30 Celebs We Never Knew Were In The Forces

Ice T

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You probably never knew that rapper, Ice-T spent four years in the 25th infantry and this is actually where he began taking an interest in music. He received early honourable discharge as he was a single parent and this all came after he we was found guilty of being involved in the theft of a rug!

Prince Harry

 

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Prince Harry joined the Royal Military Academy in 2004 and in 2006 he was deployed to Iraq. He was also deployed into Afghanistan in 2008 where he began flying military helicopters just like his brother and father. He toured for more than four months although his presence supposedly made camps more targeted.

Bob Ross

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At the age of just 18, Bob Ross enlisted in the US Air Force, he stayed there for 20 years before becoming the world famous painter he was. During his time in the Air Force he even became a Master Sergeant, although he discovered his hatred at having to raise his voice at other people and vowed to never do it again.

Pat Sajak

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Pat Sajak is most well-known for his role as the host of Wheel of Fortune, a post he's held for nearly 40 years! Prior to this however, he was actually enlisted in to the US Army as a disc jockey for the American Forces Vietnam Network. He appeared in the news at the time for accidentally cutting off Nixon's Christmas message to the troops accidentally!

James Earl Jones

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Since the beginning of his career, Jones has become one of the most distinguished actors of his time, his voice being one of the most recognisable in the acting world with roles as Darth Vader and Mufasa in the Lion King. He joined the Reserves Officers' Training Corps in 1949 and was later deployed in Korea following the war.

Adam Driver

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Adam Driver swiftly joined the US Marine Corps following the 9/11 attacks and he served for nearly 3 years before he was medically discharged as a result of a fractured sternum. Since then, he has grown a popular career appearing in films like Star Wars, BlacKkKlansman and Marriage Story.

Morgan Freeman

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Instead of heading straight in to his drama scholarship following High School, Morgan Freeman actually enlisted in the US Air Force where he worked as a radar repairman. After four years he moved to LA where he began taking acting classes; This is where one of the most legendary acting careers was born!

Gal Gadot

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As a result of her nationality being Israeli, Gadot was mandatorily enlisted into the Israel Defense Forces at the age of 20. She worked as a combat fitness instructor for two years. Since then, she has had roles in popular films like the Fast and Furious Series and also as DC's Wonder Woman.

Jimi Hendrix

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Jimi Hendrix joined the army more as a punishment than a decision, after being caught in stolen car twice he was given the option of prison time or enlisting in the army. He was discharged after his platoon sergeant claimed he was never going to be up to soldier standards; he spent more time playing on his car than working his duties.

Tom Selleck

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Following his education at USC (where he dropped out in order to study acting) Tom Selleck was drafted into the US army for the Vietnam War. He was never deployed outside of the US though spending the time he was enlisted as part of the California Army National Guard for 6 years.

Don Rickles

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The well-known comedian/actor enlisted in the Navy following high school and even served during the final years of WW2 as a first class seaman. After he was honourably discharged 2 years after the end of the war he began studying acting which grew into comedy. Celebrities like Frank Sinatra were known supporters of him early in his career.

Chuck Norris

Image Source: Military Times

Norris actually gained his nickname 'Chuck' swiftly after enlisting in the US Air Force where he was deployed in South Korea. This is where he became infatuated with the martial arts and after he was discharged he began making appearances in popular films like alongside Bruce Lee in Way of the Dragon. He then became known as an all action movie star.

Drew Carey

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Following his education at KSU Carey enlisted into the US Marine Corps in 1980, he remained enlisted for 6 years where he worked as a field radio operator. When he ended his military career he tried his career in stand up and eventually his titular show, The Drew Carey Show which ran for 233 episodes.

Charles Bronson

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mage Source: Reddit

Charles Bronson was known for his stern features and he was popular for roles on our screens during the mid 1900's; some popular roles included Machine Gun Kelly and Assassination. He enlisted in the US Air Force during WW2 as an aerial gunner; he even received a purple heart for the wounds he received in battle.

Montel Williams

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Montel Williams was actually the first black Maine that was accepted into the four-year training programme for the US Naval Academy, he graduated 5 years later and he only retired 22 years later at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He then became popular for his titular talk show which ran for 12 years.

