Celebrities make all the money and have all the fame, but have you ever wondered what it took for some of your favorite movie stars to make it to the bright lights of Hollywood? Well, several of them started out just like you, as a truck driver behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler. This Thanksgiving as you gather around the table with your loved ones, or if you are rolling down the highway with nothing more than a CB radio for company, you’ll have some trivia to share with your comrades. Check out this list of famous, former truck drivers.
Charles Bronson
Before “The Dirty Dozen” and “Death Wish,” Charles Bronson served the army as a trucker. His career as a truck driver earned him a Purple Heart for his valiant efforts. While he was in the military he was also trained as a pilot. One might say that all of the real life action and adventure he lived through helped him become a famous star in well-known movies like “The Magnificent Seven,” “The Battle of the Bulge,” and “The Great Escape.”
Before “The Dirty Dozen” and “Death Wish,” Charles Bronson served the army as a trucker. His career as a truck driver earned him a Purple Heart for his valiant efforts. While he was in the military he was also trained as a pilot. One might say that all of the real life action and adventure he lived through helped him become a famous star in well-known movies like “The Magnificent Seven,” “The Battle of the Bulge,” and “The Great Escape.”
James Cameron
Ingrained in the hearts and minds of movie lovers of all ages, director James Camera is most famous for his leadership on “Terminator,” “Titanic” and “Avatar.” But that was many years after his most humbling role, as a truck driver. He actually started working toward his directorial debut while still in a trucking job. Cameron would work on his screenplays while taking breaks from driving, literally right there on the side of US highways.
Ingrained in the hearts and minds of movie lovers of all ages, director James Camera is most famous for his leadership on “Terminator,” “Titanic” and “Avatar.” But that was many years after his most humbling role, as a truck driver. He actually started working toward his directorial debut while still in a trucking job. Cameron would work on his screenplays while taking breaks from driving, literally right there on the side of US highways.
Chevy Chase
That hilarious comedian and star on everything from “Saturday Night Live” to “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” Chevy Chase is quite the card. If you watch him in his latest role as the star on “Community” on NBC you can see his comedic routine in full splendor. He didn’t start out as a comedy act, though. Originally Chase was on par to be a doctor with a stint in medical school that was ended early with a bad decision to join a jazz band. From there Chase took to the trucking industry driving a big rig before he had his first big Hollywood break as an original cast member and host for “Saturday Night Live.”
Sean Connery
Here is someone who had truck driving in his blood. Sean Connery’s father Joe worked as a trucker in Scotland, and Connery followed in his father’s footsteps. He enlisted in the Royal Navy of Scotland after which he was discharged for medical reasons. Connery climbed behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler and took to the trucking life. Today the world remembers him as Scotland’s national treasure as the most popular James Bond. In total he played Bond in seven films. His role in “The Untouchables” earned Connery an Academy Award. However, for his role in “Hell Drivers” filmed in 1957, Connery must have used his experience as a truck driver to do such a spot-on acting job.
That hilarious comedian and star on everything from “Saturday Night Live” to “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” Chevy Chase is quite the card. If you watch him in his latest role as the star on “Community” on NBC you can see his comedic routine in full splendor. He didn’t start out as a comedy act, though. Originally Chase was on par to be a doctor with a stint in medical school that was ended early with a bad decision to join a jazz band. From there Chase took to the trucking industry driving a big rig before he had his first big Hollywood break as an original cast member and host for “Saturday Night Live.”
Sean Connery
Here is someone who had truck driving in his blood. Sean Connery’s father Joe worked as a trucker in Scotland, and Connery followed in his father’s footsteps. He enlisted in the Royal Navy of Scotland after which he was discharged for medical reasons. Connery climbed behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler and took to the trucking life. Today the world remembers him as Scotland’s national treasure as the most popular James Bond. In total he played Bond in seven films. His role in “The Untouchables” earned Connery an Academy Award. However, for his role in “Hell Drivers” filmed in 1957, Connery must have used his experience as a truck driver to do such a spot-on acting job.
