For some of the biggest names in movies, television, and politics, their first big audition was for the United States military.
We collected the best photos we could find of celebrities in uniform that most are used to seeing on a red carpet or elsewhere. Here they are, along with their service branch and dates of service.
1. Drew Carey, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 1981-1987
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289285/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
2. Elvis Presley, U.S. Army, 1958-1960
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289286/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
3. Al Gore, U.S. Army, 1969-1971
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17277792/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
4. Bea Arthur, U.S. Marine Corps Womens Reserve, 1943-1945
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17274791/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
5. Bill Cosby, U.S. Navy, 1956-1960
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17277654/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
6. Bob Ross, U.S. Air Force, 1961-1981
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17277791/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
7. Chuck Norris, U.S. Air Force, 1958-1962
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17277785/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
8. Dan Rather, U.S. Marine Corps, 1954 (was medically discharged shortly after his enlistment)
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289287/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
9. Ed McMahon, U.S. Marine Corps, 1941-1966
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289288/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
10. George Carlin, U.S. Air Force, 1954-1957
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289289/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
11. Hugh Hefner, U.S. Army, 1944-1946
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289290/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
12. Jackie Robinson, U.S. Army, 1942-1944
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289291/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
13. Jimi Hendrix, U.S. Army, 1961-1962
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289292/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
14. Jimmy Stewart, U.S. Army Air Force, 1941-1968
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289293/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
15. John Coltrane, U.S. Navy, 1945-1946
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289295/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
16. Johnny Cash, U.S. Air Force, 1950-1954
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289296/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
17. Kris Kristofferson, U.S. Army, 1960-1965
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289297/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
18. Kurt Vonnegut, U.S. Army, 1943-1945
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289298/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
19. Leonard Nimoy, U.S. Army Reserve, 1953-1955
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289299/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
20. Maynard James Keenan, U.S. Army, 1982-1984
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289300/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
21. Mel Brooks, U.S. Army, 1944-1946
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289301/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
22. Montel Williams, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy, 1974-1980
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289302/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
23. Morgan Freeman, U.S. Air Force, 1955-1959
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17217933/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
24. Paul Newman, U.S. Navy, 1943-1946
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289303/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
25. Rob Riggle, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 1990-2013
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289304/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
26. “Shaggy” (Orville Burrell), U.S. Marine Corps, 1988-1992
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289305/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
27. Tom Selleck, U.S. Army National Guard, 1967-1973
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17282057/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)
28. Adam Driver, U.S. Marine Corps, 2001-2003
![](https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17289306/origin.jpg?strip=all&quality=95)