20 Stars Who Added Military Duty To Their Life Stories

Fame wasn’t always the first stop for these stars. Some served in the military long before—or even during—their rise to the spotlight. Their time in uniform brought lessons, discipline, and resilience that later shaped their careers. Here’s a look at celebrities whose journeys to stardom included a chapter in military service.

Elvis Presley

A rising rock icon traded screaming fans for boot camp drills in 1958, joining the U.S. Army’s 3rd Armored Division. While stationed in West Germany, his choice to serve as a regular soldier, not in entertainment units, surprised many. His romance life blossomed there, too, where he met Priscilla Beaulieu.

Clint Eastwood

Few know a life-threatening plane ditch off California’s coast shaped the grit of this Hollywood legend. Clint Eastwood worked as a lifeguard at Fort Ord and was enlisted during the Korean War. His harrowing survival from the crash hinted at the resilience defining his film characters years later.

Morgan Freeman

Before his iconic voice became a Hollywood trademark, Morgan Freeman spent four years in the U.S. Air Force, working as a radar technician. The structure and discipline of military life shaped his focus, eventually steering him toward acting, where that calm authority would define his powerful presence on screen.

Adam Driver

The Marine Corps shaped him long before camera and action ever did. Following 9/11, Adam Driver enlisted and trained intensely until a mountain biking accident led to a medical discharge. Later, he enrolled at the Juilliard School in New York, where he began shaping the acting career that would bring his intensity and discipline to the screen.

Ice-T

Four years with the 25th Infantry Division gave Ice-T a reality far removed from music or TV. He once said military life helped him “get his head together”—an insight into how that chapter influenced his raw, no-nonsense artistry. His time in uniform shaped his future voice.

Jimi Hendrix

The sound of freedom once came from a C-130, not a guitar amp. Before breaking musical barriers, Jimi Hendrix was assigned to the 101st Airborne. An ankle injury cut his service short, but his brief stint in the Army provided structure during his early, chaotic years.

Bea Arthur

In 1943, few women dared enlist, but she did. Working as a typist and truck driver in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, Bea Arthur helped change perceptions about women in uniform. Long before commanding sitcoms, she delivered logistics under pressure during one of history’s fiercest conflicts.

Chuck Norris

Guarding airbases in South Korea marked the beginning of a martial arts journey. While serving as an Air Policeman, Chuck Norris studied Tang Soo Do, a decision that later shaped his action-star image. His military discipline never left him, even after Hollywood came calling.

Tony Bennett

Combat duty in France and Germany gave this jazz legend experiences no stage could replicate. Drafted in 1944, Bennett saw frontline action with the 63rd Infantry Division. Those wartime memories heavily influenced his life’s philosophy and deepened his advocacy for peace through music and public service.

Drew Carey

Radio calls were followed by stand-up comedy. Drew Carey was a field radio operator in the Marine Corps Reserve for six years prior to becoming a TV mainstay. That’s to show his confidence was more than innate but was also learned. The military gave him tools to rise from modest beginnings to national recognition.

Bob Barker

Wartime skies almost became his lifelong office. During WWII, Bob Barker trained as a Navy fighter pilot, anticipating combat. Though the war ended before deployment, his aviation training built resilience in him. That poise later showed up in his long-running TV hosting career.

James Stewart

When Hollywood paused for war, Stewart flew straight into the conflict. He completed 20 missions over Nazi-occupied Europe and later earned the rank of Brigadier General—a rare feat among actors. Duty and patriotism weren’t roles for him; they were convictions etched in flight logs.

Prince Harry

Before royal controversies and California living, he was simply Captain Harry Wales in the British Army. Logging two tours in Afghanistan, one as an Apache pilot, Harry proved his capability in combat. His decade of military experience now fuels much of his veteran-focused charitable work and public identity.

Kris Kristofferson

Before penning country hits, he flew helicopters for the U.S. Army. Kristofferson, a Rhodes Scholar, completed Ranger School and achieved the rank of Captain. His military career included a post in West Germany. Still, his passion pulled him toward songwriting, a leap that paved his path to Nashville fame.

Craig Morgan

Years before country hits and Grand Ole Opry performances, he jumped from aircraft with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. Craig Morgan’s 17 years in the Army and Reserve gave him real-life stories now echoed in his lyrics. Few singers have walked the walk quite like him.

Audie Murphy

By age 20, Audie held every U.S. combat award for valor, including the Medal of Honor. His unmatched WWII heroics transitioned into Hollywood stardom, where he even played himself in war films. Their legacy remains the gold standard for military bravery and post-war grace.

R. Lee Ermey

Because he lived it, few parts came as naturally to him as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. During the Vietnam War, R. Lee Ermey trained recruits for 11 years in the Marines. Both warriors and movie buffs adored him because of the severe reality of his acting, which came from real-world firepower.

Henry Fonda

Enlisting in 1942, Henry Fonda became a quartermaster and later served in intelligence in the Pacific. His efforts earned a Bronze Star, underscoring his quiet commitment. That same understated intensity carried over into his revered on-screen roles post-service.

David Niven

David Niven arrived in Normandy several days after D-Day and served in a reconnaissance unit. During World War II, he rejoined the British Army and advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Respected by both fans and police for his bravery off-screen, he was well-known for his charm and humor.

Gal Gadot

Boot camp was the source of discipline, not movie sets. Gal Gadot spent two years in the Israel Defense Forces as a combat trainer. Her later roles—particularly as Wonder Woman, where her power, poise, and mental toughness were hallmarks—were more realistic because of her history.