Elvis Presley

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Midway through his peak, Elvis Presley was drafted into the US Army; he served as a armor intelligence specialist and remained working for two years. It was here he met his future wife, Priscilla. He immediately got back to making music following his discharge and he also created a massive movie schedule.

MC Hammer

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MC Hammer originally planned to become a professional baseball player following high school, but after he failed to gain a professional baseball place he enlisted in the US Navy. He stayed here for three years in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Squadron before being honourably discharged.

Hugh Hefner

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The world famous playboy mansion owner Hugh Hefner was also enlisted in the army for a brief period. Not only was he an infantry clerk but he also worked as a writer for the US army contributing articles and cartoons to the US Army newsletter. Less than 10 years later he launched Playboy!

Clint Eastwood

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Clint Eastwood is one of the most famous actors of all time, known for many of his roles in Spaghetti Westerns. He even has awards for his directing ability for Invictus and American Sniper. He was drafted into the US army for the Korean War although he actually only worked as a lifeguard at Fort Ord.

Sean Connery

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The late, great Sean Connery actually enrolled in the British Royal Navy at the age of 16, although he was discharged after three years as a result of stomach ulcers. He began acting in the early 1950's and obviously went on to secure one of the most popular roles in Film and TV history, James Bond.

Mel Brooks

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Mel Brooks is popular for a number of his roles including Spaceballs and he also wrote and directed a number pre 2000's films like Silent Movie and Blazing Saddled. He intended to enroll on a psychology course but instead ended up being recruited to the US army for the final years of WW2.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

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Arnold joined the Austrian Army in 1965 as all Austrians had to fulfill one year of service before the age of 18 and he even spent a week in military prison after disappearing to take part in and win the Junior Mr Europe contest. He went on to become a world famous bodybuilder and actor, appearing in films like Terminator and he even became the governor of California.

Johnny Cash

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Johnny Cash became one of the most popular musicians around the world with his music spanning nearly 50 years and a multitude of genres. He enlisted in the Air Force during 1950 and he worked as a morse code operator trying to intercept any transmissions sent by the Soviet Army.

Mr T.

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Mr T has become synonymous with being a sort of 'hard man' mainly thanks to his role as B.A. Baracus in the A-Team and Clubber in Rocky III. He enlisted in to the US Army in 1975 and served for the Military Police Corps before then working as a bouncer for celebrities like Michael Jackson and he also became popular for his Snickers adverts.

Betty White

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Betty White became a national treasure as she grew older, appearing in a number of famous shows, perhaps most notably as Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls. Following the US entering WW2 in 1941 she actually volunteered into the American Women's Voluntary Services.

Sidney Poitier

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After struggling to find work in acting at a young age, Poitier lied about his age in order to enlist in the Army during WW2. He worked with veteran psychiatric patients although later feigned mental illness himself to get discharged. This then started a more than 50 year, legendary career in film and television which included roles in Shoot to Kill and Mandela and de Klerk.

Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett is one of the most popular and well known jazz musicians of all time in a career that has spanned over 80 (yes EIGHTY) years. He was enlisted into the US Army for the end of WW2 and where he actually fought on the front line. He even took part in the liberation of a Concentration Camp!

Alexander Skarsgard

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Alexander Skarsgard is part of one of the many famous acting families around the world, and he also joined the military earlier on in his life. He applied, at age 19, to complete his mandatory national service and served in the anti-sabotage and anti-terrorism units during the Stockholm Archipelago.

Bob Barker

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Bob Barker beats Pat Sajak in the length of hosting a popular gameshow after he hosted The Price is Right for 50 years! He joined the military for as part of the US Navy Reserve towards the end of WW2 and although he trained as a fighter pilot he actually didn't serve in active duty.

Rob Riggle

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The famous actor and comedian, Rob Riggle, joined the Marines in 1990 as a pilot and continued serving through until his retirement in 2013. Much of his time was spent in the Marine Corps reserves although he was deployed in Liberia, Kosovo, Albania and Afghanistan during his time.

Dennis Franz

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Dennis Franz is an actor best known for his role as Detective Andy Sipowicz in NYPD Blue - but before he was winning four Emmys for his role, he was actually serving in the military. He'd been sent after college to serve in the army, where he spent 11 months as a soldier in Vietnam. He served with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. When speaking about his experience later in an interview, he said that he "came back a much different person than when I left" and that it was a life-changing experience. He described it as "depressing" and "frustrating".

