Ever wonder what happens to your classmates after high school? Maybe they become teachers, lawyers, policemen… or maybe even a comedian or a world famous actor.

Jerry Seinfeld and Alec Baldwin are two former Massapequa students who have thrived in the media. But what were they like in high school? Just ask Arnie Herman, Alec Baldwin’s dad’s best friend and former teacher of Seinfeld. Herman is a retired teacher from Massapequa and is currently the Chess Team coach.

According to Herman, Alec Baldwin was a football star and also the class president for two years. He was an outgoing, humorous, and intelligent boy who was interested in politics. He didn’t play football his senior year, though. Instead, he joined the school play – an experience that changed his life forever. Even though he wasn’t the best actor in his class, he practiced and eventually pursued a career in acting. Given that he just won his sixth consecutive Screen Actors Guild award for his work on 30 Rock, it’s clear that his hard work has paid off.

The Baldwins continue to support MHS and multiple members from the family have made it to the Massapequa Hall of Fame. Also, the  Baldwin Auditorium was named after Alec Baldwin’s dad, Alexander Rae Baldwin, who was a well-known social studies teacher in the high school.

Another celebrity also walked the halls of the high school– Jerry Seinfeld, world-renowned comedian and star of his eponymous show, Seinfeld. Mr. Herman, his former contemporary issues teacher, stated that he was a nice, smart boy. He was very quiet and rarely spoke in class. Of course, he was also a talented writer, unsurprising given his proven talent with his comedic work. However, Mr. Herman thought he would grow up to be a doctor or a lawyer – clearly, he was mistaken.

Who would have thought that a high school play would make Alec Baldwin take an interest in acting? How ironic is it that the “quiet kid” in class grew up to be a comedian on his own show? It may not be noticeable now, but there is plenty of talent roaming the halls of MHS on a daily basis.

Did you Know?

– Alec Baldwin graduated Berner high school in 1976

– He  made his Broadway debut in 1988

– Baldwin’s first major acting role was as Billy Aldrich on the daytime soap opera The Doctors from 1980 to 1982

-Seinfield graduated Massapequa high school in 1972

-Seinfeld developed an interest in stand-up comedy after brief stints in college productions

-Attended Queens College and graduated in 1976