We all know that celebrities earn more money than the average person will ever make. It is easy to imagine that they have maids, drivers, and servants to do their bidding all the time. The truth is that certain famous people know the values of discipline and hard work. You see, some of them have actually served the country during very important times in history. Take a look at Hollywood stars who were once in the military!
Bob Barker
Let us kick off the list with Bob Barker! He is best known for hosting The Price is Right. He held this position from 1972 to 2007. It is not a stretch to say that the game show simply would not have been the same if it had not been around. During the Second World War, he was in service as a pilot.
Bob Barker
Henry Fonda
Most of the people you will find on the list served in the military before they became famous. It was the other way around for Henry Fonda. By the time he joined the Navy, he had already made a name for himself as an actor. He was first a Quartermaster 3rd class on the USS Satterlee and then got a commission as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the Central Pacific Air Combat Intelligence.
Henry Fonda
Sherman Hemsley
Was “George Jefferson” also the first thing that came to your mind upon seeing this photo? Well, there is a good reason for this. Before he made us laugh in The Jeffersons, Sherman Hemsley first served in the Air Force. He was in Japan and Korea for four years. After that, he started working as a mailman in Philadelphia. This all happened before he made it big in Hollywood.
Sherman Hemsley
John Coltrane
When it comes to saxophonists, there is no one more prolific than John Coltrane! He enlisted to join the Navy on August 6, 1945. It was a historical day in history because that was the exact day that America dropped “Little Boy” on Hiroshima. He ended up moving to the Pearl Harbor base. During his time there, he became part of a swing band known as “The Melody Masters.”
John Coltrane
Fred Feast
Did you know that Fred Feast, who played Fred Gee in Coronation Street, was in the military? If you wanted to know, the English actor reached the sergeant rank in the British parachute regiment. Not just that, but he also served as a physical training instructor! Sadly, he passed away after dealing with abdominal cancer at the age of 69.
Fred Feast
Johnny Carson
Best known for his time extracting information from celebrities, The Tonight Show host used to extract information somewhere else. Like some of the other people on the list, Johnny Carson served in the military as the Second World War raged on. Back then, it was his responsibility to decode the encrypted messages of the enemy while on the USS Pennsylvania.
Johnny Carson
J.R.R. Tolkien
There is more to J.R.R. Tolkien aside from writing some of the most amazing fantasy works on the planet. For one thing, the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit author was a hero during the First World War as well! As a matter of fact, some people claim that his books were a representation of what he went through in the trenches during the height of the Great War.
J.R.R. Tolkien
Charles Bronson
We can’t think of a cooler Hollywood actor than Charles Bronson. However, the silver screen is not the only thing responsible for who he became. During the Second World War, he enlisted and joined the 760th Flexible Gunnery Training Squadron. He flew 25 successful missions in those days. Aside from that, he was also awarded the Purple Heart because he got wounded at the hands of the enemy.
Charles Bronson
Paul Newman
This actor could not become a pilot during the Second World War thanks to his color-blindness. Luckily, Paul Newman did not give up after that. He worked hard and became a turret gunner on one of the Avenger torpedo bombers. They were the worst nightmares of the Axis. He was able to cheat death during the Battle of Okinawa because he was meant to be onboard the USS Bunker Hill when the kamikaze planes attacked. He had not been on the ship because his pilot had an ear infection.
Paul Newman
Clint Eastwood
Even though Clint Eastwood served in the military, it was probably not what you have in mind. During the Korean war, he got drafted into the Army and served as a lifeguard on one of the bases. Even though it has nothing to do with his military service, he once boarded a plane that crash-landed into the water! How impressive is it that he was able to swim more than two miles at sea to get to the shore?
Clint Eastwood
Drew Carey
Why are you so shocked to find Drew Carey on the list? Fine, we will admit that he does not look like what most people imagine a soldier to be. However, this does not make it any less true that the Whose Line Is It Anyway host served in the U.S. Marine Corps back in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Drew Carey
Sidney Poitier
Let us explain two neat facts about Sidney Poitier. First of all, he was the first African-American actor to bring home the Academy Award for Best Actor. Next, he was only 16 years old but lied about his age to the recruitment office to enlist during the Second World War. However, he later faked going inside to leave. Based on those things alone, you can just tell that he was a fascinating person.
Sidney Poitier
Tony Curtis
Before we talk about his time in the military, let us ensure that we are all on the same page. Tony Curtis is indeed the father of Jamie Lee Curtis. Anyway, he went on to become a submarine tender after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. Aside from that, he also got to witness the surrender of the Japanese at Tokyo Bay!
Tony Curtis
J.D. Salinger
How can we forget about the guy who wrote Catcher in the Rye? His great mind must have been of great use to him during the Second World War. Back then, he was in the counterintelligence division. He spent most of his military service stationed in Europe. He was able to climb the ranks until he became a staff sergeant.
