25 Famous Veterans Who Became Celebrities

Famous People Who Served in the Military Before Finding Fame

Here are 25 famous people who were once in the military before that found fame:

Before the cameras, the stadiums, and the sold-out shows — many of America’s most iconic stars wore a uniform first.

Some were drafted. Some volunteered. A few even tried to leave early. But all of them carried their military experience into the careers that made them famous.

I’m Larry Fowler, publisher of USMilitary.com and a longtime advocate for active-duty service members and veterans. Having spent nearly two decades helping Americans navigate 25 famous people who were once in the military before that found fame and the broader stories of veteran service, I’ve seen how military experience shapes extraordinary lives. Read on for the full stories behind each of these remarkable veterans.

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25 Famous People Who Were Once In The Military Before That Found Fame

When we look at our favorite movie screens, music stages, and television programs, we often see a world of glitz and absolute glamour. But beneath the Hollywood makeup lies a foundation of discipline, grit, and sacrifice. For many stars, their first stage was a boot camp, and their first audience was a drill instructor.

Our team at USMilitary.com has compiled the definitive guide to these incredible transitions. Exploring Famous People in the Military reveals a rich heritage of service members who utilized the lessons of military life to catapult themselves to the top of the entertainment industry.

Golden Age Icons: 25 Famous People Who Were Once In The Military Before That Found Fame

The classic era of Hollywood and the mid-century music scene were absolutely packed with veterans. Many of these legends served during major global conflicts, such as World War II and the Korean War, before their names ever appeared in shining marquee lights. You can read more about these classic paths in the detailed breakdown of Before Fame: 13 Celebrities Who Served in the Military.

1. Elvis Presley (U.S. Army, 1958-1960)

Perhaps the most famous draft story in history, the “King of Rock and Roll” was drafted at the absolute peak of his early career. Instead of taking a safe entertainment role in the Special Services, Elvis insisted on serving as a regular soldier. He was stationed in West Germany as an armor intelligence specialist, driving scout jeeps and earning the respect of his fellow soldiers. His service helped him win over an older generation of Americans who had previously dismissed his music.

2. Johnny Cash (U.S. Air Force, 1950-1954)

Long before he was the “Man in Black,” Johnny Cash was a Morse code intercept operator in Landsberg, West Germany during the Korean War. Serving in the Security Service, Cash was the first radio operator to pick up the news of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin’s death. He used his military earnings to buy his very first guitar, starting his legendary songwriting journey while still in uniform.

3. Bea Arthur (U.S. Marine Corps, 1943-1945)

Before she became a beloved “Golden Girl,” Bea Arthur enlisted under her maiden name, Bernice Frankel, during World War II. She served as a typist, truck driver, and dispatcher in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Her military evaluation files famously noted that she could be “argumentative” and “officious”—traits she would later channel perfectly into her iconic, sharp-tongued acting roles.

4. Bob Ross (U.S. Air Force, 1961-1981)

The famously gentle, soft-spoken painter spent 20 years in the Air Force, retiring as a Master Sergeant. Stationed in Alaska, Ross served as a strict military drill sergeant. He later admitted that he grew tired of being the “guy who makes you scrub the latrine,” which inspired him to vow that he would never raise his voice again once he left the military—leading directly to his serene television persona.

5. Morgan Freeman (U.S. Air Force, 1955-1959)

Morgan Freeman turned down a drama scholarship to enlist in the Air Force, dreaming of becoming a fighter pilot. However, when he finally got the chance to sit in a real cockpit, he realized that he loved the idea of flying more than the actual military execution of it. He served as an automatic tracking radar repairman for nearly four years before deciding to pursue acting full-time.

6. Chuck Norris (U.S. Air Force, 1958-1962)

Chuck Norris joined the Air Force as an Air Policeman and was stationed at Osan Air Base in South Korea. It was during this deployment that he began training in martial arts, eventually earning a black belt in Tang Soo Do. This training laid the entire foundation for his future career as a world-champion martial artist and action film star.

7. Clint Eastwood (U.S. Army, 1951-1953)

Drafted during the Korean War, Clint Eastwood served as a lifeguard and swimming instructor at Fort Ord in California. His most dramatic military moment occurred when a military plane he was riding in ran out of fuel and crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Eastwood had to swim over two miles through cold water to reach the shore, a real-life feat of survival that rivaled any of his future movie roles. He later used his G.I. Bill benefits to pay for acting classes.

