The greatest celebrities of today have all had different experiences that led them to where they are today, and there are many stories that they have to share about their road to stardom. While celebrity news concentrates more on their weight loss or gain or their love lives, we are here to look at something quite different. Let’s take a look at some of the A-listers of today who have once donned a military uniform—and we don’t mean on set. It is actually shocking how many actors served in the military before they served the screens!
Gene Hackman – U.S. Marines
When Gene Hackman joined the US Marines back in 1946, it wasn’t because he had a calling to do so. In fact, for Hackman, it was a means of escape. Hackman’s household was not a home for him. What with his father having abandoned them and his mother’s alcohol abuse, Hackman desperately wanted to leave. He was so desperate that he lied about his age and became a Marine. It was in 1947 that he was sent to China and served as a radio operator. When he was sent to Hawaii, he was demoted three times for his problems with authority and discipline.
Owen Wilson – New Mexico Military Institute
The dear Owen Wilson is a man who has made all of us laugh at some point, with his entertaining performances in some of the most engaging light-hearted romantic comedies in Hollywood. However, once upon a time, Wilson was a member of the New Mexico Military Institute, and we just can’t get over it! He looks adorable in the military uniform, though, we have to admit! But he seems like an accident-in-motion to us who have seen him on screen— Wilson is someone who we all think of as clumsy! He never did finish his studies or military training, but that’s alright. There were better things in store for him!
Rock Hudson – U.S. Navy
It was the year 1944 that Rock Hudson was recruited into the US Navy fresh out of high school. It isn’t clear whether Hudson’s choice to join was based on his financial situation or whether it was voluntary, but he received military training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. He then boarded Lew Wallace, the military transport ship, to be taken to the Philippines to serve as an aircraft mechanic. In 1946, Hudson was discharged. It was after that, that Hudson considered taking up acting, and he sure must be very glad that he did!
James Garner – U.S. Infantry
James Garner happened to be an acclaimed US Veteran. In 1944, Garner joined the US Merchant Marine to start making money. However, this led to the discovery that he actually suffered from severe seasickness. This, as you can imagine, was a big problem. As a result, Garner enlisted with the California Army National Guard. This led him to join the 5th Regimental Combat team, serving as a rifleman. He even spent 14 months in Korea in the midst of the Korean War and was wounded twice. He didn’t become a sailor, but he was awarded many medals!
Jimmy Stewart – U.S. Air Force
Jimmy Stewart is widely considered as the first Hollywood star to have become a member of the Army in the midst of WWII. Stewart was enlisted in 1941, but it wasn’t his first attempt in joining the forces. When he first applied in 1940, his weight didn’t match his height according to the standards. After a lot of exercises in 1941, he became part of the Air Corps and was then promoted to a squadron commander. He led 20 combat operations and left the Air Force in 1968. For his service, he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross.
Yogi Berra – U.S. Navy
Yogi Berra’s service to the Army was quite a mark of greatness, as he participated in the infamous “D-Day”. Berra, who then became a famous New York Yankees player, once served in the US Navy. He boarded the support boat called the USS Bayfield, where he was a gunner’s mate as they landed on Omaha Beach. He was also deployed on Utah Beach. He sustained injuries on the battlefield and was rushed to a treatment center for the wounds, but he was fortunate to return to his family in the US. He was recognized for his efforts with a Purple Heart and several other medals.
Montel Williams – U.S. Marines
Montel Williams is now known for The Montel Williams Show, but he was once known for his service in the US Marines and Navy. Williams joined the Marines right after he graduated from high school in 1974. After the intense exercise and training programme, Williams managed to become the first African-American to complete the military training in the Naval Academy Prep School as well as in Annapolis. Williams left the Marines towards the end of the ‘90s with a Lieutenant Commander ranking. He then worked as a counselor, building up the morale of young troops and their families.
Clifton James – U.S. Army
Actor Clifton James found fame in the ‘70s with roles in The Man with the Golden Gun, Live and Let Die, and The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training. During his stint as a member of the US Army, he had quite an exciting time and was a well-decorated infantry platoon sergeant in WWII. Unfortunately, complications from diabetes claimed his life in 2017. James fathered six children and was married twice in his life. He was 96 years old when he died, so he had lived a long life. We imagine there are many stories he still had to tell!
