Serving your country in the military is something everyone applauds. Choosing to sign up and put your life on the line for your country gets major respect and is not something everyone is willing to do. Whether people serve a short term or are lifers, joining the Army, Navy, or Air Force is a commendable decision.  There are many veterans who did their time in the military, got out at an early age, and took up another path that resulted in them becoming famous. Celebrity veterans are much more common than you might think, with many stars in Hollywood having served their country before shifting careers. While not all of these celebrities saw action, they still served with dignity and respect and were willing to put their life at risk if need be.  To celebrate these celebrity veterans, here are some of the most famous former soldiers who have made it big in the entertainment world.  20 Celebrity Veterans That Served in the Military

  1. Adam Driver Denis Makarenko/Shutterstock Adam Driver is one of this generation’s great actors, but before becoming famous he paid his dues in the Armed Forces. After the September 11 attacks, Driver signed up for the United States Marine Corps. He was an 81mm mortar man for the Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. Driver served two years and eight months before a mountain biking accident resulted in a fractured sternum and he was medically discharged.  “I found I loved the Marine Corps the most for the thing I was looking for the least when I joined, which was the people – a weird motley crew of characters from a cross-section of the United States that on the surface I had nothing in common with,” Driver said in a 2016 TED Talk about his time in the Armed Forces. “Over time, all the political and personal bravado that led me to the military dissolved. And for me, the Marine Corps became synonymous with my friends.”
  2. Ice-T Ron Adar/Shutterstock Gangster rapper Ice-T (born Tracy Marrow) is these days best known for playing Odafin Tutuola on the hit police procedural Law & Order: SVU, but before all that Ice served two years and two months in the United States Army’s 25th Infantry. He enlisted in 1977 at age 19 and found a passion for hip-hop while stationed in Hawaii. Ice received an honorable discharge in 1979 and returned home to Los Angeles where he embarked on a career in music. 
  3. Betty White Everett Collection/Shutterstock After her sudden passing in 2021, the U.S. Army acknowledged actress Betty White’s service in the Army. Taking to Twitter the Army declared; “We are saddened by the passing of Betty White. Not only was she an amazing actress, she also served during WWII as a member of the American Women’s Voluntary Services. A true legend on and off the screen.”
  4. George Carlin Matti Holden/YouTube It’s not surprising that comedian George Carlin was an “unproductive airman” while doing his time in the U.S. Air Force. The controversial comic signed up so he could be trained as a radio technician and learn more about how radio works. Stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, Carling also moonlighted as a disc jockey at a local radio station.  Carlin was court-martialed three times during his Air Force career and sanctioned even more times for doing wrong, but was eventually awarded a general discharge in 1957. 
  5. Clint Eastwood  Denis Makarenko/Shutterstock Western star Clint Eastwood served for a short time before making his way onto the big screen. Drafted during the Korean War, Eastwood was stationed at Fort Ord in northern California where he was a lifeguard. The closest he came to seeing any action was when a Douglas AD bomber he was riding in crashed into the ocean, forcing Eastwood and the pilot to swim two miles to shore. 
  6. Johnny Cash Johnny Cash/YouTube The Man in Black spent four years in the Air Force. Johnny Cash was trained in Texas before being assigned to the 12th Radio Squadron Mobile unit of the U.S. Air Force Security Service in West Germany. This is where he spent the majority of his time while in uniform and started his first band, The Landsberg Barbarians.  Cash was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1954 and returned to Texas where he turned his attention to making music. 
  7. Drew Carey Michael Mattes/Shutterstock Long before he had his own hit TV series (The Drew Carey Show), funnyman Drew Carey was part of the Marine Corps from 1980 to 1986. He was a field radio operator in the 25th Marine Regiment in Ohio and still has a lot of respect for the military as he told U.S Veterans Magazine.  “I believe it’s important for us to always recognize the sacrifices it takes to serve in our military, and how necessary they are… We need to recognize and applaud people in our military who do their jobs well, and with honor. Period.”
  8. Bea Arthur  Everett Collection/Shutterstock Another Golden Girl who spent time in the military, Bea Arthur (real name Bernice Frankel) was a typist and truck driver in the Marine Corps. She enlisted during World War II and was one of the first members of the United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve in 1943. She spent two years in the service before being honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1945. Arthur moved to Philadelphia and became a licensed medical technician but decided against pursuing this as a career and enrolled in drama classes in New York City. 
  9. Steve McQueen mptvimages.com The iconic Steve McQueen had to get permission from his mom to enlist in the United States Marine Corps as he was yet to turn 18. During his early days in the military McQueen unsurprisingly found it hard to play by the rules and had his rank demoted several times. He even spent 41 days in the brig after failing to return from a weekend away and was eventually found hiding out at his girlfriend’s place.  After that experience, McQueen changed his mindset and embraced Army life. In the book Steve McQueen: In His Own Words, the Bullitt star looked back fondly on his time in the service, saying “The Marines made a man out of me. I learned how to get along with others, and I had a platform to jump off of.”
  10. Bob Barker s_bukley/Shutterstock Famous TV personality Bob Barker enlisted not long before World War II ended. The former long-running host of The Price is Right wrote in his autobiography, Priceless Memories, that the reason the war ended was because he was ready to join the fight.  “I was a Naval Aviator, a Fighter Pilot. I completed all facets of my training, including my qualifying landings on a carrier. I was all ready to go, and when the enemy heard that I was headed for the Pacific, they surrendered. That was the end of World War II.” Whatever you say, Bob. 