8. Sidney Poitier (U.S. Army, ~1943)

Sidney Poitier lied about his age to enlist in the Army during WWII when he was just 16 years old. He was assigned as a medical attendant at a military hospital in New York. Finding the environment incredibly difficult, he feigned a mental illness to secure an honorable discharge after ten months of service. He went on to become the first Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor.

9. Jimi Hendrix (U.S. Army, 1961-1962)

Faced with a choice between prison or the military after a run-in with the law, Jimi Hendrix enlisted in the Army and joined the prestigious 101st Airborne Division as a paratrooper. However, his mind was always on his music. After a year of being distracted by his guitar and showing little interest in military life, he received an honorable discharge.

10. Betty White (American Women’s Voluntary Services, 1941-1945)

During World War II, the iconic television pioneer put her early career on hold to volunteer with the AWVS. She spent her days driving PX supply trucks to military installations throughout the Los Angeles area and her nights attending recreation events to boost troop morale before they shipped out.

11. Bob Barker (U.S. Navy Reserve, 1943-1945)

The legendary host of The Price Is Right enlisted in the Navy Reserve during World War II with the goal of becoming a fighter pilot. While he completed his intense flight training, the war ended before he could be deployed to an active combat zone.

12. Humphrey Bogart (U.S. Navy, 1918-1919)

Humphrey Bogart joined the Navy during World War I, serving as a signalman aboard the USS Leviathan. It was during his time in the Navy that he allegedly received his trademark lip scar—possibly from shrapnel or an encounter with a prisoner—which gave him his signature tough-guy lisp.

13. Harry Belafonte (U.S. Navy, 1944-1945)

Harry Belafonte dropped out of high school to enlist in the Navy during World War II. While stationed in California, he witnessed the aftermath of the tragic Port Chicago disaster, an explosion that killed hundreds of segregated Black sailors. This experience profoundly shaped his world view, driving his lifelong commitment to civil rights activism alongside his legendary music career.

14. Arnold Palmer (U.S. Coast Guard, 1950-1953)

Following the tragic death of a close friend, golfing legend Arnold Palmer enlisted in the Coast Guard. He served as a Yeoman and was fortunately allowed to practice his golf game during his off-hours, keeping his competitive edge sharp for his historic post-service career.

15. James Doohan (Canadian Army, 1940-1946)

Best known as “Scotty” on Star Trek, James Doohan was a true combat hero. As an artillery captain in the Canadian Army, he landed on Juno Beach on D-Day. He was shot six times by friendly fire later that night—losing his middle finger—but was saved when a silver cigarette case in his pocket stopped a bullet to his chest.

16. Buster Keaton (U.S. Army, 1918-1919)

The silent film star served in France with the Army’s 40th Infantry Division during World War I. The damp, freezing conditions in the military tents caused him to suffer permanent hearing loss, but he never lost the physical comedy skills that made him a cinema legend.

17. Don Rickles (U.S. Navy, 1946-1948)

The legendary insult comic served as a Seaman First Class aboard the USS Cyrene in the Pacific during the aftermath of World War II. He often joked that his comedy career began in the Navy because he had to learn how to fast-talk his way out of trouble with tough officers.

18. Mel Brooks (U.S. Army, 1944-1946)

Mel Brooks served as a combat engineer in the Army during World War II. His dangerous job involved defusing landmines ahead of advancing Allied troops. He famously maintained his trademark humor even in combat, once setting up a loudspeaker to sing to German soldiers across the battlefield.

Modern Stars: 25 Famous People Who Were Once In The Military Before That Found Fame

Modern celebrity veterans often served in volunteer roles, driven by personal ambition or patriotic responses to national events like 9/11. To discover more about these modern icons, check out 19 Celebrities Whose Military Service Might Surprise You.

19. Adam Driver (U.S. Marine Corps, 2001-2004)

Deeply moved by the events of September 11, Adam Driver enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served for nearly three years as an 81mm mortarman with the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. Shortly before his unit was scheduled to deploy to Iraq, he suffered a severe sternum injury in a mountain biking accident, resulting in an unexpected medical discharge. He went on to attend Juilliard and became an Oscar-nominated actor.

