16 Famous Celebrities That Are U.S. Veterans

1.

Bob Barker, U.S. Navy - If you walked into any U.S. military galley during lunch time over the last few decades, odds were Bob Barker was on the television hosting The Price is Right. Seriously, military folks loved that show. Bob was a game show host since the 1950s, but before that he served for three years during WWII as a Navy fighter pilot. He was never assigned to a sea-going squadron, but... he did once kick Happy Gilmore's ass. Oh, and spay or neuter your pets.

2.

Drew Carey, U.S. Marine Corps - Speaking of The Price is Right hosts, Drew Carey -- also known for the Drew Carey Show and the American version of Whose Line is it Anyway -- is also a veteran. Drew served for six years in the Marine Corps Reserves. It was during this time he started making money doing stand-up comedy, and that's what prompted his departure. But he looks back on that time with fondness and works with the USO when he's able. He once remarked, "I think if I did not have such a great break, I would still be in the military. I still wear my hair short and have the glasses. Also, I enjoyed the regimen and camaraderie. I knew that once I left the Reserves, I would give back to the military, so I teamed up with the USO."

3.

Adam Driver, U.S. Marine Corps - As a 17-year-old with no job or direction Adam enlisted in the Marines shortly after the September 11 attacks. He was assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines as an 81-mm mortar man. Injured in an off-duty mountain biking accident, he was medically discharged shortly before his third year. But he credits his time in the service with preparing him for success. "I loved being a Marine," he says. "It's one of the things I'm most proud of having done in my life."

4.

Hard to believe the off-the-wall director and actor famous for such goofy films as Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, and Space Balls was a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), but it’s true. A corporal in the combat engineers, his job was to destroy enemy obstacles and included occasionally defusing mines—a job that required a steady nerve, a calm demeanor, and no doubt a good sense of humor. He also fought in the famous Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944 and was even rumored to have been known to answer German propaganda that was being broadcast at regular intervals from a loudspeaker by shouting “Toot Toot Tootsie goodbye!” I guess Mel Brooks was Mel Brooks even back then.

5.

Bob Ross, U.S. Air Force - The internet's favorite peaceful painter was a career military man. Ross enlisted in the Air Force in 1961 at the age of 18 and would go on to serve for 20 years. Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, he would be stationed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. It was the first time he saw snow, mountains, and millions of happy little trees. He developed his passion for painting after attending an art class in Anchorage. A medical records technician, he rose to the rank of Master Sergeant before calling it quits to paint full time. He said if he ever left the military, he would never yell or raise his voice again. And I believe he made good on that promise. Sadly, Bob developed lymphoma and passed away in 1995 at the age of 52.

6.

Paul Newman, U.S. Navy - Paul Newman enlisted at age 17 in January 1943. He wanted to become a pilot and fly off of carriers, but was not eligible because he was color blind. Instead, he would become a radioman and gunner on torpedo bombers. He saw scattered combat during his time, and was very nearly killed in action had it not been for an ill pilot. With his pilot grounded because of an ear infection, the rest of his squadron flew to the USS Bunker Hill. Days later, a devastating kamikaze attack on the ship killed 390 sailors -- including many in Newman’s squadron. He was discharged after the war in January of 1946 and used his GI Bill to continue his education. Newman passed away in September of 2008 at the age of 83.

7.

Gene Hackman, U.S. Marine Corps - When David Letterman asked Gene Hackman why he joined the Marines, Gene replied, "I couldn't get laid." He was 16 years old when he dropped out of school and lied about his age to enlist. After basic training, he served in China, Hawaii, and Japan as a field radio operator. Gene admits, "I have trouble with direction, because I have trouble with authority. I was not a good Marine." Indeed, he was demoted three times for leaving his post without proper authorization. He would serve for five years before moving on to study journalism and TV production at the University of Illinois.

8.

Morgan Freeman, U.S. Air Force - Morgan Freeman had the acting bug at a very early age, but he also wanted to be a fighter pilot. So upon graduating high school in 1955, he turned down a partial drama scholarship and joined the Air Force. Life in the service was not what he imagined, however, and he never got to fly any planes. Instead, he served as a radar technician on the ground. Becoming dissatisfied with his choice, he told himself, "you are not in love with this; you are in love with the idea of this." He left the service after four years, headed west to Hollywood, and became God. Titty sprinkles.

9.

Bea Arthur, U.S. Marine Corps - Don't kid yourself, Bea Arthur could have kicked your ass at any point in her life. Best known for her roles on Maude and The Golden Girls, Bea joined the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve and served as a truck driver and typist. She received an Honorable Discharge in September 1944 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. After the war, she worked briefly as a medical lab technician before moving on to theater and, eventually, television. She died in 2009 at the age of 86.