See more about - 20 Of The Greatest British Actors Working Today

  1. Morgan Freeman Everett Collection/Shutterstock Inspired by war films, Morgan Freeman joined the Air Force in 1955. He served as an Automatic Tracking Radar repairman and gained the rank of airman first class. After four years he left the service to pursue acting, going on to star in the 1989 Civil War drama Glory. 
  2. Elvis Presley WatchMojo.com/YouTube Unlike everyone else on this list, Elvis Presley joined that army at the height of his career. He was drafted in 1958 and while offered the chance to enlist in the Special Services where he would be looked after and take part in minimal duties, Presley decided to serve as a regular solider, earning him much respect amongst his peers.  Presley spent two years in the Army, most of it stationed in Germany, and attained the rank of sergeant. Despite two years away from music, Presley’s return was met with much fanfare and despite failing to reach the heights of his career before entering the Army, he remained one of the biggest names in music. 
  3. Humphrey Bogart Turner Classic Movies/YouTube Humphrey Bogart joined the Navy in 1918 during World War I. He spent under two years as a coxswain who spent most of his time ferrying troops from Europe back to the United States after the war ended. Speaking about his time in the Navy, Bogart said; “At eighteen, war was great stuff. Paris! Sexy French girls! Hot damn!”
  4. Mr. T s_bukley/Shutterstock Known to his parents as Laurence Tureaud, Mr. T made it big in the 80s starring in Rocky III as boxer Clubber Lang and TV series The A-Team as B A. Baracus. But before all that, Mr. T served in the  United States Army, signing up in 1975. He was a member of the Military Police Corps and spent several years in the military before being discharged. He got a job as a bouncer and then a bodyguard before becoming an actor. 
  5. Rob Riggle Ovidiu Hrubaru/Shutterstock It’s hard to believe funnyman Rob Riggle was in the army. And unlike many other famous veterans, Riggle made a career out of his time in the service. He joined the Marines in 1990 and spent 23 years in the armed forces before pulling the pin in 2013.  During his time in the military, Riggle had a decorated career that included stints in Liberia, Kosovo, Albania, and Afghanistan. He received several medals and commendations and achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. 
  6. Jimi Hendrix BillboardNews/YouTube The greatest guitarist of all time spent a short time in the military during the 60s, although not by choice. After being caught riding in a stolen car, he was given the choice of jail or enlisting in the Army. Hendrix chose the military and was a member of the 101st Airborne Division. But the Army life wasn’t for Hendrix, who spent most of his time playing guitar or sleeping on duty. He was given a general discharge under honorable conditions in 1962, serving less than a year. 
  7. Chuck Norris Markus Wissmann/Shutterstock Chuck Norris didn’t have to try too hard to get into character when playing soldiers in 80s action classics Missing in Action and Delta Force. The martial arts expert had already experienced life in the military, having joined the United States Air Force as an Air Policeman in 1958. Based in South Korea, Norris spent four years in the service before being discharged in 1962. During this time is when he got into martial arts and began training in Tang Soo Do, a Korean martial art.
  8. Kris Kristofferson s_bukley/Shutterstock Country singer Kris Kristofferson joined the U.S. Army after pressure from his family in 1960. He spent four years in the service and became a helicopter pilot as well as completing Ranger School. As a member of the 8th Infantry Division, he was stationed in West Germany for a period of time before leaving in 1964 and moving to Nashville to kick-start his music career. Kristofferson was awarded the Veteran of the Year Award at the 2003 American Veterans Awards ceremony.
  9. Mel Brooks s_bukley/Shutterstock Funnyman Mel Brooks is one of the few celebrity veterans to actually see combat. After scoring highly on an Army intelligence test, Brooks was recruited for the Army Specialized Training Program and drafted into the army in 1944.  Brooks fought at the Battle of the Bulge and had many different jobs in the field, including combat engineering and clearing roads of bobby traps.  He was discharged as a corporal in 1946, moved back to the States, and began his career in comedy. 
  10. James Earl Jones Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock The voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps while studying at college. Awaiting a call up to the Korean War, by the time James Earl Jones’ papers came through the war was over. He went to Rangers school and was part of the 38th Regimental Combat Team. He was promoted to first lieutenant before being discharged in 1953. 

