Before Fame: 13 Celebrities Who Served in the Military

The celebrity lifestyle is often seen as glamorous and carefree, but the truth is more complex. Many stars come from modest beginnings, and some even served in the military before finding fame. It's a surprising part of their story that shows discipline, resilience, and courage beyond the spotlight.

For some, service meant training at home, while others faced real danger in combat. Rob Riggle spent 23 years in the Marine Corps before his comedy career, and Christopher Lee took part in secret missions against the Germans during World War II. Their stories reveal a side of Hollywood not often discussed, one rooted in service and sacrifice.

To create this list of celebrities who served, we reviewed biographies and military records from trusted sources, including People Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, the Selective Service System, Military.com, and Britannica.

Drew Carey burst onto the scene in the 1990s. First, he made his name as a stand-up comedian before reaching superstardom with his hit sitcom, "The Drew Carey Show." From there, he transitioned to the well-regarded host of the improv-comedy show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" After that, Carey became the long-running host of the game show "The Price Is Right," a gig he's held since 2007.

Before reaching fame, however, Carey was a military man. While at Kent State University, Carey joined Delta Tau Delta, a fraternity he was expelled twice from for poor grades. Unable to envision an academic future, Carey dropped out and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

He served six years as a field radio operator in the Ohio 25th Marine Regiment. These days, Carey describes himself as a peacenik, though he still holds great respect for the military. As he said in an interview with U.S. Veteran's Magazine, "We need to recognize and applaud people in our military who do their jobs well, and with honor. Period."

Before passing in 2021, Betty White lived a life that many aspiring actors dream of. A pioneer in the early days of television, White's celebrity spanned a remarkable seven decades. Besides becoming the first woman to produce and star in a sitcom, "Life With Elizabeth," White appeared in countless television shows, movies, and other pieces of media, including "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Saturday Night Live," and most famously, "Golden Girls."

For her extensive career, White twice earned the Guinness World Record for the longest TV career by a female entertainer. Before entering the spotlight, however, she worked for the military. When the U.S. entered World War II, White volunteered for the American Women's Voluntary Services.

In that capacity, she drove a PX truck full of military supplies around the Hollywood Hills and even participated in dance events for troops before they shipped overseas. Regarding her time in the service, White said, "It was a strange time and out of balance with everything."

Famous game show impresario Bob Barker spent most of his childhood on the Rosebud Indian Reservation as a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Upon reaching maturity, Barker moved to Southern California to pursue a broadcasting career. First, he hosted his self-named radio show "The Bob Barker Show" for six years.

This led to a gig hosting the television game show "Truth or Consequences" in 1956. However, Barker is best known for hosting the game show "The Price is Right," which became the longest-running game show in North American television history.

Before his long-standing celebrity, however, Barker had a brief foray into the military world. After attending Drury College on a basketball athletic scholarship, he joined the United States Navy Reserve in 1943 amid the backdrop of World War II. While he entered the Navy Reserve intending to become a fighter pilot, that path failed to pan out, and Barker didn't see any combat during his military years.

These days, many consider Morgan Freeman to be one of the greatest actors who has ever lived. With iconic roles in a long list of legendary movies like "The Shawshank Redemption," "Driving Miss Daisy," and "Million Dollar Baby," Freeman has earned a hefty collection of accolades. These include an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Thanks to his singular voice, Freeman has also narrated beloved documentaries such as "The Long Way Home," "March of the Penguins," and "Life on Our Planet." Early in his life, Freeman turned down a partial drama scholarship to Jackson State University to serve in the United States Air Force. His military service occurred between 1955 and 1959.

There, he became an Automatic Tracking Radar repairman, eventually rising to the rank of airman first class. Upon leaving the service, Freeman moved to Los Angeles and took acting classes at the Pasadena Playhouse before studying theater arts at Los Angeles City College. The rest, they say, is history.

In recent years, Adam Driver has become one of the most notable young actors in Hollywood. After making his film debut in the film "J. Edgar," he scored increasingly high-profile roles in movies like "Frances Ha," "Inside Llewyn Davis," and "Lincoln." Driver became a household name, however, when he played Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

His star power continues to grow with his roles in films like "Silence," "Logan Lucky," "White Noise," and more recently, "Megalopolis." Long before making it in Hollywood, Driver dreamed of acting. At 18, he drove cross-country to Los Angeles, before being scammed out of an apartment, realizing he didn't have enough money, and moving right back to his home state of Indiana.