Kris Kristofferson – U.S. Army
Kris Kristofferson rose to stardom in the ‘70s and became a notable name in the world of music and entertainment. He is best remembered for his hits like Help Me Make It Through the Night, Me and Bobby Gee and Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down. Kristofferson’s family really wanted him to be a part of the US Army, and so he went through with it to please them. Kristofferson worked hard during his service and was eventually promoted until he became a captain. Before his fame as a musician, he experienced financial troubles and couldn’t afford the medical bills of his son—and that’s all the more reason to have health insurance!
Josephine Baker – French Resistance
Josephine Baker was a French-American entertainer who served her country and was quite modern for that time in history! Baker was known for participating as a secret agent in the French Resistance (not so secret now!) during WWII. Baker was even awarded after the war with the Croix de Guerre by the French military. We can be sure that she had placed her life at risk in many instances during her time of service! Baker was 68 years old when she breathed her last in 1975 at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital due to a cerebral hemorrhage.
Ernest Hemingway – American Red Cross
Ernest Hemingway is the man who can take the credit for written productions like The Sun Also Rises, The Old Man and the Sea, and For Whom the Bell Tolls. Hemingway managed to witness all sorts of things during WWI, and his experiences served as inspirations for his literary works. He was a member of the American Red Cross where he worked as an ambulance driver. At one point, Hemingway operated a mobile canteen, serving cigarettes and chocolates to soldiers in the war! Well, the war was tough, and Hemingway had a ringside seat!
Charlton Heston – U.S. Air Force
Charles Heston graced the screens for about sixty years with his skillful acting, and he is held dear for his memorable performances in films like Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, and The Greatest Show on Earth. But before all of that, Heston was a military man, having served the US Air Force in the 1940s. Heston first started out as a radio operator and worked his way up until he earned a role as an aerial gunner. Heston’s army duties were half of his battle. He also had to face the real struggle of both prostate cancer and Alzheimer’s disease! Eventually, pneumonia took his last energy, and he died at the age of 84 in 2008.
Oliver Stone – U.S. Army
Writer and filmmaker Oliver Stone is the man behind films like Surface, Platoon and Midnight Express. In Platoon, the focal point of the film was the Vietnam War. And if you’ve ever watched it and wondered how Stone had managed to write such a splendid script for the film, it is because he himself served in that very war! Stone joined the US Army in 1967 and took on combat duty. During his career in the military, he earned several awards and recognition. In his showbiz career, he doesn’t seem to have any intentions of slowing down into retirement just yet!
Alec Guinness – Royal Navy
Alec Guinness of Star Wars was popular on the big screen between the ‘40s and the ‘90s. It was during WWII that Guinness worked in the Royal Navy. From starting out as a seaman, he eventually worked his way up the ladder until he held the title of sub-lieutenant and then lieutenant. Unlike many other veterans, he already had a passion for acting even during his time in the war. His passion was so strong that he even requested for temporary leave so that he could appear in the play, Flare Path. In 2000, Guinness lost his battle with liver cancer.
Bill Cosby – United States Navy
Bill Cosby’s time in the Navy began in 1956, where he assumed the role as a hospital corpsman. Tending to the physical therapy of injured soldiers is a far cry from the Bill Cosby of the family comedy TV show that we grew to know and love, but that is where his roots were! After his time in the Navy, Cosby earned his diploma to achieve high school equivalency before getting a Temple University scholarship in 1961. But alas, he left the university to become a comedian—what a joke, people must have thought! Well, the joke is on them! Or maybe not, since Cosby was sentenced to 3-10 years in prison in 2018.
Johnny Cash – US Air Force
Johnny Cash can be described as the world’s favorite country artist, and he too had his days with the US Marines back in 1950 after training at the Lackland Air Force Base and also at the Brooks Air Force Base. He was then assigned as a radio operator all the way in Germany. Cash’s work was similar to cyber-security, and he was expected to intercept the Russian Morse messages. It was during his days with the Air Force that he established The Landsberg Barbarians, his first band and the root of his fame to come!
Paul Newman – U.S. Navy
Award-winning actor Paul Newman enjoyed a blissfully exciting career from the ‘60s until the ’80s. Before becoming a name in the acting industry, Newman was proudly a member of the US Navy and was in training to serve as a Navy V-12 pilot. However, he was later removed from the programme owing to the fact that he was actually color blind. Newman lived until 83 years old when he sadly passed away in 2008. While the cause of his death was not really confirmed, it was presumed to be lung cancer-related.
