We associate being a Hollywood star with living a luxurious life filled with glamour and money. However, there's much more than meets the eye in the case of some of these celebrities. Sometimes, there's a lot about their past that we simply don't know about.
This is why we've decided to compile some very interesting information. As it turns out, some of our favorite celebs decided to serve their countries at a young age. These courageous acts are worth mentioning, as they speak of their character as well as their patriotism. Let's take a look!
Anthony Hopkins
Anthony Hopkins' poise and incredible talent have, without a doubt, immortalized him as one of the most legendary actors of his generation. Some of his most famous films are The Silence of the Lambs, Amistad, and Nixon. Despite his current success, Hopkins had numerous struggles during his younger years.
As it happens, Hopkins had a very difficult time during his early education. However, this didn't stop him from becoming part of the British Army. He served for two years as part of his national service. Hopkins then proceeded to study his true passion: arts. We have all seen the excellent results of that decision.
Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood is a successful actor and director. He could go into retirement now that he's 89 with the certainty that he's one of Hollywood's icons; however, he continues to be active in the industry. His most recent project was the 2018 film, The Mule, where he served as the star, director, and producer. Like always, he provided a masterful performance.
Eastwood's younger years were more erratic than most. He worked numerous part-time jobs before being drafted by the United States Army. This was within the context of the Korean war. However, he was never in combat and instead spent his time in service as a lifeguard at one of the military forts in California.
Gal Gadot
Who would've imagined that the beautiful and talented Gal Gadot was once part of the military? However, as an Israeli citizen, Gadot always knew she would have to serve for at least two years in the Israel Defense Forces. Interestingly, this opened doors for her in Hollywood.
According to Gadot, part of the reason why she got the part in Fast and Furious was the fact that she had been in the military. Gadot's fame has skyrocketed since she starred as the main character in the film, Wonder Woman. Aside from acting, she has also started a new production company called Pilot Wave with her real estate developer husband, Yaron Varsano.
Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson became famous worldwide for his roles as a man looking for justice as a vigilante. He quickly developed a reputation as one of the toughest guys in the industry. We're hardly surprised considering his successful stint in the United States Army Air Forces.
During World War II, he was assigned to bombard the Japanese islands. After getting injured, he received a Purple Heart. One of Bronson's projects within the film industry was Man with a Camera, where he played a combat photographer. He also played the lead role in the film Machine-Gun Kelly.
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman showed his talent for acting from a very young age. During his years in high school, it was obvious that his inclination was towards the entertainment industry. However, even after getting an offer for a scholarship to continue his studies, he went on a different route.
Morgan enlisted in the United States Army. He served for four years in the Air Force and rose to the rank of Airman 1st Class. After his service, he decided to move to California to pursue acting. The Million Dollar Baby star is now one of the most profitable actors in Hollywood and has been prolific even up to this day; he currently has two upcoming films.
Robert Fuller
Robert Fuller is now a retired actor who is more focused on animal care than on being in the spotlight. He owns a horse ranch and seems to be spending his senior years there. However, most people remember him for his appearance in numerous western shows. One of them is the show, Laramie.
When Robert's career was just starting, he was drafted by the US Army. He served for two years, spending part of this time in Korea. After he was discharged, he thought about giving up on acting. However, after taking some classes, he found renewed passion for this craft and became determined to succeed.
Sean Connery
Sean Connery started working at a very young age. When he was only a teenager, he would deliver milk around his neighborhood. Later on, he enrolled in the Royal Navy. He was proud to serve in the military as his love for Scotland has always been a huge part of his life.
However, Connery was discharged earlier than he expected due to a duodenal ulcer. It seems that this was a common ailment in his family. Connery decided to pursue drama and then went on to become one of the most popular actors of his era. He will always be remembered as the first actor to portray James Bond.
Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson is a well-known singer and activist who is considered as one of the main icons of the music sub-genre, outlaw country. This is a genre that confronts the conservative style imposed by the mainstream Nashville country. Nelson is a very peaceful guy who has advocated for the legalization of drugs such as marijuana.
Finding out that the Always On My Mind singer had been part of the military truly surprised us. Right after graduating from school, he enrolled in the US Air Force. However, he had some back problems, which caused him to be discharged less than a year after he enlisted.
Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck could have worked in business if he had continued down the path he was following in college. Thankfully, a professor suggested that he should take up acting. After dropping out, Selleck went on to study the dramatic arts. However, before starting his career, he got drafted during the Vietnam War.
He served for six years as part of the California National Guard. After his service ended, Selleck became a very famous actor. He starred in series such as Magnum P.I. and he's is currently part of the police drama, Blue Bloods. Selleck's upcoming project is a film that's part of the Jesse Stone franchise.
Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen was a beloved antihero on the screen. He participated in projects such as The Cincinnatti Kid, Papillon, and The Getaway. However, his rebellious persona had a painful origin. McQueen had a very difficult childhood in which he had to deal with child abuse as he was beaten by different stepfathers.
