Military to Mainstream: 10 Black Celebrity Veterans
Talk show host Montel Williams served as a U.S. Marine upon graduating high school in 1974. He was also accepted to the Naval Academy Preparatory school and to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Williams served in the Navy as well.
Many successful celebrities learned the value of discipline, hard work and sacrifice serving in the military. Check out a few who proudly served in the armed forces:
Calypso pioneer and actor Harry Belafonte served in the Navy during World War II before becoming the Hollywood legend and activist he is today.more
Comedian, actor, activist and philanthropist Bill Cosby served in the U.S. Navy and was a hospital corpsman who worked mostly with Korean War veterans. He also ran track on the Navy's team, and played basketball and football.more
Talk show host Montel Williams served as a U.S. Marine upon graduating high school in 1974. He was also accepted to the Naval Academy Preparatory school and to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Williams served in the Navy as well.more
FormerHot 97radio personality and Food Network star Sunny Anderson served in the U.S. Air Force, where she earned the rank of senior airman and worked as a military radio host in Seoul, South Korea.more
Grammy-nominated reggae artist Orville Richard Burrell aka Shaggy, known for hits “Boombastic†and “It Wasn’t Me,†served in the U.S. Marines Corps and is a veteran of the Persian Gulf War.more
NBA legend David Robinson, of San Antonio Spurs fame, served in the U.S. Navy and earned the nickname “The Admiral†after being one of the best players in the Navy’s basketball league.more
New York Congressman Charles Rangel served in the U.S. Army and is a veteran of the Korean War. He was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Valor for his service during the war.more
Entertainer and one-time hip-hop powerhouse MC Hammer served in the U.S. Navy for three years as a petty officer third-class aviation store keeper until his honorable discharge.more
Hip-Hop artist and"Law & Order: SVU" star Ice-T served in the U.S. Army for four years after graduating high school.
Legendary actor and activist James Earl Jones was in the ROTC in college and graduated from Army Ranger school.
Lawrence Tureaud aka Mr. T was part of military police in the U.S. Army before becoming the infamous Mohawk-wearing A-Team action hero.