J.D. Salinger
Harrison Ford
Over the years, Harrison Ford has played iconic roles like Indiana Jones, Han Solo, and the president of the United States. He has shown us that he deserves to play some of the best film characters ever. In his free time, he likes to take out his chopper for a spin! Not only that, but he is a volunteer rescue pilot too.
Harrison Ford
Don Knotts
You probably know Don Knotts as either Mr. Furley in Three’s Company or Barney Fife in the Andy Griffith Show. However, you should not box him into those roles. When the Second World War was raging in the ‘40s, he used his comedic timing to boost the morale of the other soldiers. This is the reason he started a military comedy group known as “Stars and Stripes.”
Don Knotts
Jimi Hendrix
Yes, the guitar god is on the list as well! Before he made it big in the music industry, he underwent training to be a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division. However, he got discharged after a year when he broke an ankle during a botched landing. That was the 26th jump he had under his belt.
Jimi Hendrix
Gene Roddenberry
It feels like some people were born for greatness! Gene Roddenberry was one of those people. After he graduated from Angeles City College in 1942, he joined the Air Force. He was a part of the 394th Bomb Squadron of the Air Force. A few years after that, he created the iconic show Star Trek.
Gene Roddenberry
Jesse Ventura
Even though there are lots of fake fighters on WWE, Jesse Ventura is not one of them. Just so you know, he served as a Navy SEAL in the past. He was active during the Vietnam War, although he was not active in combat. For some time, he was stationed at Subic Bay in the Philippines.
Jesse Ventura
Sam Elliott
After he moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, Sam Elliott had to find a way to pay the bills. This was why he entered the 163rd Airlift Wing of the California Air National Guard. He had been posted off the coast of France in the Channel Islands. He was in service for a couple of years before he got his big break in the Sundance Kid. His military background has helped his career in the past.
Sam Elliott
Tom Selleck
Are you really surprised to hear that Tom Selleck turned heads when he served in the U.S. Army as a young man? As a matter of fact, the California National Guard used photos of him to recruit youngsters! From 1967 to 1973, he was a National Guard sergeant in the U.S. Army infantry. He once talked about those days and said this with pride: “I am a veteran, I’m proud of it.”
Tom Selleck
Roy Scheider
Before we saw him hunt down the shark in Jaws, Roy Scheider spent some time in the U.S. Air Force. In the mid-‘50s, he was also an active-duty officer of the Air Force. He did not leave the military completely after that either. In fact, he became a reservist in the Air Force Reserve Command!
Roy Scheider
Pat Sajak
The talented Pat Sajak was made to enter audiences on the stage. Did you know that the host of Wheel of Fortune used to be in the military? However, his position is not a typical one. We will have you know that he was an “army DJ.” He was in active duty for 18 months of the Vietnam War.
Pat Sajak
Johnny Cash
Even though Johnny Cash made it seem easy, it takes a lot of skill to write lyrics for the blues or country music. However, not a lot of people know that he was a Morse code interpreter back in the ‘50s. He was posted in West Germany and was tasked to intercept and crock transmissions from the Soviets.
Johnny Cash
John Dillinger
While a lot of people have heard of John Dillinger in the past, the best adjective for him is “infamous.” How else are you meant to describe such a high-profile bank robber? However, you might be surprised to hear that he was a member of the U.S. Navy fire brigade before he started his criminal career.
John Dillinger
Buster Keaton
It is no secret that war tends to leave marks on the people who witnessed it. Buster Keaton has gone through it as well. He fought the Germans in France during the Great War and damaged his hearing. It is pretty neat that he made a name for himself in silent films after serving in the 40th Infantry Division.
Buster Keaton
James Avery
Before you get the wrong idea, we want you to know that we did not put James Avery on the list for voicing Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The truth is that he really did serve in the military. From 1968 to 1969, he showed his loyalty to the nation with his service in the Vietnam War.
James Avery
Montel Williams
A lot of the people on the list prefer not to talk about their time in the military. Montel Williams is not like them, however. He was in the Marine Corps for a long time and was decorated handsomely for his service. After 10 years, he received an honorable discharge while holding the rank of Midshipman.
Montel Williams
Glenn Miller
It is not rare to hear about young people lying about their age to join the military. Glenn Miller did the opposite of that, however. He was turned away because the recruitment office thought that he was too old to serve at the age of 38. He was able to join anyway when he offered to lead the Army band! The musician went on to travel between bases to play for the soldiers. But there is a mystery that surrounds him to this day. He vanished while aboard a plane flying from England to France. His status is still “MIA.”
