21 Celebrities You Didnt Know Were in the Military
100 actors who served in the military
Actors have long tried to give audiences a taste of the realities of war and military service since the earliest days of the motion picture industry. Just if called upon to portray a member of the Armed Forces on screen, many actors could draw from their ain life feel. Some of history'south biggest stars served their countries in times of war and peace. Some experienced gainsay, while others were stationed in friendly countries or at home.
From comedians and action stars to dramatic actors and tv set icons, Stacker compiled a look at the stars who moved on from careers as servicemen to lives of fame. All branches of the military, including the Coast Guard, are represented on the listing, along with some actors from strange countries. Nigh of the actors who served will be remembered not for their service in a foreign theater overseas, but for their films that filled seats in movie theaters dorsum home. Some celebrities, such as Elvis Presley and Clint Eastwood, are well-known as having served in the armed forces; others, like Adam Driver and Ice-T, are not every bit widely known for their service. Rather than shining a light on the hundreds of films depicting the armed forces or war, today we're recognizing flick stars who served their country in real life. Keep reading to acquire about 100 actors who served in the military.
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Clint Eastwood
Y'all know him from movies like "Muddy Harry," "Unforgiven," and "The Bridges of Madison County." But did you know histrion and managing director extraordinaire Clint Eastwood was drafted into the Army during the Korean State of war? Eastwood lucked out and was assigned to a chore as a swimming instructor at a base of operations in California during the deadly disharmonize.
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Chuck Norris
Martial arts legend and star of the large and small screens Chuck Norris is known for TV series similar "Walker, Texas Ranger" and movies like the "Missing in Action" franchise. He was introduced to martial arts while serving in Korea with the Air Strength and went on to become the kickoff Westerner e'er to be awarded an eighth-degree blackness belt in Korean fighting manner taekwondo.
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Mr. T
Mr. T will forever exist remembered for portraying on-screen tough guys in movies like "Rocky Three" and TV serial like "The A-Team." After beingness expelled from high school, the man born Laurence Tureaud served in the Army as a military policeman. He was selected among six,000 trainees for promotion to squad leader.
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Tom Selleck
Afterward being served draft papers during the Vietnam War, "Magnum P.I." actor Tom Selleck joined the California National Baby-sit and served from 1967 to 1973. He later became the face of recruiting posters for the Baby-sit.
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Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen of "Bullitt" and "The Bang-up Escape" fame was besides a Marine. He got off to a rocky start in the Corps, making trouble and spending time in the brig, where he was punished with rations of staff of life and water. But after heroically rescuing several men during a disastrous training practice in the Arctic, he was given the honor of guarding President Harry Truman's yacht.
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Paul Newman
With films like "Absurd Hand Luke" and "The Color of Money" on his resume, the late Paul Newman is 1 of Hollywood'due south about celebrated actors. Although he joined the Navy'southward V-12 program in the hopes of becoming a airplane pilot, his colour blindness kept him out of the cockpit. He served on torpedo bombers and on the USS Bunker Hill in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 and left the service a decorated veteran.
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Bob Hope
Few entertainers achieved greater success beyond more types of entertainment media than Bob Promise, the man NPR called "the nigh pop entertainer of the 20th century." But the motion picture actor, Tv star, stage performer, and comedian is probably best known for the decades he spent entertaining troops stationed overseas. Hope never actually served himself, just his long listing of contributions and seemingly endless USO tours led Congress to enact H.J. Res. 75, which named Bob Hope an honorary veteran "for his lifetime of accomplishments and service on behalf of our men and women in compatible."
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Jack Palance
The late Jack Palance oftentimes played tough guys on the big screen in movies similar "City Slickers," and he lived up to the Hollywood image in real life. A Palance was a boxer who afterward served in the Air Force as a bomber airplane pilot and went on to Stanford on the Yard.I. Pecker.
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Charles Bronson
The world knows Charles Bronson as an unshakeable vigilante from the "Death Wish" series. But earlier the legendary macho man went on the assault on the big screen, he was on the attack in the skies over Europe. The first-generation American enlisted in the Army Air Forcefulness in 1943 and served as an aircraft gunner and Superfortress crewman. He flew dozens of missions and earned a Imperial Heart after being wounded in activeness.
