5 Celebrities You May Be Shocked To Find Out Served In The Military

Some of the most famous people in entertainment were enlisted in the military earlier in their lives

Part of becoming a celebrity is cultivating an image so enduring and memorable that it’s hard for people to see them as anything but that. However, like all of us, famous people have typically gone through numerous phases of their lives that were far from where they ended up. This includes military service. Here are five well-known celebrities that you may be shocked to find out served in the armed forces.

Gal Gadot: Few actresses in the world are as glamorous as the Israeli-born actor and model. After being crowned Miss Israel in 2004 and going on to represent her country in that year’s Miss Universe pageant, the then 19-year-old entered the Israel Defense Forces to complete her compulsory military term as required by all citizens.

During the next two years, Gadot served as a combat fitness instructor. Upon her discharge, she threw herself into her career in entertainment, becoming a force in hollywood. Her numerous credits since then include multiple installments of the wildly popular Fast & Furious and Wonder Woman franchises. She continues to rack up prominent roles even though she and her husband are also now parenting four daughters.

Shaggy: Although his current persona as a reggae rapper and songwriter gives the distinct impression of someone who is very laid back, Shaggy comes from a much more regimented past. Born Orville Burrell, he enlisted in the Marines in 1988 and spent several years in service, including being deployed to the Middle East during Desert Storm.

Shaggy reached the high rank of lance corporal, but did see his rank reduced twice during his military career for unauthorized absences. After being discharged in 1992, he forged ahead into a career in music, earning seven Grammy nominations to date and being known for such hits as Angel and It Wasn’t Me. He is said to still look back at his service fondly and has performed free concerts for troops all over the world.

Bea Arthur: Her stern demeanor actually gave the legendary actress a severity that would fit right in with the military, which was perfect because she actually was a veteran. Before becoming a star, Arthur (who was born Bernice Frankel) was just another young person uncertain of what to do with her life. In 1943, the 20-year-old was still seeking her calling just two years after graduating from high school. World War II was in full force, creating more opportunity for women to find employment. This allowed Arthur, who attended college for a year, to work at a food company testing products, have an internship at a hospital and also serve as an air raid warden before she applied to the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve within five days of it being created.

Arthur spent two years in the Marines as a truck driver before being honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant. Although she sometimes refuted her past service, it was a prominent part of her early life before she went on to Hollywood greatness, including such television hits as All in the Family, Maude and The Golden Girls

Ice-T: The long-time rapper and actor has cultivated an image of being anti-establishment and even that as a pimp during his decorated career. However, the man born Tracy Marrow built his persona over time.

After being orphaned at the age of 13, he gradually began getting into more and more trouble. He finally enlisted in the Army when he was 19 and spent more than two years in uniform. It was during his stationing in Hawaii that he made connections that taught him about the intricacies of pimping and also gave him access to music equipment. Honorably discharged in 1979 due to him being a single father, he initially turned to robberies before finding his way in the music industry.

In addition to multiple highly regarded albums, he has also developed a strong acting resume, including New Jack Cit,y and serving as one of the leads on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for more than two decades.

Bob Ross: With a permed Afro, a set of paint brushes and a hushed montone style of speaking, it’s hard to imagine that the television artist was ever in the military — but he was. Surprisingly, he actually enlisted in the Air Force in 1961 at the age of 18 and spent the next 20 years in service. Before he left, he had risen to the level of a Master Sergeant and was acting as a training instructor/drill sergeant.

He took up painting during his enlistment, and enthusiastically enrolled in art classes on base. Early in his military career, he was stationed in Alaska, where it’s believed he saw some of his first snow and trees. This helped inspire the man that later became so well known for his paintings of landscapes.

Once he returned to civilian life, he threw himself into painting even more and starred in the iconic The Joy of Painting show that ran on PBS for more than a decade. Even now, nearly 30 years after his death, reruns still air and products bearing his likeness are readily available in stores.