Glenn Miller
Jack Kerouac
Even though he is best known as a writer, he joined the U.S. Navy as a cadet in 1942. However, he put himself on the “sick list” just a little over a week of service of active duty. He somehow managed to convince the Navy to discharge him! At the time, he was diagnosed with a “schizoid personality.”
Jack Kerouac
Sammy Davis Jr.
The odds might have been against Sammy Davis Jr., but he knew how to look past the challenges and go for gold. He had to deal with racism when he joined a special forces unit of the army. However, he said that he did not let it get to him. “My talent was the weapon, the power, the way for me to fight. It was the one way I might hope to affect a man’s thinking,” he explained.
Sammy Davis Jr.
Steve McQueen
If you watch The Great Escape, you will see Steve McQueen help POWs get out of a German camp. But he did even more than that in real life. While on an Arctic exercise, he saved five fellow marines from a sinking tank after it crashed into an ice cap. This is even more epic than his roles!
Steve McQueen
Ernest Hemingway
Did you know that Ernest Hemingway drove an ambulance in Italy during the Great War? There was a particular incident that had a huge influence on his life. An explosion once tore a munitions factory apart. He went over to the scene and helped rescue women who had gotten stuck in the rubble. If you want to learn more about it, you should check out the book “Death in the Afternoon.”
Ernest Hemingway
Humphrey Bogart
For a lot of teens, it is difficult to figure out what you are going to do with your life. As a young man, Humphrey Bogart went through a rough patch during the First World War. At the age of 18, he joined the Navy. However, he only got to France in 1919. By then, the Great War was already over. What did he have to say about his time there? According to him, the food was good and the women were beautiful!
Humphrey Bogart
Leonard Nimoy
When it comes to the small screen, it is hard to think of a more famous TV character than Spock of Star Trek. However, not a lot of people know that Leonard Nimoy was in the U.S. Army Reserves during the ‘50s. In those days, he directed shows for the soldiers and performed for them.
Leonard Nimoy
Bill Cosby
Before making it big in the world of show business, Bill Cosby was a Navy man. In 1956, he decided to serve the country. He was in service for four years until he received an honorable discharge. A huge chunk of his time in the military involved helping injured soldiers at the height of the Korean War.
Bill Cosby
Blake Clark
Back in the ‘90s and ‘00s, Blake Clark made us all laugh with his amazing comedic talent. We loved him in Home Improvement, Toy Story, and Boy Meets World. But before he made it big in Hollywood, he first served as a platoon leader of the 5th infantry division of the Vietnam War. Who would have guessed?
Blake Clark
Jamie Farr
Here are several things that you probably did know about Jamie Farr, who played Corporal Klinger in M.A.S.H. He was first posted in Japan and Korea in the middle of the Korean War. Not only that, but he also wore his actual dog tags from his time in the military when he worked on the TV show!
Jamie Farr
Chuck Norris
We all know that Chuck Norris is a true legend. There was a time when he was asked about the number of pushups that can do. His response? “All of them.” This makes sense once you know that the Walker Texas Ranger served in the military. In 1958, he joined the U.S. Air Force and reached the ranks of Air Policeman. This is the first time that we have heard of it, but it sounds fitting for Chuck Norris!
Chuck Norris
Clark Gable
There is more to Clark Gable than being the husband of the gorgeous Carole Lombard. Sadly, he went on a downward spiral when her plane crashed with her on it as she was raising funds for the war effort. As he tried to fight depression, he entered the U.S. Air Force and served as a gunner in flight missions.
Clark Gable
Morgan Freeman
What is your favorite film with Morgan Freeman? It is hard to choose when he has been in so many great films! He is talented at acting and has one of the most iconic voices in the industry. In 1955, he wanted to be a pilot but did not qualify. This was the reason he became a radar technician instead. Did you know that he remains a certified pilot and owns four airplanes? Cool.
Morgan Freeman
John Amos
Like the other people on the list, John Amos also showed his loyalty to the country with his military service. He was in the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as the New Jersey National Guard. After his time in the military, he wowed us all by starring in Roots and Norman Lear’s Good Times.
John Amos
Hugh Hefner
Are you surprised to find the Playboy mogul on the list? Before he made it big with the magazine, he used to be a soldier in active duty. Even though he never went into combat during his military days, he did his part by writing for the Army newspaper. He passed away on September 27, 2017.
Hugh Hefner
Gene Hackman
This actor was one of the most famous people during the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s. Gene Hackman started his acting career when he was young. At the age of 16, however, he lied about his age when he went to the recruitment office. This was how he managed to enter the Marine Corps even though he was not yet 18.
Gene Hackman
Lee Van Cleef
Is it even possible to tear your eyes away from Lee Van Cleef when he is on the screen? He gave us everything that he got when he starred in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Before he dominated the entertainment industry in the ‘50s and ‘60s, he was doing something else in the ‘40s. During the Second World War, the actor was assigned to be a minesweeper and submarine chaser.