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Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson is an Oscar nominee, former Golden Gloves boxer, and military man from a military family. Too an achieved academic and musician, Kristofferson joined the Army in 1960, became a helicopter pilot, and achieved the rank of captain.
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Robert Stack
From "Airplane" to "The Untouchables," Robert Stack played memorable roles on both the big and pocket-size screens. He's also a Globe War 2 veteran who rose to the rank of lieutenant during his service in the Navy between 1942 and 1945.
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Buster Keaton
One of the nigh important pioneering actors in early Hollywood, Buster Keaton's career spanned near half a century with credits dating from 1917 to 1966. He was drafted into the 40th Infantry Partition in 1917 and served in Globe War I.
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Morgan Freeman
With the possible exception of James Earl Jones, Morgan Freeman arguably has the nigh famous voice in Hollywood. The Oscar winner is a bright player and narrator who counts acclaimed films like "The Shawshank Redemption," "Driving Miss Daisy," and "Glory" amidst his critical and commercial successes. He joined the Air Force in 1955 with dreams of existence a airplane pilot, but when he got a taste of information technology in training, he realized he didn't have the tum for combat flying and pursued less dangerous work in picture show.
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Adam Driver
Before he played Hannah'south boyfriend in "Girls," Kylo Ren in "Star Wars," and a host of other interesting roles, serial Adam Driver was a Marine. Like and so many young people of his generation, Driver was swept up in patriotic fervor in the wake of 9/xi. He was medically discharged after being injured in an unrelated accident.
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Harvey Keitel
From "Taxi Driver" and "Pulp Fiction" to "Reservoir Dogs" and "Thelma and Louise," Harvey Keitel has been playing tough, intense characters on screen for decades, dating all the way back to "Hogan'due south Heroes" in the 1960s. After existence kicked out of high schoolhouse at age 15, Brooklyn-born Keitel joined the Marines and served in Lebanon equally part of an anti-communism force cobbled together by President Dwight Eisenhower.
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Drew Carey
Drew Carey had a long career as a comedian before condign an histrion in the early 1990s. He reportedly chosen on the subject field he learned in the war machine to develop the work ethic required to succeed in show business. The Cleveland native served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1980–1986.
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Pat Sajak
The phrase "Good morning, Vietnam!" was shouted by American radio DJs to the delight of servicemen throughout the war that made the on-air slogan famous. Amid those DJs was longtime "Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak, who joined the Army every bit a clerk typist with the rank of Spc. fifth class before his talents were recognized and he was ordered to entertain.
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Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor is regarded as one of the most important and controversial stand-up comedians in history, and his talents translated to a career in Hollywood that included films similar "Superman 3" and "Brewster's Millions." Merely earlier he was a famous and groundbreaking showman, Pryor spent two years in the Army from 1958 to 1960.
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George Carlin
In 1954, prior to condign a legendary stand-up comedian, 17-year-old George Carlin joined the Air Force for the outset of what would be a rocky military career. The notorious nonconformist was courtroom-martialed iii times earlier receiving a full general discharge in 1957.
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Humphrey Bogart
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Dennis Franz
Dennis Franz scored small-screen gilded with the part of Andy Sipowicz on the Boob tube series "NYPD Blueish." As a immature man, Franz enlisted in the Army after college and experienced intense combat in Vietnam, where he served with the 82nd Airborne.
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Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder had a long and achieved career in testify business, but he's all-time known for his role in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." Before he was famous, withal, Wilder was drafted into the Ground forces in 1956. He served as a medic at a U.S. Army hospital in the United States.
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Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks is known worldwide for groundbreaking, irreverent, racially charged, and indelible comedies like "Spaceballs" and "Blazing Saddles," but his comedy career was preceded by combat service. Brooks grew up poor in New York Urban center's Brooklyn borough and enlisted in the Ground forces right out of high school. His loftier intelligence got him assigned to a specialized unit; he was sent to the forepart in Europe and fought in heavy combat, including the Boxing of the Bulge.
