Famous Veterans: Actors

Discover famous actors who proudly served in the United States Armed Forces before, during, or after their acting careers. From Academy Award winners and television legends to beloved character actors and Hollywood icons, these remarkable men and women answered our nation’s call to serve before entertaining audiences around the world.

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with A

• Donald Adams – Actor: Get Smart – U.S. Marine Corps
• Nick Adams – Actor: Rebel Without a Cause – U.S. Coast Guard (1952–1955)
• Danny Aiello – Actor: The Last Don – U.S. Army
• Claude Akins – Actor: Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo – U.S. Army Signal Corps (World War II)
• Eddie Albert – Actor: Oliver on Green Acres – U.S. Navy
• Alan Alda – Actor: M*A*S*H – ROTC and U.S. Army Reserve
• Steve Allen – Actor, Musician & Television Host: First host of The Tonight Show – U.S. Army
• John Amos – Actor: James Evans on Good Times – New Jersey Army National Guard; Honorary U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief
• John Aniston – Actor: Days of Our Lives – U.S. Navy Intelligence Officer
• Desi Arnaz – Actor & Musician: I Love Lucy – U.S. Army
• James Arness – Actor: Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke – U.S. Army (World War II)
• Bea Arthur – Actor: Maude, The Golden Girls – U.S. Marine Corps Women’s Reserve (1943–1945)
• Ed Asner – Actor: The Mary Tyler Moore Show – U.S. Army Signal Corps
• Gene Autry – Singing Cowboy & Actor – U.S. Army Air Corps (World War II)
• James Avery – Actor: Philip Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – U.S. Navy (Vietnam War)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with B

• Max Baer Jr. – Actor: Jethro on The Beverly Hillbillies – U.S. Air Force Medical Technician
• David Bald Eagle – Dancer & Actor: Dances with Wolves – U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne (World War II)
• Harry Belafonte – Singer, Songwriter & Actor – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• Paul Benedict – Actor: Harry Bentley on The Jeffersons – U.S. Marine Corps
• Bill Bixby – Actor: David Banner on The Incredible Hulk – U.S. Marine Corps
• Larry Blyden – Actor & Game Show Host: What’s My Line? – U.S. Marine Corps (World War II)
• Humphrey Bogart – Actor: Casablanca – U.S. Navy; U.S. Coast Guard Temporary Reserve
• Peter Bonerz – Actor: Dr. Jerry Robinson on The Bob Newhart Show; Director – Drafted into the U.S. Army
• Lee Bonnell – Actor: Smash-Up – U.S. Coast Guard (World War II)
• Richard Boone – Actor: Have Gun – Will Travel – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• Ernest Borgnine – Actor: Marty, McHale’s Navy – U.S. Navy
• Jeff Bosley – Actor – U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret Medic)
• Tom Bosley – Actor: Howard Cunningham on Happy Days – U.S. Navy
• Nate Boyer – Actor & Former NFL Player – U.S. Army Green Berets
• Peter Boyle – Actor: Frank Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond – U.S. Navy Officer
• Neville Brand – Actor: Birdman of Alcatraz – U.S. Army (1939–1945)
• Hugh Brannum – Actor: Mr. Green Jeans on Captain Kangaroo – U.S. Marine Corps (World War II)
• Walter Brennan – Actor: Academy Award Winner – U.S. Army (World War I)
• Beau Bridges – Actor – U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
• Jeff Bridges – Actor – U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
• Lloyd Bridges – Actor – U.S. Coast Guard & Coast Guard Auxiliary
• Wilford Brimley – Actor: The Waltons, Cocoon – U.S. Marine Corps
• Charles Bronson – Actor – U.S. Air Force
• Mel Brooks – Actor, Comedian & Director – U.S. Army (1944–1946)
• Bob Burns – Actor: The Arkansas Traveler – U.S. Marine Corps (World War I)
• Raymond Burr – Actor: Perry Mason, Ironside – U.S. Navy (1944–1946)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with C