Humphrey Bogart – U.S. Navy
Humphrey Bogart saw the breaking out of WWI during his time with the US Navy. Bogart enlisted in 1918 in his teen years. His famous scar—the one on his upper lip—is believed to have resulted from a wound during one of his experiences during the war while he was with the Navy. It was after the war that Bogart took up a career in Broadway, which was the first step to him finding riches and success on the big screen. In 1957, Bogart died from esophageal cancer, but we don’t know how much was done to help him at the time!
Carl Reiner – U.S. Air Force
Carl Reiner is a funny man who also worked as a director and a writer. Reiner is one of the men who take credit for the success of The Dick Van Dyke Show. In the ‘40s, Reiner served in the US Air Force. He has served as a corporal, a radio operator, and even a translator. He is now 97 years old and is actually keeping up with time rather well. He’s even known for using one of today’s popular social media platforms—Twitter! He sure is a trendy old man!
Ernest Borgnine – U.S. Navy
Ernest Borgnine had just finished high school when he had more work lined up for him when he joined the US Navy. However, it wasn’t really “work” for Borgnine, who actually loved serving his country. He was honorably discharged at one stage but managed to return at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. By 1945, Borgnine’s time fulfilling his duties for his country was finally done, and it was then that he went after a name in showbiz. Borgnine ended up being most recognized for his appearance in Marty, McHale’s Navy, and also in Airwolf. However, kidney failure saw him breathe his last in 2012.
Mickey Rooney – U.S. Army
Mickey Rooney happened to have things a little differently when he enlisted with the US Army back in the 1940s. Rooney was already a popular actor before he joined! Well, he wasn’t out on the battlefields or handling the warfare. He was part of the Special Services whose job is to entertain the American troops. That too, was an important task, because the soldiers needed some comic relief and entertainment to help give them some comfort from the emotional strain of the war. After his time with the military, Rooney continued building his acting portfolio. In 2014, the world said goodbye to Rooney when he passed away because of natural causes.
Robert Duvall – US Infantry
Several members of Robert Duvall’s family served in the Army, with his father even holding the post of Rear Admiral. Duvall considered taking his shot at military service and joined the Army in 1953. He served during the Korean War but had near to zero experience with actual fighting. In late 1954, Duvall left the Army with the rank of Private First Class. We bet he made his parents very proud, but wearing the uniform and fulfilling the duties was not what Duvall wanted for himself. While he was a soldier, he already developed an interest in acting.
Mel Brooks – US Infantry
Mel Brooks took to serving his country via the Army for WWII. He joined the Army in 1944 and served as a combat engineer, which he later described as “ridiculous”. Apparently, those are the two things he despises—combat and engineering! He eventually reached the Corporal position and was sent to Germany. He was tasked with the diffusion of landmines, allowing troops to advance towards their Nazi targets. He was fortunate to return safe and sound! Today, he is a highly adored celebrity. Well, it was all worth the experience, we bet!
Bob Barker – U.S. Navy
Bob Barker has been the host of the ever-popular game show, The Price is Right, for about three decades now. But contrary to popular belief, hosting the game show isn’t everything Barker has done with his life. Oh no, he has been of much aid in WWII where he served as a fighter pilot for the US Navy. After the war came to an end, Barker decided to further his studies. Impressively, he ended up graduating as a summa cum laude! He is 95 years old today and is still going strong!
Steve McQueen – US Marines
Steve McQueen became a legend, becoming known as the “King of Cool” and drawing much attention in the film scene of the ‘60s and ‘70s. But McQueen was not laying around idle before then. Between 1947 and 1950, McQueen served the US Marines but gave them quite a tough time with his rebellious attitude. He was demoted to Private a whopping seven times. He even went AWOL for two entire weeks! Eventually, it was found out that he had been with one of his girlfriends, and he resisted arrest. He was quite a troublemaker!
Burt Lancaster – US Army
Burt Lancaster joined forces with Nick Cravat to become the Acrobat team they called Lang and Cravat. Eventually, the two boys went on to join the Kay Brothers Circus. In 1939, Lancaster sustained an injury that forced him to give up working at the circus and become a singing waiter. Lancaster joined the Army to entertain those who fought in the battles of WWII in 1942, giving special performances in the Special Services Division aka the entertainment division. Unfortunately, his third heart attack that happened in 1994 took away his life.
