Celebrities in Uniform: Stars Who Served Before They Shined

John Summers • Contributor

Jan 7, 2025 11:00 PM EST

It's always fascinating to learn that some of our favorite celebrities once served as soldiers before making it big. Many even fought in wars and went on to have incredible careers afterward. Some, like Tom Selleck or Clint Eastwood, are easy to imagine in uniform—they just look the part. But others? Not so much. Who would have guessed that Ice-T, Willie Nelson, or even Shaggy spent time in the military?

These photos are a tribute to the stars who served, reminding us that before they were lighting up the big screen or dominating the music charts, they were dedicating themselves to something bigger. Whoever they are, we salute them and thank them for their service. Take a look at these snapshots of celebrities in uniform—you might just gain a whole new appreciation for their journeys.

01
Adam Driver

via Djalabajoe

Adam Driver served with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines as an 81mm mortar man
02
Drew Carey

via Djalabajoe

Drew Carey Drew Carey enlisted into the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1980
03
Bea Arthur

via Djalabajoe

Golden Girl Bea Arthur worked as a truck driver and typist in the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve during WWII
04
Kris Kristofferson

via Djalabajoe

Kris Kristofferson joined the U.S. Army and attained the rank of captain. He became a helicopter pilot and also completed Ranger School.
05
Morgan Freeman

via Djalabajoe

Morgan Freeman enlist in the United States Air Force and served for four years as an Automatic Tracking Radar Repairman, rising to the rank of Airman 1st Class.
06
Chuck Norris

via Djalabajoe

Chuck Norris joined the United States Air Force as an Air Policeman in 1958 and was sent to Osan Air Base, South Korea.
07
Jimmy Hendrix

via Djalabajoe

Jimmy Hendrix joined the 101st Airborne Division and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky
08
Bob Ross

via Djalabajoe

Bob Ross rose to the rank of master sergeant and served as the first sergeant of the U.S. Air Force Clinic at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska.
09
Leonard Nimoy

via Djalabajoe

Leonard Nimoy enlisted in the United States Army Reserve at Fort McPherson Georgia, serving for 18 months until 1955, leaving as a sergeant
10
Charles M Schulz

via Djalabajoe

Peanuts creator Charles M Schulz was drafted into the United States Army. He served as a staff sergeant with the 20th Armored Division in Europe during World War II, as a squad leader on a .50 caliber machine gun team
11
James Blunt

via Djalabajoe

James Blunt, singer/songwriter most famous for "You're Beautiful " trained at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Life Guards.
12
Benny Hill

via Djalabajoe

Benny Hill was called up in 1942 and trained as a mechanic in the British Army. He served as a mechanic, truck driver, and searchlight operator in Normandy.
13
Johnny Carson

via Djalabajoe

Carson served as a communications officer in charge of decoding encrypted messages ?????? WWII.
14
Jonny Cash

via Djalabajoe

Jonny Cash was assigned to the 12th Radio Squadron Mobile of the U.S. Air Force Security Service at Landsberg, Germany, as a Morse code operator intercepting Soviet Army transmissions.
15
Sean Connery

via Djalabajoe

Sean Connery served in the Royal Navy for three years until he was discharged on medical grounds with ulcers.
16
Ice-T

via Djalabajoe

Ice-T joined the United States Army in October 1977. He served a two year and two months tour in the 25th Infantry Division.
17
Tom Selleck

via Djalabajoe

Tom Selleck served in the 160th Infantry Regiment of the California Army National Guard from 1967 to 1973.
18
Harvey Keitel

via Djalabajoe

Harvey Keitel joined the United States Marine Corps when he was 16 years old.
19
Mr-T

via Djalabajoe

Mr-T enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Military Police Corps. In November 1975, in a cycle of six thousand troops he was elected "Top Trainee of the Cycle" and promoted to squad leader.
20
James Doohan

via Djalabajoe

Star Trek's "Scotty" James Doohan, landed at Juno Beach on D-Day with the 14th Field Artillery Regiment of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.
21
Paul Newman

via Djalabajoe

Paul Newman served in the United States Navy in World War II. He was a radio man / turret gunner in an Avenger torpedo bomber when his unit was assigned to the USS Bunker Hill.
22
Beau and Jeff Bridges

via Djalabajoe

Between them they served 16 years in the United States Coast Guard Reserves with Beau serving 1959 to 1967 and Jeff from 1967 to 1975.
23
Clint Eastwood

via Djalabajoe

Clint Eastwood was drafted during the Korean war but was a swimming instructor and lifeguard at Fort Ord in Northern California for his entire stint in the military.
24
Shaggy

via Djalabajoe

"It Wasn't Me" singer Shaggy enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1988 and served with a Field Artillery Battery in the 10th Marine Regiment during the Persian Gulf War.
25
George Carlin

via Djalabajoe

George Carlin joined the United States Air Force and trained as a radar technician. During his time in the Air Force, he had been court-martialed three times, and also received many nonjudicial punishments
26
Mel Brooks

via Djalabajoe

Mel Brooks was drafted into the Army to fight during World War II. He served as a corporal in the 1104 Engineer Combat Battalion, 78th Infantry Division as a combat engineer.
27
Willie Nelson

via Djalabajoe

Willie Nelson joined the US Air Force in 1950 but was later medically discharged due to back problems.