James Maitland Stewart, even after his an active role in the military, Stewart continued to be active in the United States Air Force Reserve, achieving the rank of Brigadier General on July 23, 1959.
Jimmy Stewart did not often talk of his wartime service, perhaps due to his desire to be seen as a regular soldier doing his duty instead of as a celebrity. He did appear on the TV series, The World At War to discuss the October 14, 1943, bombing mission to Schweinfurt, which was the center of the German ball bearing manufacturing industry.
Eddie Albert
Prior to World War II, and before his film and television career (well known as Mr. Douglas on Green Acres), Eddie Albert toured Mexico as a clown and high-wire artist with the Escalante Brothers Circus, but secretly worked for U.S. Army intelligence, photographing German U-boats in Mexican harbors.
In 1942 Albert enlisted in the United States Navy and was discharged in 1943 to accept an appointment as a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve.
Eddie Albert was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V" for his actions during the invasion of Tarawa in November, 1943, when, as the pilot of a U.S. Coast Guard landing craft, he rescued 47 Marines who were stranded offshore (and supervised the rescue of 30 others), while under heavy enemy machine-gun fire.
Max Baer, Jr., Nancy Culp, Sharon Tate (Photo/wiki)
Nancy Culp, actress best known as Jane Hathaway on televisions's The Beverly Hillbillies left the University of Miami to volunteer for United States Navy service in World War II, for which she received several decorations, including the American Campaign Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. (Tate's husband Roman Polanski)
Sammy Davis, Jr. served in the United States Army during World War II but was confronted by strong racial prejudice. Davis later was quoted as saying:
Overnight the world looked different. It wasn't one color any more. I could see the protection I'd gotten all my life from my father and Will (an "uncle" with the Will Mastin Trio). I appreciated their loving hope that I'd never need to know about prejudice and hate, but they were wrong. It was as if I'd walked through a swinging door for eighteen years, a door which they had always secretly held open."
Other acting talent or entertainers in general are represented here in name and/or in the slide show. Heartfelt thanks to all (non-actors as well)!
Additional actors who served in the military (feel free to write in any others you know of): Gene Autry, Humphrey Bogart, Neville Brand, Totch Brown, Jackie Coogan, James Daly, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Henry Fonda (daughter Jane), Glenn Ford, Clark Gable, Charlton Heston, William Holden, Brian Keith, Werner Klemperer, Bert Lancaster, Tim McCoy, Ed McMahon, Burgess Meredith, Glenn Miller, Robert Montgomery, Paul Newman, Wayne Morris, Lee Powell, Tyrone Power, Elvis Presley, Al Quinn, Gene Raymond, Ronald Reagan (tie in with Frank Sinatra), John Russell, Robert Ryan, Rod Serling, Jimmy Stewart...
Talent who attempted to serve in the military but were turned down due to health reasons: Bob Hope (tied to Al Quinn), Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando, Gary Cooper, Errol Flynn, Cary Grant, Peter Lawford, Gregory Peck, George Raft, John Wayne and Richard Widmark
Drew Carey (Photo/wiki)
Morgan Freeman (Photo/wiki)
Credit: Jeff Seeber, Military Salute Project - any discrepcancies are due to the original sources, harder to prove when so many years have gone by as well, but the whole idea is to thank all those who do(did) serve, want(ed) to serve or support(ed) our troops from back home! - According to a reader, Drew Carey served in the Marines and Morgan Freeman served in the Navy.
Mel Brooks (Photo/wiki)
Another reader submitted Mel Brooks, who served in the United States Army as a corporal during World War II, taking part in the Battle of the Bulge.
Clint Eastwood (Photo/NCM)
Clint Eastwood served in the United States Army in 1951.
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Audie Murphy (Photo/wiki)
Reader contribution: Lest we forget Medal of Honor Awardee Audie Murphy, the most decorated military member from WWII and actor. List of Decorations Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star (with oak leaf cluster) Legion of Merit Bronze Star (with oak leaf cluster and Valor device) Purple Heart (with 2 oak leaf clusters) U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal Presidential Unit Citation (with First Oak Leaf Cluster) American Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (with 1 Silver Star Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France)), World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal (with Germany Clasp) Armed Forces Reserve Medal French Fourragère in Colors of the Croix de guerre French Legion of Honor - Grade of Chevalier French Croix de guerre (with Silver Star), French Croix de guer
Added by writer: Audie Murphy was the most decorated American soldier of World War II and a celebrated movie star for many years in the post-war era, appearing in 44 films. He also found some success as a country music composer.
