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By Movieguide® Staff
America has been blessed with countless men and women who lay down their lives to protect the freedoms we hold dear. What may surprise many is just how many recognizable faces from Hollywood, country music and professional sports have either worn the uniform themselves or dedicated their fame and resources to honoring those who did.
From World War II heroes turned movie icons to modern-day advocates fighting for veterans’ healthcare, these 25 celebrities remind us that patriotism isn’t limited to the battlefield.
1. Jimmy Stewart — U.S. Army Air Corps, World War II
Before IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, Jimmy Stewart was already living one. Already an Academy Award winner when the U.S. entered World War II, Stewart enlisted in the Army Air Corps and flew 20 dangerous bombing missions over Nazi Germany, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses and the French Croix de Guerre. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve — and refused media attention throughout his service, insisting it would distract from his duty.
As early as 1941, when asked why he’d leave Hollywood for the frontlines, Stewart declared: “This country’s conscience is bigger than all the studios in Hollywood put together, and the time will come when we’ll have to fight.”
2. Clark Gable — U.S. Army Air Forces, World War II
Hollywood’s “King of It” exchanged his crown for a uniform in 1942, enlisting in the Army Air Forces at age 41 — well beyond draft age and under no obligation to serve. Despite his superstar status, Gable flew combat missions over Europe, earned the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross and refused every offer of special treatment.
A man of steely character, Gable once said: “The things a man has to have are hope and confidence in himself against odds … And he must be ready to choose death before dishonor without making too much song and dance about it. That’s all there is to it.”
3. Steve McQueen — U.S. Marine Corps
Long before he was known as the “King of Cool,” Steve McQueen served in the United States Marine Corps from 1947 to 1950. After a troubled youth that included time in a reform school, the Marines transformed McQueen — instilling the discipline and resilience that would later define his performances in THE GREAT ESCAPE and BULLITT. He even helped rescue fellow Marines from a tank that had broken through Arctic ice during a military exercise.
Of his time in service, McQueen reflected: “The Marines gave me discipline I could live with. By the time I got out, I could deal with things on a more realistic level. All in all, despite my problems, I liked my time in the Marines.”
4. Adam Driver — U.S. Marine Corps
Weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, Adam Driver — before the world knew him from STAR WARS or MARRIAGE STORY — enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served in Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines as an 81mm mortar man until a mountain biking injury led to his medical discharge before deployment. The experience shaped him so profoundly that he later founded Arts in the Armed Forces, a nonprofit bringing arts programming to military communities.
Speaking to a TED Talk audience about his service, Driver said: “It was one of the things I’m most proud of having done in my life.”
5. Morgan Freeman — U.S. Air Force
The legendary actor and narrator of some of history’s greatest stories is himself a veteran. Morgan Freeman turned down a drama scholarship to enlist in the Air Force in 1955, serving as a radar repairman until 1959. He had dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot, but a defining moment sitting in the cockpit of a jet showed him his destiny lay elsewhere — fortunately for moviegoers everywhere.
On Veterans Day, Freeman shared: “I’m proud to have served in the U.S. Air Force and humbled by what I learned from my experience.” He also posted: “I salute all the members of our armed forces, both past and present. Thank you for your service.”
6. Kris Kristofferson — U.S. Army Ranger
Country music legend and actor Kris Kristofferson came from deep military roots — his father was a major general in the Air Force — and followed them into service himself. After completing Ranger School and training as a helicopter pilot at Fort Rucker, he served with the 8th Infantry Division in West Germany and was even offered a teaching post at West Point. Nashville ultimately called him away from a military career, but his service remained a defining chapter of his life. In 2003, he received the “Veteran of the Year” honor at the American Veterans Awards.
Of his eventual departure from the Army to pursue music, Kristofferson recalled: “I just fell in love with the music community that was going on there.”
7. Ice-T — U.S. Army
Before he became the voice of Detective Fin Tutuola on LAW & ORDER: SVU or one of the pioneers of West Coast rap, Tracy Lauren Marrow — better known as Ice-T — served four years with the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division beginning in 1979. He enlisted after the birth of his daughter gave him new motivation to find a legitimate path forward. The Army’s structure and discipline, he has said, laid the groundwork for everything that followed.
Looking back on his service, Ice-T said: “I don’t know if I would voluntarily go back into the military, but I’m glad I did. It gave me a lot of [experience learning] how to create a plan, you know? I learned how to do routines, I learned how to problem solve.”
8. Clint Eastwood — U.S. Army
The Oscar-winning director and actor behind UNFORGIVEN, MILLION DOLLAR BABY and AMERICAN SNIPER was drafted into the Army in 1951 during the Korean War. Stationed at Fort Ord, California, he served as a swimming instructor and later used the G.I. Bill to attend drama school — a path that led directly to one of Hollywood’s most legendary careers. During his service, he also survived a harrowing plane crash into the Pacific Ocean.
On being drafted, Eastwood said: “I was drafted during the Korean War. None of us wanted to go … It was only a couple of years after World War II had ended.” His willingness to serve regardless stands as a model of quiet duty.