In 1947, McQueen enlisted in the US Marine Corps. There, his rebellious attitude made things difficult for him. However, once he decided to embrace the discipline required to serve, he became an outstanding private. He was honorably discharged in 1950 after an important role as a guard on the presidential yacht.
Alan Alda
Alan Alda's versatility as an artist is impressive. He has acted in everything from drama projects, to action and comedy series. One of the roles that brought him great fame was his character on the show, M*A*S*H. He has also participated in comedies such as 30 Rock.
After Alda graduated from university, he enlisted in the military. He served for a year at Fort Benning before going to Korea for six months. Afterward, he started participating in the industry. Alda became part of a comedy group called the Compass Players and he never looked back.
KIRK DOUGLAS
The late Hollywood actor Kirk Douglas lived his life to the fullest, reaching the impressive age of 103 years old. But even for a centenary, his list of achievements seems way too big to fit in a single lifetime. The celebrated actor and author was also a loving family man and a former United States soldier.
Between 1941 and 1944, Kirk enlisted in the United States Navy to fight in World War II. He worked mainly as a messenger boy and enjoyed entertaining the troops. The late Paths of Glory actor decided to join the war following the tragic events of Pearl Harbor and reached the rank of Junior Lieutenant.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the living proof that the sky is the limit when it comes to your dreams. He grew up in poverty in a very strict Austrian family. Now, he's now one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood who even became a governor of the state of California. Arnold, who rose to fame for his role in The Terminator franchise, was once in the military.
Back then, all 18-year-old men in Austria were required to serve. Therefore, he was part of the military for a year. At times, his love for bodybuilding clashed with his duties. One time, he left for a competition and had to spend one week in a military prison.
Bea Arthur
Bea Arthur was a very successful comedian. She's remembered mostly for her roles in the musical, Mame, as well as the show, Golden Girls. However, well before she decided to pursue acting, she served in the US Marine Corps Women's Reserve during World War II.
Bea would type and also drive a truck as part of her duties in the military. After being honorably discharged, she decided to become a lab technician. Upon graduation, she headed to New York, where she studied acting at The New School. Her first projects were off-Broadway shows.
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones could be using his deep and unmistakable voice to calm down scared patients. After all, he was pursuing pre-med when he first started his higher education. However, after joining the Reserve Officers Training Corps, he realized medicine was not for him. Instead, he decided to pursue drama.
Jones was commissioned in 1953 and progressed in his military training. However, he was never involved in combat. He was a 1st Lieutenant when he was discharged. Jones' success in theater and film would eventually lead him to provide the voice for the iconic Darth Vader from Star Wars.
James Stewart
James Stewart was one of the most beloved actors of his generation. He became the embodiment of American values and would often portray wholesome and morally correct characters. Some of his most remembered projects are the films It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Vertigo.
During World War II, he quickly rose from private to colonel as part of the Air Force. He had to go through a weight gain regime to be accepted, though. Stewart resumed his activities in the industry after the war. However, he continued to be part of the military and served for 27 years.
Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy knew from a young age that he wanted to become an actor. Despite his parents' insistence that he should study something that would give him a stable future, he pursued his passion. After he started to get minor roles, he enlisted in the US Army Reserve and served for less than two years.
Nimoy continued to pursue acting. After unsuccessful auditions, he concluded that he was perfect for supporting roles, not leading roles. Later, he became part of numerous projects throughout the years. One of his most famous ones was his portrayal of Spock in the widely successful Star Trek franchise.
Alec Guinness
Alec Guinness was already a well-known actor when he landed the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars franchise. The success of these films further immortalized Guinness as an actor. However, his legacy also involves many other projects including The Ladykillers and Kind Hearts and Coronets.
During World War II, Alec became part of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, where he received a commission later on. He was promoted to lieutenant shortly after. Furthermore, he received permission during his service to participate in the Broadway play, Flare Path, where he portrayed a flight lieutenant.
Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks' brilliance was recognized in the US Forces as well when he was drafted during World War II. After an IQ test, he was placed in a specialized unit in which the members would learn about complex issues such as engineering and medicine. Unfortunately, this unit was disbanded and Mel had to go back to regular service.
As part of his duties, he was part of the demining of Germany as the troops made advances. After the war, Mel dedicated himself completely to the industry. He's now regarded as one of the greatest directors in Hollywood history. Some of his successes include The Producers and Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
Drew Carey
Drew Carey's academic performance had caused him great struggles during his studies. After he dropped out of university, he decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. It was when he served as a field radio operator in the military that he realized his jokes had potential.
Towards the end of his six-year military career, he started studying how to write jokes. After he left the military, he started participating in open mic nights. Today, Carey's net worth has grown exponentially and is now famous as a very successful comedian. He even had an eponymous show titled, The Drew Carey Show.
Johnny Carson
The public will always remember TV host Johnny Carson as one of the biggest entertainers in the industry. Before he reached worldwide fame through The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, he actually enlisted in the Navy in 1941. During his naval career, he became involved in boxing and won almost all his matches thanks to his constant workout routine.