Prince William – British Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy
Of course, since it is Royal protocol, Prince William also had to serve his time in the British Army. William’s career also orbited around serving the Army at one stage. This continued until William passed selection and entered the same institution as Harry—the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst—in 2006. Of course, nobody would expect an heir to the throne to participate in a real war situation, and so his military career extended to the Royal Navy and to the Royal Air Force. He traveled to Afghanistan to retrieve the body of a soldier.
Sammy Davis Jr. – US Infantry
Sammy Davis Jr. finished off high school and had to be a big boy when he joined the US Army back in 1943 amid WWII. He claimed that his father had managed to always protect him from the prejudicial views. But when he joined the army, his father couldn’t protect him any longer. He was exposed to mockery and strong racism that he had never experienced before. Well, while he probably had to quickly develop a thick skin, he was quickly transferred to an Entertainment unit to his relief. He performed comedic acts for the soldiers as part of the division.
Prince Charles – Royal Navy & Royal Air Force
If there’s anybody who wears their Army experience proudly, it is none other than Prince Charles! As did Prince Harry and Prince William, Prince Charles followed the Royal tradition of enlisting with the Royal Navy and also the Royal Air Force. Prince Charles was very eager for his training and was trained as a jet pilot. He also undertook many endeavors in his naval career. He is also a helicopter pilot, but an accident in 1994 put a swift end to that. Today, Prince Charles has much to tell his four grandchildren about!
Bea Arthur – U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve
The odd thing about Bea Arthur is that she was one of the first women to serve in the military and yet she flat out denied it once during a video-recorded interview! The camera doesn’t lie and neither do the fingerprints when you enlist with the US Marine Corps! Her denial maybe because she was incapacitated for duty for about four weeks due to a venereal disease she was being treated for. Maybe she didn’t want to talk about that. But she actually worked as a truck driver and also as a typist at just the age of 21 under the name Bernice Frankel.
Tony Curtis – U.S. Navy
When Tony Curtis sat down to do his financial planning in his youth, we doubt that joining the army was a component of his plan! But it was after the attack on Pearl Harbor that he was somewhat motivated to enlist with the US Navy and to help his country in whatever way he could. He spent time with the Pacific Submarine Force from 1943 until 1945. Curtis has always been a strong supporter of American veterans and troops and his burial ceremony was performed with military honor in recognition of his contribution to America’s victory in the attack.
Richard Pryor – U.S. Army
Richard Pryor is considered one of the most critically-acclaimed comedians in recent history. Others in this category are George Carlin and Lenny Bruce. Pryor was born in 1940 and grew up in his grandmother’s cathouse. He suffered a rough childhood, one that was abusive as well. He ended up serving the army in 1958 until 1960. However, don’t be fooled by this. Much of his military time was spent in the army prison! He and other black military members attacked a white soldier, which then, unfortunately, led to his arrest.
Nate Dogg – U.S. Marines
Now here’s one that may come as a surprise! Nate Dogg, a well-known singer, songwriter, rapper, and actor who was a member of 213—a rap trio consisting of him, Warren G, and Snoop Dogg, once joined the US Marines. He was 17 when he joined the force, and he was stationed far away in Japan. Nate served the 3rd Force Service Support Group and also the Material Readiness Battalion, supplying ammunition to the Pacific. He was discharged honorably in 1989. In his music career, he also produced several solo albums like Music & Me and G-Funk Classics. In 2011, he died at the early age of 41 from multiple strokes.
Jamie Farr – U.S. Army
Jamie Farr is a man whose name is sprinkled across theatre, film, and TV. Farr is best known for his role in the series M*A*S*H as well as other comedic performances of his. He loved acting from his teenage years. He started out as a teen but ended up being drafted for the 6th Infantry of the US Army. He served in Japan and Korea and only got to return to his love of acting by the ‘50s. He started out with several roles as an extra but later landed more regular appearances. In 2018, he landed a part in The Cool Kids, a TV series.