Murphy became the most decorated United States soldier of the war during his twenty-seven months in action in the European Theatre. He received the Medal of Honor, the U.S. military's highest award for valor, along with 32 additional U.S. and foreign medals and citations, including five from France and one from Belgium. - He died in a plane crash near Roanoke, Virginia, three weeks shy of being 46, buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetary.
Comments
Great story Deb, you beat me to it :)
drew carey served in the marines and morgan freeman served in the navy
Thank you wobernein, I have included Carey and Freeman and their photos. Thanks!
Don't forget that MEL BROOKS served in the ARMY in WWII, and was in the Battle of the Buldge.
RWass, thank you. Mel Brooks has been added. I appreciate you taking the time to include him.
I believe that the comic Sinbad served in the USAF during the 1970's.
Lest we forget Medal of Honor Awardee Audie Murphy, the most decorated military member from WWII and actor.
List of Decorations
Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star (with oak leaf cluster)
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star (with oak leaf cluster and Valor device)
Purple Heart (with 2 oak leaf clusters)
U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal
U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal
Presidential Unit Citation (with First Oak Leaf Cluster)
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (with 1 Silver Star
Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France)),
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (with Germany Clasp)
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
French Fourragère in Colors of the Croix de guerre
French Legion of Honor - Grade of Chevalier
French Croix de guerre (with Silver Star),
French Croix de guer
Check IMDB. You have mistakes. Nancy Kulp was Jane Hathaway (and many other roles). Nancy Culp is a contemporary actress.
Thanks for pointing that out, but I looked, and it states that she did portray Jane Hathaway.
The other name, next to hers by photo, is describing those in photo. Thanks though.
lets add Lee Marvin, Purple heart and Navy
cross for action against Mt. Suribachi in the Marine Corps on Iwo Jima in WWII. Also Bob Kishan(Captain Kangaroo) also served in the Marine Corps on Iwo. Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers Neighborhood) Navy SEAL in Vietnam. HooYah Fred wherever you are. Semper Fi Marines!
I have to clear this up. An urban legend claims that actor Lee Marvin said on The Tonight Show that he had fought alongside Keeshan at the Battle of Iwo Jima in February–March, 1945. However, Marvin not only never said this, but had not served on Iwo Jima (having been hospitalized from June 1944 until October 1945, from wounds received in the Battle of Saipan), and Keeshan himself never saw combat, having enlisted too late to serve overseas. Keeshan did serve in the Marine Corps, But never went overseas. Lee Marvin Received a Purple Heart but not the Navy Cross.Fred Rogers Never served in the Military. Another urban legend. Sorry Bout that.
Oh yeah and Don Adams of Get Smart ] He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1941 together with his twin-brother cousins, William and Robert Karvelas. The three were assigned to the Third Marines in Samoa until Adams was sent as a replacement to the Battle of Guadalcanal, where he was the only survivor of his platoon. His survival, despite his company's near 90% fatality rate, was due to his contracting blackwater fever early in the campaign. He was evacuated and spent over a year in a Navy hospital in Wellington, New Zealand. After his recovery, he served as a Marine drill instructor in the United States.
And R Lee Ermey. Ermey enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1961. Ermey was a drill instructor at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California, and Parris Island, South Carolina from 1965 to 1967. In 1968, Ermey arrived in Vietnam where he served for 14 months with the Marine Wing Support Group 17. He then served two tours of duty in Okinawa, Japan, during which he rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6) and was medically retired in 1972 for several injuries incurred during his tours. Thanks Gunny.
And-- Steve McQueen. In 1947, McQueen joined the United States Marine Corps and was quickly promoted to Private First Class and assigned to an armored unit. Initially, he reverted to his prior rebelliousness, and as a result was demoted to private seven times. He went UA (unauthorized absence) by failing to return after a weekend pass had expired. He instead stayed away with a girlfriend for two weeks, until the shore patrol caught him. He resisted arrest and as a result spent 41 days in the brig.
After this, McQueen resolved to focus his energies on self-improvement and embraced the Marines' discipline. He saved the lives of five other Marines during an Arctic exercise, pulling them from a tank before it broke through ice into the sea. He was also assigned to an honor guard responsible for guarding then-U.S. President Harry Truman's yacht. McQueen served until 1950 when he was honorably discharged.
and back to WWII-- Charlton Heston-In 1944, Heston enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces. He served for two years as a radio operator and aerial gunner aboard a B-25 Mitchell stationed in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands with the Eleventh Air Force. He reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. Heston married Northwestern University student Lydia Marie Clarke in the same year he joined the military.
how about Charles Durning-Durning served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Drafted at age 21, he was first assigned as a rifleman with the 398th Infantry Regiment, and later served overseas with the 3rd Army Support troops and the 386th Anti-aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion. For his valor and the wounds he received during the war, Durning was awarded the Silver Star and three Purple Heart medals.
