From Battlefield to Big Screen: Hollywood Stars Whose Military Service Shaped Their Careers

LOS ANGELES – November 17, 2025: A roster of prominent film and TV figures once wore the uniform before they became household names. This report highlights Hollywood actors with verified U.S. military service – detailing their branches, roles, ranks, and years of service – and how those experiences continue to influence their work and advocacy in entertainment.

From the U.S. Marine Corps to the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Navy, these celebrity veterans bring real-world discipline and authenticity to sets – and to the stories they help tell.

Adam Driver – U.S. Marine Corps

Before his breakout in Star Wars and award-nominated turns in film, Adam Driver served in the United States Marine Corps and later founded the nonprofit Arts in the Armed Forces, bringing theater to service members.

• Branch: United States Marine Corps
• Enlistment: Shortly after 9/11
• Unit: 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, Weapons Company
• MOS: 0351 Infantry Assaultman
• Injury: Medically discharged before deployment due to a mountain biking accident

“Oh, totally. Being in the military was the best acting training.” Driver once told Time Out. “You’re in a team. Acting is the same, it’s not just about you.”

Ice-T – U.S. Army

The longtime Law & Order: SVU star and pioneering rapper Ice-T enlisted after high school, crediting the U.S. Army with providing structure at a pivotal moment in his life – and sparking his early lyric writing.

• Branch: United States Army
• Enlistment: 1977
• Unit: 25th Infantry Division (Schofield Barracks, Hawaii)
• Service Length: Four years
• Discharge: Honorably discharged in 1983

“When I had my daughter, I was like, man, I’m going to go to jail, I got to do something, and I went to an enlistment office. Next thing you know, I’m in the military, four years infantry.”

Morgan Freeman – U.S. Air Force

Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman entered the U.S. Air Force to pursue aviation before choosing acting, serving as a radar technician and later citing the discipline he gained as foundational to his career.

• Branch: United States Air Force
• Enlistment: 1955
• Role: Radar technician; turned down pilot training
• Discharge: After four years of service

“When I was getting close to being accepted for pilot training, I was allowed to get in a jet airplane. I sat there looking at all those switches and dials, and I got the distinct feeling that I was sitting in the nose of a bomb.”

“You are not in love with this; you are in love with the idea of this.”

Freeman once told AARP Magazine.

Jesse Ventura – U.S. Navy SEAL

Before his political rise and action-movie roles, Jesse Ventura served as a Navy frogman with an Underwater Demolition Team (UDT), the predecessor to the Navy SEALs.

• Branch: United States Navy
• Service: 1969-1975
• Unit: Underwater Demolition Team (UDT), predecessor to Navy SEALs
• Nickname: “The Body” (later used in wrestling)

Rob Riggle – U.S. Marine Corps Reserve

Comedian and actor Rob Riggle balanced Hollywood projects with more than two decades in the USMC Reserve, including overseas deployments and a promotion to lieutenant colonel.

• Branch: USMC Reserve
• Rank: Retired as Lieutenant Colonel
• MOS: Public Affairs and aviation
• Deployments: Kosovo, Albania, Afghanistan
• Service Length: 23 years

“I thought it’s an American duty. It didn’t have to be the military, but I just thought service of some kind is important … for citizenship,” Riggle explained to People in 2022. “I just think it’s important to give back, whether it’s locally in your own community or statewide or national.”

Drew Carey – U.S. Marine Corps Reserve

Drew Carey, now known for hosting The Price Is Right and his eponymous sitcom, served in the USMC Reserve and credits the Corps with boosting his confidence and leadership.

• Branch: USMC Reserve
• Rank: Sergeant
• MOS: Field Radio Operator
• Service: 1980-1986

Bea Arthur – U.S. Marine Corps (Yes, Really)

Long before The Golden Girls, Bea Arthur was among the first women to join the U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve during World War II; her service record was confirmed in 2005 through official documents.

• Branch: United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve
• Enlistment: 1943
• Rank: Staff Sergeant
• Roles: Truck driver, typist, dispatcher
• Discharge: Honorably discharged in 1945

Honorable Mentions

• James Earl Jones – U.S. Army
• Chuck Norris – U.S. Air Force
• Harvey Keitel – U.S. Marine Corps
• Tony Curtis – U.S. Navy (WWII, USS Proteus)
• Tom Selleck – California Army National Guard

Why It Matters

Celebrity veterans bring more than realism to military roles. Their backgrounds shape on-set leadership, teamwork, and authenticity, resonating with both audiences and the military community. For many service members and veterans, these high-profile careers underscore how military service can open diverse paths beyond the uniform.

What’s Next

As these actors continue to headline major productions and support veterans’ causes, their service records remain a visible reminder of the connection between Hollywood and the U.S. armed forces – and the lasting impact of duty, discipline, and public service on and off screen.