# Any actor played roles in all 4 armed services? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 25, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873 "2012-04-25T02:08:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/41 "2012-04-25T14:49:00Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > > > Michael Biehn’s worth mentioning… > > > > Futuristic Army in Terminator > > Futuristic Marines in Aliens > > Navy Seal, three different characters in three movies… > > And in all five cases, either dead or severely wounded by the end of the movie. He’s the _second_ guy I thought of after Bill Paxton, who was also with Biehn in _Terminator_ (he’s the leader of the punks that accost a naked Arnold Schwarzenegger who has just appeared from the future), _Aliens_ (as Pvt. Hudson of the Colonial Marines to Biehn’s Cpl. Hicks), and _Navy SEALs_ (as Dane, the SEAL sniper in a movie _also_ featuring Charlie Sheen). He has the dubious distinction of being the only actor whose characters have been killed by a Terminator, an Alien, _and_ a Predator. Additionally, Paxton played an Army communications officer reporting to Gen. Franklin Kirby in _another_ movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger - _[Commando](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088944/)_. He intercepts Rae Dawn Chong’s distress call when Arnold starts blowing things up on the way to rescue his daughter. I can’t claim to have seen _[Resistance](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0306011/)_, but in it, Paxton plays a WWII pilot (“Maj. Theodore ‘Ted’ Brice”) who crashes in Nazi-occupied Belgium. This would probably fall under “Air Force” as per the “Army Air Force” rule proposed above, given the film’s timeframe. We’ve already covered the Navy with _Navy SEALs_, but Paxton also plays a naval officer in _[U-571](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0141926/)_. He plays real-life astronaut Fred Haise in _[Apollo 13](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112384/)_. If you don’t want to accept Paxton’s role as Hudson in _Aliens_ to count for the Marines, you’ve got to give it to him for _Apollo 13;_ Haise was a Marine Corps fighter pilot prior to joining NASA. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/42 "2012-04-25T15:22:46Z")
> [@psiekier](#): > > [Bill Paxton] has the dubious distinction of being the only actor whose characters have been killed by a Terminator, an Alien, _and_ a Predator. Well, Lance Hendrickson arguably qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/43 "2012-04-25T15:30:03Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > **Five.** There are five armed services in the US. You left out the Coast Guard. Well, that rules out Cruise. We all know that you have to be at least 6 ft tall to serve in the Coast Guard. That way, they can ensure that you will never drown. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/44 "2012-04-25T15:32:25Z")
Jack Nicholson was a Marine Colonel in **A Few Good Men** , a Navy Signalman in **The Last Detail** , an Air Force officer in **Terms Of Endearment** , and – shucks, I know McMurphy is a Korean War veteran who’d earned a medal for breaking out POWs in **One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest** , but did we ever actually find out his rank or branch? (If not, he technically played an Army officer in **The Terror**.) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/45 "2012-04-25T15:35:14Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > ::shakes head ruefully:: > > He used to stack guys like you five feet high in Korea, use you for sandbags. That’s a hell of a lot of tarantulas… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/46 "2012-04-25T15:49:21Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Throw in **Sea Spoilers** for the Coast Guard and you’re all set! > > (With bonus points for the 1st American Volunteer Group, in **Flying Tigers**!) And double bonus points for playing a Kriegsmarine officer in The Sea Chase. (Although his character had quit the Kriegsmarine because he didn’t like Hitler. Wayne didn’t go the Full Nazi.) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/47 "2012-04-25T15:59:57Z")
Van Johnson qualifies I think. He played an Air Marshall in _Eagles Over London_, a lieutenant in the _Caine Mutiny_, an army private in _Battleground_, and a Marine in _No Leave, No Love_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/48 "2012-04-25T16:13:53Z")