Durning participated in the Normandy Invasion of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and was among the first troops to land at Omaha Beach. Some sources state that he was with the 1st Infantry Division at the time.
Durning was wounded by a German “S” Mine on June 15, 1944, at Les Mare des Mares, France. He was transported by the 499th Medical Collection Company to the 24th Evacuation Hospital. By June 17 he was back in England at the 217th General Hospital. Although severely wounded by shrapnel in the left and right thighs, the right hand, the frontal region of the head, and the anterior left chest wall, Durning recovered quickly and was determined to be fit for duty on December 6, 1944. He arrived back at the front in time to take part in the Battle of the Bulge, the German counter-offensive through the Ardennes Forest of Belgium and Luxembourg in December 1944.
Jack Benny and Pat O'Brien-Benny left show business briefly in 1917 to join the U.S. Navy during World War I, and he often entertained the troops with his violin playing. One evening, his violin performance was booed by the troops, so with prompting from fellow sailor and actor Pat O'Brien, he ad-libbed his way out of the jam and left them laughing. He got more comedy spots in the revues and was a big hit, and earned himself a reputation as a comedian as well as a musician.
Gene Hackman-At 16, Hackman left home to join the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served four-and-a-half years as a field radio operator.
Harvey Keitel-At the age of 16, he decided to join the United States Marine Corps, a decision that took him to Lebanon, during Operation Blue Bat.
James Garner- After working at several jobs he disliked, at sixteen Garner joined the United States Merchant Marine. He fared well in the work and with shipmates, but suffered from chronic seasickness.
Oh boy, Mister Spock-Lenoard Nimoy served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army from 1953 through 1955.
Ken Berry-He made his television debut on Arlene Francis' Soldier Parade, when he was serving in the United States Army during the Korean War. Winning the talent contest, he was invited to appear on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town (which later evolved into The Ed Sullivan Show). Berry's army sergeant was Leonard Nimoy, who urged him to return to California after the war for television auditions.
Dick Van Dyke-During World War II, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps where he became a radio announcer and served in Special Services entertaining troops in the Continental United States.
Earnest Borgnine-Borgnine joined the United States Navy in 1935, after graduation from James Hillhouse High School[4] in New Haven, Connecticut. He was discharged in 1941, but re-enlisted when the United States entered World War II and served until 1945 (a total of ten years), reaching the rank of Gunner's Mate 1st Class. He served aboard the destroyer USS Lamberton (DD-119). His military decorations included the American Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, and the World War II Victory Medal.
In 2004, Borgnine received the honorary rank of Chief Petty Officer from the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry D. Scott—the US Navy's highest ranking enlisted sailor at the time—for Borgnine's support of the Navy and naval families worldwide.
James Arness-Arness wanted to be a naval fighter pilot, but he felt his poor eyesight would bar him. His height of 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) ended his hopes, since 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) was the limit for aviators. Instead, he was called for the Army and reported to Fort Snelling in March 1943.
Arness served as a rifleman with the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, and was severely wounded during Operation Shingle, at Anzio, Italy.
According to James Arness – An Autobiography, he landed on Anzio Beachhead on January 21, 1944 as a rifleman with 2nd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division.
On January 29, 1945, having undergone surgery several times, Arness was honorably discharged. His wounds have bothered him ever since, and in recent years Arness has suffered from acute leg pain which even prevents him from mounting a horse. He underwent a series of operations to remove bullet fragments that had fused into the bone.
His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart; the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Lee Van Cleef-Van Cleef served in the United States Navy aboard minesweepers and subchasers during World War II.
Telly Savalas-Savalas also gained life experience with a three-year stint (1943–1946) in the Army during World War II.
Walter Brennan-While working as a bank clerk, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a private with the 101st Field Artillery Regiment in France during World War I.
Don Knotts -Knotts enlisted in the United States Army after graduating from Morgantown High School and spent most of his service entertaining troops.
Tony Bennett-TonBenedetto was drafted into the United States Army in November 1944, during the final stages of World War II. He did basic training at Fort Dix and Fort Robinson as part of becoming an infantry rifleman. Benedetto ran afoul of a sergeant from the South who disliked the Italian from New York City and heavy doses of KP duty or BAR cleaning resulted. Processed through the huge Le Havre replacement depot, in January 1945, he was assigned as a replacement infantryman to 255th Infantry Regiment of the 63rd Infantry Division, a unit filling in for the heavy losses suffered in the Battle of the Bulge. He moved across France, and later, into Germany. As March 1945 began, he joined the front line and what he would later describe as a "front-row seat in hell."
