Last Updated on September 8, 2025 by Matt Staff
Yearbook photos, by their very nature, can capture moments in time, including awkward smiles, hopeful eyes, and glimpses of the future. In the 1960s, when rock´n´roll, civil rights, and counterculture were reshaping the world, even future icons looked just like everyone else in their school portraits. These celebrity yearbook photos from that era show that legends start as teenagers, too.
1. Elvis Presley
A polished pompadour and a shy grin, before global stardom, Elvis´s yearbook photo exuded small-town charm.
2. Aretha Franklin
Long before becoming the queen of soul, Franklin´s high school portrait radiated poise and quiet confidence.
3. Paul McCartney
Liverpool´s own looked boyish and studious in his early-´60s yearbook image, hinting at the artistry to come.
4. Diana Ross
Her smile in her Detroit high school portrait foreshadowed the magnetic stage presence she´d later bring to The Supremes.
5. Jimi Hendrix
Before the flamboyant outfits and electric solos, Hendrix´s school photo showed a thoughtful teen with an easygoing style.
6. Cher
Sporting a classic long hair and makeup, Cher’s look was pure 60s cool.
7. Mick Jagger
His unmistakable features were already evident; the Rolling Stones frontman looked sharp yet reserved.
8. Barbra Streisand
Even in black-and-white, her signature profile stood out. Streisand´s yearbook photo hints at her future star power.
9. Janis Joplin
The prodigy´s school portrait showed a beaming, bespectacled teen who was already making waves in Motown.
10. Robert Redford
All-American good looks and a confident gaze, Redford´s photo could´ve been straight out of a movie ad.
11. Twiggy
Before becoming the face of 1960s fashion, her school photo captured a fresh, natural look.
12. George Harrison
Another Beatles member looking disarmingly normal in his Liverpool yearbook photo.
13. Tina Turner
Her radiant smile and bold presence were unmistakable even as a young student.
14. Jim Morrison
The Doors´ future frontman appeared as a studious, clean-cut teen, hinting at none of his later rock mystique.
15. Raquel Welch
A poised brunette with classic features, Welch´s photo radiated movie-star potential.
16. Goldie Hawn
Her bubbly energy peeked through in a playful smile that foreshadowed her 60s look.
17. David Bowie
Back when he was still David Jones, Bowie´s school portrait showed a thoughtful teen experimenting with style.
18. Marvin Gaye
Suave even in high school, Gaye´s portrait reflected the soulfulness that would define his music.
19. Jane Fonda
Elegant and self-assured, Fonda´s yearbook shot looked like it belonged in a fashion magazine.
20. Keith Richards
Disheveled hair and a mischievous smirk, Richards already had a rock-star glint in his eyes.
21. Linda Ronstadt
Her soft smile and natural look captured the folk-inspired style of the era.
22. Leonard Nimoy
Before becoming Spock, Nimoy´s portrait showed a serious young man with artistic ambitions.
23. Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay)
Athletic, confident, and smiling, Ali´s high school photo perfectly captured a young man destined to shake up sports and culture.
24. Joan Baez
The folk singer´s yearbook portrait shows a serene, studious teen with eyes that would captivate an audience.
25. Sidney Poitier
Poitier´s high school photo captures his dignified presence even as a young man.
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Yearbook portraits have a way of humanizing legends. These snapshots remind us that the icons who shaped music, film, sports, and fashion in the 60s once stood in line for school pictures just like everyone else. If you loved this content, check out 19 Inventive Insults and Comebacks That Left Us Impressed, or 28 Clever Comebacks We Wish We Had Thought Of.
