Before reaching their fame, there were a few celebrities who served in the military. Some were drafted during World War II, while others are currently in the Army Reserves. If you want to explore a few of the celebrities who served in the military before reaching stardom, then check out these examples.
9. Zach Bryan
Zach Bryan is a country music artist, with some of his most well-known songs being “Something in the Orange,” “I Remember Everything,” and “Heading South.” He’s also known for having a few controversial incidents, especially with his past relationship with Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia. But before he blew up in the country music world, he served eight years in the Navy.
8. Johnny Cash
Another country artist who also served in the military is Johnny Cash, one of the most renowned artists in the genre. Known for his amazing hits like “I Walk the Line,” “Ring of Fire,” and “Folsom Prison Blues.” Cash enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at the age of 18, serving for four years. He was stationed in Landsberg, West Germany, where he worked as a Morse code operator intercepting Soviet transmissions.
7. Elvis Presley
Moving from country to the King of Rock, we have Elvis Presley, one of the many celebrities who served in the military. Known for his amazing hits like “Jailhouse Rock,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and “Hound Dog,” Presley was also drafted into the Army from 1958 to 1960. During his service, he held the rank of sergeant and completed his active duty in March 1960, then remained in the Army Reserve until 1964.
6. Morgan Freeman
From music artists to celebrated actors, Morgan Freeman is one of the many celebrities who served in the military and is also a prominent figure on screen. Best known for his roles in The Dark Knight (2008), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Unforgiven (1992), and Driving Miss Daisy (1989), Freeman is also beloved for his iconic voice. But what you might not have known is that he served in the Air Force from 1955 to 1959 as an Automatic Tracking Radar Repairman.
5. Betty White
Betty White is an iconic actress and comedian, and was a pioneer in early television with her career that spanned seven decades. Some of her most prominent roles included The Golden Girls, Hot in Cleveland, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She was also the first woman to receive the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host for Just Men! in 1983. And she played a huge part in the military. While she didn’t enlist, she did contribute to the women’s volunteer work in WWII, signing up alongside actresses such as Joan Crawford and Hattie McDonald.
4. Adam Driver
One of the more recent iconic actors, Adam Driver, is most known for his outstanding role in the Star Wars sequel trilogy as Kylo Ren. Along with that, he’s been in Marriage Story (2019), House of Gucci (2021), The Last Duel (2021), and Ferrari (2023). But before his journey to stardom, he was one of the many celebrities who served in the military. After he turned 18, Driver enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving two years and eight months until he was eventually medically discharged at the rank of lance corporal after a sternum fracture.
3. Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck is another actor who is known mostly for his role as Thomas Magnum in the popular show, Magnum P.I. (1980-88). Along with that, he’s known for playing in Blue Bloods as NYC Police Commissioner Frank Reagan. But before that, he was drafted during the Vietnam War and enlisted in the California Army National Guard, where he served from 1967 to 1973, attaining the rank of sergeant.
2. Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris is already known for having a strong legacy, and his being one of the many celebrities who served in the military helps. The martial artist, actor, screenwriter, and author is known for his amazing roles in The Wrecking Crew (1968), The Way of the Dragon (1972), and many more. But before that, he served in the Air Force as an Air Policeman stationed in South Korea. After returning to the United States, he continued serving at the Air Force Base in California.
1. Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood is another iconic name in media, and is also one of the many celebrities who served in the military. The retired actor, filmmaker, and musician is known for his Western roles like the Dollars Trilogy, Dirty Harry, and more. But before his career in media, he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War from 1951 to 1952. He’s known for having survived a dramatic plane crash off the California coast, swimming miles to safety at Fort Ord, California.