As the German Army was pushed back to their homeland, Benedetto and his company saw bitter fighting in cold winter conditions, often hunkering down in foxholes as German 88 mm guns fired on them.[13] At the end of March, they crossed the Rhine and entered Germany, engaging in dangerous house-to-house, town-after-town fighting to clean out German soldiers;[13] during the first week of April, they crossed the Kocher River, and by the end of the month reached the Danube.[14] During his time in combat, Benedetto narrowly escaped death several times.[2] The experience made him a patriot and also a pacifist;[2] he would later write, "Anybody who thinks that war is romantic obviously hasn't gone through one."
Brian Keith-he joined the United States Marine Corps (1942–1945). He served during World War II as an air gunner (he was a Radio-Gunner in the rear cockpit of a two-man Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bomber in a U.S. Marine squadron), and received an Air Medal.
Tony Curtis-He enlisted in the United States Navy after Pearl Harbor was bombed and war was declared. Having been inspired by Cary Grant's role in Destination Tokyo and Tyrone Power in Crash Dive (1943),[8] he chose submarine duty and served aboard USS Proteus, a submarine tender. From his sub tender's signal Tobridge, he witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay from about a mile away.
Tony Curtis-He enlisted in the United States Navy after Pearl Harbor was bombed and war was declared. Having been inspired by Cary Grant's role in Destination Tokyo and Tyrone Power in Crash Dive (1943),[8] he chose submarine duty and served aboard USS Proteus, a submarine tender. From his sub tender's signal Tobridge, he witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay from about a mile away.
Art Carney-Carney was drafted as an infantryman during World War II. During the Battle of Normandy, he was wounded in the leg by shrapnel and walked with a limp for the rest of his life.
Hal Holbrook-Holbrook served in the US Army in World War II and was stationed in Newfoundland.
Tom Bosley-During World War II, Bosley served in the United States Navy.
Walter Matthau-During World War II, Matthau served in the U.S. Army Air Forces with the Eighth Air Force in England as a B-24 Liberator radioman-gunner, in the same 453rd Bombardment Group as James Stewart. He reached the rank of staff sergeant
Dan Blocker-Blocker was drafted into the Army and served in the Korean War as a First Sergeant.
Pernell Roberts-While serving for two years in the United States Marine Corps, he played the tuba and horn in the Marine Corps Band, although he was also skilled in the sousaphone and percussion.
Peter Falk-tried to join the armed services as World War II was drawing to a close. Rejected because of his glass eye, he joined the United States Merchant Marine, and served as a cook and mess boy. "There they don't care if you're blind or not", Falk said in 1997. "The only one on a ship who has to see is the captain."
Dennis Weaver-He served as a pilot in the United States Navy during the Second World War.
Neville Brand-He trained at Fort Carson, and served nine months and nineteen days in the U.S. Army in World War II seeing action with the 331st Infantry Regiment of the 83rd Infantry Division (Thunderbolt Division) in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central European campaigns. Brand, a sergeant and platoon leader, was wounded in action along the Weser River on April 7, 1945. His upper right arm was hit by a bullet, and he nearly bled to death.
Philip Carey-A former U.S. Marine, Carey was wounded as part of the ship's detachment of the USS Franklin during World War II and served again in the Korean War.
Man, a whole nother article needs to be created for more military actor talent!
John Forsythe-Leaving his movie career for service in World War II, he appeared in the U.S. Army Air Forces play and film Winged Victory, then worked with injured soldiers who had developed speech problems.
Bill Cosby-He joined the Navy, serving at the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland and at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.
While serving in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman for four years, Cosby worked in physical therapy with some seriously injured Korean War casualties.
Mickey Rooney-In 1944, Rooney entered military service. He served more than 21 months, until shortly after the end of World War II. During and after the war he helped entertain the troops in America and Europe, and spent part of the time as a radio personality on the American Forces Network.
I was just curious, I take it there was no mention of his height?
If one can be too tall, well I wonder what the minimum height requirement is, if there is one,
bet there has to be, and he must have met it (back then).
Have to remember, he was ans entertainer.
Robert Duvall-He served in the United States Army from 19 August 1953 to 20 August 1954, leaving as Private First Class. While stationed at Camp Gordon (now known as Fort Gordon) in Georgia, Duvall acted in an amateur production of the comedy "Room Service" in nearby Augusta.
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