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Tony Curtis
Upon his death in 2010, "Some Like it Hot" thespian Tony Curtis was cached with full military honors. The Navy sailor served in a submarine force in the Pacific theater during Globe State of war II. He took his experiences back to noncombatant life, starring in many films virtually state of war and the military throughout his career.
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Jack Lemmon
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Ice-T
From "Police & Gild: SVU" to "New Jack City," pioneering W Coast rapper Ice-T joined the Army right out of high school equally a means to support his daughter and girlfriend. He served in Hawaii as function of the 25th Infantry Division.
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James Earl Jones
From "Star Wars" to "Field of Dreams," James Earl Jones is amidst the most recognizable actors in the earth. As a young human being, Jones entered the Army during the Korean War, only he remained in America supporting cold-conditions training in Colorado. He attended Ranger School and was discharged as a first lieutenant.
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Kirk Douglas
Built-in in 1916, Kirk Douglas was the patriarch of 1 of Hollywood's most iconic show business organization families. He was also a World State of war II veteran who served from 1942 to 1945 in the vaunted Submarine Chasers unit, leaving the service with a rank of lieutenant junior grade.
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Leonard Nimoy
Since Leonard Nimoy'south service records were destroyed in a burn, no one knows for sure exactly when he entered the service. What is known is that the "Star Trek" role player enlisted in the Army Reserves in the early 1950s, was in charge of a platoon, and was discharged in 1955 with the rank of sergeant.
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Charlton Heston
The late Charlton Heston was an Oscar winner and the star of ballsy films like "Ben-Hur." The longtime leading human being was likewise a Earth War 2 veteran who flew several unsafe missions in the Eastern Forepart equally office of the 77th Bombardment Squadron of the Eleventh Air Force.
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Don Knotts
Although he has credits dating from the early 1950s to 2011, Don Knotts is best known for his memorable roles in "Three'southward Company" and "The Andy Griffith Prove." He was discharged from the Ground forces with the rank of technician fifth form subsequently serving his country in the 6817th Special Services Battalion from 1943-46.
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James Garner
Decorated Korean War combat veteran James Garner received 2 Purple Hearts after existence discharged in 1952. "The Notebook" actor served in the Army, the Merchant Marines, and the Oklahoma National Baby-sit.
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Don Rickles
Don Rickles died at the age of ninety in 2017, and the famously caustic comedian and role player continued to work well-nigh right upwards until the finish. With titles like "Kelly'due south Heroes" and "Casino" on his resume, Rickles started his career equally a no-holds-barred comedian who hobnobbed with the likes of Frank Sinatra in the 1950s. During Earth State of war II, Rickles served in the Navy and saw combat in the Philippines.
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Art Carney
Although he has more than than 100 interim credits to his name, Art Carney is most famous for his role supporting Jackie Gleason in the pioneering television programme "The Honeymooners." Carney was drafted as an infantryman correct out of loftier school and served in World War II. He served in Normandy, was badly injured by a mortar circular, and walked with a limp for the rest of his life.
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Buddy Hackett
Like so many men of his generation, "It's a Mad, Mad World" actor Buddy Hackett joined the service right out of high school to fight in World State of war II. Starting in 1942, he served as function of an anti-aircraft unit for three years until the war'southward end.
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Jeff Bridges
Oscar winner Jeff Bridges comes from a Coast Guard family—his male parent and his blood brother Young man, a boyfriend role player, as well served. Bridges joined the Declension Guard Reserves and served at sea under what were oft grueling weather condition.
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Jesse Ventura
With memorable roles in "Predator" and "The Running Human," Jesse Ventura rose to the top of the entertainment nutrient chain—merely he did the same as a pro wrestler (fans knew him as "The Trunk"), a politician (governor of Minnesota), and as a military man. He served in the Navy'southward Underwater Demolition Team, whose units were cleaved apart and attached to elite SEAL teams after Vietnam.