10.

Rob Riggle, U.S. Marine Corps - While he's a comedian and comic actor known for his appearances on The Daily Show, The Hangover, Fox NFL Sunday, and as an SNL cast member, his military service is no joke. He joined the Marines in 1990 with the intent of becoming an aviator, but decided to pursue a comedy career instead. He stayed with the service as a reservist, however, and served as a public affairs officer. In this capacity, he would serve in Liberia, Kosovo, Albania, and Afghanistan. He retired after 23 years as a Lieutenant Colonel.

11.

Johnny Carson, U.S. Navy - The king of late night comedy was commissioned as an Ensign and sent to serve aboard the USS Pennsylvania towards the end of WWII. The very end. Like, the very last day: August 14th, 1945. But he did post an impressive 10-0 record aboard the ship as a boxer, and once performed a magic trick for the Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal. After the war he served as a communications officer in charge of decoding encrypted messages. Yes, I know Ed McMahon had a more impressive military career, but he was a Marine and there's already too many Marines on this list. Plus, I always thought Johnny Carson being a badass boxer was pretty cool. Johnny died in 2005 at the age of 79.

12.

Jimi Hendrix, U.S. Army - He redefined the guitar for entire genres of music and is regarded by many as the most influential guitarist ever. And he was also, briefly, a member of the famed 101st Airborne Division. Enlisting at age 19 as the result of a judge's ultimatum, the troubled youth entered service in 1961. There is some controversy over the real reason he was discharged after only a year, but one thing is clear -- he really didn't care for service life. And it would appear that an ankle injury after a jump gave everyone, including Jimi, a convenient way to end the relationship. But while he didn't exactly love the service, it didn't seem to affect his patriotism any. He often performed in front of a U.S. flag and frequently played his signature rendition of the Star Spangled Banner -- most notably at Woodstock. But his career, and life, were cut short and Jimi died of drug-related asphyxia at age of 27.

13.

Jeff Bridges, U.S. Coast Guard - It's not easy to find celebrities who served in the nation's smallest branch of service, but The Dude abides. He served for seven years in the CG Reserves, leaving the service as a Boatswain's Mate Second Class. Speaking on his time aboard a cutter, he recalls, "the ceiling is about seven feet tall and below the racks where you sleep there's three or four racks stuffed into that space and you're out in the ocean at sea in a flat-bottomed boat up against the wind and the swells and everyone is puking. You return from the watch at about 4 a.m. and get dressed in your wool suit and go up there—that was a pretty terrible living condition. But, again, all the tough times make great memories when you look back. Like, I'm glad it's in the rear-view mirror." Coast Guard service was apparently a family affair as his older brother, Beau, also served in the CG Reserves.

14.

George Carlin, U.S. Air Force - If you think George Carlin's rebellious and outspoken nature might have been at odds with military service, you'd be very, very right. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1954 and worked as a radar technician at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana. In three years, he was court-martialed three times and subject to several other non-judicial punishments. He was dismissed with a general discharge. He would later remark, "So I do have this ambivalence. Obviously I'm against militaries, because of what militaries do. In many ways though, the Air Force was unmilitary-like. They dropped bombs on people, but...they had a golf course!" George passed away in 2008 at the age of 71.

15.

Alex Haley, U.S. Coast Guard - An American writer and author, Alex Haley is most noted for his 1976 book, Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The television mini-series of the same name was met with nearly unprecedented Nielsen ratings and sparked a national conversation that remains to this day. Alex developed those talents for writing while serving as a Mess Attendant in the Coast Guard during WWII. Aboard ships in the Pacific theater, he would write letters for himself or fellow crewman to stave off boredom. He later wrote for service newsletters and, recognizing his talents, the Coast Guard granted his request to become a Journalist First Class in the newly created rate. And when the rate needed its first Chief Petty Officer, that honor went to Alex. He served for 20 years and continued his writing until his death in 1992. In 1999, the Coast Guard honored Haley by naming a cutter after him.

16.

Pat Sajak, U.S. Army - Pat Sajak has been host of Wheel of Fortune since before the invention of the wheel. Back then, it was just called Of Fortune. But he did some time in the Army during the Vietnam War. An Army Spc. 5th class who had been trained as a clerk typist, he was eventually transferred to Saigon to be a disc jockey -- something he did as a civilian. He once remarked, "I used to feel a bit guilty about my relatively “soft” duty. After all, I was billeted in a hotel, and there were plenty of nice restaurants around. But I always felt a little better when I met guys who came into town from the field and thanked us for bringing them a little bit of home. I always thought it was strange that they should be thanking me, given what so many of them were going through on a daily basis." Pat always began his radio broadcast with "GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!" which was something started by the guy he relieved in the DJ booth, Adrian Cronauer.