• Sid Caesar – Comedian & Actor – U.S. Coast Guard
• John Capodice – Character Actor: Seinfeld, Murder, She Wrote, Murphy Brown, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective – U.S. Army (Korean War)
• David Carradine – Actor: Kung Fu – U.S. Army
• Drew Carey – Actor, Comedian & The Price Is Right Host – U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (1980–1986)
• Philip Carey – Actor: One Life to Live – U.S. Marine Corps (Korean War)
• Art Carney – Actor: The Honeymooners – U.S. Army (Wounded during the Normandy invasion)
• Macdonald Carey – Actor: Dr. Tom Horton on Days of Our Lives – U.S. Marine Corps (World War II)
• Harry Carey Jr. – Actor: The Whales of August – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• John Carroll – Actor: Flying Tigers – U.S. Army Air Corps (Pilot in North Africa)
• Richard Chamberlain – Television & Film Actor: The Thorn Birds, Shōgun, The Three Musketeers – Drafted into the U.S. Army (Korea, 1956–1958)
• Gower Champion – Actor, Dancer & Director – U.S. Coast Guard (World War II)
• Blake Clark – Actor & Comedian: Numerous Adam Sandler films – U.S. Army (1st Lieutenant, 5th Infantry Division; 101st Airborne Division)
• Lee J. Cobb – Actor: The Left Hand of God – U.S. Army Air Forces (1942–1946)
• Bill Cobbs – Film & Television Actor: Night at the Museum – U.S. Air Force (Radar Technician)
• Dabney Coleman – Actor: 9 to 5, Mr. Mom – U.S. Army
• Chuck Connors – Actor: The Rifleman – U.S. Army (1942–1946)
• Mike Connors – Actor: Mannix – U.S. Army Air Corps (World War II)
• Michael Conrad – Actor: Hill Street Blues – U.S. Army (World War II)
• William Conrad – Actor: Jake and the Fatman – U.S. Army Air Corps (World War II)
• Tim Conway – Actor: The Carol Burnett Show – U.S. Army
• Jackie Coogan – Actor: Uncle Fester on The Addams Family – U.S. Army (World War II)
• Chris Cooper – Actor: The Bourne Identity – U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
• Jackie Cooper – Actor: Little Rascals, Superman – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• Barry Corbin – Actor: Northern Exposure – U.S. Marine Corps
• Bill Cosby – Actor & Comedian – U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman
• Randy Couture – Actor & UFC Heavyweight Champion – U.S. Army
• Bob Crane – Actor: Hogan’s Heroes – National Guard (1948–1950)
• Richard Cromwell – Actor: The Lives of a Bengal Lancer – U.S. Coast Guard (World War II)
• Bob Crosby – Actor & Musician: The Bob Crosby Orchestra – U.S. Marine Corps (World War II)
• Tony Curtis – Actor: Some Like It Hot – U.S. Navy (World War II)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with D

• Bill Daily – Actor: I Dream of Jeannie, The Bob Newhart Show, ALF – Drafted into the U.S. Army (Korean War)
• Ossie Davis – Actor: Do the Right Thing – U.S. Army (1942–1945)
• Sammy Davis Jr. – Actor & Singer – U.S. Army (World War II)
• Brian Dennehy – Actor: First Blood – U.S. Marine Corps (Vietnam War)
• Bradford Dillman – Actor: Sudden Impact – U.S. Marine Corps (1951–1953)
• Kevin Dobson – Actor: Kojak, Knots Landing – U.S. Army
• Kirk Douglas – Actor: Spartacus – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• Mike Douglas – Singer, Actor & Talk Show Host: The Mike Douglas Show – U.S. Navy (World War II, served aboard a munitions ship)
• Tony Dow – Actor: Wally Cleaver on Leave It to Beaver – Army National Guard (1965–1968)
• Adam Driver – Actor: Star Wars: Episode VII – U.S. Marine Corps
• Charles Durning – Actor: Tootsie, The Muppet Movie – U.S. Army (World War II)
• Robert Duvall – Actor: The Godfather, Tender Mercies – U.S. Army (Korean War)
• Dale Dye – Actor: Capt. Harris in Platoon – U.S. Marine Corps (1964–1984), Purple Heart & Bronze Star recipient

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with E

• Clint Eastwood – Actor & Director – U.S. Army (1951–1953)
• Buddy Ebsen – Actor: Jed Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies – U.S. Coast Guard Officer
• David Eigenberg – Actor: Steve Brady on Sex and the City – U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
• Leif Erickson – Actor: Big John Cannon on The High Chaparral – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• R. Lee Ermey – Actor – U.S. Marine Corps (1961–1971)
• Maurice Evans – Actor: Dr. Zaius in Planet of the Apes – U.S. Army Major (World War II)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with F