See more about - 101 Weird Facts About Celebrities

Serving your country in the military is something everyone applauds. Choosing to sign up and put your life on the line for your country gets major respect and is not something everyone is willing to do. Whether people serve a short term or are lifers, joining the Army, Navy, or Air Force is a commendable decision.  There are many veterans who did their time in the military, got out at an early age, and took up another path that resulted in them becoming famous. Celebrity veterans are much more common than you might think, with many stars in Hollywood having served their country before shifting careers. While not all of these celebrities saw action, they still served with dignity and respect and were willing to put their life at risk if need be.  To celebrate these celebrity veterans, here are some of the most famous former soldiers who have made it big in the entertainment world.  20 Celebrity Veterans That Served in the Military

  1. Adam Driver Denis Makarenko/Shutterstock Adam Driver is one of this generation’s great actors, but before becoming famous he paid his dues in the Armed Forces. After the September 11 attacks, Driver signed up for the United States Marine Corps. He was an 81mm mortar man for the Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. Driver served two years and eight months before a mountain biking accident resulted in a fractured sternum and he was medically discharged.  “I found I loved the Marine Corps the most for the thing I was looking for the least when I joined, which was the people – a weird motley crew of characters from a cross-section of the United States that on the surface I had nothing in common with,” Driver said in a 2016 TED Talk about his time in the Armed Forces. “Over time, all the political and personal bravado that led me to the military dissolved. And for me, the Marine Corps became synonymous with my friends.”
  2. Ice-T Ron Adar/Shutterstock Gangster rapper Ice-T (born Tracy Marrow) is these days best known for playing Odafin Tutuola on the hit police procedural Law & Order: SVU, but before all that Ice served two years and two months in the United States Army’s 25th Infantry. He enlisted in 1977 at age 19 and found a passion for hip-hop while stationed in Hawaii. Ice received an honorable discharge in 1979 and returned home to Los Angeles where he embarked on a career in music. 
  3. Betty White Everett Collection/Shutterstock After her sudden passing in 2021, the U.S. Army acknowledged actress Betty White’s service in the Army. Taking to Twitter the Army declared; “We are saddened by the passing of Betty White. Not only was she an amazing actress, she also served during WWII as a member of the American Women’s Voluntary Services. A true legend on and off the screen.”
  4. George Carlin Matti Holden/YouTube It’s not surprising that comedian George Carlin was an “unproductive airman” while doing his time in the U.S. Air Force. The controversial comic signed up so he could be trained as a radio technician and learn more about how radio works. Stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, Carling also moonlighted as a disc jockey at a local radio station.  Carlin was court-martialed three times during his Air Force career and sanctioned even more times for doing wrong, but was eventually awarded a general discharge in 1957. 
  5. Clint Eastwood  Denis Makarenko/Shutterstock Western star Clint Eastwood served for a short time before making his way onto the big screen. Drafted during the Korean War, Eastwood was stationed at Fort Ord in northern California where he was a lifeguard. The closest he came to seeing any action was when a Douglas AD bomber he was riding in crashed into the ocean, forcing Eastwood and the pilot to swim two miles to shore. 
  6. Johnny Cash Johnny Cash/YouTube The Man in Black spent four years in the Air Force. Johnny Cash was trained in Texas before being assigned to the 12th Radio Squadron Mobile unit of the U.S. Air Force Security Service in West Germany. This is where he spent the majority of his time while in uniform and started his first band, The Landsberg Barbarians.  Cash was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1954 and returned to Texas where he turned his attention to making music. 
  7. Drew Carey Michael Mattes/Shutterstock Long before he had his own hit TV series (The Drew Carey Show), funnyman Drew Carey was part of the Marine Corps from 1980 to 1986. He was a field radio operator in the 25th Marine Regiment in Ohio and still has a lot of respect for the military as he told U.S Veterans Magazine.  “I believe it’s important for us to always recognize the sacrifices it takes to serve in our military, and how necessary they are… We need to recognize and applaud people in our military who do their jobs well, and with honor. Period.”
  8. Bea Arthur  Everett Collection/Shutterstock Another Golden Girl who spent time in the military, Bea Arthur (real name Bernice Frankel) was a typist and truck driver in the Marine Corps. She enlisted during World War II and was one of the first members of the United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve in 1943. She spent two years in the service before being honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1945. Arthur moved to Philadelphia and became a licensed medical technician but decided against pursuing this as a career and enrolled in drama classes in New York City. 
  9. Steve McQueen mptvimages.com The iconic Steve McQueen had to get permission from his mom to enlist in the United States Marine Corps as he was yet to turn 18. During his early days in the military McQueen unsurprisingly found it hard to play by the rules and had his rank demoted several times. He even spent 41 days in the brig after failing to return from a weekend away and was eventually found hiding out at his girlfriend’s place.  After that experience, McQueen changed his mindset and embraced Army life. In the book Steve McQueen: In His Own Words, the Bullitt star looked back fondly on his time in the service, saying “The Marines made a man out of me. I learned how to get along with others, and I had a platform to jump off of.”
  10. Bob Barker s_bukley/Shutterstock Famous TV personality Bob Barker enlisted not long before World War II ended. The former long-running host of The Price is Right wrote in his autobiography, Priceless Memories, that the reason the war ended was because he was ready to join the fight.  “I was a Naval Aviator, a Fighter Pilot. I completed all facets of my training, including my qualifying landings on a carrier. I was all ready to go, and when the enemy heard that I was headed for the Pacific, they surrendered. That was the end of World War II.” Whatever you say, Bob. 

