Celebrities Who Secretly Served in the Military

Some of the biggest names in film, TV, and music spent formative years in uniform—often long before fame found them. Their service stories aren’t always front and center, but the discipline, resilience, and perspective they gained echo through their work and public lives.

From paratroopers and Marines to Air Force technicians and front-line infantrymen, these celebrities carried duties that rarely make the red carpet highlight reel. Here are 15 stars whose time in the military might surprise you—and how those experiences shaped the careers you know today.

Adam Driver

Before rising to global fame in ‘Girls’ and ‘Star Wars’, Adam Driver enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps following 9/11. A serious training injury ended his service before deployment, but the Corps left a deep impression on him, sharpening his focus and work ethic.

Driver has spoken about the camaraderie and purpose he felt in the Marines, a sensibility he later channeled into intense, inward-looking performances. He also founded Arts in the Armed Forces, bringing high-caliber theater to service members and their families—an unmistakable throughline from his time in uniform.

Morgan Freeman

Long before ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ and ‘Million Dollar Baby’, Morgan Freeman served in the U.S. Air Force as a radar technician. He originally dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot, but service helped him realize his passion lay elsewhere.

That course correction, guided by the clarity military life can bring, led him back to acting with a renewed sense of purpose. Freeman’s calm authority and grounded presence on screen feel like natural extensions of lessons learned from duty and responsibility.

Gal Gadot

Before wielding a lasso in ‘Wonder Woman’, Gal Gadot completed mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces as a combat fitness instructor. The role demanded leadership, discipline, and grueling physical standards.

Those qualities carried seamlessly into her action-heavy career, where she’s known for doing extensive stunt work and bringing credible physicality to performances. Gadot has credited her service with strengthening her mental resilience and confidence on set.

Jimi Hendrix

The guitar icon’s road to rock history ran through the U.S. Army, where Jimi Hendrix trained as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division. Though his military stint was brief, earning his jump wings was no small feat.

Soon after, Hendrix’s musical journey exploded, but the focus and grit forged during airborne training remained. Onstage, his fearlessness and precision carried the same nerve he needed stepping out of an aircraft into open sky.

Bea Arthur

Years before ‘Maude’ and ‘The Golden Girls’, Bea Arthur (born Bernice Frankel) served in the U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve during World War II. She worked as a typist and truck driver—roles that demanded self-discipline and adaptability.

Arthur’s commanding timing and flinty wit seemed to draw from that no-nonsense foundation. Her characters’ steel-spined confidence felt authentic because she’d already proven her mettle in a very different uniform.

Bob Ross

Before soothing generations on ‘The Joy of Painting’, Bob Ross spent two decades in the U.S. Air Force, ultimately becoming a first sergeant. The job required a strict, often loud leadership style he later said he left behind for good.

After leaving the service, Ross embraced a gentler mode, teaching viewers how to paint “happy little trees.” That contrast—firm discipline transformed into calm instruction—made his persona feel earned and deeply human.

Mr. T

Decades before ‘The A-Team’ and ‘Rocky III’, Laurence Tureaud—better known as Mr. T—served in the U.S. Army’s Military Police Corps. The role honed his physical readiness and leadership, qualities that later defined his on-screen persona.

His trademark toughness was never just an act; it was backed by real-world training and responsibility. That credibility helped turn a larger-than-life character into an enduring cultural icon.

Ice-T

Before ‘Law & Order: SVU’, Ice-T served in the U.S. Army with the 25th Infantry Division. Military life offered structure and stability at a pivotal time, giving him room to refocus his ambitions.

The discipline he developed translated into a relentless work ethic—first in music, then in acting. Whether delivering razor-sharp verses or embodying a seasoned detective, Ice-T’s precision bears the stamp of his time in uniform.

Shaggy

The dancehall star behind “It Wasn’t Me” served in the U.S. Marine Corps and deployed during the Gulf War. The high-stakes environment demanded teamwork, quick decisions, and endurance.

After returning to civilian life, Shaggy brought that same drive to a music career defined by persistence and reinvention. His laid-back vibe masks a veteran’s engine: steady, resilient, and unflappable under pressure.

Clint Eastwood

Before directing ‘American Sniper’ or starring in ‘Dirty Harry’, Clint Eastwood was drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Ord. Stateside duty had him working as a swimming instructor and lifeguard, instilling leadership and calm under pressure.

Those traits became Eastwood signatures—minimalist control, steadiness, and an aversion to theatrics. Whether behind or in front of the camera, his command of tone and tempo feels like the evolution of quiet authority.

Tom Selleck

Long before ‘Magnum, P.I.’ or ‘Blue Bloods’, Tom Selleck served in the California Army National Guard. His service intersected with the earliest steps of his acting career, placing duty ahead of showbusiness.

That choice framed a public image built on integrity and reliability. On screen, Selleck often embodies principled characters, a throughline that traces back to real obligations he once carried.

Gene Hackman

Before ‘The French Connection’ and ‘Unforgiven’, Gene Hackman enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as a teenager and served as a radio operator. The job demanded technical skill and calm communication.

Hackman’s performances often radiate controlled intensity—authority without bluster. It’s easy to imagine those instincts being refined in settings where clarity and precision weren’t optional.

Johnny Cash

Years before “Ring of Fire,” Johnny Cash served in the U.S. Air Force as a Morse code intercept operator, stationed overseas. Hours of concentrated listening trained his ear and patience.

That same steady focus and sense of story would later define his songwriting. Even when movies like ‘Walk the Line’ introduced his legend to new audiences, the roots of that tale included a headset, a signal, and discipline learned in uniform.

Tony Bennett

Before becoming a beloved crooner, Tony Bennett served as a U.S. Army infantryman in Europe during World War II. The experience exposed him to hardship and, eventually, to the healing power of performance as he sang for fellow troops.

After the war, he pursued music with renewed purpose, ultimately bridging generations with his voice and grace. The empathy that colored his interpretations often felt like the product of a life tested—and softened—by service.

Rob Riggle

Known for ‘The Daily Show’ and ’21 Jump Street’, Rob Riggle spent over two decades in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, rising to lieutenant colonel and deploying overseas. He balanced military duty with a burgeoning comedy career.

That dual track sharpened Riggle’s timing and perspective; the humor never erases the seriousness of service, but it refracts it. His career stands as a reminder that veterans contain multitudes—warrior, performer, teammate, leader.

Share your thoughts below: which stories surprised you most, and who else should we include in a future edition?