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Robert Duvall
"Colors," "The Godfather," "The Natural," and "Falling Down" are just a few of the classics on Robert Duvall's resume. But the Academy Honour-winning thespian too comes from a long military family lineage that can be traced to Robert East. Lee. Duvall served in the Ground forces during the Korean State of war. He didn't see action, but he began acting during that time, and the media ofttimes conflated his on-stage performances with actual wartime combat.
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Mickey Rooney
After receiving his education at the Pacific Military machine Academy, Mickey Rooney served in the U.South. Army from 1944 to 1946. He went on to get one of the about enduring and prolific actors in history, with a whopping 336 credits spanning more than 90 years from 1926 to 2017.
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Roy Scheider
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Factor Hackman
Factor Hackman dropped out of high school and lied nigh his historic period to join the Marines at the age of xvi and in 1947, he was sent to serve as a radio operator in Prc. A two-time Oscar winner, Hackman is one of the most prolific and indelible actors in Hollywood, with starring and supporting roles in classics like "The French Connexion," "Hoosiers," and "Unforgiven."
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Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone racked up nearly twenty interim credits over the course of his career, just he'south best known every bit the managing director of Academy Award-winning movies like "Platoon" and "Born on the Fourth of July." While behind the photographic camera during the filming of those war classics, he drew on his real-life experiences. Oliver Rock received ii Majestic Hearts and a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam later enlisting in the Ground forces in 1967.
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Lee Marvin
Known for playing no-nonsense, stone-faced, tough-guy characters in movies like "The Dirty Dozen," Lee Marvin portrayed cowboys, vigilantes, and military men on the screen. He had offset-paw experience with the latter in real life. Marvin, who died in 1987, served in the Marines during World State of war II.
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Johnny Carson
Far more than just an actor and comedian, longtime "The Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson was a testify business icon who changed the way entertainment was delivered to the masses. He was too a Navy veteran who served during World State of war II presently afterward graduating from loftier school.
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Bob Barker
Although he'll forever exist known every bit the standard bearer host of "The Price is Right," Bob Barker proved his comedic acting chops with an unforgettable role as himself in Adam Sandler'south "Happy Gilmore." Barker left higher to train equally a fighter pilot for the U.Southward. Naval Reserve in 1943, but World War II ended before he received an active duty assignment.
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Sammy Davis Jr.
Rat Pack icon Sammy Davis Jr. starred in films like "Sergeants iii" and "Oceans 11" as role of a legendary bear witness business career that spanned genres and generations. That career was interrupted, yet, in 1943 when he was drafted into the Army during World State of war II.
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Vincent Pastore
Vincent Pastore will forever concord the distinction of playing one of the most memorable roles in the history of mafia dramas. Pastore, who served in the Navy from 1964–'67, was bandage equally Salvatore Bonpensiero, a reluctant mob rat in HBO'south "The Sopranos."
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James Stewart
Born in 1908, Jimmy Stewart appeared in more than fourscore movies over his long and storied career, but none more than famous or honey than "It'southward a Wonderful Life." The 1946 Christmas classic was Stewart's first motion-picture show afterwards leaving the U.S. Army Air Corp. Stewart halted his career to join the service in 1941, somewhen reaching the rank of colonel by the end of the conflict.
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Jamie Farr
The Television receiver series "M*A*S*H" revolved around an Regular army infirmary surgical unit of measurement whose members dealt with tragedy through laughter during the Korean War. Amidst the actors was an actual Korean War veteran, Jamie Farr, who received valuable training for his hereafter Hollywood career while on duty. While in the service, he was tasked with making training films, writing scripts, and even touring with famed entertainer Cherry-red Skelton.
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Alan Alda
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Mike Farrell
Mike Farrell is yet some other veteran of the bear witness "M*A*S*H" who was also a military veteran. Farrell, who played Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt, served in the Army for two years effectually the time of the Korean War.
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Ernest Borgnine
Academy Award-winner and longtime leading man Ernest Borgnine made his Broadway debut in 1949 before heading to Hollywood. Subsequently graduating from high school, he joined the Navy in 1935 and served for 10 years.
