Celebrities Who Served in the Military Before Fame
Hollywood red carpets and Olympic podiums don’t exactly scream “basic training,” but some of the women behind those spotlights got their start in uniform. These names are better known for hit shows, gold medals, and game-changing careers, but their service stories are just as compelling.
Gal Gadot
Credit: Reddit
Yes, Wonder Woman did do army training. After winning Miss Israel, Gal Gadot served her two-year stint in the Israeli Defense Forces. She worked as a physical fitness instructor and has credited her training with helping her land action roles. She knew her way around stunts before Hollywood called.
Queen Elizabeth II
Credit: Wikipedia
At 18, Elizabeth Windsor joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service during WWII. She trained as a mechanic, drove trucks, and earned the rank of junior commander. Though her service was brief, it marked her as the first and only British monarch to serve in uniform.
Harriet Tubman
Credit: flickr
Best known for the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman also made U.S. history as the first woman to lead an armed raid. In 1863, she guided Union forces in South Carolina to free over 700 enslaved people. She later served as a spy and scout who helped gather intelligence behind Confederate lines.
Eileen Collins
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NASA’s first female shuttle commander started in the Air Force. Eileen Collins was one of the first women to go through pilot training in the late ‘70s, then became a flight instructor by age 23. That gig led to test pilot school, which led to NASA.
Bea Arthur
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Long before she lit up the screen in The Golden Girls, Bea Arthur served in the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve as a typist and truck driver. She climbed the ranks to staff sergeant. Her personnel file described her as “argumentative,” which oddly foreshadowed the onscreen characters that made her famous.
Jennifer Marshall
Credit: IMDb
You’ve seen her on Stranger Things, but Jennifer Marshall had a real-life role that was just as intense—aviation logistics on an aircraft carrier. She joined the Navy at 17 and worked on the USS Theodore Roosevelt. She even earned a special designation and medals for service during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sunny Anderson
Credit: Facebook
Food Network fans know her for comfort food, but Sunny Anderson broadcasted real news for the U.S. Air Force. She served as a radio journalist in South Korea and San Antonio, where her primary focus was on military programming. She’s said that the experience gave her technical chops and on-air confidence.
Robin Quivers
Credit: Reddit
After earning a nursing degree, Robin Quivers joined the U.S. Air Force and quickly rose to captain. She was in active service until 1978 and remained in the reserves for over a decade. She was still technically enlisted when she started in radio—uniform by day, mic by night.
Ruth Westheimer
Credit: Instagram
Dr. Ruth Westheimer received her training in Israel, where her petite frame, which she later joked about, made her well-suited for the role. Fortunately, she never had to put her skills into action. Most know her as the candid intimacy therapist with the unmistakable accent, but before she became a media icon, she was trained in guerrilla tactics and sharpshooting.
Shauna Rohbock
Credit: Youtube
Olympic bobsledder Shauna Rohbock competed and served for the U.S. She joined the Utah Army National Guard and participated in the National Guard Outstanding Athlete Program. Her time in uniform overlapped with her athletic training, which helped her represent the country on two fronts: officer and Olympic.
Zulay Henao
Credit: X
Right after high school, Zulay Henao enlisted in the U.S. Army, where she served for three years. Then she pivoted into acting by bringing real-life experience to roles in shows like Army Wives. Her experience gave her a deeper understanding of officer life—something she’s brought to the screen with authenticity and pride.
Caitlin Bassett
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Caitlin Bassett spent seven years as a U.S. Army intelligence analyst. She completed three combat deployments and worked with top security agencies. After her service, she traded classified briefings for acting classes. She’s best known for her role in Quantum Leap.
Skye P. Marshall
Credit: IMDb
Skye P. Marshall’s resume includes TV dramas, a degree in communication, and experience in the Air Force. She served as a medic at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. After her enlistment, she dove into acting full-time, eventually landing roles on hit shows like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Betty White
Credit: Facebook
Yep, Betty White served, too—kind of. During WWII, she volunteered with the American Women’s Voluntary Services and helped transport supplies around Los Angeles. She wasn’t enlisted, but she was out there driving trucks and handing out rations before she ever cracked a joke on television.
Nancy Kulp
Credit: firstforwomen
Best remembered as the proper Miss Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies, Nancy Kulp’s early life was anything but scripted. She served in the U.S. Naval Reserve during WWII and earned multiple awards. Then, she used her benefits to study and eventually went on to a full TV career.