See more about - 20 Of The Greatest British Actors Working Today

  1. Morgan Freeman Everett Collection/Shutterstock Inspired by war films, Morgan Freeman joined the Air Force in 1955. He served as an Automatic Tracking Radar repairman and gained the rank of airman first class. After four years he left the service to pursue acting, going on to star in the 1989 Civil War drama Glory. 
  2. Elvis Presley WatchMojo.com/YouTube Unlike everyone else on this list, Elvis Presley joined that army at the height of his career. He was drafted in 1958 and while offered the chance to enlist in the Special Services where he would be looked after and take part in minimal duties, Presley decided to serve as a regular solider, earning him much respect amongst his peers.  Presley spent two years in the Army, most of it stationed in Germany, and attained the rank of sergeant. Despite two years away from music, Presley’s return was met with much fanfare and despite failing to reach the heights of his career before entering the Army, he remained one of the biggest names in music. 
  3. Humphrey Bogart Turner Classic Movies/YouTube Humphrey Bogart joined the Navy in 1918 during World War I. He spent under two years as a coxswain who spent most of his time ferrying troops from Europe back to the United States after the war ended. Speaking about his time in the Navy, Bogart said; “At eighteen, war was great stuff. Paris! Sexy French girls! Hot damn!”
  4. Mr. T s_bukley/Shutterstock Known to his parents as Laurence Tureaud, Mr. T made it big in the 80s starring in Rocky III as boxer Clubber Lang and TV series The A-Team as B A. Baracus. But before all that, Mr. T served in the  United States Army, signing up in 1975. He was a member of the Military Police Corps and spent several years in the military before being discharged. He got a job as a bouncer and then a bodyguard before becoming an actor. 
  5. Rob Riggle Ovidiu Hrubaru/Shutterstock It’s hard to believe funnyman Rob Riggle was in the army. And unlike many other famous veterans, Riggle made a career out of his time in the service. He joined the Marines in 1990 and spent 23 years in the armed forces before pulling the pin in 2013.  During his time in the military, Riggle had a decorated career that included stints in Liberia, Kosovo, Albania, and Afghanistan. He received several medals and commendations and achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. 
  6. Jimi Hendrix BillboardNews/YouTube The greatest guitarist of all time spent a short time in the military during the 60s, although not by choice. After being caught riding in a stolen car, he was given the choice of jail or enlisting in the Army. Hendrix chose the military and was a member of the 101st Airborne Division. But the Army life wasn’t for Hendrix, who spent most of his time playing guitar or sleeping on duty. He was given a general discharge under honorable conditions in 1962, serving less than a year. 
  7. Chuck Norris Markus Wissmann/Shutterstock Chuck Norris didn’t have to try too hard to get into character when playing soldiers in 80s action classics Missing in Action and Delta Force. The martial arts expert had already experienced life in the military, having joined the United States Air Force as an Air Policeman in 1958. Based in South Korea, Norris spent four years in the service before being discharged in 1962. During this time is when he got into martial arts and began training in Tang Soo Do, a Korean martial art.
