Many people know public figures for their achievements on screen, in music, or in public life, but fewer realize how many of them once wore a uniform.
Military service has shaped countless well-known personalities in ways that often remain hidden from the spotlight. Some of them experienced long deployments overseas and others trained in demanding environments, these experiences instilled discipline, resilience, and perspective that later influenced their careers.
The connection between fame and service may seem unexpected, yet history is filled with entertainers, leaders, and cultural icons who first answered a call to duty. Exploring these surprising stories reveals not only the sacrifices made but also the extraordinary paths that started in military life and ended up as a lasting impact in society.
1
Adam Driver
Enlisted in the Marine Corps after 9/11, serving nearly three years before injury discharge.
2
Bea Arthur
Joined the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve as a typist, truck driver, and dispatcher.
3
Bob Barker
Before The Price Is Right, he was a WWII-era naval aviator.
4
Bob Ross
Served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a master sergeant.
5
Chuck Norris
Served in the U.S. Air Force in South Korea, where he began martial arts training.
6
Blippi (Stevin John)
Worked as a C-17 loadmaster in the U.S. Air Force.
7
Craig Morgan
Country singer who served 17 years in the Army and Army Reserve.
8
Gene Hackman
Lied about his age to enlist in the Marine Corps at 16, serving as a radio operator in Asia.
9
Ice-T
Spent four years in the U.S. Army with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii.
10
Drew Carey
Served six years as a Marine Corps Reserve corporal.
11
Morgan Freeman
Enlisted in the Air Force in 1955 as a radar technician.
12
Elvis Presley
Drafted into the Army in 1957, stationed in Germany, and promoted to sergeant.
13
Betty White
Joined the American Women’s Voluntary Services in WWII, driving supply trucks.
14
Tom Selleck
Served in the California Army National Guard from 1967 to 1973.
15
Prince Harry
Spent a decade in the British Army, flying Apache helicopters in Afghanistan.
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