TV Shows & Movies
25 Great Movies That Are Hard To Recommend
15. Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris joined the Air Force in 1958 as an Air Policeman and was stationed in South Korea, where he picked up both his famous nickname and his passion for martial arts. He earned a black belt in Tang Soo Do and later founded his style, Chun Kuk Do. | © MGM
14. Adam Driver
After 9/11, Adam Driver enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2002, drawn to its tough reputation. He served nearly three years as a mortar man before a training injury led to a medical discharge. Later, he founded a nonprofit bringing theater to active-duty service members. | © Walt Disney Pictures
13. Betty White
Before becoming a TV icon, Betty White served during WWII with the American Women’s Voluntary Services. She drove a supply truck, proving early on that she was ready to show up and do the work. | © ABC
12. Elvis Presley
Drafted in 1958, Elvis Presley trained at Fort Hood before serving in West Germany, where he met Priscilla, his future wife. He refused special treatment, donated his pay, and quietly served like everyone else, even buying TVs and uniforms for his fellow soldiers. | © Elvis Presley
11. Ice-T
Before his rap career and Law & Order fame, Ice-T served four years in the Army with the 25th Infantry Division. He was stationed in Hawaii, and then headed to L.A. to chase music and make his name. | © Ice-T
10. Humphrey Bogart
Long before Casablanca, Humphrey Bogart served in the U.S. Navy during World War I. He spent his time at sea ferrying troops across the Atlantic, far from Hollywood, but already playing a part in history. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
9. J.R. Martinez
In 2003, while serving in Iraq, J.R. Martinez’s Humvee hit a land mine, leaving him with severe burns over 40% of his body. After a long recovery, he turned his story into strength, becoming an actor, motivational speaker, and Dancing with the Stars champion. | © CNN
8. James Earl Jones
While studying at the University of Michigan, James Earl Jones joined ROTC and trained for combat, expecting to be sent to Korea. The war ended before he was deployed, but he still served as a Ranger-trained officer and left the Army as a first lieutenant. | © Lucasfilm
7. David Alvarez
Before starring in West Side Story, David Alvarez took a surprising detour – he enlisted in the Army right after high school. A former Billy Elliot lead and Tony winner, he once said basic training was tough, "but not Billy Elliot hard". | © 20th Century Studios
6. Charles Durning
Before becoming a respected character actor, Charles Durning survived some of WWII’s most brutal battles. He landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, escaped the Malmedy massacre, and earned a Silver Star and three Purple Hearts for his service. | © Walt Disney Pictures
5. William Sanderson
Before his acting days, William Sanderson volunteered for the U.S. Army at 18 and served starting in 1962. After his service, he used the G.I. Bill to attend college, paving the way for the career that would follow. | © 20th Century Fox
4. Jamie Farr
Jamie Farr was drafted into the Army and served in Korea for two years with the 6th Infantry Division. Years later, he wore his real military dog tags while playing Max Klinger on MASH, a role that hit closer to home than most knew. | © 20th Century Fox Television
3. Morgan Freeman
Before chasing a career in acting, Morgan Freeman joined the Air Force in 1955, turning down a drama scholarship. He worked as a radar technician and trained to be a pilot until one day in the cockpit made him realize military flying wasn’t for him. He left in 1959 as an airman first class. | © Warner Bros. Pictures
2. Jimmy Stewart
The first major movie star to enlist in WWII, Jimmy Stewart, joined the Army Air Corps in 1941 after being rejected the first time for being underweight. He flew B-24 bombers over Europe and rose to brigadier general, and no other Hollywood actor has ranked higher. | © Paramount Pictures
1. Clint Eastwood
Before he was a Hollywood tough guy, Clint Eastwood got drafted during the Korean War in 1951. He never saw combat – instead, he served as a lifeguard at Fort Ord in California, keeping soldiers safe long before doing the same in movies. | © United Artists