Bill Cosby

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Actor Bill Cosby became known as 'America's Dad', thanks to his portrayal as one of the most famous dads on TV, Doctor Heathcliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show. When he wasn't acting, he actually served in the Navy during the Korean War, where he served as a hospital corpsman for four years. His career and life began to unravel when he was accused of s*xual assault later in his career, with over 60 women coming forward to accuse him. The actor has denied all accusations, and the lawsuits are still ongoing.

Kirk Douglas

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Kirk Douglas is a name famous in the Hollywood acting world, particularly for his role in Spartacus, but before he was a big movie star, he was serving in the US Navy. Douglas was a Lieutenant, as well as becoming a Communications Officer during antisubmarine warfare. Before he could fully complete his time in the Navy, he was actually medically discharged for injuries he'd sustained in the war. He passed away in February 2020, but his famous acting son, Michael Douglas, continues his legacy. He served in the Navy 1941 until 1944.

Gene Hackman

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Gene Hackman is a top Hollywood actor who has played his fair share of military men during his career - but once upon a time, he didn't have to act. Hackman served in the marines back in 1946 when he was only 16 years old - he lied about his age in order to be accepted to serve. He left home and went on to be a field radio operator for a four year stint in the military, meaning he'd barely be 20 when he returned home with his hugely successful acting career ahead of him! After a 60 year career, he's now retired (and earned it!).

Mickey Rooney

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Famous actor Mickey Rooney actually served in the military after already earning his accolades for acting. He starred in Andy Hardy and left acting to serve in Patton's 3rd Army during World War II. He even earned a Bronze Star for his service. Beginning in 1944, her served in the army for close to two years, until after the Second World War had ended. He worked in Special Services to entertain the troops during their time there. He was also a radio personality for the American Forces Network, and received a ton of other awards for his military service.

Kris Kristofferson

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Kris Kristofferson is a now-retired country singer, famous in America and all over the world for his chart topping country hits. As well as his successful music career, he also served in the US Army after joining, and worked hard enough to achieve the rank of Captain. He also finished Ranger School and became a helicopter pilot during his time serving. And in the 1960s, he served in West Germany, where he was stationed as part of the 8th Infantry Division. He's also known for his acting career, in movies like Blade and A Star is Born.

Carl Reiner

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Carl Reiner is best known for being the comedic mind and creator behind The Dick Van Dyke Show, but he also had a career in the military, where he served as a teletype operator during World War II. During this time, he also worked as a French translator. While serving, his entertainment talents also came into play, as he joined the entertainment army unit so that he could tour across the Pacific and provide entertainment for his fellow troops! The actor and military man passed away in 2020.

James Doohan

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In the acting world, James Doohan was best known for his role as Scotty in Star Trek, but he also enrolled to serve his country during the beginning of World War II. He joined the Royal Canadian Artillary, and was even one of the troops to lead his fellow fighters in the Invasion of Normandy on D-Day. After he'd led his troops to secure their position for overnight watch, he was actually shot by one of his own Canadian troops when they thought he was an enemy soldier. Doohan was shot four times in the leg, once in the finger and once in the chest - luckily, he survived!

Don Knotts

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Don Knotts is known for being a famous and beloved actor, and he was also part of military service - but the story of what he actually did in the military gets blurred a lot of the time. Some people believe a story that he served as a Marine Corps Drill Instructor, which is a false rumor that somehow began. While this isn't true, he still did serve in the military, just in a different way! The actor was drafted into the army in 1943 to serve the US, but he worked as a ventriloquist to entertain his fellow troops in the special services.

Buster Keaton

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Buster Keaton was best known for his physical comedy in silent movies of Hollywood - he became known as 'The Great Stone Face' because of his blank expression that only added to the comedian's success. As well as his movie success, he was also drafted into the army at the start of the first World War. He actually wrote about his time serving in the army in his book 'My Wonderful World of Slapstick'. Recalling his time stationed in France, he said that the "circular tents" they slept in meant that their heads were close to the drafts coming in from outside. The cold draft led him to develop hearing problems, and he actually became deaf in one ear for the rest of his life.

