35 Famous Personalities Who Have Served in the Armed Forces

Veterans Day serves as a moment to pay tribute to all the brave individuals who have worn the uniform of the United States—and you might be surprised to discover that some of these well-known figures have also defended the nation.

From legendary actors such as Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, and Henry Fonda to modern-day stars like Shaggy and Drew Carey, this lineup features a remarkable collection of pop culture legends—and their shared status as veterans adds an extra layer of significance.

Jimmy Stewart

Jimmy Stewart hailed from a military background—both his grandfathers were Civil War veterans, and his father participated in the Spanish-American War and WWI. The actor was already a skilled pilot before World War II began, so when he was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1941, it was no shock that he quickly started pilot training.

Stewart achieved an extraordinary feat, rising from private to colonel in just four years—a rare accomplishment for any American. By 1959, he was promoted to brigadier general. His accolades included the Distinguished Service Medal, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, six battle stars, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. In 1968, he retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a brigadier general, earning the distinction of being the highest-ranking entertainer in U.S. military history.

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was drafted for a two-year term on December 20, 1957, finished basic training on September 17, 1958, and was stationed in Friedberg, Germany (where he encountered Colin Powell) from October 1, 1958, until March 2, 1960. Although he qualified for the Special Services, which would have granted him preferential treatment due to his fame, he chose to serve as an ordinary soldier. Those who served alongside him noted that he simply wanted to blend in and be treated like everyone else. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant Elvis Presley.

Bea Arthur

Long before becoming a Golden Girl, Bea Arthur spent 2.5 years as a truck driver and typist in the U.S. Marine Corps. Enlisting in 1943 at age 21, she was one of the earliest members of the Women’s Reserve. Her enlistment interviews portrayed her as “combative,” “extremely assertive,” and “bossy—but likely a dedicated worker—if things go her way!”

Paul Newman

Paul Newman enlisted in the Navy with dreams of becoming a pilot, but his color blindness was detected during training. As a result, he became an aviation radioman and aerial gunner. The future Hollywood star and his crew were scheduled to be stationed in Okinawa, but their deployment was delayed due to his pilot's ear infection.

That ear infection altered the course of film history: Had Newman and his pilot departed as planned, they likely would have met the same tragic fate as the rest of their unit. In 1946, he was honorably discharged, receiving several commendations, including the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the American Area Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Pete Rose

Cincinnati Reds icon Pete Rose served in the Ohio Army National Guard. He spent six months at Fort Knox as a platoon guide, followed by six years juggling his rising baseball career with duties in an Army Reserve Unit at Fort Thomas, where he worked as a company cook.

Clark Gable

Following the tragic death of his third wife, Carole Lombard, in a 1942 plane crash after a war bond rally in Indiana, Clark Gable was determined to enlist. He participated in five notable combat missions and was honorably discharged as Captain Clark Gable after D-Day, receiving the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Kurt Vonnegut

The acclaimed novelist joined the Army in 1942 and was sent to study engineering at what is now Carnegie Mellon University the following year. Following the Battle of the Bulge, Private Vonnegut was taken as a prisoner of war. Remarkably, he survived because he and other Americans were held in an underground slaughterhouse meat locker, Schlachthof Fünf (meaning “Slaughterhouse Five”). Their underground location during the air bombing of Dresden ultimately saved their lives.

Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1947 and served as a tank driver. However, the future film star displayed a defiant attitude during his service. Despite being promoted to private first class, he was demoted back to private seven times, including an incident where he overstayed a weekend pass and was brought back by the shore patrol. Yet, he also demonstrated heroism by rescuing five Marines from a tank moments before it broke through ice and sank into the ocean. He was discharged in 1950.

Rod Serling

If you’re an avid fan of The Twilight Zone, you might find it fascinating that the iconic series might never have existed if Rod Serling hadn’t served in WWII. The aspiring writer was determined to enlist to combat the Nazis, but he was deployed to the Philippines to fight Japanese forces instead. Assigned to one of the most perilous platoons, known as “the death squad” due to its high casualty rate, Serling was fortunate to survive combat. However, he didn’t escape unharmed—he sustained injuries in battle and endured profound psychological trauma from the violence he witnessed. These experiences haunted him with nightmares and flashbacks for the rest of his life.

The harrowing events he endured transformed his perspective, inspiring him to create The Twilight Zone and pen some of the series’ most memorable episodes.

Ted Williams

Ted Williams not only served in WWII but also saw combat during the Korean War. Initially, the baseball legend trained as a fighter pilot and flight instructor at the Naval Air Station Pensacola. Though he left active duty after WWII, he remained in the reserves and was recalled in 1952. He served alongside John Glenn and flew 39 combat missions, earning an Air Medal for safely landing a damaged plane. His dedication earned him immense respect, and on his 40th birthday, General Douglas MacArthur gifted him a personalized oil painting inscribed: “To Ted Williams—not only America’s greatest baseball player, but a great American who served his country. Your friend, Doug MacArthur. General U.S. Army.”