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Harry Belafonte
The son of Caribbean immigrants, Harry Belafonte is i of the most recognizable singers, actors, and civil rights activists in history. Before he ever studied drama, still, Belafonte dropped out of high schoolhouse to enlist in the Navy in 1944.
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Bob Newhart
Satirical comedic thespian Bob Newhart appeared in movies similar "Elf," "Horrible Bosses," and "Legally Blonde 2," but his proper noun is on his nearly famous works, which were all on tv set. He was the namesake actor on sitcoms "The Bob Newhart Show," "Newhart," and "Bob." After graduating from college, Newhart was drafted to fight in the Korean War, where he saw combat during his Army service from 1952–'54.
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Benny Colina
Upon his decease in 1992, the Telegraph referred to Benny Loma as "the world'southward almost popular comedian." The paper backed upwardly that bold claim with the fact that Hill'due south shows were circulate into 100 countries, a feat fifty-fifty Charlie Chaplin never matched. The mind behind "The Benny Hill Show" served in the British Army equally a driver-mechanic earlier his talent earned him a part as a war machine entertainer.
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Carl Reiner
The male parent of Rob Reiner, Carl Reiner was an American actor, comedian, director, screenwriter, and author. During World War 2 he served as a radio operator before studying to serve as a French translator. He then served as a teletype operator before joining a military entertainment unit.
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Fred Willard
Although he's probably almost famous for his role in "Best in Show," renowned character actor Fred Willard also appeared in 50 sketches on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." He entered the Kentucky Military Institute in 1949 and served as a sergeant in Company A.
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Sherman Hemsley
Philadelphia native Sherman Hemsley dropped out of loftier school to join the Air Force and served for four years. His true career, all the same, would be on goggle box. He played the role of the iconic sitcom character George Jefferson, who appeared not only on "The Jeffersons," only also on "ER," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "House of Payne," and "All in the Family unit."
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Jerry Mathers
Few child stars were as big as Jerry Mathers, who will be forever remembered in tv set history as the titular grapheme on "Leave it to Beaver." Mathers played Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver from 1957–1963 after actualization in commercials from the age of two. Subsequently attending higher, he joined the Air Force National Guard.
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Henry Fonda
Hollywood legend Henry Fonda was all-time known for "The Grapes of Wrath" and "On Gilt Pond," the latter of which he starred in alongside his girl, Jane Fonda. He performed on phase and in films every bit early on equally the 1920s, but halted his career in the 1940s to bring together the Navy during Earth State of war Ii. For his service, he earned a Presidential Commendation Honor and a Statuary Star.
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Charles Durning
Charles Durning was a multi-genre talent who scored multiple Academy Honor nominations for movies like "The All-time Picayune Wh**house in Texas" and "To Be or Not to Be," also as a Tony win for his role in the play "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." He served in the Army during Earth War II and was amidst the commencement soldiers to brand information technology aground on Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day. But that wasn't the only horror he survived. He too saw action at the Battle of the Bulge, was captured, and managed to escape a massacre of American soldiers in Belgium.
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Harvey Korman
The son of immigrants, Gilt Globe-winner Harvey Korman is well-nigh famous for his role in archetype Mel Brooks comedies like "Blazing Saddles" and "History of the World: Part I." He likewise displayed his small-screen talent on programs like "The Carol Burnett Prove." During World War II, he left college to serve in the Navy.
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Laurence Olivier
1 of the virtually distinguished talents in pic history, British actor Laurence Olivier was known for dazzling theater audiences in several of Shakespeare's plays before earning a spot on Hollywood's A-Listing with big-screen roles in movies like "Wuthering Heights" and "Marathon Man." At age 40 he became the youngest actor always to exist knighted when King George honored him with the title, and is one of the only actors to exist buried in Westminster Abbey's vaunted Poet'southward Corner. He's also a state of war hero. In 1940, Olivier worked equally a British agent in America trying to pulsate up support from the and so-neutral United States before returning to United kingdom to bring together the Fleet Air Arm.
