10 Celebrities You Didn't Know Served In The Military

Quick Links

The U.S military is made up of groups of men and women fighting for the freedom of their country against other oppressive governments or terrorist groups. They are often regarded as real-life heroes and thank them for their service. They risk their lives every day so that the rest of America doesn’t have to. What happens to these retired heroes?

Some of them dedicate their time volunteering, helping other veterans who aren’t receiving substantial payments from the government or who suffer from PTSD, and some of them take up hobbies like acting. Some of our favorite and most beloved celebrities have served in the military. Here are 10 celebrities that are also military veterans.

Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris is a famous actor, known for his 1973 role as Bruce Lee. He’s also a black belt in Tang Soo Do and is known for his martial arts skills. What most people don’t know is that he was introduced to martial arts while serving in the military.

Chuck Norris joined the military, particularly Air Force when he was 18 years old. He was stationed in Korea when he began to learn. Chuck Norris’ military career ended in 1962, where he went on to teach martial arts and then eventually took his passion for karate onto the big screen.

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood is well known in Hollywood, not only for acting in movies such as Million Dollar Baby and GranTorino, but producing and directing famous films. His 2015 movie, American Sniper starring Bradley Cooper, which won countless awards as well as an Oscar, hits a little closer to home than we all thought.

Back in the days of the Korean War, Clint Eastwood served in the military. He was stationed in Fort Ord, California in 1951 and 1952 where he was busy teaching swim as well as an appointed lifeguard.

Ice-T

Ice-T, known rapper and actor had an interesting and somewhat tragic life before his fame. Due to his first-hand experience with crime when he was a kid, Ice-T’s rap career gave him a platform to talk about gang violence and other crimes affecting young kids in lower-income areas around America.

Ice-T was born Tracy Marrow. He lost his parents at a young age, both passed away due to heart attacks, which is when he decided to move in with his aunt in L.A. Ice-T began his rap career early on in the 1980s, but before this he actually served four years in the United States Army, specifically in the 25th infantry division that was based in Hawaii.

Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman: versatile, talented and iconic. His amazing work has been recognized over the years with many awards, including Oscars. Morgan Freeman has made an impact on Hollywood as we know it today through his roles and contributions.

It’s hard to imagine Morgan Freeman doing anything outside of the entertainment business, but believe it or not, he was once a member of the United States Army, specifically Air Force. Morgan Freeman enlisted in the Air Force in 1955, at the age of 18 years old and eventually went on to be an Airman First Class before changing paths and pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.

Bob Ross

Bob Ross was like a TV dad to all of us. His soothing voice and effortless talent made him a joy to watch. It was actually his military experience that inspired his paintings. Bob Ross enlisted in the Air Force at only 18 years old. He was given the position of medical records technician.

For the majority of his time in the military, he was stationed at the Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. It was in Alaska that he was able to attend painting classes. He was often inspired by the landscapes around him as well. Eventually, he moved up in ranking and actually became a sergeant before retiring in 1981, marking 20 years in the Air Force.

Elvis Presley

In 1957, Elvis Presley was drafted into the United States Army in the midst of his fame. While many branches of the military offered him less severe jobs, Elvis chose to serve as a soldier alongside the rest in Frankfurt, Germany. Elvis was soon promoted to Sergeant which is around the time he began his drug use.

When Presley finally returned from his deployment, he once again began producing music but his drug addiction that he picked up in uniform got worse. All in all, Presley served about two years with the U.S Army.

Bob Barker

Bob Barker is famous for his game show career, specifically for hosting The Price Is Right, making history for North American daytime TV. Before his lengthy history with television hosting, he served in the United States Navy as a naval aviation cadet.

His military career began in 1943, where he spent his time training to be a fighter pilot. Not long after his completed training and after receiving the title of Lieutenant Junior Grade, in 1945 World War II came to a halt, and so did Bob Barker’s military career.

MC Hammer

MC Hammer’s music career began in the late 1980s and peaked in 1990 with his third album release. MC Hammer’s success was a shock and soon enough he was blowing up radio stations and the charts.

He was well known for his fashion choices (AKA the infamous parachute pants). Unfortunately, it was over before it really began and not long after his extreme peak, he filed for bankruptcy. Before all of his success, MC Hammer was a military man! He completed three years in the U.S Navy before dedicating himself to his music.

Hugh Hefner

Hugh Hefner, known for being the creator of the iconic Playboy magazine, lived a long and exciting life. Before founding Playboy, Hefner dabbled in publication and literature in the military as well as in the years leading up to Playboy and after his service.

Hefner served in the United States Army, working for military newspapers, mostly in the comic section. He’s known for his work on the Camp Pickett News team. He was a part of the Army from 1944 until 1946, which was during the years of World War II.

Gal Gadot

A superhero on and off the screen, Gal Gadot takes strength to a new level. Gadot is known for her role in Fast & Furious movies as well as playing Wonder Woman. Before serving two years in the Israel Defense Forces, Gal Gadot was Miss Israel and was a contender for the 2004 Miss Universe.

Due to mandatory conscription in Israel, Gal Gadot was called to partake in the Israel Defence Forces as a combat trainer. She seems to identify a lot with her Jewish and Israeli heritage. She told Glamour Magazine that she learned discipline and respect through her service.

NEXT: Disney Parks: 10 Male Celebrities You Didn't Know Worked At Disney Before They Were Famous