9. Rob Riggle — U.S. Marine Corps
Known for his comedy on The Daily Show, Saturday Night Live, and Modern Family, Rob Riggle spent an impressive 23 years in the United States Marine Corps — far longer than most fans realize. He deployed to Kosovo, Liberia, Afghanistan, and other locations, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. His comedy career and his military career represent two sides of the same coin: dedication, discipline, and love of country.
Related: 5 Actors Who Honor Our Veterans
The pride Riggle carries for his service is unmistakable: “I earned the title ‘Marine,’ no one gave it to me. I’ll be proud of that as long as I’m alive.”
10. Drew Carey — U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
The PRICE IS RIGHT host served six years in the Marine Corps Reserve before launching his comedy career. Carey has credited the discipline instilled by the Corps as one of the key ingredients to his success in entertainment — and remains a vocal supporter of veterans to this day.
Of what the Marine Corps gave him, Carey said: “It instilled a great sense of discipline that I can call on when I need to.”
11. Chuck Norris — U.S. Air Force
The martial arts icon and star of WALKER, TEXAS RANGER served in the Air Force from 1958 to 1962, stationed at Osan Air Base in South Korea. It was there, as an air policeman, that he discovered his passion for martial arts — a discipline that launched his legendary film and television career. After leaving service, Norris became one of Hollywood’s most dedicated advocates for veterans, visiting troops and participating in veteran recognition events for decades. He passed away in March 2026 at age 86, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of service both on and off screen.
Of his time with the veteran community, Norris said: “Being involved with the veteran community and our active military has been one of the most humbling and rewarding experiences of my life. The men and women I have met and continue to meet in these encounters truly are America’s treasure.”
12. James Earl Jones — U.S. Army
The legendary voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa was also a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. James Earl Jones served from 1953 to 1955 at a cold-weather training command in Leadville, Colorado, rising through the ranks and thriving in the rugged mountain conditions of military life. His experience shaped his sense of discipline and character in ways that informed his extraordinary career.
Jones spoke warmly of those years in service: “I loved the austere beauty of the mountains and the exhilaration of the weather and the altitude. I didn’t mind the rigors of the work or the pioneer-like existence. I thought it was a good life.”
13. Bea Arthur — U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, World War II
Before she became Dorothy Zbornak on THE GOLDEN GIRLS, Beatrice Arthur was a Marine. Just five days after the Marine Corps began accepting women in 1943, she walked in and enlisted — eventually reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant. She served as a typist, then driver and dispatcher, at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. Remarkably, Arthur kept this service largely secret throughout her life. The truth only fully emerged a year after her death in 2009, when her service records were discovered in the National Archives.
Her enlistment letter captures her spirit with perfect clarity: “I was supposed to start work yesterday, but heard last week that enlistments for women in the Marines were open, so decided the only thing to do was to join.”
14. Pat Tillman — U.S. Army Rangers
Perhaps the most striking act of celebrity sacrifice for military service in modern history, Pat Tillman walked away from a $3.6 million NFL contract as an Arizona Cardinals safety to enlist in the U.S. Army Rangers following the September 11 attacks. He deployed to Afghanistan, where he was killed in action on April 22, 2004, and was posthumously promoted to Corporal. His story remains one of the most profound examples of selfless patriotism this generation has ever witnessed.
The day after 9/11, Tillman told NBC News: “My great grandfather was at Pearl Harbor, and a lot of my family has … gone and fought in wars, and I really haven’t done a damn thing as far as laying myself on the line like that.”
15. Johnny Cash — U.S. Air Force
The “Man in Black” wore a very different kind of uniform before conquering country music. Johnny Cash enlisted in the Air Force in 1950 at age 18 and was stationed in Landsberg, West Germany, working as a Morse code intercept operator for the Air Force Security Service. He was reportedly the first American to learn of Joseph Stalin’s death in March 1953. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1954, carrying his service throughout his life as a mark of quiet pride.
Cash described his Air Force experience with characteristic wit: “[The Air Force] taught me the things every military service imparts to its enlisted men, plus one skill that’s pretty unusual: if you ever need to know what one Russian is signaling to another in Morse code, I’m your man.”
16. Tom Selleck — California Army National Guard
The MAGNUM, P.I. and BLUE BLOODS star served in the California Army National Guard from 1967 to 1973 as a sergeant in the 160th Infantry Regiment. When draft orders came during the Vietnam War era, Selleck reported without hesitation. In the decades since, he has become one of Hollywood’s most consistent and outspoken supporters of the men and women in uniform.
Selleck has said: “I am a veteran, I’m proud of it. I was a sergeant in the U.S. Army infantry, National Guard, Vietnam era. We’re all brothers and sisters in that sense.”
17. Audie Murphy — U.S. Army, World War II
A Hollywood story unlike any other: Audie Murphy became the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II — earning 33 medals, including the Medal of Honor — before transitioning to an acting career. Serving with the 3rd Infantry Division across North Africa, Italy, and France, Murphy once single-handedly held off a German attack while calling in artillery strikes, then led the American counteroffensive. He later starred in the film adaptation of his own memoir, TO HELL AND BACK, becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars of the 1950s.
