Humphrey Bogart joined the U.S. Navy in 1918 just in time for America’s involvement in World War I. Bogie ferried troops coming home from Europe, and it’s believed that he got the iconic scar on his lip during this time. One story reports that he got the scar when a piece of shrapnel hit him while his ship, the USS Leviathan, was under attack. Another story says he was punched in the face by a prisoner he was escorting to Portsmouth Naval Prison.
Ernest Borgnine served in the U.S. Navy from 1935 until he was honorably discharged in October of 1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of that same year, Borgnine re-enlisted and served aboard the antisubmarine warfare ship, the USS Sylph, until 1945. He left the Navy with the rank of gunner’s mate 1st class.
Born Charles Buchinsky, tough-guy actor Charles Bronson enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1943. He served as an aerial gunner, flying 25 missions, and Bronson received a Purple Heart for wounds he got in battle.
Michael Caine served in the British Army as a rifle infantryman during the Korean War. He revealed that, because of a near-death experience he had during his military stint, he now lives life to fullest. Caine also believes everyone should have to serve in the military for at least six months.
The stand-up comedian, actor, and current host of the “The Price Is Right,” served six years in the United States Marine Corps during the 1980s.
The “Expendables” star served in the U.S. Army from 1982-88. Couture even attained the rank of Sergeant in the 101st Airborne.
Sean Connery entered the Royal Navy at the age of 16. He served for three years before being discharged because of a stomach ulcer.
The actor best known as Scotty from the “Star Trek” TV series and films, James Doohan served in the Royal Canadian Army. His first combat mission was on Juno Beach in Normandy during D-Day. He was shot six times, four in the leg, one in the chest, and one through his middle finger. The bullet he took to the chest was stopped by a silver cigarette case, and his middle finger had to be amputated.
Charles Durning was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1944 and fought during World War II. Durning reached the rank of Private First Class, and he earned a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his service.
Clint Eastwood was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951, but did not serve in the Korean War. Instead, he was assigned to be a lifeguard at Ford Ord in California. He was, however, involved in a serious plane crash when the aircraft he was a passenger in ran out of fuel and crashed in the Pacific Ocean. Eastwood escaped and had to swim over two miles to Point Reyes.
Denholm Elliott (pictured in the center of the photo) is most famous to American for portraying Marcus Brody in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” Elliott served in the Royal Air Force as a gunner and radio operator during World War II. After his plane was shot down by Germans, Elliott and two of his crew members spent the rest of the war in a German POW camp.
Henry Fonda served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, even after he was an established movie star and Academy Award nominee. The actor stated that he didn’t want to be in a fake war in a studio. Fonda served on the destroyer USS Satterlee in the Pacific Ocean, and he was commissioned as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in Air Combat Intelligence. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his efforts.
Sterling Hayden is best known for movies like “The Godfather” and “Dr. Strangelove,” but he was also a member of the United States Marines and an OSS agent during World War II. As an agent, Hayden sailed supplies from Italy to Yugoslav partisans, and he also parachuted in fascist Croatia. The actor became a First Lieutenant and was award a Silver Star and a Bronze Arrowhead.
Charlton Heston enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1944 and reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served two years as an aerial gunner and radio operator in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands.
The star of romantic comedies like "Pillow Talk" and "Lover Come Back," Rock Hudson served as an aircraft mechanic in the Philippines during World War II.
Most famous as the whiny sheriff in the James Bond movie "Live and Let Die," Clifton James served in the Army for the entirety of World War II. He spent time in the South Pacific, in countries like Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines. He was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, a Presidential Unit Citation, a Combat Infantry Badge and six battle stars.
The silent comedian served in the U.S. Army during World War I. He served in France with the 40th Infantry Division and suffered an ear infection that permanently impairing his hearing.
While there is an urban legend that says Don Knotts was a Marine Corps drill instructor on Parris Island, the truth is he joined the U.S. Army during World War II and spent most of his time entertaining the troops.
Christopher Lee’s exploits in the military could be made into a blockbuster movie, but I’ll try to keep them short. He volunteered to fight with the Finnish in the Winter War of 1939, served in the Royal Air Force in WWII, spent time in North Africa and Italy, and then tracked down Nazi war criminals after the war. He was also part of a precursor organization to the SAS, but refuses to reveal details about any of his operations.
Lee Marvin served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He fought in the Battle of Saipan where he was wounded by machine gun fire and most of his unit was killed. Marvin was award the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Tyrone Power, who was already an established movie star when World War II broke out, joined the U.S. Marines in 1942. His missions involved flying wounded soldiers out of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Power was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, and the World War II Victory Medal. He also earned the rank of Captain in the reserves in 1951.
Elvis Presley was already a major recording star and an actor when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1958. He was stationed in Germany where he joined the 32nd Armored Division. The King met his future wife, Priscilla, while in the service, and the media sensation that surrounded his induction in the military inspired the musical “Bye Bye Birdie.”
The infamous “insult comic,” who also appeared in Martin Scorsese’s “Casino,” served in the U.S. Navy during World War II on the USS Cyrene.
The man most famous for his mustache served in the 160th Infantry Regiment of the California Army National Guard from 1967-1973.
The standup comedian and star "Jingle All the Way" served in the U.S. Air Force as a boom operator aboard KC-135 Stratotankers. Sinbad also practiced his standup routine while in the military.
Add in William Windom, aka Commodore Dekker, Star Trek, “The Doomsday Machine” and “Gilmore”, the DA, in “To Kill a Mocking Bird”.
He was a paratrooper during D-Day. In one of the 500 series regiments, 503 or 505. I had a nice talk with him many years ago. A really decent man.
Don’t see James Garner, whose war story would make a movie in itself.
Don Adams as a DI?
“Would you believe........30 push-ups??”