James Avery's acting career spanned nearly 40 years and includes nearly 180 credits, but he was best known as stern-but-lovable patriarch Uncle Philip Banks on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." Oliver Stone received two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam after enlisting in the Army in 1967. At the start of World War II, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marines and transferred to the CIA's precursor agency, the Office of Strategic Services, eventually earning the Silver Star for valor. He served in the Navy's Underwater Demolition Team, whose units were broken apart and attached to elite SEAL teams after Vietnam. After being expelled from high school, the man born Laurence Tureaud served in the Army as a military policeman. He served in World War I after joining the Navy, earning an honorable discharge—and a scar he carried for the rest of his life. Although he died in 2015, Oscar nominee Robert Loggia earned 235 acting credits dating from 1951–2019, including memorable roles in big-screen blockbusters like "Big" and "Scarface," as well as in acclaimed TV series like "The Sopranos." That career was interrupted, however, in 1943 when he was drafted into the Army during World War II. With titles like "Kelly's Heroes" and "Casino" on his resume, Rickles started his career as a no-holds-barred comedian who hobnobbed with the likes of Frank Sinatra in the 1950s. There have been a fair share of Hallyu stars who have completed their military duties earlier on in their careers or even before they debuted, which helps in making things a little less painful for fans. Military; Musicians; Poets; Politicians; Royalty; Scientists; Sport; Religious leaders ; Women; 100 Famous; Blog; About; Actors / Actress biographies. 75, which named Bob Hope an honorary veteran "for his lifetime of accomplishments and service on behalf of our men and women in uniform.". Most of the actors who served will be remembered not for their service in a foreign theater overseas, but for their films that filled seats in movie theaters back home. You may also like: 100 best Western films of all time, according to critics. Unlike some war movies, We Were Soldiers also shows the lives of the wives and family members waiting for news at home, making it particularly heart-wrenching to watch. Kim Jung Hyun went to the Korea National University of Arts with a major in acting, so he had always known he wanted to be an actor. After attending college, he joined the Air Force National Guard. Bridges joined the Coast Guard Reserves and served at sea under what were often grueling conditions. A Palance was a boxer who later served in the Air Force as a bomber pilot and went on to Stanford on the G.I. You know him from movies like "Dirty Harry," "Unforgiven," and "The Bridges of Madison County." You may also like: 50 ways music has changed in the last 50 years. Winters parlayed his talent into a long television career, which included a run on his own show, "The Jonathan Winters Show." Charles Durning. He performed on stage and in films as early as the 1920s, but halted his career in the 1940s to join the Navy during World War II. The Navy sailor served in a submarine force in the Pacific theater during World War II. He attended Ranger School and was discharged as a first lieutenant. He was also a Navy veteran who served during World War II shortly after graduating from high school. Far more than just an actor and comedian, longtime "The Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson was a show business icon who changed the way entertainment was delivered to the masses. He has appeared in a range of film genres portraying character roles and is particularly known for his distinctive deep voice. For his service, he earned a Presidential Citation Award and a Bronze Star. The late Gene Wilder had a long and accomplished career in show business, but he's best known for his role in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." The late Jack Palance frequently played tough guys on the big screen in movies like "City Slickers," and he lived up to the Hollywood image in real life. You may also like: 100 best movies of all time. Upon graduating college, Jung Hae In signed with his agency and first made an appearance in AOA Black’s music video “Moya.” His debut role was in “Bride of the Century.”. He decided to take a break in his University years to go to the army when he was 21 years old. Dennis Franz scored small-screen gold with the role of Andy Sipowicz on the TV series "NYPD Blue." The "Ghostbusters" franchise made Ernie Hudson famous, but the Michigan native is by no means a one-trick pony. The TV series "M*A*S*H" revolved around an Army hospital surgical unit whose members dealt with tragedy through laughter during the Korean War. Clark Gable of "Gone With the Wind" fame was arguably the most celebrated leading man to dominate the screen during Hollywood's golden age. You may also like: Best Meryl Streep movies. He debuted in 2011 in lots of short films until his big breakthrough role in the 2014 hit series “Misaeng.” Byun Yo Han has continued to impress critics with his choice of K-dramas and amazing acting skills! Not only did he make propaganda films for the Army, but he saw action as a tail gunner during five missions over Germany. The son of Caribbean immigrants, Harry Belafonte is one of the most recognizable singers, actors, and civil rights activists in history. Born on Christmas Day in 1899, Humphrey Bogart grew up to be one of the most revered actors in history. There are very few actors who can guarantee big box office all over the world, but Will Smith has been doing just that for decades. He was introduced to martial arts while serving in Korea with the Air Force and went on to become the first Westerner ever to be awarded an eighth-degree black belt in Korean fighting style taekwondo. Although Kim Seon Ho was acting long before he debuted on the small screen, it was a good thing that he completed his mandatory duty before he graced us with his presence because it would have been a painful wait! The longtime leading man was also a World War II veteran who flew several dangerous missions in the Eastern Front as part of the 77th Bombardment Squadron of the Eleventh Air Force. Between the dangerous stunts, copious amounts of pyrotechnics, and the random chance of human error, making movies is still a risky proposition for actors, stunt performers, and even directors, as this list can attest. Elvis Aaron Presley was offered the opportunity to fulfill his service by entertaining troops, playing concerts, and serving as a recruiting model, but the King (actually a sergeant) famously chose instead to serve as a common soldier. Langrisser Mobile (2019 Video Game) Rohga Egbert. He later quipped about his military service by saying that he “Never fired a shot and maybe never wanted to. It was during this time that he decided to get into acting. He served in Normandy, was badly injured by a mortar round, and walked with a limp for the rest of his life. Academy Award-winning actor David Niven starred in movies like "Around the World in 80 Days," "Wuthering Heights," and "The Guns of the Navarone," but he'll be best-remembered for his dapper and elegant lead role in "The Pink Panther." Known for his roles in "Dr. Strangelove" and as a crooked police captain in "The Godfather," Sterling Hayden’s acting credits date back to 1941.