Of his relationship with the military, Murphy said: “I have to admit I love the…Army. It was father, mother, brother to me for years. It made me somebody, gave me self-respect.”
18. Gary Sinise — Champion for America’s Veterans
Though Gary Sinise never wore a military uniform, few civilians have honored the armed forces more devotedly. His iconic role as Lieutenant Dan in FORREST GUMP sparked a lifelong mission: he has performed more than 100 USO tours across 20+ countries with his Lt. Dan Band, founded the Gary Sinise Foundation (which builds specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans), and has been a tireless advocate for military families for over two decades.
When asked about his dedication to wounded warriors, Sinise said simply: “We can never do enough.”
19. Toby Keith — Voice of the American Soldier
Country music star Toby Keith became one of the most energetic and consistent supporters of U.S. troops following the September 11 attacks. Beginning USO tours in 2002, Keith performed nearly 300 shows for service members in combat zones across Afghanistan, Iraq, Cuba, Guam, Kyrgyzstan and beyond — often at significant personal risk. He is credited with helping define the soundtrack of the post-9/11 military generation. He passed away in February 2022, but his legacy of troop support endures.
Of his commitment to honoring those in uniform, Keith said: “I make sure to acknowledge them and honor them as much I can.”
20. Trace Adkins — Advocate for the Warrior Community
Country artist Trace Adkins has dedicated enormous personal time and energy to America’s military and veteran communities. One of the Wounded Warrior Project’s earliest and most devoted celebrity supporters, he has performed for troops around the globe through the USO and received the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Award, the USO Merit Award, the Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment, and the DAR Medal of Honor, among others. His songs, including “The Empty Chair” and “Still a Soldier,” pay direct tribute to military sacrifice.
Adkins has said of America’s veterans: “I believe the word hero gets thrown around too often, but these veterans are actually heroes, and if you have the chance to associate with heroes, you should do that. Maybe some of it will rub off on you.”
21. Tom Brady — NFL Champion, Troops Champion
Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady has used his extraordinary platform to consistently honor America’s military, participating in Veterans Day tributes and philanthropic efforts supporting veterans and their families. Brady has made clear that no matter what he has accomplished on the field, it pales in comparison to those who serve in uniform.
Brady offered this perspective: “At the end of the day we play a game, and it wouldn’t be possible without the real heroes.”
22. Matthew McConaughey — Grateful for Those Who Serve
Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has taken consistent, heartfelt steps to honor U.S. veterans and active-duty military. On Veterans Day, he shared a personal photo from 2005 with members of the 77th Regional Readiness Command in New York City, using his platform to direct his millions of followers toward gratitude for those who serve.
McConaughey captioned his tribute simply: “Look up. #thankyouforyourservice.” His quiet consistency in honoring our troops reflects the values he has spoken about throughout his public life.
23. Dennis Quaid — Patriot Ally
Actor Dennis Quaid has demonstrated a genuine, ongoing commitment to the men and women who serve the United States. He has actively participated in Veterans Day recognition events and campaigns, and has been honored with the Patriot Ally Award for his sustained support of the veteran community. He has also teamed up with other Hollywood figures to draw attention to veterans’ stories.
Quaid has spoken simply and directly about why this matters: “It’s really a time to honor veterans and take time out.” His advocacy is a model of consistent, low-key patriotism.
24. Jon Stewart — Fighter for Veterans’ Healthcare
Jon Stewart, best known as the longtime host of THE DAILY SHOW, has devoted years of sustained advocacy to ensuring America keeps its promises to its veterans. He was instrumental in the passage of the PACT Act — landmark legislation expanding healthcare and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. When the bill stalled in the Senate in 2022, Stewart delivered an emotional, nationally-televised rebuke that helped move it forward, standing alongside the veterans who needed it most.
Stewart captured the moral imperative with this unforgettable statement: “You fought for the country, and the country has to hold up its agreement to you. This is the cost of war. You can’t — don’t penalize veterans for your budgeting error.”
25. Bob Hope — America’s Eternal Entertainer for the Troops
No list of celebrities who honored our troops would be complete without Bob Hope. For over 50 years — from World War II through the Persian Gulf War — Bob Hope performed USO shows for U.S. service members in some of the world’s most remote and dangerous locations, logging millions of miles and bringing laughter to millions of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. He became the enduring symbol of Hollywood’s love and gratitude for the American military and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his service to the troops.
Hope said, “I hate war with all my guts, but I admire the guys with guts enough to fight them when they have to be fought.”
These 25 celebrities — from World War II heroes to modern-day advocates — serve as a powerful reminder that love of country transcends industry, generation, and background. Whether they traded an NFL contract for a rifle, turned their fame into a USO microphone or stood before Congress to demand justice for forgotten veterans, each one has honored the sacred bond between a free people and those who defend their freedom. As Americans, we are called to remember, to honor and to never forget those who serve.
Read Next: Actress Recalls How Robin Williams Helped Veterans
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