Bob Newhart – U.S. Army
Bob Newhart is an actor and comedian with fifty years of experience in the industry behind him. Newhart’s deadpan humor and characteristic stammering style of delivery make him unique and set him apart from other comedians. Bob first grew popular in the ‘60s. From then onwards, he only did better and better. His very first comedy album even ranked number 1 on the Billboard chart. You may think that Newhart’s time in the US Army was with the Special Services Division entertaining the soldiers, but no. He was a personnel manager until his discharge in 1954.
Kurt Vonnegut – U.S. Army
Kurt Vonnegut was famous for the book he authored titled Slaughterhouse-Five, which was released in 1969. His writing career spanned over five decades, and he managed to publish a number of works—among them are 14 novels. Vonnegut was a strong advocate for pacifism from even then, and he went on to criticize the United States intervening in WWII. After Pearl Harbor, he basically didn’t have any choice but to enlist with the military. Vonnegut ended up receiving training in Fort Bragg and then being stationed in Camp Atterbury’s infantry battalion.
Jack Lemmon – U.S. Navy
Jack Lemmon has a legendary reputation for his acting, and this is undeniable. Lemmon properly started out in the world of acting in 1949 (his debut role was in 1947) and filled innumerable roles that there is no doubt audiences will forever remember him for. His most skillful performances were in Save the Tiger and Mister Roberts, and he won an Oscar for each of them. Lemmon was a member of the V-12 Navy College Training Program. After he was commissioned by the Navy, he briefly saw WWII but returned quickly to complete his education.
Danny Aiello – U.S. Army
Danny Aiello has been an active actor since 1972 and has countless memorable film roles in his portfolio. He has been credited for The Front, The Godfather Part II, Once Upon a Time in America, and Lucky Number Slevin, to name a few. Aiello was nominated for an Oscar for Do the Right Thing, and he played the lead in The Last Don. Before becoming a highly talented actor, he served the US Army after enlisting at the age of sixteen (thanks to lying about his age, like so many others).
Harry Belafonte – U.S. Navy
Harry Belafonte is a singer and songwriter who contributed greatly to the popularization of Caribbean music, earning himself the nickname “King of Calypso” Belafonte is considered to be a Jamaican-American artist who ranks as among the highest skilled performers in the history of pop music. Belafonte’s debut album was titled Calypso, and it turned out to be the first single artist’s LP to sell a million copies. Belafonte enlisted in the Navy immediately after graduation to serve during WWII. His successful music career is an undertaking he delved into after his return in the ‘50s.
Roy Scheider – U.S. Air Force
Roy Scheider rose to fame after he was cast in a film called The French Connection. He is also well-remembered for playing a role in films like Marathon Man, Jaws 2, and the TV series titled seaQuest DSV. Scheider had skills in boxing in his youth. And 35 years after his graduation from Columbia High School, he was inducted in its Hall of Fame. In the Army, Scheider’s rank was captain. He served between 1955 and 1958, mainly in the Air Force Reserve Command. Scheider died in 2008, but his footage was used in the documentary, The Shark Is Still Working, in 2012.
Benny Hill – British Army
Benny Hill was famous for The Benny Hill Show where he tugged at all kinds of humor, making people laugh at a range of things. Hill was a great comedian—a legend if you will. His show consisted of several sketches in a slapstick, mime, double entendre, and parody style. The themes of the show often had social or historical themes, and it aired non-stop from 1955 to 1991. In 1942, Benny enlisted in the British Army. He ended up as a mechanic, truck driver, and even a Normandy searchlight operator. He eventually worked with the Combined Services Entertainment, which started his career in entertainment.
Don Knotts – U.S. Army
Don Knotts of The Andy Griffith Show is an actor well-recognized as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife. Knotts took home five Emmy Awards for that very role, and his comedic nature shone through his future roles in shows and films like The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, Three’s Company and The Incredible Mr. Lampet. TV Guide ranked Knotts as number 27 on their list of the “50 Greatest Stars on TV”. Before his career in entertainment, Knotts served in WWII with the US Army. Knotts died the same year of his last performance in 2006’s Air Buddies.
Fred Willard – Kentucky Military Institute
Fred Willard is more than just an actor, he was a comedian, a voice actor, and a writer as well. Willard’s improvisational comedy became his trademark. He has, over the years, earned several award nominations for his film roles in movies like A Mighty Wind, American Wedding, Mascots, For Your Consideration, and Anchorman. He got nominated for an Emmy Award three times for his role in the much-loved series Everybody Loves Raymond, and also another nomination for another popular TV show—Modern Family. His more recent work was in The Bobby Roberts Project and in Milo Murphy’s Law.
