Most people’s idea of celebrities is red carpets, cameras flashing, and Hollywood roles. However, for a few of them, their road to stardom started in a far-off place—wearing combat boots in the Vietnamese jungles. Before becoming household names, these men experienced one of the most turbulent periods of modern history. Their stint in uniform defined who they were and, in many instances, added a depth and sense of realism to their subsequent performances that you just can’t replicate. The following are 10 unexpected celebrities who once exchanged Hollywood spotlight for the adversity of the Vietnam War.
10. Wes Studi – The Actor Who Lived the Warrior’s Life
Long before Wes Studi stormed the sets playing fierce warriors on The Last of the Mohicans, he was one in the flesh. At 17, he enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard and eventually volunteered to serve in Vietnam. Studi spent a year in some of the harshest conditions imaginable, an experience that later informed his activism as well as his raw, commanding presence on screen.
9. Richard Chaves – Predator’s Soldier with Real Combat History
Fans recall Richard Chaves playing “Poncho” in Predator, but his military experience was no acting gig. He served with the Army’s 196th Infantry Brigade and fought as an infantryman in Vietnam. That experience provided him with a humble authenticity that served him well in his acting career.
8. Jesse Ventura – Wrestler, Governor, and Navy Man
Jesse Ventura’s life has been far from usual: professional wrestler, action film legend, and governor of Minnesota. But it all began with six years in the Navy in the Underwater Demolition Team, the precursor to today’s Navy SEALs. Though he wasn’t in direct combat, his training conditioned the resilience he became renowned for.
7. Oliver Stone – From Foxhole to Filmmaking Legend
Few filmmakers have depicted the Vietnam War with as much integrity as Oliver Stone, and that’s not just because he lived it. Stone joined the Army in 1967, asked for combat duty, and served on the Cambodian frontier. Twice wounded and decorated with a Bronze Star for valor, he went on to make the memories into visceral films such as Platoon and Born on the Fourth of July.
6. Dale Dye – The Marine Who Taught Hollywood How to Fight
Dale Dye’s imprints are everywhere in contemporary war movies. Before his time as Hollywood’s military consultant of choice, he did three tours in Vietnam with the Marine Corps and endured dozens of combat operations. When he later instructed actors for films such as Saving Private Ryan, he ensured that they experienced a mere fraction of what actual Marines endure.
5. Dennis Franz – Before NYPD Blue, There Was the Battlefield
Dennis Franz gained stardom playing Detective Andy Sipowicz on NYPD Blue, but his own experience was more rugged. Franz served in Vietnam with the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, a time he once called life-changing. That toughness and down-to-earth demeanor that fans adored in him originated in those years.
4. R. Lee Ermey – The Drill Sergeant Who Wasn’t Acting
When R. Lee Ermey yelled orders in Full Metal Jacket, he wasn’t acting. He’d been a Marine Corps drill instructor and performed a 14-month tour of duty in Vietnam before injuries forced him out. His military background provided him with authoritative credibility that few actors could ever rival.
3. James Avery – Uncle Phil’s Secret Navy Life
Fans loved James Avery as the intelligent and intimidating Uncle Phil on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. But before sitcom fame, Avery served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. Following his service, he started out in writing and acting, establishing a career that rendered him a popular TV icon.
2. Pat Sajak – The Game Show Host Who Kept Troops Smiling
Well before Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak was on the mic in Vietnam. Based in Saigon, he was a DJ on the Armed Forces radio, waking soldiers with the “Dawn Buster” show. It wasn’t war, but his voice was an anchor of sanity and humor in an awkward period.
1. Rocky Bleier – From the Battlefield to the Super Bowl
Rocky Bleier’s tale is so unbelievable that it’s hard to fathom. Drafted into the Army in his first year playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was severely injured in Vietnam by a grenade and bullets. Doctors informed him that he’d never play again. Not only did he come back, but he also assisted the Steelers in winning four Super Bowls—becoming a living legend of perseverance.
These tales remind us that fame tends to disguise further pages. These men, who went on to entertain millions, once endured the turbulence of war, bringing those lessons with them into each role, each performance, and each triumph. Their service is evidence that sometimes our greatest battles have been fought long before the public ever discovers them.