#5: College Dropout

In 1954, Beatty enrolled at Northwestern University, briefly studying liberal arts. His decision to attend college was partly due to family expectations, but he quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit. After only a year, he dropped out, feeling unfulfilled by academia.

Instead, he decided to move to New York and pursue acting full-time. This decision was risky, as he had no formal acting experience beyond high school theater. However, his ambition drove him forward, leading him to the Stella Adler Studio, one of the most respected acting schools of the time.