From Betty White's volunteer service during World War II to Audie Murphy's three Purple Hearts, these famous veterans served their country before they became household names.
Before they commanded the silver screen, the world stage, or the baseball diamond, many of America’s most iconic figures commanded troops, flew combat missions, or served in the quiet, crucial roles that support a nation at war. Some of these famous veterans are household names — and you may not have even known that they served their countries.
Military service helped shape the future careers of these celebrities, artists, and leaders. Bob Ross developed the quiet, calm demeanor he was known for after vowing never to shout again after two decades in the Air Force. And some of Drew Carey’s earliest audiences for his comedy shows were his fellow Marines.
The most widespread intersection of fame and service came during World War II. The conflict demanded a national mobilization on an unprecedented scale, resulting in young men being called to service either through the draft or a heightened sense of patriotism. The war spawned dozens of famous veterans, from Bea Arthur to Christopher Lee.
Below, learn more about the little-known military careers of 33 celebrities.
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He trained as a field radio operator with the 25th Marine Regiment in Ohio. It was during his military service that Carey truly began to explore his comedic talents, writing jokes for stand-up comedy shows as a way to earn extra money.The Price Is Right/Facebook
Growing up as an "Army brat," Anderson was familiar with military life. She enlisted at the age of 18 and became a broadcast journalist, working as a military radio host in Seoul. Later, she worked for the Air Force News Agency in San Antonio, Texas.U.S. Army
Williams began his military journey in 1974 by enlisting in the Marine Corps. He made history as the first Black Marine to graduate from both the Naval Academy Preparatory School and subsequently the U.S. Naval Academy in 1980.
Upon graduation, Williams was commissioned as an intelligence officer in the Navy, specializing in cryptology. His assignments included an 18-month tour in Guam as a cryptologic officer for naval intelligence. He was later transferred to Fort Meade in Maryland, where he worked with the National Security Agency and was involved in the U.S. invasion of Grenada in 1983. During his service, he also studied Russian and Mandarin at the Defense Language Institute.SOUL TV/Facebook
Hefner earned a sharpshooter badge during basic training, but his typing skills led to his assignment as an infantry clerk. In this role, he also utilized his artistic talents by drawing cartoons for various Army newspapers. He was stationed at several bases in the United States, including Camp Adair in Oregon and Camp Pickett in Virginia.
Hefner was honorably discharged in 1946 as a private first class.Hugh Hefner/X
Driver's unit was preparing for deployment to Iraq in 2004 when he was involved in a serious mountain biking accident. He dislocated his sternum, an injury that ultimately led to his medical discharge. He held the rank of lance corporal.U.S. Marine Corps
Unhappy with his duties and the way he saw patients being treated, Poitier decided to feign a mental illness to secure a discharge. His attempt was so convincing that he was initially confined to a psychiatric ward. After an evaluation by a sympathetic psychiatrist who understood his situation, Poitier was granted a discharge in 1944 after serving just over a year.Public Domain
Marshall is also a vocal advocate for veterans and has volunteered hundreds of hours to help veterans in the Los Angeles area. She has worked with organizations such as Pin-Ups for Vets, which raises money for rehabilitation equipment for veterans, and she mentors veterans who are looking to enter the film and television industry.U.S. Navy
While on a short leave in 1965, Kristofferson made a pivotal trip to Nashville and was inspired to pursue a music career. Shortly after, faced with the decision to either accept a teaching position at West Point or leave the military, Kristofferson chose to focus on songwriting. This decision famously led to his family disowning him, but it ultimately set him on the path to becoming one of the most celebrated songwriters in American music history.U.S. Army
For his service in the Korean War, Neil Armstrong received several military decorations, including the Air Medal and two Gold Stars.
Armstrong left the Navy in 1952 having attained the rank of lieutenant (junior grade). He then transitioned to the U.S. Navy Reserve, where he served until 1960. His experience as a Navy aviator was instrumental in his selection as an astronaut.U.S. Navy
Schulz was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in late 1945 after the war in Europe had ended. He earned the Combat Infantryman Badge for his service. His time in the military was a significant period in his life, and subtle references to his service can be found throughout his Peanuts comics, most notably in Snoopy's recurring fantasy battles as the "Flying Ace."Charles M. Schulz Museum/Facebook
In 1941, White began volunteering with the American Women's Voluntary Services (AWVS). This organization mobilized women across the country to support military services and assist with national defense preparations.
Her primary duties involved driving a post exchange truck filled with supplies like toiletries, snacks, and cigarettes to military barracks across Los Angeles. She also participated in events organized to entertain the troops before they were deployed overseas, such as dances and social gatherings.