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Peter Boyle
Although he was best known as the crotchety father in "Everybody Loves Raymond," Peter Boyle amassed nearly 100 interim credits dating dorsum to the mid-1960s. Afterwards abandoning life as a Christian Brothers monk, Boyle joined the Navy simply was discharged after a nervous breakdown.
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William Daniels
Brooklyn-born William Daniels enjoyed a career that spanned Broadway, the big screen and television, earning two Emmys along the way for his role in "St. Elsewhere." Although he was drafted at the age of xviii in 1945 to serve in Italian republic during World War 2, Daniels landed a pretty cushy gig. He was a disc jockey for an Army radio station.
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David Niven
Academy Award-winning thespian David Niven starred in movies like "Around the Earth in 80 Days," "Wuthering Heights," and "The Guns of the Navarone," but he'll exist all-time-remembered for his dapper and elegant lead role in "The Pink Panther." Before his interim career took off, Niven joined the British Army, earning the rank of second lieutenant in the Highland Low-cal Infantry before beingness discharged and moving to Hollywood. When World War Ii bankrupt out, he became amongst the just British actors in Hollywood to return dwelling house and bring together the fight when he re-enlisted in the British Army.
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Sid Caesar
Sid Caesar was a pioneering comedian and actor who is best known for his role in the "Grease" film musicals and as the creator of the Emmy Award-winning variety testify "Your Bear witness of Shows." When World War Ii broke out, he joined the Declension Guard but was stationed at dwelling house in Brooklyn, New York, to perform at military shows.
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Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum was one of the 20th century'south most renowned on-screen tough guys, although he fit the bill in real life, too. As a fellow, the hereafter A-Lister was a laborer, vagrant, and professional boxer. He was drafted during Globe War Ii and served for about six months.
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Cesar Romero
Cuban-America Cesar Romero—a.yard.a. the Latin from Manhattan—enjoyed a thirty-year career that spanned from the 1930s to the 1960s and included success on phase, in films, and on TV. When World War II broke out, his career was interrupted when he enlisted in the Declension Guard, where he served for three years.
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Michael Caine
Two-time Oscar winner Michael Caine starred in the "Batman" franchise, also equally comedies like "Muddy, Rotten Scoundrels" and dramas like "The Cider House Rules" and "Hannah and her Sisters." He'southward as well a veteran of the military. The South London native was a member of the Queen'due south Royal Regiment and the Royal Fusiliers, spending time during his armed services years in Federal republic of germany and Korea.
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Clark Gable
Clark Gable of "Gone With the Wind" fame was arguably the almost celebrated leading homo to dominate the screen during Hollywood's aureate age. Subsequently his wife died in a plane crash in 1942, Academy Award winner promptly abandoned his career and enlisted in the Army Air Forcefulness at the age of 41. Not only did he make propaganda films for the Ground forces, but he saw activity as a tail gunner during five missions over Federal republic of germany.
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Moses Gunn
Emmy nominee Moses Gunn has more than than 70 credits to his name, including classics like "Shaft" and "Firestarter." Before his career took off, notwithstanding, the St. Louis native served iii years in the Regular army starting in 1954.
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Robert Loggia
Although he died in 2015, Oscar nominee Robert Loggia earned 235 acting credits dating from 1951–2019, including memorable roles in big-screen blockbusters like "Big" and "Scarface," besides equally in acclaimed Tv set serial like "The Sopranos." He'south besides a veteran of the United States Regular army.
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Telly Savalas
The son of Greek immigrants, Telly Savalas shined shoes and sold newspapers before joining the Ground forces to serve in World War II, which he survived, with a Purple Heart. Equally an actor, Savalas played several unlike sinister villains before landing the part that made him famous: no-nonsense New York City detective "Kojak."
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Jonathan Winters
Talk show host Jack Paar in one case called the portly and groundbreaking comedian Jonathan Winters "pound for pound, the funniest human being alive." Winters parlayed his talent into a long television career, which included a run on his own testify, "The Jonathan Winters Show." During World War Two, Winters joined the Marines at simply 17 years one-time and served for ii years in the South Pacific.