Bob Feller – U.S. Navy
Legendary baseball pitcher Bob Feller was known to his fans as “Rapid Robert”, “The Heater from Van Meter”, and ‘Bullet Bob”. Feller saw 18 seasons with the MLB and also played with the Cleveland Indians. He took up professional baseball in 1936 until he was drafted by the Navy in 1941 to serve for four years in WWII. Feller first held the post as Chief Petty Officer before he was assigned as gun captain for the USS Alabama battleship. After his return from the Navy, his career continued from 1945 until 1956. Feller has played 570 games throughout his career.
J.R. Martinez – U.S. Army
J.R. Martinez, a former soldier of the US Army, is today an actor and a strong motivational speaker. He once served in the US Infantry in Iraq, where he sustained severe burns that affected approximately 34% of the surface of his skin. The incident occurred in 2003 when Martinez joined the Middle East conflict and drove over an IED two months later. When his vehicle caught fire, he was scarred permanently. He also had to see a professional for surgery on a foot injury, but his recovery must have been grand because he later took the win in Dancing With the Stars.
Sherman Hemsley – U.S. Air Force
Sherman Hemsley will be most remembered for having portrayed roles in All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Dinosaurs, and many more. He won a Golden Globe and an NAACP Image Award and received an Emmy nomination for his role as George Jefferson. It was when he was in the tenth grade that Hemsley decided he would leave school to join the US Air Force. He ended up serving from 1954 up until 1958. He then worked as a postman by day and studied acting by night. In 1973, he started his journey in entertainment. He was a generous man, even giving up all his winnings from Who Wants to be a Millionaire? to charity.
Jerry Mathers – U.S. Air Force Reserve
Jerry Mathers is most recognized for the sitcom of the late ‘50s to early ‘60s, Leave It to Beaver. Mathers kicked off his acting career when he was just a wee tot of two years old! His debut film role was when he was six, in 1954’s This is My Love. He quickly landed other roles like in The Trouble With Harry, The Seven Little Foys, and Men of the Fighting Lady. Jerry went into temporary retirement from his acting career when he was a teenage boy, enlisting with the US Air Force Reserve. After graduating, Mathers still continued his service and earned his ranking as Sergeant.
Mike Farrell – U.S. Marine Corps
Mike Farrell is most famous for having acted in M*A*S*H in the late ‘70s and in the early ‘80s. Younger audiences may consider him a familiar face after his roles in Desperate Housewives and Patch Adams. He also took on several guest roles in a number of TV shows over the last twenty years. Farrell’s military service was in Camp Hansen in Okinawa with the US Marine Corps. Farrell recently landed a role in The Red Road. He also received a PETA Award in 2001 for his advocacy of animal rights.
Charles Durning – U.S. Army
Charles Durning is credited for having appeared in 200 films, TV shows, and plays! Of course, his career did span seven decades, so we shouldn’t be surprised that he has accomplished so much! His career began in 1945 and continued until his death in 2012. His most popular roles were in Dog Day Afternoon, The Sting, O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Tootsie. Durning’s service during WWII was honored by a Purple Heart, a Silver Star, and a Bronze Star. Durning also made contributions to the Department of Veterans Affairs, dealing with the care of veterans in various institutions.
Maynard James Keenan – West Point Prep School
Maynard James Keenan is easily remembered by those who are fans of Puscifier, Tool, and A Perfect Circle. Keenan owns Merkin Vineyards and also happens to manufacture Caduceus vines, which are a specific vine named after Hermes’ staff. Keenan was inspired by the film Stripes to enlist in the US Army, in the hopes that he would attain the funds he required to further his studies in art school. Keenan could be described as a forward observer, and he later studied at West Point Prep School. He was distinguished during his training but ended up choosing a career in music.
Zulay Henao – U.S. Army
Would you ever have guessed that the beautiful Zulay Henao once served her time in the Army? Well, we couldn’t believe it either, but it is true! Zulay has three years in the Army under her belt, and she served them straight out of high school before the start of her successful acting career. When she left the army, Zulay began her studies in the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. Today, Zulay is famous for her performances in The Single Moms Club and True Memoirs of an International Assassin, among several other works. She appeared in an episode of Kevin Can Wait in 2018.