  8. Kris Kristofferson s_bukley/Shutterstock Country singer Kris Kristofferson joined the U.S. Army after pressure from his family in 1960. He spent four years in the service and became a helicopter pilot as well as completing Ranger School. As a member of the 8th Infantry Division, he was stationed in West Germany for a period of time before leaving in 1964 and moving to Nashville to kick-start his music career. Kristofferson was awarded the Veteran of the Year Award at the 2003 American Veterans Awards ceremony.
  9. Mel Brooks s_bukley/Shutterstock Funnyman Mel Brooks is one of the few celebrity veterans to actually see combat. After scoring highly on an Army intelligence test, Brooks was recruited for the Army Specialized Training Program and drafted into the army in 1944.  Brooks fought at the Battle of the Bulge and had many different jobs in the field, including combat engineering and clearing roads of bobby traps.  He was discharged as a corporal in 1946, moved back to the States, and began his career in comedy. 
  10. James Earl Jones Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock The voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps while studying at college. Awaiting a call up to the Korean War, by the time James Earl Jones’ papers came through the war was over. He went to Rangers school and was part of the 38th Regimental Combat Team. He was promoted to first lieutenant before being discharged in 1953. 

See more about - 101 Weird Facts About Celebrities

Serving your country in the military is something everyone applauds. Choosing to sign up and put your life on the line for your country gets major respect and is not something everyone is willing to do. Whether people serve a short term or are lifers, joining the Army, Navy, or Air Force is a commendable decision. 

There are many veterans who did their time in the military, got out at an early age, and took up another path that resulted in them becoming famous. Celebrity veterans are much more common than you might think, with many stars in Hollywood having served their country before shifting careers. While not all of these celebrities saw action, they still served with dignity and respect and were willing to put their life at risk if need be. 

To celebrate these celebrity veterans, here are some of the most famous former soldiers who have made it big in the entertainment world. 

20 Celebrity Veterans That Served in the Military

1. Adam Driver

Denis Makarenko/Shutterstock

Adam Driver is one of this generation’s great actors, but before becoming famous he paid his dues in the Armed Forces. After the September 11 attacks, Driver signed up for the United States Marine Corps. He was an 81mm mortar man for the Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. Driver served two years and eight months before a mountain biking accident resulted in a fractured sternum and he was medically discharged. 

“I found I loved the Marine Corps the most for the thing I was looking for the least when I joined, which was the people – a weird motley crew of characters from a cross-section of the United States that on the surface I had nothing in common with,” Driver said in a 2016 TED Talk about his time in the Armed Forces.

“Over time, all the political and personal bravado that led me to the military dissolved. And for me, the Marine Corps became synonymous with my friends.”