Lee Van Cleef
Ice T
Just so you know, celebrities do not always have it easy. Ice T is a person who can tell you all about that. His earlier years were riddled with illegal activities and crimes. But he decided to turn his life around after his first child was born. He joined the 25th infantry division of the Army and served for four years!
Ice T
Elvis Presley
Do you think that the King of Rock and Roll was wearing blue suede boots when he was in the military? Elvis Presley was already a famous man when he entered the Army in 1958. He continued his military service until 1960. That was the year that the musician was given an honorable discharge.
Elvis Presley
Don Rickles
Where do we even start with Don Rickles? If the name does not ring a bell, let us remind you that he was the “Rat Pack” member who voiced “Mr. Potato Head” in Toy Story! He served in the U.S. Navy when he was 18 years old. He was on the US Cyrene and reached the rank of seaman first class during the Second World War.
Don Rickles
James Earl Jones
When it comes to voices, we have always loved that of James Earl Jones. Before he voiced Mufasa, he served in the US Army during the Korean War! When he was drafted, he took an infantry officer’s course and was assigned to be a Ranger. He did not have any qualms about taking on this position either. He also helped training on rugged terrains. By the time he left, he reached the rank of a First Lieutenant.
James Earl Jones
Sean Connery
A lot of people might have played James Bond over the years, but no one can ever beat the original in our eyes. So why is he on the list? Even though Sean Connery joined the Royal Navy, he did not make it past basic training. The military discharged him once they discovered that he had a medical issue.
Sean Connery
Mr. T
We all knew that Mr. T is a badass even before he appeared in the A-Team with his Mandinka African hairstyle. Before he entered Hollywood, he was first a soldier in the Military Police Crops. He was able to climb the ranks until he became a squad leader. We are sure that he was great at his job!
Mr. T
Jerry Reed
You probably know Jerry Reed for his work as a guitarist, actor, songwriter, and country music singer. However, he first served in the military before he made a name for himself in the entertainment industry! He was in the U.S. Army for two years before he made it big. Sadly, he died at the age of 71.
Jerry Reed
Harry Dean Stanton
We all know that Harry Dean Stanton was a talented man in more ways than one. He impressed us with projects such as The Green Mile, Red Dawn, The Godfather, and Alien. He was actually in service during the Second World War! It is pretty neat to hear that he served as a cook n the USS LST-970 during the Battle of Okinawa.
Harry Dean Stanton
Walt Disney
When a war breaks out, people are expected to help out with the war effort. Let us just say that Walt Disney got lucky. Thanks to his creativity, the propaganda unit of the army enlisted his help! He was tasked to create instructional videos for the people in the military. On top of that, he made propaganda cartoons as well.
Walt Disney
Richard Pryor
Is there anyone who can claim that Richard Pryor did not make them laugh in See No Evil, Hear No Evil? Before he made it big in Hollywood, he first served as a soldier. However, things were not easy for him in the military. There was a time when he landed in military prison after a physical altercation with a fellow soldier who made a racist remark.
Richard Pryor
Larry Storch
It is not up for debate that Larry Storch is a talented man. He has worked as an actor, comedian, and voice actor in the past. However, his career is not limited to the entertainment industry either. He worked as a submarine tender during the Second World War as well! In fact, he was even awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for his service.
Larry Storch
Pat Tillman
Mind you, Pat Tillman was not only a great NFL player. He happened to be a war hero as well! When the 9/11 tragedy happened, he decided to set football aside to help his fellow Americans. Sadly, he died while in active duty back in 2004. What made things worse was that it was at the hands of friendly fire.
Pat Tillman
George C. Scott
Unique people are made for unique jobs. George C. Scott was thinking of helping with the war effort, so he entered the Marine Corps in 1945. They noticed his talent in no time, which was why they recruited him to perform an important yet somber task. He was an honor guard at the funerals of fallen soldiers!
George C. Scott
Robert Duvall
With a dad in the military, Robert Duvall must have been familiar with the military way of life even before he was drafted. His father probably encouraged him to join the U.S. Army in the ‘50s. However, his time there only helped him realize what he really wanted to do in life, which was to act!
Robert Duvall
Sinbad
This funny man made us all laugh when he starred in movies such as Jingle All the Way and Good Burger. Before Sinbad got his big break, he found himself at the stage of comedy clubs and local bars while serving in the military. He was serving on a US Air Force base located in Kansas, but he liked to sneak off to make the locals laugh!
Sinbad
Vincent Pastore
There are early bloomers in the acting industry, but there are also people like Vincent Pastore. We bet that you know him for bringing Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero to life in The Sopranos. How awesome is it to hear that he only started his acting career when he was already in his forties? Before that, however, he was a U.S. Navy sailor.
Vincent Pastore