Think you’ve got your favorite celebrities all figured out? Maybe not. Before they were selling out arenas, stealing scenes on the big screen, or cracking us up in living rooms across America, some of Hollywood’s most recognizable names were in uniform—marching, saluting, and taking orders. For these stars, life in the military came first, and the lessons they learned in service left a lasting mark on their careers and characters. Here are 10 celebrities whose paths led them from the military to the limelight—and why their military experience was important.
10. Wes Studi
Long before he brought fierce authenticity to roles like Magua in The Last of the Mohicans or Geronimo, Wes Studi was a soldier. At 17, he joined the Oklahoma National Guard, later volunteering for active duty in Vietnam with the 9th Infantry Division. Stationed deep in hostile territory, Studi’s firsthand experience shaped his later work as both an actor and a veterans’ advocate, giving every military role he plays a layer of hard-earned truth.
9. Pat Sajak
Aye, the fellow who’s hosted the Wheel of Fortune for decades used to host records for soldiers in faraway lands. As a DJ with the American Forces Vietnam Network in Saigon, Pat Sajak introduced music, comedy, and a goofy “Good Morning, Vietnam!” to troops serving abroad. His banter and on-air skills in the Army proved to be ideal training for a TV lifetime.
8. Demond Wilson
Before his time as Lamont Sanford on Sanford and Son, Demond Wilson was in the midst of the Vietnam War with the 4th Infantry Division. Combat-wounded and discharged from the Army at Sergeant E-5, Wilson imbued his acting with a subtle strength—a depth gained from battling real-life obstacles most sitcom actors never face.
7. Tom Selleck
Long before the mustache made him a TV legend, Tom Selleck was serving with the California National Guard’s 160th Infantry Regiment from 1967 to 1973. Hollywood shelved his career while he wore the uniform, but he returned better than ever, going on to become Magnum P.I. and a long-time veterans’ advocate. His on-screen calm, confident presence is traced back to those years of service.
6. Dale Dye
If a war film rings true, it’s likely Dale Dye was involved. A Marine Corps veteran of three tours in Vietnam and 31 combat missions that he survived, Dye advised films such as Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers. He even shows up in many of them, injecting actual toughness and military discipline into the battlefield of Hollywood.
5. Jesse Ventura
Before the wrestling mat, the movie lot, or the governor’s suite, Jesse Ventura served with the Navy’s Underwater Demolition Team 12 from 1969-1975. Although he did not see combat, his time in the military bred discipline, toughness, and a larger-than-life confidence that ran through every act of his career.
4. James Earl Jones
Before he became one of the most recognizable voices in history—Darth Vader, Mufasa, and others—James Earl Jones was a military officer. He was commissioned in 1953 and commanded a cold-weather training unit in Colorado. The gravitas and commanding presence that made him a movie legend had already been honed by his days in charge of soldiers.
3. Tony Bennett
Years before he was a music icon, Tony Bennett served as an infantryman. Drafted in 1944, he saw combat in Europe, assisted in the liberation of a concentration camp, and went on to entertain troops with the Army Special Services Band. The blend of adversity and optimism he experienced during those times imbued his music with authentic feeling and warmth.
2. Mr. T
The gold chains and A-Team stardom, Mr. T—formerly Laurence Tureaud—was an Army Military Policeman. Selected as the number one trainee out of 6,000 recruits in 1975, he established a reputation for toughness and discipline that would precede him into popular culture. His signature toughness wasn’t a gimmick—it was forged in uniform.
1. Elvis Presley
Even the King of Rock and Roll wasn’t exempt from answering the draft. Elvis served from 1958-1960, including 18 months in Germany with the 3rd Armored Division. He worked hard to establish that he was just another G.I., gaining respect from his fellow servicemen and demonstrating to the world that superstardom and service could coexist.
From jungle warfare to military radio, these stars’ early years honed not only their profession but also their character. Their time in uniform is a reminder that beneath the glory, there’s a tale of discipline, sacrifice, and service to something greater than themselves.