Dr. Ruth

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Dr. Ruth is best known for being a famous German-American therapist, with a focus on sex therapy, as well as being a talk show host and writer. She's also known for being a survivor of the Holocaust during her time growing up in Germany. When she was a teenager in Israel, she was actually drafted into the military to train as a sniper specifically. When she looks back on her military experience, she explains that she never actually had to use the skills she'd learned with a sniper rifle - but she does she was "a very good sniper".

Ted Williams

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Ted Williams was famous in the world of baseball, but that wasn't the only career move he made during his lifetime. After he'd already earned the title of 'Teddy Ballgame' in the sporting world, he joined the Navy at the beginning of the Second World War, leaving his baseball career behind for now. Once he'd joined, he then later became a fighter pilot while serving in the Marines. When speaking about his time during the Marines, he was very humble, claiming that 99% of the other pilots "did a better job" than he did!

Jimmy Stewart

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Jimmy Stewart is one of the best known names in classic Hollywood cinema, known for movies like It's A Wonderful Life, but he wasn't always just in show business. He was actually drafted into service during the Second World War - but was, at first, rejected from serving because he was classed as underweight. He then put on a few pounds and went back, only to be enlisted successfully this time in the Army Air Corps. They originally stationed him behind the lines for assignments because of his fame, but he fought this, and was eventually put on overseas units and rose through the ranks.

Bea Arthur

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American actress and comedienne Beatrice Arthur, who passed away in 2009, gained worldwide fame for her role on television, and she also served for 30 months in the Marine Corps. She worked as both a typist and a truck driver during her time in service. She joined the Corps at the age of twenty one, after finding out that the Marines were looking for women wanting to enlist - and she thought "the only thing to do was to join". One of Bea Arthur's most famous acting roles was in The Golden Girls, as well as Maude.

Johnny Carson

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Johnny Carson was one of the most famous television hosts in America, who also had a career as a writer, producer and of course a comedian. At one stage in his life, he also served in the military. At the age of 20, he joined the US Navy back in 1943, and first served as an apprentice shipman. When he gained more experience, he served as an official midshipman stationed in the Pacific Ocean with the USS Pennsylvania. A few years after this position, he then served as a communications officer, responsible for decoding messages.

Alan Alda

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One of actor Alan Alda's most famous television roles was playing Hawkeye Pierce in the beloved show M*A*S*H, which focused on the story of those serving at a surgical hospital in South Korea during the Korean War. While Alda was completely believable as Hawkeye, that might be because he also served in real life, too. He started out at the Fordham University Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and then later went on to work in the Army Reserve. Now 87 years old, the actor has also been married to his wife Arlene since 1957.

Alec Guinness

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Sir Alec Guinness passed away in 2000, but not before he'd made his mark with a long career in acting, memorable for his famous role as Obi Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars, as well as movies like Lawrence of Arabia and The Bridge on the River Kwai. But before he starred in these famous movies, with roles that would go down in history, the English actor was actually deployed to serve in the Royal Navy (Great Britain) during World War II. He served as an officer on a landing craft, and also helped to take British soldiers to Normandy during the D-Day landings.

Steve McQueen

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Steve McQueen is of course best known for being "the King of Cool", American actor and his iconic role in the movie The Great Escape. He also joined the Marines back in 1947, but it wasn't smooth sailing for his time serving. Even though he did well enough to receive promotions, he was also demoted a fair few times, too! He proved his mettle, though, when he saved five of his fellow men during a training exercise that went wrong in the Arctic, where they would have drowned otherwise. His bravery earned him a place in the honor guard of president Harry Truman.

Charlton Heston

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Charlton Heston was another famous Hollywood actor who also served time in the military. During his long and successful career, Heston appeared in almost 100 movies, which included Planet of the Apes, Ben-Hur and The Three Musketeers. He was enlisted to fight in 1941, when the USA had entered into World War II. He ended up being stationed in Alaska, where he worked as an aerial gunner on the B-25 Mitchell bomber, as well as working as a radio operator. During his time serving, he managed to avoid any direct combat.

Willie Nelson

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Willie Nelson is known for being one of the biggest names in country music, and music in general at that. The American singer has also made a life's work of political activism, acting and setting the tone for Nashville sound. During his lifetime, he's also served in the military - in the Air Force, specifically. Just after he'd graduated high school, he joined the US Air Force, but actually ended up being medically discharged after serving for only nine months, because he had problems with his back. He then spent more time with his guitar!