• Douglas Fairbanks Jr. – Actor: Sinbad the Sailor – U.S. Navy (World War II, 1941–1946)
• Jamie Farr – Actor – U.S. Army
• Mike Farrell – Actor: B.J. Hunnicutt on M*A*S*H – U.S. Marine Corps
• Norman Fell – Actor: Mr. Roper on Three’s Company – U.S. Army Air Corps (Tail Gunner)
• John Fiedler – Actor: Stage, Film, Television & Radio – U.S. Navy (served until the end of World War II)
• Eddie Fisher – Singer & Actor – U.S. Army (1951–1952)
• Joe Flaherty – Actor: SCTV, Happy Gilmore – U.S. Air Force (1959–1962)
• Pat Flaherty – Athlete & Actor: Mutiny on the Bounty – U.S. Army Signal Corps (World War I), U.S. Marine Corps (World War II & Korean War)
• Henry Fonda – Actor – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• Glenn Ford – Actor: Gilda, Blackboard Jungle – U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, later U.S. Naval Reserve Officer
• Steve Forrest – Actor: S.W.A.T. – U.S. Army (World War II)
• Preston Foster – Actor: My Friend Flicka – U.S. Coast Guard (World War II)
• Dennis Franz – Actor: NYPD Blue – U.S. Army (Vietnam War)
• Morgan Freeman – Actor – U.S. Air Force (1955–1959)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with G

• Clark Gable – Actor: Gone with the Wind – U.S. Army Air Forces (1942–1944)
• James Garner – Actor: The Rockford Files – Merchant Marine; U.S. Army (Korean War), recipient of two Purple Hearts
• Christopher George – Actor: The Rat Patrol – U.S. Marine Corps
• Burton Gilliam – Boxer & Actor: Back to the Future Part III – U.S. Coast Guard
• Scott Glenn – Actor: The Silence of the Lambs – U.S. Marine Corps (1975–1986)
• Arthur Godfrey – Radio Personality & Actor – U.S. Navy (1920–1924); U.S. Coast Guard (1927–1930)
• Gale Gordon – Actor: The Lucy Show, Dennis the Menace – U.S. Coast Guard (1942–1945)
• Frank Gorshin – Actor: The Riddler on Batman – U.S. Army (1953–1955)
• Saginaw Grant – Native American Actor: The Lone Ranger – U.S. Marine Corps (Korean War)
• Peter Graves – Actor: Mission: Impossible, Gunsmoke – U.S. Air Force
• Benji Gregory – Child Actor: Brian Tanner on ALF – U.S. Navy
• Shecky Greene – Comedian & Actor: Splash – U.S. Navy
• James Gregory – Actor: Inspector Luger on Barney Miller – U.S. Navy & U.S. Marine Corps (World War II)
• Robert Guillaume – Actor: Benson – U.S. Army
• Clu Gulager – Actor: The Killers, The Return of the Living Dead – U.S. Marine Corps (1946–1948)
• Moses Gunn – Actor: The NeverEnding Story – U.S. Army
• Bob Gunton – Actor: The Shawshank Redemption – U.S. Army (1969–1971)
• Fred Gwynne – Actor: Herman Munster on The Munsters, My Cousin Vinny – U.S. Navy (World War II)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with H

