Throughout the history of the US Marine Corps, many courageous people have created their legacies through acts of bravery. In addition to their dedication to the military, some have entered into Hollywood, achieving widespread acclaim and fame after their service. This is a tribute to the exceptional people who once held the title of “Leatherneck” before stepping into the limelight.
Rob Riggle
Renowned comedian and actor Rob Riggle, known for his roles in movies such as 21 Jump Street (2012) and his contributions to long-standing television shows like Saturday Night Live (1975-present) and The Daily Show (1996-present), dedicated over two decades of his life to the US Marine Corps.
Enlisting in April 1990, Riggle served nine years in active duty before transitioning to the reserves. Ascending to the role of public affairs officer, he worked with various units and embarked on deployments to Liberia, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
Despite the demands of his burgeoning acting career, Riggle remained steadfast in his commitment to the Marines, fulfilling his obligations in the reserves. Notably, in August 2007, he visited Iraq on behalf of The Daily Show, combining his service with the entertainment of troops through the USO.
Retiring in 2013 as a lieutenant colonel, Riggle is one of the most prominent actors with a Marine Corps background. During his impressive 23-year tenure, he received several accolades, including the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one campaign star, among others.
Drew Carey
Famed comedian and gameshow host Drew Carey joined the US Marine Corps Reserve in 1980, where he served as a field operator with the 25th Marine Regiment in Ohio, dedicating six years to his military duties and rising to the rank of sergeant. Interestingly, it was during his tenure in the Marine Corps that Carey began his foray into comedy, earning $10 for each joke he wrote for stand-up performances.
For Carey, the Marine Corps served as a stabilizing influence and valuable resources during a challenging phase in his life. Faced with the decision to depart from university and lacking employment prospects, the Corps not only provided him with assistance, but also became a surrogate family. The experience gave him essential skills and discipline that continue to influence his life today.
Despite his discharge being decades ago, Carey remains unwavering in his support for the US military. He actively demonstrates this commitment by entertaining troops overseas through performances with the USO.
Pat Robertson
Famous televangelist Pat Robertson also served in the Marines, but his service has been called into question by fellow veterans. When the draft was reinstated in 1948, he enlisted, so he could continue to attend school, participating in summer bootcamps in Quantico, Virginia during his enrolment.
Robertson was deployed to Japan in 1951. His account suggests he participated in combat during the Korean War, serving with the First Marine Division and receiving three battle stars. However, others have alleged that his father, Sen. Absalom Robertson (D-VA), went to great lengths to keep him from having to actually engage with the enemy. Instead, it’s alleged he held a position that kept him stationed in Japan.
Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman was once considered Hollywood’s hardest-working man. What many might not know is that he served with the US Marine Corps before embarking on his illustrious acting career. The 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions, the 3rd Marine Regiment and the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion were just some of his unit assignments during this time.
A 16-year-old Hackman dropped out of high school and lied about his age to enlist in the service. After undergoing basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, he was deployed to China as a radio operator. This led to him becoming a DJ for the Armed Forces Network (AFN).
Hackman’s time with the Marines wasn’t all positive, as he became rather infamous for getting into fights with his comrades. He would also leave his post without permission, resulting in him being demoted three times.
Hackman later pursued film, with his crowning achievement being 1971’s The French Connection. On multiple occasions, he portrayed military figures, including an admiral in Behind Enemy Lines (2001) and a submarine captain in Crimson Tide (1995).
Shaggy
Jamaican-American reggae singer and rapper Orville Burrell, known professionally as Shaggy, took a different route before embracing the glitzy world of Hollywood. Struggling to find steady work, he chose to join the Marines, serving from 1988-1992, which involved him in Operation Desert Storm.
During his time in service, Shaggy worked as a field artillery cannon crewman with the 10th Marine Regiment’s Field Artillery Battalion. Although he fulfilled his military duties, his passion for music never faded, causing conflicts between his two interests and resulting in two demotions for unauthorized absences.
Even after leaving active duty, he remains loyal to his fellow Marine veterans.
Bea Arthur
Late actress Bea Arthur acted in the long-running sitcom Golden Girls (1985-1992), and she served as a Marine before breaking through into acting. She enlisted just five days after the US Marine Corps called upon women to enlist, submitting a letter, which showcased her dedication to the cause. “I was supposed to start work yesterday, but heard last week that enlistments for women in the Marines were open, so decided the only thing to do was join,” she wrote.
After undergoing basic training, Arthur was sent to Washington, DC to serve as a typist. She later requested a transfer to the Motor Transport School at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, which was subsequently approved. This led to her becoming a driver and dispatcher at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point.
Arthur kept her military service a secret her entire life, going so far as to deny it in various interviews. It wasn’t until her records were made public that the long-withheld details were revealed.
Harvey Keitel
Famous actor Henry Keitel served as a marine between 1956-59. He was just 17 years old when he enlisted, later attending night combat school. He deployed to Lebanon as part of Operation Blue Bat, with his actions as a fire team leader earning him a medal.
Keitel considers his time in the Marines to have been life-changing, saying, “It taught me how to endure, taught me how to endure hardships, it taught me what real camaraderie was like. It taught me what sacrifice was really like and what loyalty was.”
Following his discharge, Keitel worked as a court stenographer, before making the leap into acting. Since then, he’s wracked up quite the resume, starring in such films as Taxi Driver (1976), Thelma & Louise (1991) and Reservoir Dogs (1992), among many other hits.
Montel Williams
Montel Williams, known for hosting The Montel Williams Show (1991-2008), enlisted in the US Marine Corps immediately after graduating from high school in 1974. Demonstrating exceptional skill while attending the US Naval Academy Preparatory Course, he became the first African-American Marine accepted into the officer training program at the institution.
Williams dedicated 22 years to the military, serving as a cryptologic officer for naval intelligence for 18 months. He later advanced to the role of supervising cryptologic officer at the Naval Security Fleet Support Division in Fort Meade, Maryland, where he also worked with the National Security Agency (NSA). Additionally, Williams played a role in Operation Urgent Fury, the US invasion of Grenada.
Retiring with the rank of lieutenant commander, Williams received several decorations, including the Navy Achievement Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Humanitarian Service Medals and the National Defense Service Medal, among others.
Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen, famous for being the King of Cool, enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1947. He was promoted to private first class and assigned to an armored unit. In classic McQueen rebellious fashion, the future actor was demoted seven times. One incident involved him going AWOL for two weeks to visit his girlfriend, resulting in 41 days in the brig.
Following his bout of rebelliousness, McQueen decided to turn his military career around, later going on to say, “The Marines made a man out of me. I learned how to get along with others, and I had a platform to jump off of.” This change in attitude was evident in his saving the lives of five other marines during an Arctic exercise, pulling them from their tank before it fell through the ice.
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McQueen was also assigned to the honor guard, tasked with guarding the yacht owned by US President Harry Truman. Following his honorable discharge in 1950, he went on to star in a number of popular films, of which many had a military theme: The War Lover (1962), The Great Escape (1963), Soldier in the Rain (1963) and The Sand Pebbles (1966).