Last Updated on July 29, 2025 by Matt Staff
World War I reshaped the world, and the lives of many individuals who would later become household names. Before their fame, these 15 celebrities that served in WWI in their countries with courage, grit, and resilience during one of history´s most devastating conflicts. Their stories remind us that fame often follows extraordinary life experiences.
1. Walt Disney
Long before building his empire of imagination, Walt Disney lied about his age to join the Red Cross Ambulance Corps in 1918. Though he arrived in France after the armistice, he drove ambulances and trucks, decorating them with cartoon characters, a sign for his future legacy.
2. Humphrey Bogart
The future Hollywod legend served in the U.S. Navy during WWI. His trademark scar and slight lisp, features that shaped his tough-guy persona, were reportedly the result of a shrapnel wound, although some accounts suggest otherwise.
3. Basil Rathbone
Best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, Rathbone served with distinction in the British Army. He was awarded the Military Cross for bravery during dangerous reconnaissance missions in France.
4. J.R.R. Tolkien
The author of The Lord of the Rings in the Battle of Somme in 1916, one of the war´s bloodiest battles. His wartime experiences deeply influenced the dark, mythic tone of his later writing.
5. Laurence Olivier
While he was still a boy during WWI, Oliver trained with a military school and later followed a path into racing. His older contemporaries in the industry. however, were often shaped by their service during the war.
6. Alfred Hitchcock
Hitchcock never served on the front lines, but during the war, he was a cadet in the Royal Engineers and worked in munitions. The tension and suspense of war would influence his cinematic sense of danger.
7. Herbert Marshall
Before becoming a beloved British film actor, Marshall served in WWI and lost a leg in combat. He continued acting with a prosthetic, rarely letting audiences know of his injury.
8. Charles Chaplin
While Chaplin did not serve in the military, he heavily supported the Allied effort through war bond drives and morale-boosting films like Shoulder Arms (1918), he played a soldier in the trenches.
9. Harry Truman
Before becoming the 33rd U.S. President, Truman served as a captain in the U.S. Army in France. He commanded a field artillery unit with courage and discipline, earning the respect of his men.
10. Buster Keaton
The slient film star served briefly in the U.S. Army but was discharged early due to a severe ear infection. His military stint may have been short, but it occured during a formative period for his comedic style.
11. Clark Gable
Although Clark Gable is better known for serving in WWII, his early years were shaped by growing up during WWI. His family supported the way effort, and Gable later became a symbol of American patriotism on-screen.
12. Paul Robeson
Robeson, the legendary singer, actor, and activist, was a young student during WWI. Though too young to enlist, he contributed to the war effort on the home front and faced the racial discrimination that defined the era.
13. John Ford
The legendary film director served as a young naval reservist during WWI. His experience in the Navy would later inform the realism in his World War II documentaries and patriotic narratives in Hollywood films.
14. Maurice Chevalier
This French entertainer was wounded and captured by the Germans early in the war. He spent two years as a prisoner of war before being released and returning to the stage with greater resolve.
15. Adolphe Menjou
A popular Hollywood actor in the 1920s and 30s, Menjou served as a captain in the U.S. Army Ambulance Corps during World War I. His charm and elegance on-screen masked a background of grit and service.
Explore more vintage content:
These well-known names remind us that fame often hides incredible backstories of service and sacrifice. For more historical deep dives, explore our features on 24 Vintage Photos That Perfectly Capture WWI, or 20 Photos and Facts From WWI.