• Buddy Hackett – Comedian & Actor: The Love Bug – U.S. Army (World War II)
• Gene Hackman – Actor: The French Connection – U.S. Marine Corps (1947–1949)
• Larry Hagman – Actor: Dallas, I Dream of Jeannie – U.S. Air Force
• Alan Hale Jr. – Actor: The Skipper on Gilligan’s Island – U.S. Coast Guard (World War II)
• Wynn Handman – Actor, Acting Teacher, Producer & Director – U.S. Coast Guard Officer (World War II)
• Bill Harbach – Actor, Television Producer & Director: The Tonight Show – U.S. Coast Guard
• Gregory Harrison – Actor: Trapper John, M.D. – U.S. Army (Vietnam era, Medic)
• Sterling Hayden – Actor: Gen. Jack D. Ripper in Dr. Strangelove – U.S. Marine Corps
• Bill Hayes – Actor: Days of Our Lives – U.S. Navy Air Corps
• Lloyd Haynes – Actor: Pete Dixon on Room 222 – U.S. Marine Corps (1952–1964, Korean War)
• Louis Hayward – Actor: The Man in the Iron Mask – U.S. Marine Corps (Bronze Star recipient)
• Sherman Hemsley – Actor: The Jeffersons – U.S. Air Force
• Buck Henry – Writer, Actor & Director – U.S. Army (Korean War)
• Charlton Heston – Actor: Ben-Hur – U.S. Army Air Forces (1944–1946)
• Steven Hill – Actor: Mission: Impossible, Law & Order – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• Pat Hingle – Actor: Commissioner Gordon in the Batman films – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• Robert Hogan – Television Actor – U.S. Army (Korea)
• Hal Holbrook – Actor – U.S. Army
• William Holden – Actor: Academy Award winner for Stalag 17 – U.S. Army Air Corps (1942–1945)
• Earl Holliman – Actor: Golden Globe winner for The Rainmaker – U.S. Navy
• William Hopper – Actor: Paul Drake on Perry Mason – U.S. Coast Guard (World War II)
• Robert Horton – Actor: Flint McCullough on Wagon Train – U.S. Coast Guard (World War II)
• David Huddleston – Actor: The Big Lebowski – U.S. Air Force Officer
• Ernie Hudson – Actor: Ghostbusters – U.S. Marine Corps
• Rock Hudson – Actor – U.S. Navy (1944–1946)
• Tab Hunter – Actor: Damn Yankees – U.S. Coast Guard
• Bobby Hutchins – Child Actor: Our Gang – U.S. Army Air Forces Aviation Cadet Program

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with I

• Ice-T (Tracy Marrow) – Rapper & Actor – U.S. Army Rangers (1979–1983)
• Don Imus (John Donald Imus) – Radio Talk Show Host & Actor – U.S. Marine Corps (1957–1959)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with J

• Clifton James – Actor: Sheriff J.W. Pepper in Live and Let Die – U.S. Army (1942–1945), 163rd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division
• David Janssen – Actor: Richard Kimble on The Fugitive – U.S. Army
• Russell Johnson – Actor: The Professor on Gilligan’s Island – U.S. Army Air Forces (1942–1945); U.S. Air Force Reserve (1945–1957), First Lieutenant
• James Earl Jones – Actor: Field of Dreams – U.S. Army (1953–1955)
• L. Q. Jones – Actor & Director: The Wild Bunch – U.S. Navy (1945–1946)
• Victor Jory – Actor: Man Hunt – U.S. Coast Guard (Boxing & Wrestling Champion)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with K

• Buster Keaton – Silent Film Actor – U.S. Army, 40th Infantry Division (World War I)
• Bob Keeshan – Actor: Captain Kangaroo – U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
• Harvey Keitel – Actor: Pulp Fiction – U.S. Marine Corps
• Brian Keith – Actor: Family Affair – U.S. Marine Corps (1942–1945, World War II)
• Robert Kellard – Actor: Drums of Fu Manchu, The Three Stooges – U.S. Coast Guard
• DeForest Kelley – Actor: Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy on Star Trek – U.S. Army Air Forces (1943–1946)
• Brian Kelly – Actor: Porter Ricks on Flipper – U.S. Marine Corps (Korean War)
• Gene Kelly – Dancer, Singer & Actor – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• George Kennedy – Actor: Airport, The Naked Gun – U.S. Army (World War II), 16 years active duty
• Werner Klemperer – Actor: Col. Klink on Hogan’s Heroes – U.S. Army (1942–1945, World War II)
• Jack Klugman – Actor: Oscar Madison on The Odd Couple – U.S. Army
• Ted Knight – Actor: Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show – U.S. Army (World War II)
• Don Knotts – Actor & Comedian – U.S. Army
• Bernie Kopell – Actor: Get Smart, The Love Boat – U.S. Navy
• Harvey Korman – Actor & Comedian – U.S. Navy (1945–1946)
• Kris Kristofferson – Singer & Actor: A Star Is Born – U.S. Army Helicopter Pilot (1960–1965)
• Nancy Kulp – Actress: Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies – U.S. Navy Reserve (World War II)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with L