Harvey Keitel – U.S. Marine Corps
At the age of 16, Harvey Keitel was faced with a choice on whether to continue his education or to join the US Marine Corps. He picked the Marines. The chance presented himself, and Keitel made it happen. When he eventually returned home, he took on a job as a court reporter. Keitel earned a living for some years in that role before deciding that he would like to become an actor. Keitel managed to land a good role in 1967’s Who’s That Knocking at My Door. His prolific career is still active even today. In 2019, he has The Irishman in store for his fans.
Johnny Carson – U.S. Navy
Johnny Carson gave his service to the Navy in WWII, after joining in 1943 and working as a decoder of encrypted messages. He was trained at Columbia University and also at Millsaps College before he was given the task. Carson eventually earned his degree in journalism, which was part of the plan he had put together to make his dreams of becoming a comedy writer come true. However, he later ended up changing his mind. Carson set his sights on working in radio. He became an iconic figure with The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and won six Emmy’s over the span of his career. He passed away in 2005.
George Carlin – U.S. Air Force
George Carlin was a trained radar technician when he joined the Air Force. But in 1957, Carlin was discharged after he was labeled as being an unproductive airman. After his service in the military, Carlin put together a comedy team with Jack Burns. They became successful stand-up comedians, even making history with how great they were at it! He was known for having the courage to tackle some serious taboos. Carlin struggled with heart problems throughout his life, even suffering three heart attacks. In 2008, he died of cardiac arrest.
James Earl Jones – Reserve Officer Training Corps
Actor James Earl Jones found that he quite enjoyed the military environment after he joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps. Jones waited for his orders and served as stage crew until he was eventually commissioned after the end of the Korean War. He was first promoted to Second Lieutenant before becoming a First Lieutenant just before he was discharged. Jones is best recognized for acting in The Great White Hope, and also for his voice performance in the Star Wars franchise. Jones is the voice behind Mufasa in the upcoming film, The Lion King.
John Coltrane – U.S. Navy
John William Coltrane has been made reference to as Trane, and he enlisted with the Navy way back in 1945 as his own attempt to avoid being drafted by the Army. Trane faced training as an apprentice seaman and was then sent out to Pearl Harbor and quickly began serving as a musician in Melody Masters. By the end of his military service, Coltrane had become the band leader. He is regarded as one of the world’s most influential saxophonists ever! When he died in 1967 of liver cancer, he was just 40 years old.
Sean Connery – British Royal Navy
Sean Connery is probably one of the best (if not the best) actors who played the iconic role of James Bond. But long before he was credited for being Agent 007, he was credited for fighting for his country. Connery served the British Royal Navy, and that may be where he picked up on the spy moves that later helped him perfect the Bond role! He was a mere 16 years old when he joined and didn’t even have health insurance. He stayed put in the military for three years but several health issues resulted in his obligatory discharge. He pursued acting after he left, and the rest is history!
Prince Harry – British Army
Okay, so this one may not be such a shocker, really. The Royal legacy does dictate such and as per protocol, Prince Harry fulfilled his service in the British Army just like his father had before him and the all the men in the British royal family. Prince Harry’s tenure lasted for an entire decade. He entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and made Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry. He was sent to Afghanistan on two occasions and also received training as a pilot with his enlisting with the Air Army Corps. His days in the Army are long gone, and he’s now settling in as a father and husband!
Drew Carey – US Marines
If you had to hear from Drew Carey himself that he’d served for the US Marines, you’d think he was telling a joke! But actually, the comedic Carey did serve in the Marines between the years 1980 and 1986. We would guess that Carey likely joined as a result of his financial situation, which was the case for most of the boys who joined. What fueled this reasoning is the fact that he ended up working odd jobs after he left the US Army. He eventually worked his way to the entertainment industry where he belongs.
Sidney Poitier – U.S. Army
Sidney Poitier has bagged Academy and Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor—the first man of Bahamian-American heritage to have done so in history! Of course, after his superb performance in Lilies of the Field, Poiter was certainly deserving of the prestigious accolades. In his youth, Poiter experienced much financial difficulty and had to lie about his age when he joined the Army during WWII. Although, he was just working as a mental hospital attendant. Of course, everybody who served in the US Army had a role to play, and his job was important in some way!