15 Famous People Who Had Surprisingly Normal Lives Before Fame
Before the fame, the headlines, and the carefully managed public image, many famous people were simply trying to figure out what to do with their lives. Some worked ordinary jobs, studied subjects completely unrelated to their eventual careers, or spent years living routines that had nothing to do with show business. Looking back, those early years can be surprisingly hard to connect with the people they eventually became. A future movie star might have been serving customers, a musician could have been working behind a desk, and someone destined for global recognition may have been living an almost completely anonymous life. These stories offer a fascinating reminder that fame rarely announces itself in advance.
Danny DeVito, Hairdresser
Before becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognizable character actors, DeVito worked as a hairdresser at his sister’s salon and even studied at a beauty school, a surprisingly fitting beginning for a career built on unforgettable characters.
Hugh Laurie, Rower and Student
Long before House, Laurie was a serious competitive rower at Cambridge, where he studied anthropology and archaeology while becoming involved with the university’s comedy scene.
Ken Jeong, Doctor
Jeong actually practiced medicine before becoming an actor, working as an internal medicine physician in California while performing stand up comedy on the side.
Steve Buscemi, Firefighter
Before his acting career took off, Buscemi worked as a New York City firefighter, a job he returned to after September 11 to help his former colleagues at Ground Zero.
Bryan Cranston, Police Officer
Before Breaking Bad made him internationally famous, Cranston spent years working steadily as an actor, but his earlier life also included a rather unexpected period traveling across the country by motorcycle with his brother.
Jeremy Renner, Makeup Artist
Before becoming a familiar face in films, Renner worked as a makeup artist while trying to establish himself as an actor, an especially unusual early career for someone who would eventually play so many action roles.
Terry Crews, NFL Player
Crews spent several years playing professional football before seriously pursuing acting, eventually turning a career change into memorable roles in comedy and television.
Jon Hamm, High School Teacher
Before becoming Don Draper, Hamm taught drama at a high school in Missouri after graduating from college, working with students while trying to establish himself as an actor.
Danny Pudi, Community Theater Actor
Pudi studied communications and theater and spent time performing in Chicago before landing his breakout television role, living the kind of working actor life that rarely resembles Hollywood glamour.
John C. Reilly, Theater Student
Reilly trained at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago and built his career through theater and small film roles, spending years working steadily before becoming one of cinema’s most recognizable supporting actors.
Margo Martindale, Theater Actress
Martindale spent years building a career almost entirely through theater and supporting roles before becoming a familiar television presence much later in life.
Walton Goggins, Small Town Actor
Goggins grew up in Georgia and worked a series of ordinary jobs while pursuing acting, spending years taking small roles before becoming known for characters in Justified, The Shield, and other major shows.
Patton Oswalt, Stand Up Comedian
Oswalt spent years performing in comedy clubs and writing before becoming a recognizable actor, essentially building his career one small performance at a time.
Richard Jenkins, Theater Actor
Jenkins spent decades working primarily in theater and taking supporting film and television roles before his later career made him one of the most respected character actors in Hollywood.
J. K. Simmons, Music Teacher and Theater Performer
Simmons studied music, worked as a conductor and teacher, and spent years performing on stage before becoming the instantly recognizable character actor audiences know today.