In a 2010 interview with Cleveland Magazine, White recalled her time with the AWVS, stating, "It was a strange time and out of balance with everything." Betty White Ludden Trust
Gwynne enlisted in the Navy following his graduation from the prestigious Groton School in 1944. He served as a radioman on a submarine chaser, a small but vital naval vessel used for anti-submarine warfare. His service took place primarily in the Pacific Theater during the final year of the war.
Gwynne was discharged in 1948. He then used the G.I. Bill to continue his education, enrolling at Harvard University. It was at Harvard that he became a member of the famed Hasty Pudding Club and honed the acting skills that would later make him a household name.IMDb/CBS Television
Lee initially volunteered for the Finnish forces during the Winter War against the Soviet Union in 1939 but was kept away from the front lines. He then returned to Britain and, in 1941, enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF). After his training was halted due to a medical issue with his optic nerve, he was moved into the RAF's intelligence branch.
He was ultimately promoted to the rank of flight lieutenant and, after the Nazi surrender, his unit was tasked with helping to track down and interrogate Nazi war criminals. He was discharged from the RAF in 1946, leaving behind a remarkable and heroic wartime legacy before embarking on his acting career.Public Domain
His return to the United States was a national event. His military service successfully rebranded him from a controversial hip-swiveling rocker to a patriotic American hero. This new, wholesome image helped broaden his appeal and paved the way for his successful transition into a mainstream movie star in the 1960s.Public Domain
Facing limited opportunities after high school and with a young daughter to support, he enlisted in 1977 at age 19. He was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division and completed his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Afterward, he was stationed in Hawaii.
Ice-T's time in the military was a formative experience. While in Hawaii, he became interested in the burgeoning hip-hop culture, purchasing turntables, speakers, and other DJ equipment. He honed his skills and performed for fellow soldiers, developing the persona and talent that would later launch his music career.
Ice-T received an honorable discharge in 1979.Sven Mandel/Wikimedia Commons
Though she had ambitions to join the Women's Army Corps (WACs) or the Navy's WAVES, she was rejected for being too tall at 6'2". Undeterred, she joined the OSS in 1942, starting as a research assistant in the Secret Intelligence division. She remained with the OSS until the end of the war.Lee Lockwood/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images
Initially, Arthur denied her service in interviews. However, in 2010, official military records were uncovered that detailed her enlistment and career.
According to personality appraisals from her service file, she was described by her superiors as "frank" and "argumentative," and "officious, but probably a good worker if she has her own way!"
Arthur was honorably discharged in September 1945.National Archives
In 1956, Wilder was drafted into the Army. Following his basic training, he was assigned to the medical corps. He was given the opportunity to choose his post, and he selected the Valley Forge Army Hospital in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, where he would be relatively close to New York City to continue his acting studies.
He served from 1956 to 1958 and was honorably discharged.Public Domain
For his combat service, he was awarded the Air Medal with two Gold Stars. An inner ear infection grounded him in June 1953, and he was sent back to the United States, resigning his commission to return once again to baseball.
Ted Williams' military service cost him nearly five full seasons of his prime baseball career, yet he never complained, viewing it as his patriotic duty.Public Domain
An accomplished private pilot before the war, he set aside his Academy Award-winning acting career to serve his country, becoming a highly respected bomber pilot and squadron commander in the U.S. Air Force. After the war, he remained in the Air Force Reserve.
Stewart ended his military career in 1968 with the rank of brigadier general and was awarded numerous decorations for his valor, including two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the French Croix de Guerre.U.S. Air Force
In July 1950, Cash enlisted in the Air Force. During his enlistment process, the recruiter would not accept "J. R." as his legal name — even though that's what was listed on his birth certificate — so he adopted "John R. Cash" as his official name. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, his high aptitude for Morse code led him to be selected for training as a radio intercept operator for the U.S. Air Force Security Service.
He was honorably discharged in July 1954 with the rank of staff sergeant. He immediately used his new name and the skills he had developed in the military to move to Memphis, launching the musical career that would make him a legend.Johnny Cash/U.S. Department of War
Brooks saw active combat and participated in the Battle of the Bulge, the last major German offensive on the Western Front. He once famously responded to Nazi propaganda being broadcast over loudspeakers by singing the music of Jewish artist Al Jolson through a bullhorn.
He was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1946.Mel Brooks
Eastwood was drafted in 1951 and sent to Fort Ord, a U.S. Army post in California, for basic training. Due to his experience as a lifeguard, he was assigned the role of a swimming instructor and lifeguard at the base.
