Current Actors With Military Experience

[Texas Star]

Some famous actors in the past had military backgrounds usually in WW II. Clark Gable, Lee Marvin, John Russell, and others served. Red Buttons did.

Of the current crop of actors, have any been veterans?

Most seem to be major liberals who avoided mlitary service. It would not amaze me if service might hurt their job prospects, considering who runs Hollywood.

 

[sigp220.45]

Rob Riggle - funny dude:

Rob Riggle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And don't forget the T brothers: Ice-T and Mr. T both served in the U.S. Army.

 

[Evil Dog]

For past actors, Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy comes to mind.

 

[Smith357]

As for the modern crop of hoolywood celebs

Drew Carey served in the Marine Corps.

Ice-T served in the United States Army

 

[carpe pugna]

During WW2 we had a population of 130 million and 13 million served during WW2 - 10% of the US population.

In 2010 we had a population of 310 million and about 2 million active and reserves - 2/3 of 1% of the US population

Much of it is just plain ol math.

 

[nachogrande]

ACTOR VETERANS

it came as a surprise to me but Kris Kristoferson was an army brat, enlisted and became a ranger I believe, refused ocs and went onto become an helicopter pilot and recently got some kind of award presented by Willie Nelson. good video, worth a look see.

 

[S&W45Colt]

Mel Brooks, defused mines, Bill Cosby, Gene Hackman, Harvey Keitel, Eastwood, James Earl Jones, Dennis Franz and finally a deceased, but recent hero in my book, Pat Tillman.

 

[kozmic]

A short "younger" list but, J R Martinez and Chuck Norris.
Some past stars not listed; Sammy Davis Jr., Elvis and Ron Reagan

 

[CordWood]

Jimmy Stewart. Retired as a General if I remember correctly.
Butch

 

[Kanewpadle]

James Earl Jones - Army
Pat Sajak - Army
Alan Alda - Army
Morgan Freeman - Air Force
Lee Marvin - Marines

 

[red14]

Charles Durning was at Normandy on DDay. He was a real hero.

For his valor and the wounds he received during the war, Durning was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three Purple Heart medals. Additional awards include the World War II Victory Medal.

Charles Durning, actor and soldier | NJ.com

 

[teesur]

Believe it or not, Bob Keeshan, "Captian
Kangaroo", was "the bravest man I've ever seen".
Lee Marvin referring to USMC Sgt. Keeshan's activities at
Iwo Jima.
Can't judge a book by its cover, that's for sure.
teesur.

 

[S&W45Colt]

Believe it or not, Bob Keeshan, "Captian
Kangaroo", was "the bravest man I've ever seen".
Lee Marvin referring to USMC Sgt. Keeshan's activities at
Iwo Jima.
Can't judge a book by its cover, that's for sure.
teesur.

This one is an urban myth.

snopes.com: Captain Kangaroo and Lee Marvin

But Keeshan was a Marine.

 

[Road Rat]

There is a website devoted to the heros of WWII:

Some names you would not expect!!

New Page 1

 

[teesur]

This one is an urban myth.

snopes.com: Captain Kangaroo and Lee Marvin

But Keeshan was a Marine.

I actually saw the interview of Marvin on the Tonight Show where this dialog occured. It stuck with me all these years, I
guess because Captian Kangaroo was such an unlikely looking "hero".
I wonder why a guy like Marvin would make something like
that up and present it to the world on national television.
I'll repeat, "you can't judge a book by it's cover".
Thanks,
teesur.

 

[rwsmith]

A few more

Bea Arthur - Marines
Gene Wilder - Willy Wonka was an Army medic
Gene Hackman - Marines
Humphrey Bogart - Captain Queeg was in the Navy
Henry Fonda - Navy
Paul Newman - Navy
Kirk Douglas - Navy
George C. Scott - Marines
Steve McQueen - Marines
Clint Eastwood - Army (swimming instructor)
Harvey Keitel - Marines
Jamey Farr was in the Army during Korean War
Robert Duvall - Army
Don Knotts - Army (entertainer)
Bob Newhart - Army
Telly Savalas - Army
Mister T - Army (MP, go figure)
Ernest Borgnine - Navy
Jonathan Winters - Marine
Art Carney - (Normandy, wounded)
Rod Steiger - Navy (on the ship that launched the Doolittle Raid)
Tony Curtis - Navy
Sterling Hayden - Marines (worked with the O.S.S.)
Tyrone Powers - Marine
Charleton Heston - Army Air Corp
James Arness - Army (Wounded at Anzio)
Walter Brennan - WWI in France !!!
Jack Klugman - Army
Richard Kline - Army (Vietnam)
Sinbad - Air Force (Boom operator on Stratotankers)
Leonard Nimoy - Army (Sergeant)
Chuck Connors - WWII (Tank warfare instructor)
Rock Hudson - Navy
Don Rickles - Navy
Robert Stack - Navy
Spencer Tracy - Navy
Lee Van Cleef - Navy
Sidney Poitier - Army
Don Adams - Marines
Brian Keith - Marines (Dauntless Dive Bombers)
George Peppard - Marines
Fess Parker - Navy and Marines
Eddie Albert - Secret Agent for Intelligence spying on German subs in Mexico and a pilot.
Douglas Fairbanks - Navy (Highly decorated)
Charles Bronson - Army Air Corps (wounded in a B-29)
Tim Conway - Army
Peter Graves - Army Air Corps
Buddy Hackett - Army
Buster Keaton - Army (WWI)
Jack Lemmon - Navy
Jack Palance - Army Air Corps
Rip Taylor - Army
Jason Robards - Navy (sunk at Guadalcanal and later kamikaze survivor)
Steve Reeves - Army
Kris Kristofferson - Army
Dennis Weaver - Navy (Pilot)

There's more but that's enough for now.

 

[model70hunter]

Eddie Albert of movies and TV star in Green Acres was a war hero. His bio is worth the read. He toured Mexico with a circus as a clown and high wire artist to photograph German U-Boats in Mexican harbors for Army intelligence. He was awarded the Bronze star with combat V clusters for bravery at the invasion of Tarawa. He actually was photographed saving Marines, it used to be on youtube.

Eddie Albert - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[peyton]

Jimi Hendrix was in the Army for a short time. I was kind of curious about the soldiers listening to his music. He was honorably discharged "on the basis of unsuitability".
Currently, the number of American's serving in the military is less than 1 percent I believe.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

I actually saw the interview of Marvin on the Tonight Show where this dialog occured. It stuck with me all these years, I
guess because Captian Kangaroo was such an unlikely looking "hero".
I wonder why a guy like Marvin would make something like
that up and present it to the world on national television.
I'll repeat, "you can't judge a book by it's cover".
Thanks,
teesur.

Some people never allow the facts to get in the way of a good story.

Regards,

Dave

 

[cmort666]

Jane Fonda's still working and she's got some Air Defense Artillery experience...