Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > Entertainment Discussions > Movie Talk
Reload this Page >

Current actors who served in the military?

Movie Talk A Discussion area for everything movie related including films In The Theaters

Current actors who served in the military?

Old 05-26-12, 12:28 PM
  #1  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Ash Ketchum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 12,617
Received 275 Likes on 210 Posts
Current actors who served in the military?

In honor of Memorial Day, I need some help with this topic.

I know of lots of Hollywood actors/movie stars who either served in the military during WWII after they were already well known (Clark Gable, James Stewart, Robert Taylor, Robert Montgomery, Mickey Rooney, Tyrone Power, Eddie Albert, etc.) or became actors/stars after serving in the war (Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, George Kennedy, Ernest Borgnine, George C. Scott, Charles Durning, Audie Murphy, etc.).

I just did a search for current actors who are Vietnam vets and I only got Dennis Franz. And, of course, director Oliver Stone. I know of Dale Dye and R. Lee Ermey, but they got their Hollywood careers based on their military expertise. Anyone here know of other Vietnam Vets who became name actors?

Are there any current name actors who served in the military in the last 20 years, in, say, the Gulf War, or Iraq and Afghanistan or just happen to have completed military service?

Thanks.
Old 05-26-12, 12:40 PM
  #2  
DVD Talk God
 
Deftones's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Arizona
Posts: 80,962
Received 1,359 Likes on 922 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

I know Rob Riggle has.
Old 05-26-12, 12:43 PM
  #3  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Maxflier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 13,251
Received 239 Likes on 175 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

It wasn't in the last 20 years obviously, but I know Kris Kristofferson served.
Old 05-26-12, 12:49 PM
  #4  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MA
Posts: 17,000
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Jesse Ventura? lol
Old 05-26-12, 12:49 PM
  #5  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
arminius's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Here I Is!
Posts: 6,967
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

I believe Jane Fonda served in the Air Defense Artillery for the NVA.
Old 05-26-12, 01:16 PM
  #6  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MA
Posts: 17,000
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Kind of a weird one, but James Avery aka Uncle Phil aka voice of Shredder served in the US Navy in Vietnam.
Old 05-26-12, 01:31 PM
  #7  
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Sitting on a beach, earning 20%
Posts: 9,917
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Drew Carey was a Marine, as was the aforementioned Riggle, along with Harvey Keitel, Scott Glenn, David Eigenberg of Sex and the City, and Jim Beaver of Deadwood. Morgan Freeman was in the USAF, and Jeff Bridges was in the Coast Guard.

It's different now. Actors are starting younger and younger to establish themselves sooner, with many of them starting out as teenagers or earlier - there are less performers turning to acting only after completing college or military service.

Last edited by DonnachaOne; 05-26-12 at 01:42 PM.
Old 05-26-12, 01:37 PM
  #8  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Mondo Kane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,660
Received 112 Likes on 100 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Originally Posted by Ash Ketchum
Anyone here know of other Vietnam Vets who became name actors?
Well, he seems to be more of an actor now than a makeup artist


Don't mean to derail the thread a bit, but does anyone know of any actors who were killed while enlisted? I know one of the Bowery Boys/Dead End Kids did.
Old 05-26-12, 03:08 PM
  #9  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Orange County
Posts: 4,915
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Not a "name actor", or even an actor really, but worth mentioning is Gregory Gadson who appears in Battleship. Still active duty Army and he's said in interviews that he may not act again, but his story is worth checking out. (West Point football star who lost both legs in an explosion in Iraq in '07, now a colonel and motivational speaker.)

Old 05-26-12, 03:33 PM
  #10  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MA
Posts: 17,000
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Originally Posted by Mondo Kane
Don't mean to derail the thread a bit, but does anyone know of any actors who were killed while enlisted? I know one of the Bowery Boys/Dead End Kids did.
Donald Haines of Our Gang was KIA in WWII. That may be who you were thinking of.
Old 05-26-12, 03:44 PM
  #11  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MA
Posts: 17,000
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Bea Arthur was in the Marine Corps during WWII. Yes, really.
Old 05-26-12, 05:16 PM
  #12  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Ice T. Again: yes, really.
Old 05-26-12, 05:44 PM
  #13  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Dr Mabuse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: 75 clicks above the Do Lung bridge...
Posts: 18,946
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Sterling Hayden was a certified bad ass. He was OSS. Like real, in the theatre, parachuting in deep behind enemy lines OSS.

Jason Robards, again a real hero, I forget how many of the major Pacific naval battles he was in but it was a lot, and he took home the Navy Cross for one of them.

James Arness was a real war hero, decorated for valour(forget which medal).