• Alan Ladd – Actor: Shane – U.S. Army Air Forces (World War II)
• Burt Lancaster – Actor: Academy Award winner for Elmer Gantry – U.S. Army (World War II)
• William Lanteau – Actor: Mayor Chester Wanamaker on Newhart – U.S. Army (World War II)
• John Larroquette – Actor: Night Court – U.S. Navy Reserve
• Dan Lauria – Actor: Jack Arnold on The Wonder Years – U.S. Marine Corps Officer (Vietnam War)
• Paul Le Mat – Actor: American Graffiti – U.S. Navy (Vietnam War)
• Harvey Lembeck – Actor: The Phil Silvers Show – U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps & U.S. Navy (World War II)
• Jack Lemmon – Actor: The Odd Couple – U.S. Navy Officer
• Scott Levy – Actor: The Hell Patrol – U.S. Marine Corps (Persian Gulf War, Stinger Missile Gunner)
• Hal Linden – Actor: Barney Miller – U.S. Army (Korean War)
• Joe Lisi – Actor: Third Watch, The Sopranos – U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
• Ernie Lively – Actor – U.S. Marine Corps (Vietnam; retired as a Captain)
• Robert Loggia – Actor: The Jagged Edge – U.S. Army (1951–1953)
• Billy Lundigan – Actor: Love Nest – U.S. Marine Corps (World War II)
• Richard Lynch – Actor: The Sword and the Sorcerer – U.S. Marine Corps (1958–1962)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with M

• Gavin MacLeod – Actor: Capt. Stubing on The Love Boat – U.S. Air Force
• Guy Madison – Actor: The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok – U.S. Navy
• Jock Mahoney – Actor: Yancy Derringer – U.S. Marine Corps Pilot (World War II)
• Karl Malden – Actor: The Streets of San Francisco – U.S. Army Air Forces (World War II)
• Ralph Manza – Actor: Appeared in more than 160 American film and television productions – U.S. Army Medic (World War II)
• Monte Markham – Actor: The Second Hundred Years – U.S. Coast Guard Officer (10 years)
• Peter Marshall – Singer, Actor & Original Host of The Hollywood Squares – U.S. Army (Armed Forces Radio DJ)
• Strother Martin – Actor: Cool Hand Luke – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• J.R. Martinez – Actor: All My Children, Dancing with the Stars – U.S. Army
• Lee Marvin – Actor: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance – U.S. Marine Corps
• Jerry Mathers – Actor: Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver on Leave It to Beaver – Air Force National Guard (1967–1969)
• Tim Matheson – Actor: Animal House – U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
• Walter Matthau – Actor: Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple – U.S. Army Air Forces (1942–1945)
• Victor Mature – Actor: Samson and Delilah – U.S. Coast Guard (World War II)
• Bob McGrath – Actor: Sesame Street – U.S. Army (served in Germany with the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra)
• Ed McMahon – Television Personality & Actor: The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – U.S. Marine Corps
• Burgess Meredith – Actor: Mickey in Rocky – U.S. Army Air Forces Captain (World War II)
• John Miljan – Actor: I Accuse My Parents – U.S. Marine Corps
• Spencer Milligan – Producer & Actor: Land of the Lost – U.S. Army
• Martin Milner – Actor: Route 66, Adam-12 – U.S. Army
• Steve McQueen – Actor: The Great Escape – U.S. Marine Corps (1947–1950)
• George Montgomery – Actor: Coney Island – U.S. Army Air Forces
• Robert Montgomery – Actor: Mr. and Mrs. Smith – U.S. Navy (World War II), Lieutenant Commander
• Clayton Moore – Actor: The Lone Ranger – U.S. Army Air Forces (1943–1945)
• Wayne Morris – Actor: Paths of Glory – U.S. Navy Pilot (World War II)
• Audie Murphy – Actor: Bad Boy – U.S. Army (1942–1945); Texas Army National Guard (1950–1966)
• Michael Murphy – Actor: An Unmarried Woman, Manhattan – U.S. Marine Corps

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with N

• Willie Nelson – Singer, Songwriter & Actor – U.S. Air Force (1951)
• Bob Newhart – Actor & Comedian – U.S. Army (Korean War)
• Paul Newman – Actor – U.S. Navy (1943–1945)
• Leonard Nimoy – Actor: Mr. Spock on Star Trek – U.S. Army (1953–1955)
• Chuck Norris – Actor & Martial Artist – U.S. Air Force (1958–1962)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with O