Gene Autry

On July 26, 1942, during a live broadcast of his radio show, the musician was officially inducted into the Army Air Forces as a technical sergeant. While continuing to manage his radio show as part of his military responsibilities, he also pursued upgrading his private pilot’s license to flight officer status, achieving this on June 21, 1944. His primary role as a pilot involved transporting fuel and essential supplies, and he later collaborated with the USO. He was honorably discharged in 1946, having earned the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal.

Henry Fonda

The actor famously joined the Navy, declaring, “I don’t want to be in a fake war in a studio.” He served for three years, starting as a seaman and eventually advancing to the rank of lieutenant. His service earned him a presidential citation and the Bronze Star.

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

As a lieutenant, junior grade in the Navy Reserves during World War II, Fairbanks was assigned to Lord Mountbatten’s staff in England, a role that granted him rare access for a reserve officer. This position allowed him to master military deception tactics, which he later used to establish the Beach Jumpers.

The Beach Jumpers’ mission was to deceive the enemy by simulating beach landings, diverting attention from the actual attacking forces. For his innovative contributions, Fairbanks was honored with the Silver Star, the Distinguished Service Cross, the French Legion of Merit, the Croix de Guerre with Palm, the Legion D’Honneur, the Italian War Cross for Military Valor, and was named an Honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire.

Gene Roddenberry

It’s no surprise that the visionary behind Star Trek flew 89 combat missions for the U.S. Army Air Corps, beginning in 1941. As a member of the 394th Bomb Squadron, known as the Bomber Barons, he earned the Air Medal, much like Ted Williams, Clark Gable, and Jimmy Stewart. He also received the Distinguished Flying Cross, a distinction shared with Stewart and Gable.

Bob Keeshan

The beloved Captain Kangaroo star joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 1945 but never engaged in combat. A persistent rumor circulates that Lee Marvin claimed he and Bob Keeshan served together at Iwo Jima, but like the myth about Mr. Rogers, this story is untrue—World War II concluded before either could participate.

Clint Eastwood

This actor might owe his film career to the Army. Clint Eastwood was drafted in 1950 during the Korean War and stationed at Fort Ord in California. An Army buddy, Chuck Hill, who had Hollywood connections, believed Eastwood had potential in the movies. Before that, Eastwood cheated death when a military plane he was on crashed into the Pacific Ocean. He survived by using an inflatable raft to reach shore, and his testimony at a hearing about the incident kept him from being deployed to Korea.

Ed McMahon

Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show sidekick spent two years as a Marine Corps flight instructor before receiving orders for combat in 1945. However, the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki led to Japan’s surrender, canceling his deployment. He later flew 85 combat missions during the Korean War, earning six Air Medals and retiring as a colonel.

Johnny Carson

Contrary to rumors, Ed McMahon was never Johnny Carson’s commanding officer. The two first met in 1958. Carson joined the Navy in 1943, aspiring to become a pilot, but was assigned as a midshipman instead. He started his duty in 1945, the year World War II concluded. Unsurprisingly, Carson’s military career was uneventful afterward—he once mentioned that performing a magic trick for James Forrestal, then Secretary of the Navy, was the highlight.

Drew Carey

The comedian spent six years in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he first adopted his iconic black glasses and buzz cut style.

Montel Williams

Montel Williams is far more than a daytime talk show host. He’s a highly decorated veteran, having served 22 years in the military and retiring as a lieutenant commander. He began his career in the Marines, later gaining admission to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned a degree in general engineering. He then served as a cryptology officer, notably during the U.S. invasion of Grenada, and received numerous awards and medals.

Glenn Miller

Miller was deeply committed to serving his country. Despite being too old (38 at the time) for the Navy, he persuaded the Army Air Forces to accept him by proposing to lead a “modernized Army band.” His plan succeeded, and his band conducted a weekly radio broadcast that became so popular, he was promoted to lead a special 50-piece ensemble that toured globally to entertain troops. In England alone, they performed 800 times. On December 15, 1944, Major Glenn Miller vanished while en route to Paris; neither he nor his plane was ever found.

Charles Bronson

Known for his roles in The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Dirty Dozen (1967), Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), and Death Wish (1974), Charles Bronson might never have become an actor without his military service. Born Charles Buchinsky, he changed his name during the 1950s Red Scare. Growing up in poverty, he once wore his sister’s dress to school due to a lack of clothing.

In 1943, Bronson was drafted into the Army Air Corps, initially working as a truck driver before becoming a tail gunner on a B-29. After the war, he received a Purple Heart for a service-related injury and used the GI Bill to study acting, which ultimately led to his iconic action-hero career.

