100+ Celebrities Who Served in the Military

Everyone that joins the military has their own individual reasons for doing so—one common thread is a love of country and the desire to serve. Here are some celebrities that answered the call. Some are well known for their service and some may surprise you.

Michael Caine

Michael Caine
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Perhaps so we can truly appreciate the lives we have, British Actor Michael Caine believes we should all serve at least six months in the military. Caine was drafted into the British Army during the Korean War. He spent time on the front lines and almost lost his life. After contracting Malaria, he was medically discharged and headed home to London to pursue acting. Turns out this offered him the experience he needed for his very first movie role. He got his big break playing a British Army Private in a war movie called, “A Hill in Korea.


Montel Williams

Montel Williams
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Actor and television talk show host, Montel Williams had an extremely impressive career in the US military. Montel served from 1974-1996. He was the first black enlisted Marine to graduate from both the Academy Prep School and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. While at Annapolis he earned his degree in general engineering with a minor in International Security Affairs. He also studied Mandarin Chinese. He went on to be a lieutenant and was honorably discharged after 22 years of service from both the US Marine Corps and the US Navy


Johnny Carson

Johnny Carson
Image Credit: WikiMedia Commons

The famous Tonight Show Host enlisted in the United States Navy as an apprentice seaman enrolled in the V-5 program. At the height of World War II, he felt he needed to serve his country and be a part of the American front. He was assigned as a member of the crew on the USS Pennsylvania. He had hoped to be trained as a Navy Pilot but was instead sent for midshipman training at Columbia University. Always an entertainer, he preformed magic for his classmates on the side.