• Hugh O’Brian – Actor: The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp – U.S. Marine Corps
• Warren Oates – Actor: Two-Lane Blacktop – U.S. Marine Corps
• Carroll O’Connor – Actor: Archie Bunker on All in the Family – U.S. Merchant Marine
• Donald O’Connor – Dancer & Actor: Francis the Talking Mule – U.S. Army (World War II)
• Gerald S. O’Loughlin – Actor: Lt. Ed Ryker on The Rookies – U.S. Marine Corps
• Peter Ortiz – Actor: Rio Grande – U.S. Marine Corps Colonel (USMCR), recipient of two Purple Hearts
• Ken Osmond – Actor: Eddie Haskell on Leave It to Beaver – U.S. Army Reserve

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with P

• Jack Palance – Actor: City Slickers – U.S. Army Air Forces (World War II)
• Fess Parker – Actor: Daniel Boone, Old Yeller – U.S. Navy
• Vincent Pastore – Actor: The Sopranos – U.S. Navy
• Pat Paulsen – Comedian & Actor: Fore Play – U.S. Marine Corps (World War II)
• Sam Peckinpah – Actor & Director: The Getaway, The Wild Bunch – U.S. Marine Corps (1943–1946)
• Ron Penfound – Actor: Captain Penny’s Fun House – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• Jack Pennick – Actor – U.S. Marine Corps (World War I); later U.S. Navy; Silver Star recipient
• George Peppard – Actor: Hannibal Smith on The A-Team – U.S. Marine Corps (1946–1948)
• Felton Perry – Actor: Magnum Force – U.S. Marine Corps
• Slim Pickens – Actor & Rodeo Performer – U.S. Army Air Forces (World War II)
• Sidney Poitier – Academy Award-Winning Actor – U.S. Army
• Sydney Pollack – Actor, Producer & Director: Out of Africa – U.S. Army (1957–1959)
• Tom Poston – Actor: George Utley on Newhart – U.S. Army Air Forces (World War II)
• Lee Powell – Actor: the first cinema Lone Ranger – U.S. Marine Corps (World War II, killed in action)
• Tyrone Power – Actor: Witness for the Prosecution – U.S. Marine Corps
• Elvis Presley – Singer & Actor – U.S. Army (1958–1960)
• Robert Preston – Actor: Victor/Victoria – U.S. Army Air Forces (World War II)
• Richard Pryor – Comedian & Actor – U.S. Army
• Denver Pyle – Actor: Jesse Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard – U.S. Navy (World War II)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with Q

• Richard Quine – Director & Actor: Bell, Book and Candle – U.S. Coast Guard (World War II)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with R

• Aldo Ray – Actor: The Green Berets – U.S. Navy (1944–1946)
• Ronald Reagan – Actor & 40th President of the United States – U.S. Army Air Forces
• Steve Reeves – Actor: Hercules – U.S. Army (World War II)
• Carl Reiner – Director, Comedian & Actor – U.S. Army Air Forces (World War II)
• Harry Rhodes – Actor: Detroit 9000, Daktari – U.S. Marine Corps
• Michael Richards – Comedian & Actor: Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld – U.S. Army (1972–1974)
• Don Rickles – Actor & Comedian – U.S. Navy (1941–1946)
• Rob Riggle – Actor & Comedian: Saturday Night Live – U.S. Marine Corps (1990–2013, retired)
• Jack Riley – Actor: Elliot Carlin on The Bob Newhart Show – U.S. Army
• Jason Robards – Actor: All the President’s Men – U.S. Navy (World War II; survived the attack on Pearl Harbor)
• Pernell Roberts – Actor & Singer: Bonanza, Trapper John, M.D. – U.S. Marine Corps
• Dale Robertson – Actor: Tales of Wells Fargo – U.S. Army (World War II, 777th Tank Battalion)
• Charles “Buddy” Rogers – Actor & Musician: Wings – U.S. Navy Flight Instructor (World War II)
• Paul Rodriguez – Actor: A Million to Juan – U.S. Air Force
• Wayne Rogers – Actor: Trapper John on M*A*S*H – U.S. Navy
• Cesar Romero – Singer & Actor: The Joker on Batman – U.S. Coast Guard (World War II)
• Mickey Rooney – Actor – U.S. Army (1944–1946)
• John Russell – Actor: Dan Troop on Lawman – U.S. Marine Corps (World War II)
• Robert Ryan – Actor: John Claggart in Billy Budd – U.S. Marine Corps Drill Instructor

