Some of America’s biggest entertainers didn’t start out chasing fame.
1. Steve Buscemi Was a Firefighter
Before becoming known for roles in Fargo, The Sopranos, and Boardwalk Empire, Buscemi worked as a New York City firefighter.
After becoming a successful actor, he returned to his former firehouse following the September 11 attacks and volunteered alongside firefighters during the recovery effort.
2. Danny DeVito Worked in a Morgue
Before becoming an actor and director, DeVito trained as a hairdresser and worked at a mortuary.
He eventually moved into acting after discovering theater, landing his breakthrough role as Louie De Palma on Taxi.
3. Harrison Ford Was a Carpenter
Ford struggled to establish himself as an actor during the 1960s and 1970s.
He supported his family by working as a carpenter, including jobs for Hollywood clients. One of those clients was George Lucas, who eventually cast Ford as Han Solo in Star Wars.
4. Whoopi Goldberg Was a Morgue Beautician
Before becoming an Oscar-winning actress, comedian, and television host, Goldberg worked a series of unusual jobs.
One involved applying makeup and preparing bodies at a mortuary. She later moved into comedy and theater before her breakthrough in The Color Purple.
5. Sylvester Stallone Worked at a Zoo
Before becoming Rocky Balboa, Stallone struggled financially while trying to establish himself as an actor.
Among his jobs was cleaning animal cages at the Central Park Zoo in New York. He later wrote Rocky, created the role that transformed his career, and became one of Hollywood’s biggest action stars.
6. Jon Hamm Was a Teacher
Before Mad Men made him internationally famous, Hamm worked as a middle-school drama teacher in Missouri.
He continued pursuing acting while teaching, eventually landing the role of Don Draper in 2007.
Sources: Biography.com; Smithsonian; Central Park Zoo; History; Britannica.