He was honorably discharged in 1953.Public Domain
Unlike many of his contemporaries who were drafted, Freeman voluntarily enlisted, turning down a drama scholarship from Jackson State University to do so. He trained as an Automatic Tracking Radar repairman and steadily rose through the ranks, eventually becoming an airman first class.
He was honorably discharged in 1959 and moved to Hollywood to pursue the acting career that would eventually make him a global star.Morgan Freeman/Facebook
After a brief stint in college and a tryout with the Green Bay Packers, Mr. T enlisted in the Army and served in the Military Police Corps. He was stationed at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.
During his time in the service, he was known for his exceptional physical fitness and discipline. In a cycle of 6,000 troops, he was named top trainee and was promoted to squad leader.
One of the most notable stories from his military career occurred during a punishment detail. A sergeant ordered him to chop down trees but did not specify how many. Mr. T reportedly single-handedly cut down over 70 trees in a matter of hours, only stopping when a shocked major relieved the sergeant of his command.Reddit
Ross enlisted in the Air Force in 1961 at the age of 18. He served as a medical records technician and eventually rose through the non-commissioned officer ranks, ultimately becoming a master sergeant.
A significant portion of his military career was spent at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. The natural scenery eventually inspired him to start painting, and he took classes at a local United Service Organizations club, where he developed his signature "wet-on-wet" oil painting technique.
After 20 years of service, Ross decided to retire from the military in 1981. He made a vow that once he left the service, he would never raise his voice again. This decision directly shaped the calm, encouraging, and famously gentle personality that millions of viewers came to love on The Joy of Painting.Netflix
Bogart enlisted in the Navy in 1918 at age 18. He served as a signalman on the troop transport ship USS Leviathan.
Because the Armistice was signed in November 1918, not long after Bogart began his service at sea, he did not see any combat. He spent the remainder of his service bringing soldiers home from the war.
Humphrey Bogart was honorably discharged in 1919 with the rank of Boatswain's Mate Third Class.World War I Centennial Commission
Bennett was drafted into the Army in November 1944. Following basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Fort Robinson, Nebraska, he was sent to Europe as an infantry rifleman. He was assigned to the 63rd Infantry Division, also known as the "Blood and Fire" division, which was fighting in France and Germany.
As a front line soldier, Bennett experienced intense and brutal fighting during the winter of 1944 to 1945. He and his unit moved through France and into Germany, often sleeping in foxholes in the freezing cold as part of the final push to defeat the Nazi regime.
In April 1945, his unit was involved in the liberation of the Kaufering concentration camp, a subcamp of Dachau.
After the war in Europe ended, Bennett's singing talent was recognized. He was reassigned to a Special Services unit to entertain the American troops who remained in occupied Germany. He sang with the 314th Army Special Services Band under the stage name "Joe Bari." He was honorably discharged in 1946 and returned to the United States, where he began his legendary singing career.Tony Bennett
Jones attended the University of Michigan, where he was a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). After leaving school in 1953, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army and reported for duty at Fort Benning in Georgia to attend Ranger School.
Jones served for two years and rose to the rank of first lieutenant. While he considered making the military a career, his passion for acting ultimately won out. After being honorably discharged, he moved to New York City to pursue an entertainment career.John Mathew Smith/Wikimedia Commons
Duvall was drafted in 1953, during the final year of the Korean War. He was stationed at Fort Gordon in Georgia and was honorably discharged in 1954 with the rank of private first class. He did not see any combat.
While stationed at Fort Gordon, Duvall continued to pursue his passion for acting by participating in amateur theater productions in the nearby city of Augusta.Omni Zoetrope
In early 1862, Tubman traveled to Port Royal, South Carolina, an area occupied by Union forces. She began her service as a nurse, tending to Black soldiers and formerly enslaved people who were suffering from diseases like dysentery and smallpox. Her knowledge of herbal remedies, learned from her childhood, proved invaluable.
However, her true value to the Union cause was quickly recognized. Her ability to move undetected, her deep understanding of the Southern landscape, and her extensive intelligence network among the local enslaved population made her the perfect candidate for espionage.
She was soon tasked with gathering critical intelligence for the Union Army, mapping territory, and identifying the locations of Confederate troops and supply lines. She organized a network of scouts and river pilots from among the local Black population, creating a highly effective intelligence-gathering operation behind enemy lines.Public Domain
Audie Murphy, The Most Decorated American Combat Soldier Of World War II
Audie Murphy was the single most decorated American combat soldier of World War II, earning every U.S. military combat medal for valor from the Army that existed at the time.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, a young Audie Murphy was eager to enlist. However, standing only 5'5" and weighing just over 100 pounds, he was rejected by the Marine Corps, the Navy, and the Army paratroopers for being too small. Thanks to his persistence, though, he was finally accepted into the U.S. Army in June 1942, a few days after his 17th birthday (though he had falsified his birth date to appear 18).