Rock Hudson
The star of “Giant” and “Magnificent Obsession,” as well as dozens of romantic comedies, Rock Hudson was in more than 70 films during his acting career. However, when World War II ended, a decade or so before he hit the mainstream of Hollywood, Hudson was working as a truck driver.
Viggo Mortenson
Mortenson is most famous for his role in the super trilogy, “Lord of the Rings” as Aragorn the Ranger from the North. However, he’s been all over Hollywood with roles in “GI Jane,” “Portrait of a Lady,” “Crimson Tide,” “Witness,” “A History of Violence,” “A Dangerous Method” and “The Road.” Many years before his acting debut, however, Mortenson was working on shipyards moving shipping containers in Denmark. He also took over the road trucking jobs in his home country prior to revealing his love for the arts and acting.
The star of “Giant” and “Magnificent Obsession,” as well as dozens of romantic comedies, Rock Hudson was in more than 70 films during his acting career. However, when World War II ended, a decade or so before he hit the mainstream of Hollywood, Hudson was working as a truck driver.
Viggo Mortenson
Mortenson is most famous for his role in the super trilogy, “Lord of the Rings” as Aragorn the Ranger from the North. However, he’s been all over Hollywood with roles in “GI Jane,” “Portrait of a Lady,” “Crimson Tide,” “Witness,” “A History of Violence,” “A Dangerous Method” and “The Road.” Many years before his acting debut, however, Mortenson was working on shipyards moving shipping containers in Denmark. He also took over the road trucking jobs in his home country prior to revealing his love for the arts and acting.
Liam Neeson
Most notably, Neeson was the star of the black and white drama “Schindler’s List” where he played Oskar Schindler. However, more recent flicks feature Neeson as the star of “Taken” and “Unknown.” He wasn’t always the lead role of blockbuster movies, though. Neeson started out in the world of trucking, where he also worked as a forklift operator for the beer giant Guinness. In fact, it was his truck driving schools instructor that encouraged him to look into acting, which turned out to be his best gig yet.
Most notably, Neeson was the star of the black and white drama “Schindler’s List” where he played Oskar Schindler. However, more recent flicks feature Neeson as the star of “Taken” and “Unknown.” He wasn’t always the lead role of blockbuster movies, though. Neeson started out in the world of trucking, where he also worked as a forklift operator for the beer giant Guinness. In fact, it was his truck driving schools instructor that encouraged him to look into acting, which turned out to be his best gig yet.
Elvis Presley
The King of Rock and Roll had a rough go at first, bouncing around in backwoods honky-tonk joints as he tried to make his mark. However, he was working as a truck driver after he graduated high school as a way to earn a living. During this time he developed part of his persona, the long hair with the ducktail top that was popular among truck drivers of his time.
The King of Rock and Roll had a rough go at first, bouncing around in backwoods honky-tonk joints as he tried to make his mark. However, he was working as a truck driver after he graduated high school as a way to earn a living. During this time he developed part of his persona, the long hair with the ducktail top that was popular among truck drivers of his time.
Richard Pryor
Another famous celebrity of his day, Pryor did everything he could to earn a living before busting through the stand-up stage of comedians. He was kicked out of school in the eighth grade, after which he went into the military serving overseas in Germany where he worked as a trucker. Truck driving continued to be one of the ways he made a buck before getting into show biz. Four Grammys and an Emmy later, Pryor proved he had more hope as a comedian than a truck driver.
BY STAFF WRITER
Another famous celebrity of his day, Pryor did everything he could to earn a living before busting through the stand-up stage of comedians. He was kicked out of school in the eighth grade, after which he went into the military serving overseas in Germany where he worked as a trucker. Truck driving continued to be one of the ways he made a buck before getting into show biz. Four Grammys and an Emmy later, Pryor proved he had more hope as a comedian than a truck driver.
BY STAFF WRITER
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