Lights, camera… salute! These household names have starred in blockbuster films and popular TV series, but prior to Hollywood stardom, they fought in uniform. From grueling training to actual missions, military life influenced their careers in ways viewers would never suspect. Here’s a glimpse at 10 actors whose roads to fame went through service.
10. Adam Driver: Marine Turned Star
Adam Driver, who played Kylo Ren in Star Wars, was a U.S. Marine. Inspired by the actions of September 11, Driver enlisted at age 18 in search of direction and purpose. A mountain-biking accident broke his sternum shortly before deployment to Iraq, and his active duty ended. The driver used his experience later to create Arts in the Armed Forces, which brings professional theater performances to soldiers.
9. Elvis Presley: The King in Uniform
Even the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll had experience trading stage lighting for life in the Army. Drafted in 1957 and enlisting for service in 1958, Elvis opted to be a regular soldier instead of accepting a cushy posting. Based in Germany, he became a sergeant and met Priscilla Beaulieu, the wife he would eventually have. Service in the Army marked a turning point in both his life and career.
8. Chuck Norris: Air Force Martial Artist
Before his rise as an action hero, Chuck Norris was an air policeman with the U.S. Air Force, serving in South Korea. It was there that he learned martial arts—a talent that formed the essence of his on-screen image. Military years’ discipline, training, and determination powered the action hero roles that brought him stardom.
7. Bea Arthur: Marine Corps Pioneer
Well before her Golden Girls stardom, Bea Arthur enlisted in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve in 1943, a few weeks short of her 21st birthday. She worked as a typist, truck driver, and dispatcher, ultimately achieving the rank of staff sergeant. Her spitfire military temperament translated beautifully into her iconic television roles.
6. Morgan Freeman: Radar Technician to Oscar Winner
Morgan Freeman first wanted to pilot fighter planes when he enlisted in the Air Force in 1955. What he became instead was a four-year radar technician who learned discipline and concentration before discovering that his true love was acting. Freeman became one of Hollywood’s greatest and most versatile performers.
5. Clint Eastwood: Army Lifeguard Turned Icon
Clint Eastwood was drafted in 1951 for the Korean War and served at Fort Ord, California. He was a lifeguard and swimming instructor, eventually using his GI Bill to attend acting school. The work ethic and discipline instilled in his military days served as a foundation for a career that would last for decades, from Dirty Harry to Oscar-winning movies.
4. Rob Riggle: Marine Corps to Comedy Central
Rob Riggle is more than a comedian—he’s a veteran Marine. He spent nine years on active duty and 14 in the Reserves, serving in Liberia, Kosovo, Albania, and Afghanistan, and advancing to the rank of lieutenant colonel. His life as a Marine influences his sense of humor as well as his continued work on behalf of service members.
3. Bob Barker: Fighter Pilot Before Game Show Fame
Before appearing on The Price Is Right, Bob Barker served as a naval aviator in World War II, undergoing complete fighter pilot training, including carrier landings. His experience instilled in him a special outlook and discipline that he brought with him to a career spanning decades as a television personality.
2. James Earl Jones: Army Officer and Voice Icon
James Earl Jones, voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa, began acting in the Army during the Korean War. Advancing to first lieutenant with the 75th Rangers Regiment, he carried leadership and grace from military service into each part he played.
1. Jimmy Stewart: Hollywood’s Highest-Ranking Veteran
Jimmy Stewart’s war service is legendary. Already a victorious Oscar winner and skilled pilot, he joined the Army Air Corps in 1941. He completed 20 combat missions during World War II, received two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and the French Croix de Guerre. Stewart remained with the Air Force Reserves, retiring eventually as a brigadier general. His record combines Hollywood luminosity with authentic bravery.
The next time you catch a vintage film or binge-watch your favorite program, keep this in mind: some of Hollywood’s highest-profile stars learned about discipline, toughness, and leadership in boot camp before they ever stepped onto a movie set.