2. Ice-T

Ron Adar/Shutterstock

Gangster rapper Ice-T (born Tracy Marrow) is these days best known for playing Odafin Tutuola on the hit police procedural Law & Order: SVU, but before all that Ice served two years and two months in the United States Army’s 25th Infantry.

He enlisted in 1977 at age 19 and found a passion for hip-hop while stationed in Hawaii. Ice received an honorable discharge in 1979 and returned home to Los Angeles where he embarked on a career in music. 

3. Betty White

Everett Collection/Shutterstock

After her sudden passing in 2021, the U.S. Army acknowledged actress Betty White’s service in the Army. Taking to Twitter the Army declared; “We are saddened by the passing of Betty White. Not only was she an amazing actress, she also served during WWII as a member of the American Women’s Voluntary Services. A true legend on and off the screen.”

4. George Carlin

Matti Holden/YouTube

It’s not surprising that comedian George Carlin was an “unproductive airman” while doing his time in the U.S. Air Force. The controversial comic signed up so he could be trained as a radio technician and learn more about how radio works. Stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana, Carling also moonlighted as a disc jockey at a local radio station. 

Carlin was court-martialed three times during his Air Force career and sanctioned even more times for doing wrong, but was eventually awarded a general discharge in 1957. 

5. Clint Eastwood 

Western star Clint Eastwood served for a short time before making his way onto the big screen. Drafted during the Korean War, Eastwood was stationed at Fort Ord in northern California where he was a lifeguard. The closest he came to seeing any action was when a Douglas AD bomber he was riding in crashed into the ocean, forcing Eastwood and the pilot to swim two miles to shore. 

6. Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash/YouTube

The Man in Black spent four years in the Air Force. Johnny Cash was trained in Texas before being assigned to the 12th Radio Squadron Mobile unit of the U.S. Air Force Security Service in West Germany. This is where he spent the majority of his time while in uniform and started his first band, The Landsberg Barbarians. 

Cash was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1954 and returned to Texas where he turned his attention to making music. 

7. Drew Carey

Michael Mattes/Shutterstock

Long before he had his own hit TV series (The Drew Carey Show), funnyman Drew Carey was part of the Marine Corps from 1980 to 1986. He was a field radio operator in the 25th Marine Regiment in Ohio and still has a lot of respect for the military as he told U.S Veterans Magazine. 

“I believe it’s important for us to always recognize the sacrifices it takes to serve in our military, and how necessary they are… We need to recognize and applaud people in our military who do their jobs well, and with honor. Period.”

8. Bea Arthur 

Another Golden Girl who spent time in the military, Bea Arthur (real name Bernice Frankel) was a typist and truck driver in the Marine Corps. She enlisted during World War II and was one of the first members of the United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve in 1943.

She spent two years in the service before being honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1945. Arthur moved to Philadelphia and became a licensed medical technician but decided against pursuing this as a career and enrolled in drama classes in New York City. 

9. Steve McQueen

mptvimages.com

The iconic Steve McQueen had to get permission from his mom to enlist in the United States Marine Corps as he was yet to turn 18. During his early days in the military McQueen unsurprisingly found it hard to play by the rules and had his rank demoted several times. He even spent 41 days in the brig after failing to return from a weekend away and was eventually found hiding out at his girlfriend’s place. 

After that experience, McQueen changed his mindset and embraced Army life. In the book Steve McQueen: In His Own Words, the Bullitt star looked back fondly on his time in the service, saying “The Marines made a man out of me. I learned how to get along with others, and I had a platform to jump off of.”

10. Bob Barker

s_bukley/Shutterstock

Famous TV personality Bob Barker enlisted not long before World War II ended. The former long-running host of The Price is Right wrote in his autobiography, Priceless Memories, that the reason the war ended was because he was ready to join the fight. 

“I was a Naval Aviator, a Fighter Pilot. I completed all facets of my training, including my qualifying landings on a carrier. I was all ready to go, and when the enemy heard that I was headed for the Pacific, they surrendered. That was the end of World War II.” Whatever you say, Bob. 