Burt Lancaster: USAF General, _Seven Days In May_ USN Lieutenant, _Run Silent Run Deep_ USMC Master Gunnery Sergeant, _South Sea Woman_ US Army First Sergeant, _From Here To Eternity_ ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/49 "2012-04-25T16:30:23Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Van Johnson qualifies I think. He played an Air Marshall in _Eagles Over London_, a lieutenant in the _Caine Mutiny_, an army private in _Battleground_, and a Marine in _No Leave, No Love_. US Ary Air Corps in [Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037366/) ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/50 "2012-04-25T17:01:23Z")
Wow. That’s a lot more actors than I thought. I had trouble coming up with one. :shame: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/51 "2012-04-25T17:24:55Z")
Tony Curtis: Navy, _Operation Petticoat_ Army, _Kings Go Forth_ USMC, _Beachhead_ Air Corps, _Captain Newman, MD_ ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/52 "2012-04-25T18:13:09Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Wow. That’s a lot more actors than I thought. I had trouble coming up with one. :shame: The more difficult question would be actresses. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/53 "2012-04-25T18:25:17Z")
James Cagney: Army–The Roaring Twenties Navy–Mister Roberts, Here Comes the Navy, The Gallant Hours (Royal Canadian) Air Force–Captains of the Clouds U.S.M.C.–Devil Dogs of the Air, What Price Glory? O.S.S.–13 Rue Madeleine Gary Cooper: Army–Seven Day’s Leave, Sergeant York Army (union)–Only the Brave Army (confederate)–Operator 13 Army (British)–The Lives of a Bengal Lancer Army (Italian)–A Farewell to Arms Navy–Devil and the Deep, The Story of Dr. Wassell, You’re in the Navy Now Merchant Marine–The Wreck of the Mary Deare Air Force–Wings, the Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell, Legion of the Condemned. Royal Flying Corps–Lilac Time French Foreign Legion–Beau Geste, Beau Sabreur, Morocco ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/54 "2012-04-25T18:39:29Z")
Did Bogart do an Air Corps film? He was Army in _Roaring 20’s_, _Across the Pacific_ and _Sahara_, Merchant Marine in _Action in the North Atlantic._ And Army in the Korea MASH thing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/55 "2012-04-25T18:44:14Z")
Eddie Albert. Aside from those _Brother Rat_ movies as a VMI cadet opposite Ronald Reagan, we’ve got: USN: _You’re In The Navy Now_ Army: _The Longest Day_ Air Corps: _Captain Newman, MD_ National Guard: _Attack_ RAF: _Eagle Squadron_ Plus he played a USMC Major General who only almost gets away with murder on _Columbo_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/56 "2012-04-25T18:50:15Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Did Bogart do an Air Corps film? I think he played an Air Corps vet in CHAIN LIGHTNING. > [@](#): > > He was Army in _Roaring 20’s_, _Across the Pacific_ and _Sahara_ And for the USN side of things, he was of course Queeg, in THE CAINE MUTINY. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/57 "2012-04-25T18:54:55Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > And for the USN side of things, he was of course Queeg, in THE CAINE MUTINY. 'Kay. 🙂 Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/58 "2012-04-26T12:00:07Z")
Say, can we count Scott Bakula? Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, you name it… ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/59 "2012-04-26T12:13:15Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > **Five.** There are five armed services in the US. You left out the Coast Guard. There are seven uniformed services. Four that fall under the DoD. The Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security. > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Gene Hackman: Navy Captain in the aforementioned CRIMSON TIDE (later an Admiral, in BEHIND ENEMY LINES); Air Force Lieutenant Colonel in BAT 21; Marine Colonel in UNCOMMON VALOR; Army Master Sergeant in THE PACKAGE; and, what the hell, the Secretary of Defense in NO WAY OUT – as well as Commander-in-Chief, in ABSOLUTE POWER. Bonus points for being an actual Marine before he became an actor. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873/60 "2012-04-26T13:36:00Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Bonus points for being an actual Marine before he became an actor. At that, Charlton Heston played a Marine (55 DAYS AT PEKING), an Army officer (MAJOR DUNDEE, THE OMEGA MAN), a Navy officer (MIDWAY, GRAY LADY DOWN), and an Air Force officer (BAILOUT AT 43,000 FEET) – not counting Colonel Taylor in PLANET OF THE APES, but with bonus points for serving as an aerial gunner back in the '40s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-actor-played-roles-in-all-4-armed-services/619873.md?page=4)