Just as Carson was heading to combat, World War II ended. He served in the encryption area for the most part. During his time in the Navy, he realized he had a talent for entertaining others. This led him to pursue a career in speech and drama. Carson wanted to become a star, and he did.
Montell Williams
Montel Williams is the former host of The Montel Williams Show, a stint he had for 17 years. He received an Emmy Award for his role as a host and garnered national recognition. Montel is also a former member of both the US Navy and the US Marine Corps.
Montel received four different recognitions during his 15 years of service. However, in 1999, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This motivated him to create a non-profit foundation dedicated to research on the matter. He also promotes information campaigns directed to patients and their families and friends.
Bob Barker
Bob Barker is known as the former host of the longest-running game show in America. This show is, of course, The Price is Right. Like many other celebrities during his time, Bob joined the US Navy during World War II. Although he became a fighter pilot, he never saw combat as the war ended before he went overseas.
After the war, Bob decided to go back to Drury College and obtained his Economics degree with honors. It was there that he became interested in broadcasting. He became involved in radio before he started his stint as a presenter in the game show, Truth or Consequences, which he hosted for almost 20 years.
Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier is one of the biggest Hollywood legends. As the first black man to ever be nominated for an Academy Award—and, later, the first black man to win one for Lilies of the Field, he was bound to become an icon. His great talent has been widely recognized worldwide.
As an American-Bahamian, the US and UK governments have awarded Poitier with the biggest honors possible for his work in the arts. Poitier was able to enlist during World War II by lying about his age. Assigned in a mental hospital, he was deeply against how the patients were treated there.
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix was a troublemaker from a very early age. When he was only 19, he was caught riding stolen cars on more than one occasion. Due to this, he was presented with a choice: he could either go to prison or join the Army. Of course, the Purple Haze guitarist chose the latter.
Due to the constant exercise and bullying from other trainees, Hendrix felt it was not the right place for him. He asked his father to send him his guitar, and he started a small band named the Casuals. Eventually, Hendrix's lack of discipline and disinterest caused him to be discharged.
Don Rickles
Don Rickles became an expert at insult comedy after his attempts at becoming a drama actor failed. This might have come from the need to make other people laugh after his time in the war. At an early age, Rickles was part of the US Navy during World War II.
He was honorably discharged in 1946, which is when he decided to study acting. As he started to perform in comedy clubs, he developed his insult style, which quickly became a crowd favorite. Rickles was part of the entertainment industry until his death in 2017 due to kidney failure.
Kris Kristofferson
Singer and actor Kris Kristofferson came from a military family, and there were high expectations regarding his future. However, he had shown an aptitude and love for songwriting from very early on. Despite this, his family constantly pressured him to be part of the force. After obtaining an English degree, he agreed.
Kris quickly rose to the rank of captain. True to his passion for music, he started a band while he was deployed in Germany during the '60s. After his tour was over, he decided to leave the military. This caused him to lose his inheritance and severe his relationship with his family as he was disowned for leaving the military.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley was already a worldwide phenomenon when he was drafted in the military in 1958. Something that stood out during his service was that the King of Rock 'n' Roll didn't want to receive any special treatment. He trained alongside everyone else and was later deployed to Germany for service.
Elvis' time in the military influenced both his personal and professional life. He became interested in karate, which he would later incorporate in his performances. Furthermore, he met Priscilla Beaulieu in Germany. She would later become his wife and the mother of his only daughter, Lisa Marie.
Tony Bennett
Although Tony Bennett was drafted towards the end of World War II, he still managed to see a lot of things he could never forget. He has described it as one of the worst experiences of his life. Hopefully, he didn't suffer from PTSD during his service. Despite this, he served bravely and was honorably discharged in 1946.
Tony had been singing during the war and decided to continue down this path. At first, he performed as Tony Bari. It wasn't until he adopted the name Tony Bennett that his success started. Some of his first hits were Because of You and Cold, Cold Heart.
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash's immense talent as a singer is undisputable. His fans loved him and he could fill entire venues with ease. However, before he started his career, he first enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1950. There, he would intercept Russian communications. He was discharged in 1954.
After leaving the military, he worked as a salesman during the day and would work on his music at night. Johnny's fame skyrocketed after he released the album Folsom Prison Blues. Despite his success, Johnny battled severe alcohol issues for most of his life.
Chuck Norris
It's difficult to imagine that action star Chuck Norris was once a timid, anxious, and insecure teenager who felt like he had little to offer to the world. This all changed thanks to his enlistment in the US Air Force. When Norris was deployed to South Korea, he took an intense interest in martial arts.
This changed his life entirely. The discipline and skills he learned were something that led him to create his concept of martial arts. Furthermore, it immortalized him on the big screen, as he could realistically participate in martial arts films. One of his most famous movies was opposite another martial arts icon, Bruce Lee, in Way of the Dragon.