See a young Cameron Diaz in her high school yearbook photos and get to know the ‘The Mask’ and ‘There’s Something About Mary’ actress better.
Full Name: Cameron Michelle Diaz
Birthdate: August 30, 1972 (Age 53)
High School: Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Yearbooks: 1988 | 1990
David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Who is Cameron Diaz?
Who doesn’t remember seeing Diaz on screen for the first time in The Mask, or laughing your head off while watching There’s Something About Mary? Her appearances in well-known rom-coms in the late ‘90s and early 2000s can take you back to simpler times with fond memories.
Cameron Diaz is a world-famous actress known for starring in a variety of different films over the years, beginning with her iconic role as singer Tina Carlyle in The Mask in 1994, in which she captivated audiences with her stunning looks.
Diaz is most commonly known for her roles in classic romantic comedies in the ‘90s and early 2000s, including a supporting role in My Best Friend’s Wedding(1997), and her role as the titular character in the Farrelly brothers’ There’s Something About Mary(1998).
Diaz also gained recognition for her ability as a dramatic actress in films such as Any Given Sunday(1999), Being John Malkovich(1999), Vanilla Sky(2001), and Gangs of New York(2002). She retired from acting in 2014 to focus on her family, but returned in 2025 to star in Back in Action alongside Jamie Foxx.
What to Know About Cameron Diaz
- Early Life/Education: Born on August 30, 1972, in Long Beach, California, Cameron Diaz graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1990, where she was classmates with Snoop Dogg. Diaz began modeling while still in high school, signing with Calvin Klein, Levi’s, and even appearing on the cover of Seventeen Magazine.
- Acting Breakthrough: Diaz landed her first film role in The Mask(1994) opposite Jim Carrey, launching her into international stardom.
- Hollywood Highlights: Cameron later starred in beloved hits like There’s Something About Mary (1998), My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), Charlie’s Angels (2000), Shrek (2001), and The Holiday (2006).
- Family: Diaz married guitarist Benji Madden in 2015. The couple share two children, Raddix and Cardinal. She was raised in a modest Long Beach household by her mother Billie, who worked as an import/export agent, and her father Emilio, who worked as a foreman. She also has an older sister, Chimene.
Cameron Diaz: Then vs. Now
Cameron has always taken breaths away with her gorgeous looks. From the ‘80s and ‘90s to today, here’s how Cameron looked from her teenage years all the way to today.
- Then – https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/211233?page=52&?s=80640
- Now – David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>
- via Wikimedia Commons
Where Did Cameron Diaz Go to School?
High School Education
Before she was starring in beloved roles in high-grossing Hollywood films, Cameron Diaz spent her teenage years in Long Beach, California, where she attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School from 1986 to 1990. Diaz was a schoolmate of rapper Snoop Dogg. She famously told an interviewer, “I’m pretty sure I bought weed from him. I had to have!”.
Diaz began modeling in her high school days, signing a contract with Elite Model Management when she was 16. She appeared in advertisements for Calvin Klein and Levi’s and was featured on the cover of the July 1990s issue of Seventeen magazine, all while still in high school.
Who is Cameron Diaz’s Family?
Marriage to Benji Madden
Cameron Diaz is married to musician and lead guitarist for pop-punk rock band Good Charlotte, Benji Madden. They married on January 5, 2015 at Diaz’s home in Beverly Hills, California, in a Jewish ceremony. They had met only ten months prior via Diaz’s friend Nicole Richie, who is married to Madden’s twin brother Joel.
The couple have two children together, a daughter named Raddix, born in December 2019, and a son, Cardinal, born in March 2024.
While their marriage is generally kept private, Diaz has shared small tidbits throughout the years. “He’s really taught me to value myself a lot more,” Diaz shared during a March 2022 appearance on Michelle Visage’s Rule Breakers podcast. “With our marriage, I learned how to really go all in. Nothing else comes before this. It’s not hard to do because [our marriage is] the most valuable thing I have.”
Loving Parents and Modest Upbringing
Diaz grew up in Long Beach, California with her mother Billie, who worked as an import/export agent, and her father Emilio, the son of Cuban immigrants, who was a foreman of the California oil company Unocal. Diaz also has an older sister, Chimene.
Growing up, Diaz’s life looked a lot different than the life of stardom she eventually adopted. When asked about her childhood, Diaz stated: “I had amazing parents, they were awesome. We weren’t privileged—very much the opposite. My family would collect [soda] cans to turn in for extra money, because $20 meant something to us. But we were very happy.”
David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0> via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cameron_Diaz_WE_2012_Shankbone_4.JPG
There’s Something About Cameron
Whether she was playing the classic girl-next-door in There’s Something About Mary, or a rebellious, unprofessional schoolteacher in Bad Teacher, or even a frumpy, pet-obsessed wife in Being John Malkovich, where she is practically unrecognizable, Diaz’s range as an actress has become apparent over the years.
Some of her most memorable films that invoke feelings of nostalgia in viewers include:
- The Mask(1994)
- There’s Something About Mary(1998)
- My Best Friend’s Wedding(1997)
- Being John Malovich(1999)
- Any Given Sunday(1999)
- Charlie’s Angels(2000)
- Vanilla Sky(2001)
- Gangs of New York(2002)
- Shrek(2001)
Some of her later work included:
- In Her Shoes(2005)
- The Holiday(2006)
- My Sister’s Keeper(2009)
- The Box(2009)
- Bad Teacher(2011)
- The Other Woman(2014)
- Sex Tape(2014)
- Annie(2014)
If you grew up in the late ‘90s, some of Diaz’s early work is bound to bring you back those special times. There’s something about an old-school rom-com that makes you feel like a kid again.
Caroline Renouard, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CameronDiazByCarolineRenouard2010.jpg
Being Cameron Diaz: Interesting Facts
Here are some shocking facts you might not have known about Cameron Diaz. Turns out she has a lot more to offer than just being a talented actress!
- Diaz competed in the Long Beach Grand Prix Toyota Pro/Celebrityhood race in 1995. She has also performed some of her own driving stunts in movies like Knight and Day(2010).
- Diaz has hosted four hilarious episodes of Saturday Night Live, her first appearance being in 1998.
- Diaz was the original choice to play Sonya Blade in the 1995 film adaptation of the video game franchise Mortal Kombat, but had to pull out after breaking her hand while training for the role
- Diaz had pet snakes and mice growing up, and considered a career as a zoologist
- Diaz auditioned for The Mask with no prior acting experience. An employee at her modeling agency recommended that she show up to the audition. The rest is history.
Drew de F Fawkes from Alsace, France, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cameron_Diaz,_Smiling_and_Waving_(50638295502).jpg
Cameron Diaz Social Media Profiles
Keep up with the latest Cameron Diaz photos and life updates on her active social media accounts:
- Instagram – 12 million followers
- Facebook – 14 million followers
- TikTok – 2.2 million followers
- X/Twitter – 589k followers (inactive)
Explore Yearbooks From the Decades Featuring Your Favorite Celebrities & Even Your Friends & Family
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Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_Diaz
- https://people.com/all-about-cameron-diaz-benji-madden-kids-8620052
- https://people.com/movies/cameron-diaz-benji-madden-relationship-timeline/
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/18-shocking-facts-about-cameron-diaz-you-might-not-know/ss-AA1N52pb#image=5
- https://brightside.me/articles/15-facts-about-cameron-diaz-who-went-to-school-with-snoop-dog-808079/
- https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/3412?page=70&?s=80640
- https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/3412?page=70&?s=80640
- https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/3412?page=70&?s=80640
- https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/3412?page=208&?s=80640