A guy some of you might recognize for being a bad guy a lot, Neville Brand, was as hero as heros come. He won so many medals and awards it's incredible.

As far as young actors, I don't know any recognizable names that haven't already been mentioned, but I've read several articles that said most of the actors playing soldiers in 'Green Zone'(I did not like it) were Iraq war vets.
Old 05-26-12, 06:25 PM
  #14  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Ash Ketchum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 12,617
Received 275 Likes on 210 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Originally Posted by Mondo Kane

Don't mean to derail the thread a bit, but does anyone know of any actors who were killed while enlisted? I know one of the Bowery Boys/Dead End Kids did.
Lee Powell, the first actor to play the Lone Ranger and co-star of the Marine-themed serial, FIGHTING DEVIL DOGS, died as a Marine in the Pacific after battling the Japanese on Tinian in the Marianas Islands. He survived the battle but got sick after drinking a home-made brew concocted by other marines to celebrate their victory.
Old 05-26-12, 06:32 PM
  #15  
DVD Talk Hero
 
PopcornTreeCt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 25,913
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Gene Hackman was in the Marines.
Old 05-26-12, 06:36 PM
  #16  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Lower Beaver, Iowa
Posts: 10,521
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Lee Ermey

Dale Dye
Old 05-26-12, 07:30 PM
  #17  
DVD Talk Legend
 
JumpCutz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: south of heaven
Posts: 13,540
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

I believe Jim Parsons is a Navy Seal.
Old 05-26-12, 08:21 PM
  #18  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
William Fuld's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,069
Received 134 Likes on 79 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

J.R. Martinez
Old 05-26-12, 08:28 PM
  #19  
Cool New Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Jon Huertas (Detective Esposito on Castle)
Old 05-26-12, 08:38 PM
  #20  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 24,926
Received 255 Likes on 163 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Originally Posted by Mondo Kane
Don't mean to derail the thread a bit, but does anyone know of any actors who were killed while enlisted?
It's not derailing the thread when the OP derails itself. This thread is sparked by Memorial Day (which honors the dead) while asking for current actors.
Old 05-26-12, 08:50 PM
  #21  
Banned
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Formerly known as "Solid Snake PAC"/Denton, Tx
Posts: 39,239
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

You leave him the fuck alone. He's old and semile but means well.
Old 05-26-12, 11:08 PM
  #22  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Charlie Goose's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Sesame Street (the apt. next to Bob's)
Posts: 20,195
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Originally Posted by Rockmjd23
Donald Haines of Our Gang was KIA in WWII. That may be who you were thinking of.
Wheezer Hutchins of Our Gang was also killed in a plane crash while serving.
Old 05-26-12, 11:44 PM
  #23  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,147
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

The guys in Act of Valor
Old 05-27-12, 02:03 AM
  #24  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Mondo Kane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,660
Received 112 Likes on 100 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Originally Posted by Solid Snake PAC
You leave him the fuck alone. He's old and semile but means well.
I'm only 35, but since old guys seem to always have some wisdom, I appreciate the compliment....Not sure where I rank in the semile department though...

Originally Posted by Rockmjd23
Donald Haines of Our Gang was KIA in WWII. That may be who you were thinking of.
Yeah, I wiki'd him earlier and didn't know that he started out with "Our Gang". I'm actually quite a big Bowery Boy/Dead-East End Kids viewer. And since Spooks Run Wild was one of the worst films I've ever seen, I always wanted to know what those actors went on to. Only then did I notice that one of those lead actors was later killed pertaining to WWII.

Originally Posted by Ash Ketchum
Lee Powell, the first actor to play the Lone Ranger and co-star of the Marine-themed serial, FIGHTING DEVIL DOGS, died as a Marine in the Pacific after battling the Japanese on Tinian in the Marianas Islands. He survived the battle but got sick after drinking a home-made brew concocted by other marines to celebrate their victory.
Thanks. This is a side of cinema history that I'd like to learn more about.

Originally Posted by Dr Mabuse
Sterling Hayden was a certified bad ass. He was OSS. Like real, in the theatre, parachuting in deep behind enemy lines OSS.
While we're on the Kubrick connection, might as well bring up Wayne Morris (via Paths of Glory) Who, along with Jimmy Stewart, was one of the most deadliest pilots in all of WWII.
I'm actually surprised at how so few people know of Stewart's military record.

And kudos to Dr. Mabuse for bringing up Neville Brand!
Old 05-27-12, 02:34 AM
  #25  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Drexl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 16,077
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Re: Current actors who served in the military?

Warren Beatty was in the Air National Guard.

Charlie Murphy was in the Navy.

Michael Conner Humphreys, who played the young Forrest Gump, went on to serve in the Army.

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.