Hollywood has its fair share of veterans in its ranks, though you might not know it.
While these singers, actors and talk show hosts earned their fame well after leaving the armed forces, their time in the service also deserves some recognition. Here are some stars who you never knew were once in the military.
Bea Arthur
Before launching her acting career, Bea Arthur (then Bernice Frankel) spent 30 monthsas one of the first members of the Women’s Reserve in the Marine Corps. According to the Smoking Gun, she served as a typist and truck driver, though she later denied having any sort of career in the military. In the personality appraisal portion of the enlistment process, Arthur was reportedly described as “argumentative” and “officious — but probably a good worker — if she has her own way.”
Ice T
After years of dealing drugs on the street to support himself, Ice T was inspired to join the Army after the birth of his first daughter.
“When I had my daughter I was like, man, I’m going to go to jail, I got to do something, and I went to an enlistment office,” he told NPR. He served as a ranger in the 25th Infantry Division for four years before leaving with an honorable discharge.
Leonard Nimoy
After dropping out of Boston University, Leonard Nimoy enlisted in the army in 1953. Nimoy served 18 months at Fort Ord in California, and Fort Benning and Fort McPherson in Georgia, reportedly writing and acting in shows for the Special Services Division, which entertained the troops, during his time there. The actor tweeted a photo of himself in uniform in 2014, with the caption “Call me Sarge.”
Call me Sarge. LLAP pic.twitter.com/IIlThH6ysW
— Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) November 11, 2014
Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks decided to enlist in the Army when officials paid a visit to his Brooklyn, New York, high school. After passing the specialized training reserve program test, he was sent to Virginia Military Institute.
“They taught me a code of honor, a code of behavior. I really bonded with the other guys in my freshman year at VMI and I learned an awful lot,” he told NPR of the experience. “You know, it was a growing up process and I’m very grateful to have been at Virginia Military Institute.”
(Excerpt) Read More at: TheDelite.com