20. Drew Carey (U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 1980-1986)

Drew Carey enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve as a field radio operator after dropping out of college. He credits the Marines with giving him the discipline and personal direction he desperately needed. His signature crew cut and thick glasses became a staple of his early stand-up comedy routines and his hit sitcom.

21. Ice-T (U.S. Army, 1977-1983)

Born Tracy Morrow, Ice-T enlisted in the Army’s 25th Infantry Division to support his girlfriend and newborn daughter. While stationed in Hawaii, he bought stereo equipment with his military pay and taught himself how to DJ and rap. He credits the structure of the military with keeping him off a dangerous path.

22. Pat Tillman (U.S. Army, 2002-2004)

In one of the most selfless acts in sports history, NFL safety Pat Tillman turned down a $3.6 million contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the Army after 9/11. He became an Army Ranger and served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before tragically losing his life to friendly fire in 2004.

23. Montel Williams (U.S. Military, 1974-1996)

Montel Williams had a highly distinguished 22-year military career. He enlisted in the Marines, was later selected for the Naval Academy Prep School, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, and served as a cryptologic officer. He retired as a Lieutenant Commander before launching his famous syndicated talk show.

24. MC Hammer (U.S. Navy, 1979-1981)

Before his music career took off, Stanley Burrell (MC Hammer) served in the Navy for three years as a Storekeeper. He joined the military to bring structure to his life after his dreams of playing professional baseball fell through.

25. Rob Riggle (U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 1990-2013)

Rob Riggle spent 23 years in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He served on active duty in Liberia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. Even as his comedy career took off on The Daily Show and in films like The Hangover, Riggle continued to fulfill his reserve duty obligations.

How Military Service Shaped Hollywood Careers

The transition from the barracks to the red carpet is not as unusual as it might seem. The same traits required to survive a deployment—resilience, punctuality, teamwork, and intense focus—are highly valued on chaotic movie sets and during demanding concert tours.

Many of the stars listed above used their platforms to give back to the military community. For example, Adam Driver founded Arts in the Armed Forces, a non-profit dedicated to bringing high-quality theater performances to active-duty service members worldwide. Rob Riggle and Drew Carey have spent decades participating in USO tours, performing stand-up comedy for troops stationed in remote combat zones.

These stories of transition highlight the incredible adaptability of veterans. You can explore more about how these stars handled their dual lives in the fascinating collection of War Stories Before Stardom: 13 Celebrities’ Secret Service Years.

Comparing Military Branches of Famous Veterans

Frequently Asked Questions About Celebrities in the Military

Did Mr. Rogers serve in the military?

No. Despite a persistent urban legend claiming that television host Fred Rogers was a deadly sniper in the military who wore long sleeves to cover his tattoos, he never served in the armed forces. He was a lifelong pacifist who went straight into children’s television. You can read the full breakdown of this myth at Was Mr. Rogers in the Military?.

Which celebrities served as Navy SEALs?

While many actors play SEALs on screen, very few have actually earned the Bud/S trident. Jesse Ventura served in the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT), which was a direct precursor to the modern Navy SEALs. In public service and media, other prominent veterans like Eli Crane Navy Seal and host Shawn Ryan Seal have transitioned their real-world special operations experience into highly successful modern platforms.

Did JD Vance serve in the military?

Yes. Before his career in writing and politics, JD Vance served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He deployed to Iraq as a military public affairs specialist, an experience that he credits with helping to shape his worldview and career path. For more details on his service, check out JD Vance Marine 2.

Conclusion

Whether they served during World War II, the Korean War, or the post-9/11 era, these 25 famous people who were once in the military before that found fame prove that military service is a powerful launchpad for a lifetime of success.

At USMilitary.com, we are committed to supporting the next generation of veterans as they transition from active duty back to civilian life. Whether you are looking to secure your VA loan benefits, understand your disability ratings, or find your next career path, we are here to help.

Are you ready to find your own path to greatness? Explore Navy Jobs and Career Paths today, or check out our comprehensive guide Dare to Live Greatly to discover how you can apply military discipline to your everyday life!