See more about - 20 Of The Greatest British Actors Working Today

11. Morgan Freeman

Inspired by war films, Morgan Freeman joined the Air Force in 1955. He served as an Automatic Tracking Radar repairman and gained the rank of airman first class. After four years he left the service to pursue acting, going on to star in the 1989 Civil War drama Glory. 

See more about - 20 Of The Greatest British Actors Working Today

12. Elvis Presley

WatchMojo.com/YouTube

Unlike everyone else on this list, Elvis Presley joined that army at the height of his career. He was drafted in 1958 and while offered the chance to enlist in the Special Services where he would be looked after and take part in minimal duties, Presley decided to serve as a regular solider, earning him much respect amongst his peers. 

Presley spent two years in the Army, most of it stationed in Germany, and attained the rank of sergeant. Despite two years away from music, Presley’s return was met with much fanfare and despite failing to reach the heights of his career before entering the Army, he remained one of the biggest names in music. 

13. Humphrey Bogart

Turner Classic Movies/YouTube

Humphrey Bogart joined the Navy in 1918 during World War I. He spent under two years as a coxswain who spent most of his time ferrying troops from Europe back to the United States after the war ended. Speaking about his time in the Navy, Bogart said; “At eighteen, war was great stuff. Paris! Sexy French girls! Hot damn!”

14. Mr. T

Known to his parents as Laurence Tureaud, Mr. T made it big in the 80s starring in Rocky III as boxer Clubber Lang and TV series The A-Team as B A. Baracus. But before all that, Mr. T served in the  United States Army, signing up in 1975. He was a member of the Military Police Corps and spent several years in the military before being discharged. He got a job as a bouncer and then a bodyguard before becoming an actor. 

15. Rob Riggle

Ovidiu Hrubaru/Shutterstock

It’s hard to believe funnyman Rob Riggle was in the army. And unlike many other famous veterans, Riggle made a career out of his time in the service. He joined the Marines in 1990 and spent 23 years in the armed forces before pulling the pin in 2013. 

During his time in the military, Riggle had a decorated career that included stints in Liberia, Kosovo, Albania, and Afghanistan. He received several medals and commendations and achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. 

16. Jimi Hendrix

BillboardNews/YouTube

The greatest guitarist of all time spent a short time in the military during the 60s, although not by choice. After being caught riding in a stolen car, he was given the choice of jail or enlisting in the Army. Hendrix chose the military and was a member of the 101st Airborne Division.

But the Army life wasn’t for Hendrix, who spent most of his time playing guitar or sleeping on duty. He was given a general discharge under honorable conditions in 1962, serving less than a year. 

17. Chuck Norris

Markus Wissmann/Shutterstock

Chuck Norris didn’t have to try too hard to get into character when playing soldiers in 80s action classics Missing in Action and Delta Force. The martial arts expert had already experienced life in the military, having joined the United States Air Force as an Air Policeman in 1958.

Based in South Korea, Norris spent four years in the service before being discharged in 1962. During this time is when he got into martial arts and began training in Tang Soo Do, a Korean martial art.

18. Kris Kristofferson

Country singer Kris Kristofferson joined the U.S. Army after pressure from his family in 1960. He spent four years in the service and became a helicopter pilot as well as completing Ranger School. As a member of the 8th Infantry Division, he was stationed in West Germany for a period of time before leaving in 1964 and moving to Nashville to kick-start his music career.

Kristofferson was awarded the Veteran of the Year Award at the 2003 American Veterans Awards ceremony.

19. Mel Brooks

Funnyman Mel Brooks is one of the few celebrity veterans to actually see combat. After scoring highly on an Army intelligence test, Brooks was recruited for the Army Specialized Training Program and drafted into the army in 1944.  Brooks fought at the Battle of the Bulge and had many different jobs in the field, including combat engineering and clearing roads of bobby traps. 

He was discharged as a corporal in 1946, moved back to the States, and began his career in comedy. 

20. James Earl Jones

Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock

The voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps while studying at college. Awaiting a call up to the Korean War, by the time James Earl Jones’ papers came through the war was over. He went to Rangers school and was part of the 38th Regimental Combat Team. He was promoted to first lieutenant before being discharged in 1953. 

See more about - 101 Weird Facts About Celebrities

See more about - 101 Weird Facts About Celebrities