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While some actors and entertainers, like Jimmy Stewart and Clark Gable, paused their successful careers to serve in wartime, others were turned away. Below are some famous figures who were refused the opportunity to enlist.
1. ALFRED HITCHCOCK
Alfred Hitchcock, celebrated for his distinctive pear-shaped figure and witty demeanor showcased in interviews and his TV show Alfred Hitchcock Presents (where his iconic silhouette debuted), faced a setback during World War I. His attempt to join the British military was thwarted due to his weight, which disqualified him from service.
During World War II, Hitchcock contributed by overseeing a documentary exposing the horrors of concentration camps. Though the project was never finished, the footage was later compiled into the film Night Will Fall, which premiered on HBO in January 2015.
2. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Getty ImagesBruce Springsteen’s iconic anthem “Born in the USA” was his tribute to the struggles of Vietnam War veterans. He narrowly avoided joining them after failing his Army physical. At 19, while pursuing his music career, Springsteen was drafted but classified as 4-F (unfit for service) due to a motorcycle accident-induced concussion. In a 1984 interview with Rolling Stone, he admitted to providing intentionally “crazy” responses on his induction forms to avoid the draft.
3. ORSON WELLES
Getty ImagesAfter achieving fame with Citizen Kane, Orson Welles became a frequent subject in Hollywood trade publications and Hearst newspapers, the latter allegedly angered by the film’s depiction of media tycoon William Randolph Hearst. Hearst’s papers increasingly questioned why the 28-year-old wasn’t enlisting during World War II. Frustrated, Welles underwent a physical in Los Angeles but failed for undisclosed reasons. (Rumors later suggested skeletal inflammation and asthma were contributing factors.) Upon leaving the exam, Welles was so irked by reporters that he threatened to toss one out a window.
4. BRUCE LEE
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons // Public DomainBruce Lee was renowned for his exceptional physical fitness and mastery of multiple martial arts, far beyond being just a stuntman. Rumors of his real-life confrontations in Hong Kong added to his mystique. In 1963, before gaining fame on The Green Hornet, the 22-year-old Lee was summoned by the U.S. Army for a physical. He was rejected due to poor vision, a sinus condition, and an undescended testicle.
5. JULIA CHILD
Getty ImagesStanding at 6-foot 2-inches, the renowned chef faced rejection from both the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and the Women’s Army Corps during World War II due to her height. Undeterred, she joined the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the CIA, where she contributed to developing shark repellent to prevent underwater explosives from detonating too soon.
6. PAUL NEWMAN
Getty ImagesKnown for his charitable work, it’s no surprise that Newman was eager to serve his country during World War II. However, his dream of becoming a pilot was crushed when a medical exam revealed he was colorblind. Determined to contribute, he took on roles as a radio operator and later as a turret gunner. Despite this setback, Newman returned to Ohio with multiple military honors to his name.
BONUS: CLARK KENT
Getty ImagesDuring the 1940s, comic books soared in popularity, but creators faced a dilemma: their super-powered characters could easily end World War II in seconds. To avoid overshadowing real soldiers, the McClure Syndicate published a strip where Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent, tried to enlist. He was rejected after his x-ray vision accidentally read an eye chart in a different room.
