TV People Who Served in World War II - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

gilligan fanatic · 08-19-2006, 10:28 PM

I thought this was kind of neat

Don Adams
Eddie Albert
Desi Arnaz
James Arness
Gene Autry
Charles Bronson
Mel Brooks
Lenny Bruce
Sid Caesar
Art Carney
Johnny Carson
Kirk Douglas
Buddy Ebsen
Norman Fell
Charlton Heston
Rock Hudson
Russell Johnson
Robert Keeshan
Brian Keith
DeForest Kelley
George Kennedy
Werner Klemperer
Jack Klugman
Ted Knight
Don Knotts
Ed Koch
Nancy Kulp
Burt Lancaster
Norman Lear
Lee Marvin
Walter Matthau
James A. Michener
Zero Mostel
Audie Murphy
Paul Newman
Tom Poston
Tony Randall
Carl Reiner
Gene Roddenberry
Mickey Rooney
Telly Savalas
Charles M. Schulz
Rod Serling
Red Skelton
Jimmy Stewart
Jack Warden
Jack Webb

SERGEANT PRESTON · 08-20-2006, 01:43 PM

no list is ever complete, but you missed a highly decorated WWII vet Lardeo star Neville Brand.

gilligan fanatic · 08-20-2006, 08:10 PM

yeah, there are probably a lot more too. I put Russell Johnson on the list. but the site I got that from he wasn't mentioned.

Coffeecup · 08-20-2006, 08:42 PM

I admire actors who do that. Jimmy Stewart was making thousands per picture and he took a big cut in pay to serve his country. A great man a great honor.
It would interesting to know who serve in other wars or served in the military.

Janice · 08-20-2006, 09:26 PM

That's quite an impressive list Matt. Thanks for posting that.

I don't know if Charles Durning was on tv or not, but I do know he was a decorated war hero.

tvfan0101 · 08-20-2006, 09:41 PM

Another Star Trek actor was in WWII: James Doohan, and he lost a finger.

treky · 08-21-2006, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

That's quite an impressive list Matt. Thanks for posting that.

I don't know if Charles Durning was on tv or not, but I do know he was a decorated war hero.

yea, Charles Durrning has been on TV. The only guest-star role that I can think of that he was in, though, was the detective in the "All in the Family" episode where Gloria was raped.

And the only regular role that I know of for him was the lead in a short-lived series on NBC in the 70s called "The cop and the kid"

treky · 08-21-2006, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilligan fanatic

I thought this was kind of neat

Don Adams
Eddie Albert
Desi Arnaz
James Arness
Gene Autry
Charles Bronson
Mel Brooks
Lenny Bruce
Sid Caesar
Art Carney
Johnny Carson
Kirk Douglas
Buddy Ebsen
Norman Fell
Charlton Heston
Rock Hudson
Russell Johnson
Robert Keeshan
Brian Keith
DeForest Kelley
George Kennedy
Werner Klemperer
Jack Klugman
Ted Knight
Don Knotts
Ed Koch
Nancy Kulp
Burt Lancaster
Norman Lear
Lee Marvin
Walter Matthau
James A. Michener
Zero Mostel
Audie Murphy
Paul Newman
Tom Poston
Tony Randall
Carl Reiner
Gene Roddenberry
Mickey Rooney
Telly Savalas
Charles M. Schulz
Rod Serling
Red Skelton
Jimmy Stewart
Jack Warden
Jack Webb

2 names on that list are wrong. Desi Arnaz never served-I think he was turned down, but I forget why.
Also, Robert Keeshan (Captian Kangaroo) never served, because he was too young-he was 18 at the time. I heard that from Robert Osbourne on TCM.

treky · 08-21-2006, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coffeecup

I admire actors who do that. Jimmy Stewart was making thousands per picture and he took a big cut in pay to serve his country. A great man a great honor.
It would interesting to know who serve in other wars or served in the military.

Bob Newhart was in the Korean war.

treky · 08-21-2006, 03:36 AM

since we're on the subject, what TV characters not actors) served in World War 2 or the military?

I can only think of 2-Sgt. Carter on "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." & Frank Barone on "Everybody loves Raymond" were both in the Korean war. Oh yea, and also Frank Costanza on "Seinfeld".

Mrs. Periwinkle · 08-21-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

since we're on the subject, what TV characters not actors) served in World War 2 or the military?

I can only think of 2-Sgt. Carter on "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." & Frank Barone on "Everybody loves Raymond" were both in the Korean war. Oh yea, and also Frank Costanza on "Seinfeld".

Oliver Wendall Douglas, Lisa Douglas, and Archie Bunker served in WW2. Can't think of any others at the moment, though.

gilligan fanatic · 08-21-2006, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

since we're on the subject, what TV characters not actors) served in World War 2 or the military?

I can only think of 2-Sgt. Carter on "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." & Frank Barone on "Everybody loves Raymond" were both in the Korean war. Oh yea, and also Frank Costanza on "Seinfeld".

They were in the Air Force on No Time For Sergeants

Oscar and Felix were in World War 2

Rob Petrie had those flashback episodes to some branch

Jack Tripper was in the Navy (Not military or WW2 but thought I would mention it anyway)

The Skipper was at Guadalcanal in World War 2

Richie and Ralph joined the Army

Laverne and Shirley were in the army (the cartoon ofcouse)

tv star collector · 08-22-2006, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

yea, Charles Durrning has been on TV. The only guest-star role that I can think of that he was in, though, was the detective in the "All in the Family" episode where Gloria was raped.