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with S

• Soupy Sales – Actor: The Soupy Sales Show – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• Walter Sande – Actor: The Wild Wild West – U.S. Coast Guard Temporary Reserve (World War II)
• William Sanderson – Actor: Larry on Newhart – U.S. Army
• Telly Savalas – Actor: Kojak – U.S. Army (World War II), Purple Heart recipient
• Roy Scheider – Actor: Jaws – U.S. Air Force Officer; later U.S. Air Force Reserve
• George C. Scott – Actor: Patton – U.S. Marine Corps (1945–1949)
• Randolph Scott – Actor: Ride the High Country – U.S. Army (World War I)
• George Segal – Actor: Jack Gallo on Just Shoot Me!, Albert “Pops” Solomon on The Goldbergs – U.S. Army
• Tom Selleck – Actor: Magnum, P.I. – California Army National Guard (1967–1973)
• Rod Serling – Actor & Narrator: The Twilight Zone – U.S. Army Paratrooper
• Raymond Serra – Actor: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – U.S. Marine Corps
• James B. Sikking – Actor: Hill Street Blues, Doogie Howser, M.D. – U.S. Army
• Sinbad – Comedian & Actor – U.S. Air Force
• Tucker Smallwood – Actor: Space: Above and Beyond – U.S. Army (Vietnam War, 1967–1970)
• Harry Dean Stanton – Actor: Cool Hand Luke, Repo Man – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• Robert Stack – Actor: The Untouchables – U.S. Navy (World War II, gunnery instructor)
• Rod Steiger – Actor: Academy Award winner for In the Heat of the Night – U.S. Navy (World War II, Battle of Iwo Jima)
• James Stewart – Actor – U.S. Army Air Forces / U.S. Air Force Reserve (1941–1968)
• Jerry Stiller – Comedian & Actor: Seinfeld, The King of Queens – U.S. Army (World War II)
• Larry Storch – Actor: Corporal Agarn on F Troop – U.S. Navy (World War II, USS Proteus)
• Wes Studi – Actor: Avatar, Geronimo: An American Legend – U.S. Army (Vietnam War)
• Frank Sutton – Actor: Sgt. Vince Carter on Gomer Pyle – U.S. Army (World War II)
• Bo Svenson – Actor: North Dallas Forty – U.S. Marine Corps (1959–1965)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with T

• Mr. T – Actor: The A-Team – U.S. Army
• William Talman – Actor: Hamilton Burger on Perry Mason – U.S. Army (Pacific Theater, World War II)
• Robert Taylor – Actor: Quo Vadis – U.S. Navy (World War II, pilot and flight instructor)
• Rip Taylor – Comedian & Actor – U.S. Army Signal Corps (Korean War)
• James Tolkan – Actor: Top Gun, Back to the Future, Dick Tracy – U.S. Navy (Korean War)
• Rip Torn – Actor, Voice Artist & Comedian – U.S. Army Military Police
• Spencer Tracy – Actor: Captains Courageous, Boys Town – U.S. Navy
• Forrest Tucker – Actor: Sgt. O’Rourke on F Troop – U.S. Army Cavalry (World War II, 1942–1945)
• Joe Turkel – Actor: The Killing, Paths of Glory, The Shining, Blade Runner – U.S. Army (World War II)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with U

• Tom Urich – Actor and older brother of Robert Urich – U.S. Air Force (performed for fellow servicemen on military bases during the Korean War)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with V

• Rudy Vallée – Actor, Singer & Band Leader – U.S. Navy (1917); U.S. Coast Guard (World War II)
• Mark Valley – Actor: Boston Legal, Fringe, Human Target – U.S. Army (Desert Storm)
• Tad Van Brunt – Actor: Road to Rio – U.S. Marine Corps / U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
• Lee Van Cleef – Actor: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – U.S. Navy (World War II)
• Dick Van Dyke – Actor, Entertainer & Comedian – U.S. Army Air Forces (World War II)
• Jerry Van Dyke – Actor & Comedian – U.S. Air Force, Tops In Blue
• Robert Vaughn – Actor: The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Superman – U.S. Army Drill Sergeant
• Bobby Vinton – Singer & Actor – U.S. Army