Sunny Anderson

Future Food Network star Sunny Anderson began her broadcasting career in the U.S. Air Force. Growing up as an Army brat, Anderson chose to carry on her family’s military legacy by enlisting in 1993. She traveled globally as a radio broadcaster and journalist for the Air Force, gaining experience that later helped her host cooking shows like Cooking for Real.

Don Adams

Don Adams, famous for playing the clumsy Agent 86 in the ’60s sitcom Get Smart, had a far more serious experience as a Marine. After participating in WWII’s Battle of Guadalcanal, Adams developed blackwater fever, a severe complication of malaria with a 90% fatality rate. He recovered fully and spent the remainder of his military career correcting the mistakes of others—as a drill instructor.

C.J. Ramone

When the Ramones needed to replace their iconic bassist Dee Dee Ramone, they chose Christopher James Ward, a young Long Islander who was AWOL from the Marines at the time. After being imprisoned for five weeks, he secured a discharge and went on to spend nearly seven years touring with the legendary punk band.

Shaggy

The dancehall icon, also known as Orville Burrell, partly attributes his music career success to his time in the Marines. “The Marines didn’t shape my artistry, but they taught me discipline and prepared me for the demanding schedules that came with music—something I knew nothing about,” he remarked in a 2011 Grammy interview. He served during Desert Storm and, despite describing himself as “a skater” and “not your typical Marine,” he eventually worked as a field artillery cannon crewman.

Ed Wood

The B-movie icon joined the Marines in 1942, shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack. He claimed to have fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal and admitted his fear wasn’t of dying but of being injured—because it would reveal he wore a bra and panties under his uniform.

The Everly Brothers

The famous rock duo joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 1961, even attending basic training together. During their six-month service, two of their songs—“Crying in the Rain” and “That’s Old Fashioned (That’s The Way Love Should Be)”—reached the Top 10. However, their military duties prevented them from touring or capitalizing on their success. Despite having 12 Top 10 hits by then, they never achieved another Top 10. Phil later played a key role in creating one groundbreaking rock hit.

James Arness

James Arness portrayed Marshal Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke for over five decades. The series ran from 1955 to 1975, followed by five TV movies in the ’80s and ’90s.

Arness (originally Aurness) joined the U.S. Army in 1942. Though he aspired to be a fighter pilot, his height of 6 feet, 7 inches disqualified him—pilots couldn’t exceed 6 feet, 2 inches. Instead, he served as a rifleman, and his stature made him ideal for one of the riskiest roles—walking point. He was often the first off a boat, testing water depth and scouting for enemies, making him the initial target. Less than a year into his service, Arness was wounded during the invasion of Anzio, Italy, when he was shot in the right leg.

On a positive note, his hospital stay paved the way for his television career. While recovering, his brother visited and encouraged him to explore radio drama. After returning home with a Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star, he landed a job as a disc jockey in Minneapolis, where he ultimately decided to pursue acting in Hollywood.

Eileen Collins

Eileen Collins is renowned as the first female astronaut to both pilot and command a space shuttle. Before her time at NASA, she served in the U.S. Air Force. She joined the military aspiring to be a pilot, at a time when such opportunities for women were just emerging. At 23, she became the Air Force’s first female flight instructor and later flew C-141 cargo planes internationally.

George Carlin

The comedian left high school in 1954 and enlisted in the Air Force. Stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, he worked as a radar technician. Carlin later used the GI Bill to fund his education at broadcasting school.

Jimi Hendrix

Hendrix joined the Army in 1961, though not entirely by choice. After being arrested for stealing cars in Seattle, he was given a choice: enlist in the Army or face jail time. He served with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for a year before being discharged. The musician claimed he left due to a parachuting accident, but decades later, Charles R. Cross revealed in the biography Room Full of Mirrors that Army records indicated Hendrix was discharged for being “homosexual,” a story he allegedly fabricated to exit the military and focus on his music career.

Nate Dogg

Renowned for his features on nearly every G-funk track, the West Coast rapper, Nathaniel Hale, served his country before his music career. He left high school at 16 to join the Marine Corps for three years but was dishonorably discharged after going AWOL.

Hugh Hefner

Before building his publishing empire, Hugh Hefner joined the Army in 1944 as a writer for a military newspaper. Stationed at Camp Adair in Salem, Oregon, and Camp Pickett in Virginia, Hefner also drew comics for the publication. Beyond desk duties, he earned a sharpshooter badge during basic training in his two-year service.

Bugs Bunny

Warner Brothers created a cartoon titled “Super-Rabbit,” where Bugs declares, “This looks like a job for a real Superman!” before jumping into a phone booth, presumably to change into his Superman outfit. Instead, he emerges in a Marines uniform, singing “The Marines’ Hymn.” The Marine Corps was so delighted by the tribute that they officially enlisted the fictional rabbit as a private, even issuing real dog tags for him. He was honorably discharged as a master sergeant at the end of WWII.

An earlier version of this story was published in 2015 and has been updated for 2024.