And the only regular role that I know of for him was the lead in a short-lived series on NBC in the 70s called "The cop and the kid"

Charles Durning had a regular role (as one of the funniest characters) on
Burt Reynolds' hit sit-com EVENING SHADE (1990-1994). Durning was Dr.
Harlan Elldridge, the small rural town's cranky physician. A great, underrated
laid-back ensemble comedy series (sort of an ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW for the
nineties). Unless I'm mistaken, it was produced by the creator of DESIGNING
WOMEN (Linda Bloodworth Thompson?).

Janice · 08-22-2006, 01:19 PM

Charles Durning currently stars in one of my favorite shows, Rescue Me. He was a real hero during WWII.

From imdb.com

Charles Durning:

Was one of a few survivors to the infamous attack on American POWs at Malmedy, Belgium. The surrendering engineering battalion, caught behind enemy lines when the main American Forces retreated, were gathered together and brought to a large field when German machine guns which had been hidden in trucks, were brought to bear upon them. Only a few men survived this attack and were witnesses to the event. More than 100 US Servicemen died. The scene was re-created in the movie, Battle of the Bulge, starring Henry Fonda.

Served with the 1st Infantry Division in World War II. He landed at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 during the Normandy invasion. He was awarded several decorations, including the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and three Purple Hearts.

Survived the bloody D-Day assault on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Took him 50 years to talk about his experiences of that day.

treky · 08-23-2006, 01:06 AM

by the way; I heard this from Robert Osbourne on TCM-there's a rumor that George Peppard and Robert Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo) participated in the D-Day invasion; and Robert Keeshan saved George Peppards life after he was shot.

Well, it's not true. George Peppard served in W.W. II, but he wasn't in the D-Day invasion. And Robert Keeshan never served, because he was too young at the time.

08-19-2006, 10:28 PM	#1
gilligan fanatic Senior Member Born to Be Bad Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,548	TV People Who Served in World War II I thought this was kind of neat Don Adams Eddie Albert Desi Arnaz James Arness Gene Autry Charles Bronson Mel Brooks Lenny Bruce Sid Caesar Art Carney Johnny Carson Kirk Douglas Buddy Ebsen Norman Fell Charlton Heston Rock Hudson Russell Johnson Robert Keeshan Brian Keith DeForest Kelley George Kennedy Werner Klemperer Jack Klugman Ted Knight Don Knotts Ed Koch Nancy Kulp Burt Lancaster Norman Lear Lee Marvin Walter Matthau James A. Michener Zero Mostel Audie Murphy Paul Newman Tom Poston Tony Randall Carl Reiner Gene Roddenberry Mickey Rooney Telly Savalas Charles M. Schulz Rod Serling Red Skelton Jimmy Stewart Jack Warden Jack Webb __________________ Matt Filmaf ~ Twitter ~ Last.FM

08-20-2006, 09:26 PM	#5
Janice Administrator Forum Celebrity Stormin' Norman Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 34,461	That's quite an impressive list Matt. Thanks for posting that. I don't know if Charles Durning was on tv or not, but I do know he was a decorated war hero. __________________ God Bless Our Troops

08-22-2006, 01:19 PM	#14
Janice Administrator Forum Celebrity Stormin' Norman Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 34,461	Can't believe I forgot... Charles Durning currently stars in one of my favorite shows, Rescue Me. He was a real hero during WWII. From imdb.com Charles Durning: Was one of a few survivors to the infamous attack on American POWs at Malmedy, Belgium. The surrendering engineering battalion, caught behind enemy lines when the main American Forces retreated, were gathered together and brought to a large field when German machine guns which had been hidden in trucks, were brought to bear upon them. Only a few men survived this attack and were witnesses to the event. More than 100 US Servicemen died. The scene was re-created in the movie, Battle of the Bulge, starring Henry Fonda. Served with the 1st Infantry Division in World War II. He landed at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 during the Normandy invasion. He was awarded several decorations, including the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and three Purple Hearts. Survived the bloody D-Day assault on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Took him 50 years to talk about his experiences of that day.

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08-20-2006, 01:43 PM	#2
SERGEANT PRESTON Frequent Poster Member Join Date: Jul 02, 2006 Location: Stony Brook NY Posts: 53	no list is ever complete, but you missed a highly decorated WWII vet Lardeo star Neville Brand.

08-20-2006, 08:10 PM	#3
gilligan fanatic Senior Member Born to Be Bad Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,548	yeah, there are probably a lot more too. I put Russell Johnson on the list. but the site I got that from he wasn't mentioned.

08-20-2006, 08:42 PM	#4
Coffeecup Senior Member coffeecup. Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 1,124	I admire actors who do that. Jimmy Stewart was making thousands per picture and he took a big cut in pay to serve his country. A great man a great honor. It would interesting to know who serve in other wars or served in the military.

08-20-2006, 09:41 PM	#6
tvfan0101 Forum Regular Member Join Date: Sep 29, 2003 Posts: 897	Another Star Trek actor was in WWII: James Doohan, and he lost a finger.

08-21-2006, 03:36 AM	#10
treky Senior Member star trek fan Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 9,230	since we're on the subject, what TV characters not actors) served in World War 2 or the military? I can only think of 2-Sgt. Carter on "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." & Frank Barone on "Everybody loves Raymond" were both in the Korean war. Oh yea, and also Frank Costanza on "Seinfeld".

08-23-2006, 01:06 AM	#15
treky Senior Member star trek fan Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 9,230	by the way; I heard this from Robert Osbourne on TCM-there's a rumor that George Peppard and Robert Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo) participated in the D-Day invasion; and Robert Keeshan saved George Peppards life after he was shot. Well, it's not true. George Peppard served in W.W. II, but he wasn't in the D-Day invasion. And Robert Keeshan never served, because he was too young at the time.