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, however, Driver joined the United States Marine Corps. He served in the Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines as an 81mm mortar for two years before fracturing his sternum and being medically discharged. Upon reaching acting success, Driver founded Arts in the Armed Forces (AITAF), a nonprofit organization that performs theater for different military branches at home and abroad.

As the founder and editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine, Hugh Hefner developed a worldwide reputation as a ladies man, lothario, and overall jet-setter. On his way to the top, Hefner earned as many fans as detractors for his controversial approach to journalism. Putting naked ladies in a commercial magazine was unheard of at the time, but Hefner powered ahead and became infamous in the process.

Besides Playboy Magazine, Hefner starred in various media programs including "The Simpsons," "Sex and the City," "Family Guy," and "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Unsurprisingly, Hefner was a strong advocate of First Amendment rights as well as animal rights. Before his (now questionable) ladies' man career, Hefner served in the military.

Upon high school graduation, he enlisted in the Army as a military clerk. During basic training, Hefner won a sharpshooter badge and endured the "Killer College" training course. After completing basic, he was posted to Camp Adair in Salem, Oregon, and Camp Pickett in Virginia. There, he foreshadowed his later career by contributing cartoons to Army newspapers and newsletters.

Perhaps even more than Betty White, actor and director Clint Eastwood has been in the public spotlight longer than most people have been alive. After coming to prominence acting in the television show "Rawhide," Eastwood gained worldwide fame as the Man with No Name in Sergio Leone's spaghetti western trilogy.

He gained further fame after starring in the Dirty Harry movies, which cemented him as a Hollywood icon. Later in life, Eastwood turned to directing. His films include "Mystic River," "Million Dollar Baby," and "Unforgiven," which won him Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture. Interestingly, Eastwood also served as the mayor of the California beach hamlet, Carmel-by-the-Sea, for two years.

Before becoming a celebrity, however, Eastwood had a stint in the military. Upon being drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War, Eastwood lucked out by serving as a lifeguard and swim instructor at Ford Ord for the rest of his military years. Famously, Eastwood was a passenger on a Douglas AD bomber that crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Point Reyes. Grabbing life vests, Eastwood and the pilot swam two miles to the shore.

Not many people have had a career like Ice-T. Born Tracy Lauren Marrow, he got his start as an underground rapper before releasing his debut album, "Rhyme Pays." A few years later, his album "Power" went platinum and solidified his lyrical standing. From there, Ice-T released scores of gold-selling albums, founded a heavy metal band, and became mired in controversy for lyrics depicting violence against police officers.

During that time, Ice-T made a foray into the acting world with roles in films like "New Jack City," and "Surviving the Game." He's best known, however, for his long-running roles on television shows like "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Before reaching fame, Ice-T had a brief, if controversial, stint in the armed forces. After the birth of his daughter, he enlisted in the United States Army in 1977.

Upon completing basic training, he served in the 25th Infantry Division. In that role, he became embroiled in a case of soldiers stealing a rug. To avoid prosecution, Ice-T went AWOL for a month before returning to base. For his dereliction of duty, he received a nonjudicial punishment. While in the military, however, Ice-T became interested in hip-hop and started rapping, foreshadowing his later career.

Charles Bronson (born Charles Dennis Buchinsky) grew to worldwide fame in the 1960s and 1970s for his roles in action films where he often played hard men with impressive physiques. After scoring notable roles in classic films like "The Magnificent Seven," "The Great Escape," and "The Dirty Dozen," Bronson moved to Europe, where he became one of the premier action and western film stars.

Upon his return to the United States, he collaborated with director Michael Winner on a series of films like "Chato's Land" and "The Stone Killer," which transformed Bronson into the world's top box-office star. While critics panned later films like the merciless, hard-boiled "Death Wish," it became an audience favorite and spawned several sequels.

Before becoming the biggest name in Hollywood, Bronson grew up in abject poverty in the coal mining region of Pennsylvania. In 1943, during World War II, Bronson enlisted in the United States Air Force. First, he served in the 760th Flexible Gunnery Training Squadron. Two years later, he became a Boeing B-29 Superfortress aerial gunner with the 61st Bombardment Squadron.

In this role, Bronson flew 25 missions conducting combat excursions against the Japanese home islands. For wounds he received in battle, he earned a Purple Heart Medal.(For other esteemed servicemembers, discover America's most decorated soldiers since 9/11.)

Even today, Johnny Cash remains one of the best-selling music artists of all time. A lifelong musical lover, Cash first came to prominence in the growingrockabilly scene around Memphis, Tennessee. From there, he broke out with hit songs like "Folsom Prison Blues," "Ring of Fire," and "I Walk the Line." Known for his sorrowful lyrics and calm baritone voice, Cash brought country music to new heights.