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Audie Murphy
Before he died in 1971, Audie Murphy amassed an impressive list of credits including "Ride a Crooked Trail" and "To Hell and Back." He is nigh famous, notwithstanding, for his career as a soldier, which resulted in him being featured on the cover of Life magazine in 1945. Murphy joined the Army a few days afterward his 18th birthday and would emerge from World War II three years afterward every bit the virtually decorated soldier of the entire conflict. Murphy was injured three times, killed 240 German soldiers, and was eventually awarded 33 awards and medals, including 3 Majestic Hearts, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Medal of Honor.
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Ed Asner
Ed Asner got his big interruption on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and he became such an industry mainstay that he served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1981 to 1985. Asner served in the Ground forces Indicate Corps in the early 1950s.
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Rod Steiger
Known for roles in "On the Waterfront," "Dr. Zhivago," and "In the Heat of the Night," Rod Steiger amassed nearly 150 credits betwixt 1950 and 2002. At the age of xvi, the futurity Academy Award winner dropped out of school to join the Navy. During World War Two, he saw combat on a Navy destroyer in the Pacific.
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Robert Montgomery
Robert Montgomery's resume includes 64 acting credits, merely he too directed six movies and produced three others. The "Night Must Fall" actor had already spent sixteen years with MGM and served as president of the Screen Actors Guild when World State of war Ii broke out. He paused his career to join the Navy and saw activeness in the European and Pacific theaters.
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Sterling Hayden
Known for his roles in "Dr. Strangelove" and as a crooked police captain in "The Godfather," Sterling Hayden's acting credits appointment dorsum to 1941. Before he was an histrion, Hayden was a sea voyager and helm, sailing around the world as a teenager and earning his starting time command at the age of 22. At the beginning of World War II, he was commissioned as a 2d lieutenant in the Marines and transferred to the CIA's forerunner agency, the Office of Strategic Services, eventually earning the Silver Star for valor.
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Brian Dennehy
Known for his roles in "Cocoon" and "First Claret," Brian Dennehy continues to rack upwards credits more than xl years later his debut in an episode of "Kojak" in 1977. Later graduating from Yale, Dennehy joined the Marines, the organization which he credits for much of his time to come success.
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Neville Brand
Neville Brand earned 139 credits over more than than 35 years between 1949 and 1985, including "Stalag 17" and "Tora! Tora! Tora!" Originally, he planned on a career as a military man. After joining the Regular army in 1939, however, Brand caught the acting bug while making training films for the government.
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Jack Warden
Two-fourth dimension Oscar nominee Jack Warden began his show business career in 1950. His 164 credits include "12 Angry Men," "The Replacements," "While You Were Sleeping," and "Heaven Can Expect." Expelled from loftier school for fighting, Warden worked every bit both a boxer and a bouncer in his youth. He joined the Navy in 1938, serving for three years on the Yangtze River Patrol before joining the Merchant Marine in 1941.
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Ted Knight
Ted Knight languished in obscurity for 2 decades earlier he struck Hollywood gold with the part of Ted Baxter in the 1970s sitcom "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Knight landed his own TV series and is also famous for memorable roles in "Caddyshack," "The Love Boat," and "Too Close For Comfort." During World War 2, he dropped out of high school and joined the Army, where he would get a decorated fellow member of A Company, 296th combat engineer battalion.
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Bob Crane
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Spencer Tracy
Among only a few Globe War I veterans to brand the list is Spencer Tracy, who served in the Navy. He spent most of the war in Virginia, and went on to star in some of history'south most treasured classics, including "Inherit the Wind," Guess Who'south Coming to Dinner," and "Judgment at Nuremberg."
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Harry Dean Stanton
Harry Dean Stanton'south death in 2017 concluded one of the most prolific careers in Hollywood history. His more than than 200 credits include "The Green Mile," "Alien," "Cool Hand Luke," Big Love," and "Gunsmoke." He served in the Navy during World War Two, working equally a cook on a ship during the Battle of Okinawa.
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Rock Hudson
Handsome heartthrob Rock Hudson's resume includes "Giant" with Elizabeth Taylor and "Pillow Talk" with Doris 24-hour interval. In 1944, Hudson joined the Navy and served in the Philippines.