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with W

• Lyle Waggoner – Actor: The Carol Burnett Show, Wonder Woman – U.S. Army Radio Operator
• Ralph Waite – Actor: John Walton Sr. on The Waltons – U.S. Marine Corps (1946–1948)
• Tom Waits – Actor & Singer/Songwriter: Heartattack and Vine – U.S. Coast Guard
• Clint Walker – Actor: The Dirty Dozen – U.S. Merchant Marine
• Eli Wallach – Actor: The Magnificent Seven – U.S. Army Captain (1940–1945)
• Fred Ward – Actor: Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins – U.S. Air Force
• Jack Warden – Actor: 12 Angry Men – U.S. Navy, Merchant Marine & U.S. Army 101st Airborne (World War II)
• Patrick Wayne – Actor: Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger – U.S. Coast Guard
• Dennis Weaver – Actor: McCloud – U.S. Navy Air Corps Pilot
• Jack Webb – Actor: Joe Friday on Dragnet – U.S. Army (1942–1945)
• Robert Webber – Actor: 12 Angry Men – U.S. Marine Corps (World War II)
• Adam West – Actor: Batman – U.S. Army
• Red West – Actor & former bodyguard for Elvis Presley – U.S. Marine Corps (1956–1958)
• Floyd “Red Crow” Westerman – Actor: Dances with Wolves – U.S. Marine Corps
• Jack Weston – Actor: The Four Seasons – U.S. Army (World War II)
• Stuart Whitman – Actor: The Comancheros, The Longest Day – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• James Whitmore – Actor: Give ’em Hell, Harry! – U.S. Marine Corps (World War II, 1942–1946)
• Larry Wilcox – Actor: CHiPs – U.S. Marine Corps (1967–1973)
• Henry Wilcoxon – Actor: Marc Antony in Cleopatra – U.S. Coast Guard
• Gene Wilder – Comedian & Actor: Willy Wonka – U.S. Army Paramedic
• Clarence Williams III – Actor: The Mod Squad – U.S. Army Paratrooper, 101st Airborne Division
• Fred Willard – Comedian & Actor: Best in Show – U.S. Army
• Don “The Dragon” Wilson – Kickboxing World Champion & Actor – U.S. Coast Guard Academy
• Flip Wilson – Comedian & Actor: The Flip Wilson Show – U.S. Air Force (1950–1954)
• Grady Demond Wilson – Actor: Lamont on Sanford and Son – U.S. Army (1966–1968), 4th Infantry Division, wounded in Vietnam
• Jonathan Winters – Comedian & Actor: Mearth on Mork and Mindy – U.S. Marine Corps (World War II)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with X

There are currently no Famous Veteran actors in our directory with last names beginning with the letter X.

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with Y

• Burt Young – Actor: Paulie in Rocky – U.S. Marine Corps (1957–1959)
• Gig Young – Actor: They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? – U.S. Coast Guard (World War II)
• Skip Young – Actor: The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet – U.S. Navy (Korean War)

Famous Veteran Actors with Last Names Beginning with Z

• Efrem Zimbalist Jr. – Actor: The F.B.I., 77 Sunset Strip – U.S. Army (1941–1946)

About Famous Veteran Actors

The Famous Veteran Actors featured on this page proudly served in the United States Armed Forces before, during, or after their acting careers. Their military service spans every branch of the U.S. military and every era from World War I through modern conflicts. From Academy Award winners and television legends to beloved character actors and Hollywood icons, these remarkable men and women answered our nation’s call to serve before entertaining audiences around the world.

FamousVeterans.com continues to research and document the military service of actors from every generation. As additional Famous Veterans are identified and individual biography pages are published, this directory will continue to grow.

Help Us Improve This Directory

While we strive to make this one of the most comprehensive collections of Famous Veteran actors on the Internet, we know there are always more stories to discover. If you know of a famous actor who proudly served in the United States Armed Forces and should be included, or if you notice an error or outdated information on this page, we would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

Your suggestions help us preserve the stories of America’s veterans and ensure their military service is remembered by future generations. Please contact us with any additions, corrections, supporting information, or updates.