Famous People Who Served in the Military

Some of the celebrities of our world didn't always act or do performing arts. Many of them served their country in the military, and may have even seen combat. According to the site Forbes, here are some celebrities who served in the military

There are also actresses who served in the military

Clint Eastwood

-Film actor / director

-US Army

-Drafted into the military during the Korean War and served as a lifeguard

Adam Driver

-Actor

-US Marine Corps

-After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York, Star Wars actor Adam Driver enlisted in the US Marine Corps. He was medically discharged after only two years of service when he broke his sternum in a mountain bike accident

Mel Brooks

-Actor / film director

-US Army

-Drafted into the US Army during WWII. Worked as a combat engineer for the 1104 Engineer Combat Battalion, 78th Infantry Division

Chuck Norris

-Actor / martial artist

-US Air Force

-He joined the US Air Force in 1958 and served with the Air Police in South Korea

Drew Carey

-Comedian / actor / host of The Price is Right

-US Marine Corps

-This legendary actor / comedian served in the US Marine Corps. He joined Marine Corps Reserves in 1980 and served in that unit until 1986

Mr. T

-Actor

-US Army National Guard

-Laurence Tureaud, his real name, joined the US Army National Guard in 1975. He stayed with them throughout the 1970s

Gal Gadot

-Actress

-Israeli Defense Forces

-This actress is best known for her role as Wonder Woman. She served in the Israeli Defense Forces, working for two years as a physical fitness trainer

Tom Selleck

-Actor

-California National Guard

-This legendary actor joined the California National Guard in 1967 and stayed with them until 1973

Betty White

-Actress

-American Women's Voluntary Services

-This actress, best known for playing ditzy Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls, served in the American Women's Voluntary Services from 1941-1945. She worked as both a truck driver and entertainer

Sidney Poitier

-Actor

-US Army

-It was said this late but great actor lied about his age when he joined the military in 1943, enlisting to serve during WWII. He only served until 1944

Elvis Presley

-Musician

-US Army

-Not surprisingly, a lot of people knew he joined the military. That's where he met Colonel Tom Parker. He joined the military in 1957 and was stationed in Texas before going to Friedberg, Germany. He was discharged from the military three years later, in 1960

Benny Hill

-Comedian

-British Army

-This comedian served in the British Army during WWII. It's unclear what his rank was or what he did

Werner Klemperer

-Actor

-US Army Air Force 1942-1945

-This German-born actor is best known for playing the bumbling commandant Colonel Klink on Hogan's Heroes. He was of Jewish ancestry and fled Nazi Europe to the US in the 1930s. When he joined the US Army Air Force, he became a technical sergeant

John Banner

-Actor

-US Army Air Force

-Known best for playing Sgt. Schultz on the television program Hogan's Heroes, he was of Jewish descent, born in Vienna, Austria, and fled Nazi Europe in 1938 to the US. He joined the US Army and worked as a supply sergeant

Howard Caine

-Actor

-US Navy

-This actor, born in Nashville, Tennessee, is perhaps best known for playing Major Hochstetter, the leader of the Gestapo on the television program Hogan's Heroes. It's unknown what his rank was in the Navy or what he did

Jason Robards Jr.

-Actor

-US Navy

-Worked as a radio man at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack

James Garner

-Actor

-US Army

-He was a Korean War veteran. He was assigned to the 24th Infantry Division, where he was awarded two Purple Hearts, both times for injuries sustained during combat

James Clavell

-Writer, Producer

-British Army

-This man was a writer and producer for the film The Great Escape (1963). He served in the Royal Artillery regiment of the British Army and spent time in a Japanese POW camp located on on the island of Java

Charles Bronson

-Actor

-US Army Air Force

-Flew missions in a B-29 Superfortress as an aerial gunner in 25 missions

Nigel Stock

-Actor

-British Army

-He worked in the British Army, but was assigned to the London Irish Rifles and Assam Regiment, an infantry unit of the Indian Army