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Fred Gwynne
A veteran of the stage and screen, Fred Gwynne is remembered every bit Herman Munster from Goggle box's "The Munsters" besides as the curt-tempered stickler guess from "My Cousin Vinny." During Earth War 2, Gwynn enlisted in the Navy and served on a sub chaser.
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John Amos
Emmy nominee John Amos has played some of the nigh iconic characters ever to appear on both the big and small screens, including Kunta Kinte in "Roots," James Evans Sr. in "Good Times," and Cleo McDowell in "Coming to America." A veteran of the New Jersey National Guard, Amos is the Honorary Main Chief of the U.Southward. Coast Baby-sit.
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Burt Young
Oscar nominee Burt Young has earned more than than 160 acting credits, including x projects currently in the works or slated for release. He's best known for his office as cross brother-in-police Paulie in the "Rocky" franchise. Immature served in the Marines from 1957 to 1959.
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R. Lee Ermey
It may be surprising to learn that some actors are war machine veterans. Others, not so much. Gruff and authoritative, R. Lee Ermey is the human apotheosis of Marine Corps adulthood, which he put on total display every bit a difficult-nosed drill teacher in "Full Metallic Jacket." Before injuries forced him to retire, Ermey served for eleven years as a Marine, earning the rank of staff sergeant and the honorary title of gunnery sergeant later spending xiv months in Vietnam and completing 2 tours in Okinawa, Japan.
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George C. Scott
George C. Scott had a xl-year bear witness business organisation career, the pinnacle of which was his Oscar-winning portrayal of the namesake American full general in the movie "Patton." In real life, Scott joined the Marines in 1945 shortly before the end of World State of war II. He served for four years, frequently as a guard at Arlington National Cemetery.
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Ernie Hudson
The "Ghostbusters" franchise fabricated Ernie Hudson famous, but the Michigan native is by no means a one-trick pony. Hudson has accumulated an impressive 236 acting credits since 1976, including four projects currently in the works. Although he joined the Marines subsequently high school, he was medically discharged after but a few months due to asthma.
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Wilford Brimley
From "Cocoon" and "The Natural" to "The Firm" and "Absence of Malice," Wilford Brimley's folksy merely serious demeanor has earned him a resume filled with critical and commercial success—not to mention a recurring office equally the instantly recognizable Quaker Oats human being. Once a bodyguard for Howard Hughes, Brimley enlisted in the Marines during the Korean War and was stationed for three years in the Aleutian Islands.
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James Avery
James Avery's interim career spanned nearly 40 years and includes nigh 180 credits, simply he was all-time known as stern-but-lovable patriarch Uncle Philip Banks on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." After graduating from high school, Avery joined the Navy and served in Vietnam during the height of the war from 1968 to 1969.
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Richard Kline
Although his resume includes hit shows like "ER," "Blue Bloods," NYPD Blue," and "That '70s Show," Richard Kline is best known for playing i of the almost memorable characters in sitcom history: Larry Dallas from "3's Company." Kline was struck by lightning while serving in Vietnam.
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James Whitmore
Born in 1921, James Whitmore had interim credits dating from the 1940s to the late 2000s. Amongst the virtually memorable was that of institutionalized inmate Brooks Hatlen in "The Shawshank Redemption." Whitmore served in the Marines in World State of war Two and used the G.I. Beak to attend the American Theatre Fly subsequently he was honorably discharged.
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Jason Robards
Although his career spanned from 1947 to 2000, 2-time Oscar winner Jason Robards is near famous for his function as a bold and integrity-driven newspaper publisher in "All the President'southward Men." During Earth War II, he experienced gainsay as a radioman in the Navy.
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Elvis Presley
In 1957, history'southward most famous veteran joined the Ground forces. Elvis Aaron Presley was offered the opportunity to fulfill his service by entertaining troops, playing concerts, and serving as a recruiting model, but the King (really a sergeant) famously chose instead to serve as a common soldier. His signature pompadour haircut was shaved, and he was placed into an armored division in 1958 at the very height of his career.
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