This may be hard to believe, but an unusual turn of events in his youth may have been the catalyst that led to Sam Rockwell becoming a familiar face in many Hollywood productions over the last 30-plus years. As a teenager, Rockwell dropped out of the San Francisco School of the Arts before he was able to graduate. As a result, his parents enrolled him in an alternative high school called "Urban Pioneers". Ironically, it was a school that had a reputation as being popular with stoners because it was an easy program to graduate from. And as Rockwell admits, at that age, all he wanted to do was get stoned and go to parties to flirt with girls!
He did end up receiving his high school diploma. But more importantly, during his senior year, Rockwell landed a role in an independent film which reignited his passion for performing. Straight after graduation, he moved to New York to pursue an acting career. Who knew that his passion for performance would be "re-lit" by his penchant for parties and pot!?