fell prey to the unfortunate crushed velvet fad happening in the ’90s. The mantle-showcasing pose is pretty awkward too.
2 John Mulaney
When you’re a regular teen, you don’t get to request post-production services on your photos. This eyes-closed homecoming photo of John Mulaney is pretty funny.
3 Kaitlin Olsen
“You take the thinnest layer of hair possible, and you curl it as though the most delicate sausage in the world were laying across your forehead.” — a very good description of her hairdo by It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Kaitlin Olson.
4 Aidy Bryant
There was just something about picture day that made everyone think a striped turtleneck seemed like a good choice. Hindsight is 20/20.
5 Eric McCormack
Before Eric McCormack was Will on Will and Grace, with hair like that, he could’ve done part time work as a stand-in for Chachi.
6 Ryan Seacrest
It’s hard to believe this is Ryan Seacrest. But he swears it is. And why would anyone make that up?
7 John Oliver
If he’s comfortable sharing this photo, John Oliver probably doesn’t need 70 Genius Tricks to Boost Your Confidence.
8 Lena Headey
Game of Thrones star Lena Headey’s casual horseback attire was probably very cool at the time, but “it’s okay to wear socks with sandals” should be on the list of 25 Life Lessons You Learned as a Kid That Are Wildly Outdated Today.
9 Alison Brie
Compare this pic of Alison Brie as a headgear-toting teen to Alison Brie today, and you might start to believe anything is possible.
10 Chelsea Peretti
This picture of Chelsea Peretti perfectly encapsulates the face any teen would make if their parents insisted on photographing them in this ensemble.
11 Jake Tapper
Jake Tapper, on the other hand, has apparently been dressing the part of CNN anchor since he was a child. Good for him.
12 Clark Gregg
As a teen, Clark Gregg somehow cracked the code on how to straddle the line between totally suave and totally embarrassing. Maybe it’s the curtain?
13 Nick Kroll
Even at a young age, Nick Kroll was dressing like a comedian. Unfortunately, comedians back then wore shiny double-breasted suit jackets and polka dot ties.
14 Andrew Rannells
Surprisingly, Andrew Rannells’s hair style hasn’t changed that much since he was a schoolkid. It just looks a lot better now.
15 Brandon Flynn
Hopefully 13 Reasons Why star Brandon Flynn checked with his old friend before he shared this picture on Instagram.
16 Peter Dinklage
Peter Dinklage managed to make his awkward years look cool, despite having a mullet. A feat not many can pull off.
17 Reese Witherspoon
This is about as awkward as Reese Witherspoon gets. Must be nice!
18 Conan O’Brien
“This photo was taken the day I replaced David Letterman,” according to a not-salty-at-all Conan O’Brien.
19 Maya Rudolph
As a child, Maya Rudolph understood the importance of good accessories and good hair when you’re being photographed from the neck up.
20 Martin Short
“This was during a phase when jazzercize was not so important,” according to Martin Short.
21 Andy Cohen
Andy Cohen’s come a long way since this yearbook photo was taken. Ditching the glasses was probably an important first step.
22 Jimmy Kimmel
If the license plate in this photo is any indication, Jimmy Kimmel has had his eye set on a late night gig since he was just a boy in short shorts.
23 Ruby Rose
Before playing tough gals for a living, Ruby Rose was apparently a tough looking gal in real life.
24 Topher Grace
It’s hard to believe this pic was taken just six years before That ’70s Show went on the air. A little bit of time can make a lot of difference when it comes to being an awkward adolescent.
25 Sarah Silverman
Young Sarah Silverman was too busy playing ball to make time for any nonsense.
26 Josh Gad
This middle school-era picture of Josh Gad really showcases the dangers of putting on a novelty hat at a party.
27 Melissa Rauch
Looks like The Big Bang Theory star Melissa Rauch was another hapless teen who couldn’t resist the temptation of curling iron abuse.
28 Patton Oswalt
Apparently Patton Oswalt believes “all my adolescent pics are 100% awesome.” If this is any indicator, he’s not wrong.
29 Henry Winkler
Loosened tie, ice cream dangling from his mouth—from the looks of it, Henry Winkler started rehearsing for his role as the Fonz at a very young age.
30 Stephen Colbert
“Nick Kroll asked me to post a pic of my awkward stage, but I never had one. So here’s me lookin’ cool!”
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