After basic training, he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division. The famous veteran's service began in North Africa and continued through the campaigns in Sicily and Italy. From his very first days in combat, Murphy distinguished himself as an exceptionally skilled and aggressive soldier, earning promotions and decorations for his bravery.
Public DomainAudie Murphy spent 400 days on the front lines during World War II.
During Operation Dragoon in southern France in August 1944, Murphy's best friend was killed by a German machine gun crew that feigned surrender. Enraged, Murphy single-handedly advanced on the German position. According to military records from the time, he killed eight of the soldiers, wounded three, and took 11 more prisoner. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions.
However, Audie Murphy's most famous act of bravery occurred on Jan. 26, 1945, in the Colmar Pocket in France. Now a second lieutenant, Murphy was the commander of a company that was attacked by six German tanks and waves of infantry while awaiting reinforcements.
With his unit facing annihilation, Murphy ordered his men to fall back to a safer position in the woods. He remained alone at the front, armed with his M1 carbine and a radio to direct artillery fire. He then climbed onto an abandoned tank destroyer to fire upon the approaching enemies himself.
From this exposed position, he used the vehicle's machine gun to single-handedly hold off the German advance for over an hour. He killed or wounded an estimated 50 German soldiers, repelling their attack and saving his company. He sustained a leg wound at some point during the firefight, but he still kept shooting until he ran out of ammunition. Murphy then rejoined his men, refused medical attention, and led them in a successful counterattack.
For this incredible act of valor, the famous veteran was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration.
By the end of the war, Audie Murphy had spent 400 days on the front lines and had been wounded three times. He had earned 33 U.S. medals, including the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, and three Purple Hearts.
After the war, a producer saw Murphy featured in Life magazine and asked him to come to Hollywood — and the rest was history. Over the next two decades, Murphy appeared in more than 40 films, becoming one of the most famous veterans in history.
Famous Veterans: How Jackie Robinson Broke The Army's Color Barrier
Jackie Robinson is most often remembered for integrating Major League Baseball in 1947, but even before then, he had challenged racial segregation in the U.S. Army.
Five years before his Major League debut, Robinson was drafted into the Army, where he was assigned to a segregated cavalry unit at Fort Riley in Kansas. According to the National Museum of African American History & Culture, Robinson quickly embraced the "Double V" campaign, which saw him and other Black soldiers declaring a "war against bigotry and racial intolerance both at home and abroad."
That was easier said than done. While stationed at Fort Riley, Robinson and other Black soldiers were denied entry into Officer Candidate School. This led them to protest, which eventually resulted in Robinson and other Black servicemen being granted officer status. In January 1943, Robinson was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
National Baseball Hall of Fame LibraryJackie Robinson helped integrate both Major League Baseball and the U.S. Army.
The most defining moment of this famous veteran's military career came the next summer. By July 1944, he'd been transferred to Fort Hood in Texas to serve with the 761st "Black Panthers" Tank Battalion.
On July 6, Robinson boarded a military bus and was ordered by the driver to move to the back, in accordance with the local Jim Crow laws. Robinson, however, refused. At the time, Army regulations had desegregated military-operated buses, but local civilian drivers often still enforced segregation. Robinson argued with the driver — and later with military police and a superior officer who became involved.
As a result, Robinson was court-martialed, with officials claiming he had conducted himself in a "sloppy and contemptuous" manner. He faced six charges in total: disturbing the peace, drunkenness, conduct unbecoming an officer, insulting a civilian woman, insubordination, and refusing to obey the lawful orders of a superior officer.
Robinson felt the charges were racially motivated, and he enlisted the help of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to help draw attention to the trial. Indeed, during the court-martial a month later, Robinson was acquitted of all charges.
Robinson later reflected on the incident in his autobiography:
"My lawyer summed up the case beautifully by telling the board that this was not a case involving any violation of the Articles of War, or even of military tradition, but simply a situation in which a few individuals sought to vent their bigotry on a Negro they considered 'uppity' because he had the audacity to exercise rights that belonged to him as an American and a soldier."
Following the acquittal, Robinson was transferred to Camp Breckinridge in Kentucky, where he served as a coach for Army athletics. He received an honorable discharge in November 1944, having reached the rank of second lieutenant.
And while his military career was cut short, Robinson's Major League career was just getting started. Soon, he'd become one of the most famous veterans in sports history.
After reading about these famous veterans, learn about the strange deaths of 16 famous historic figures. Then, read the little-known story of the Bonus Army, the 20,000 veterans who marched on Washington, D.C. in 1932.