Known as the "Man in Black" due to his characteristic dark outfits, Cash scored further fans later in life as he crossed genres, embracing rock and roll, blues, folk, and gospel genres. As such, Cash was inducted into the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Gospel Music Halls of Fame.

Before his career as an outlaw country icon, Cash served in the military. Upon enlisting in the Air Force in 1950, he was assigned to the 12th Radio Squadron Mobile of the U.S. Air Force Security Service in Landsberg, West Germany. There, he interpreted Soviet Army transmissions as a Morse Code Operator. As the story goes, Cash became one of the first Americans to hear of Joseph Stalin's death via Morse Code.

During his military years, Cash also started his first band, The Landsberg Barbarians. Before being discharged as a staff sergeant, Cash gained his distinctive scar on the right side of his jaw from a cyst-removing surgery. He was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in the summer of 1954.

A well-known actress, comedian, and singer, Bea Arthur (born Bernice Frankel) began her career as a stage actor. In this capacity, she won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical as Vera Charles in "Mame." She rose to global prominence, however, as Maude Findlay in the sitcom "All in the Family," and later "Maude."

For the latter program, Arthur won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Later, she achieved even further fame for her long-running role on the hit television show "Golden Girls." Besides being inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, Arthur remains the third-most nominated actress for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series with nine nominations.

Much like her "Golden Girls" co-star Betty White, Arthur enlisted in the military during World War II. After joining the United States Marine Corps Women's Service, she worked as a typist at the Marine headquarters in Washington, D.C. Less than a year later, she transferred to the Motor Transport School at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. There, she worked as a truck driver and dispatcher around Cherry Point, North Carolina.

In September 1945, Arthur was discharged from the Marine Corps, having earned the rank of staff sergeant. During that time, she married fellow Marine Robert Alan Aurthur. Though they divorced only three years later, she kept his surname but changed its spelling to "Arthur."

Actor and comedian Rob Riggle first rose to prominence as a cast member of "Saturday Night Live," before becoming a popular correspondent on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show." This helped him transition to more prominent roles as the new millennium progressed. Besides landing a recurring role on ABC's "Modern Family," Riggle starred in several prominent comedy films such as "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," "The Hangover," "Larry Crowne," and "Dumb and Dumber To."

A passionate sports fan, Riggle later starred in comedy skit sections of "Fox NFL Sunday." Currently, he co-hosts the miniature golf fame show series "Holey Moley" on ABC. Before becoming a well-regarded funny man, however, Riggle served a serious military career. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1990, hoping to become a naval aviator. Though he quickly left the Marines to pursue a comedy career, he reenlisted as part of the United States Marine Corps Reserve.

In this capacity, Riggle saw serious combat in war theatres across the globe, including Liberia, Kosovo, Albania, and Afghanistan. In his 23 years of service in the Marine Corps Reserves, Riggle attained the rank of lieutenant colonel and received a list of military accolades. These include two Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, as well as a Combat Action Ribbon forthe fighting he endured in Kosovo.

No one on earth has had a career quite like Christopher Lee. In terms of acting, he first rose to prominence by playing Count Dracula in over a half-dozen Hammer Horror films. This led to roles in notable films like James Bond vehicle "The Man with the Golden Gun."

As his star power grew over the ensuing decades, Lee scored prominent roles in blockbuster trilogies like "Star Wars," "The Lord of the Rings," and "The Hobbit." He also starred in other films like "Sleepy Hollow," "The Wicker Man," "Hugo," and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Also a well-regarded singer, Lee recorded several opera pieces in the late 1960s before collaborating with several heavy metal bands on albums like "Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross," and "Charlemagne: The Omens of Death."

Somehow, Lee's military career is even more impressive. After enlisting in the Royal Air Force in 1940, he became an intelligence officer specializing in decoding German ciphers. This led to postings across the world like North Africa, where he worked with the precursor of the SAS, the Long Range Desert Group. In this capacity, he moved behind enemy lines from Egypt to Benghazi, sabotaging German military plans and airfields.

After the Axis surrender, Leeofficiated the Gurkhas of the 8th Indian Infantry Division during the Battle of Monte Cassino. At the end of his military service, Lee tracked down suspected Nazi war criminals and witnessed the horrors of a concentration camp with his own eyes.

Regarding his incredible service, Lee offered sobering words, "I've seen many men die right in front of me – so many, in fact, that I've become almost hardened to it.Having seen the worst that human beings can do to each other, the results of torture, mutilation, and seeing someone blown to pieces by a bomb, you develop a kind of shell."

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.