Here Are Seven Celebrities Who Had a Strange Path to Fame

See How Some Male Celebrities Strangely Rose To Fame

Hollywood is filled with many celebrities who have graced the big screen and television with their talents and looks. Many of them have reached fame internationally because of their roles in box-office hits or their award-winning performances. All actors have a story to tell, and while most of them aspired to be in the entertainment industry, some found themselves entering the business by accident or stroke of luck. Get to know the beginnings of some of the most well-known actors and be inspired how they turned their ordinary life into something extraordinary.

All actors have a story to tell

1. Harrison Ford

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His worldwide fame came as Han Solo in the Star Wars film series and the title role in the Indiana Jones movie series. His acting career has covered six decades, with films grossing over $6 billion worldwide. Thus, earning him the highest grossing U.S. domestic box-office star. Ford came from humbling beginnings, starting out as a carpenter creating film props for LucasFilms. George Lucas himself gave the actor his initial break with a bit role in American Graffiti. Because of his impressive performance, he was offered the Star Wars role. The rest, as they say, is history.

2. Jason Statham

He is an Englishman who ventured into acting in the late 90s. He’s being cast in crime films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, and the 2003 remake, The Italian Job. He particularly drew attention for his lead role in the action thriller The Transporter trilogy. Soon after he was cast for the seventh installment of The Fast and the Furious franchise. Before acting, Statham used to be a member of Britain’s National Diving Squad for twelve years, even competing at the 1990 Commonwealth Games. Though he also played football, his passion for diving took precedence. It was during his diving training that an agent took notice of Statham. The next thing he knew, he became a model for the clothing brand The French Connection.

3. Channing Tatum

Channing Matthew Tatum debuted in the drama film Coach Carter, but his breakthrough role would happen the following year in the dance film Step Up. A few years later, he would further make a name for himself by appearing as Duke in the movie G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and its sequel G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Other successful films followed, including the action-comedy series 21 Jump Street. Tatum also entertained audiences when he produced and starred in the Magic Mike franchise. The project was inspired by his past life as a dancer-stripper. Before being discovered by a model talent scout, he dropped out of college and said goodbye to his football scholarship to work on odd jobs. From working as a roofer, he turned his attention to dancing until he landed a stripper job at a local nightclub.  

4. Arnold Schwarzenegger

The Austrian-American actor-turned-politician became famous for his roles as Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator. At the peak of his acting career, he embarked on a political career where he served two terms as the 38^th Governor of California. The muscle-man worked hard on his physique by doing weight training when he was 15 years old. He was a sports enthusiast, playing soccer since he was a teenager, then devoting more time to the gym to work on his body. Five years later, he bagged the Mr. Olympia contest seven times and went on to become a well-known bodybuilder. This was the image that did justice to the iconic roles for which he gained popularity.

5. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

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Dwayne Douglas Johnson was born in California but carries an American and Canadian citizenship. Although he had been doing small parts on television back in the late ‘90s,  his shot to Hollywood fame came after mainstream roles in the blockbusters The Mummy Returns and its subsequent sequel, The Scorpion King. Johnson, with his large physique, started as a professional wrestler under the World Wrestling Federation from 1996 to 2004. Before becoming an actor, he had to his credit seventeen championship reigns. For his achievements, he is considered as one the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. His wrestling career built his reputation as “The Rock,” which he turned into his ticket to an equally successful acting career.

6. Steven Seagal

Seagal holds an American, Russian, and Serbian citizenship. He had his acting debut with the film Above the Law. Just a few years, he starred in three more successful action movies which gained him further popularity. These films became his trademark – Under Siege 1 and 2, and On Deadly Ground. Seagal went into producing, directing, and screenwriting, in the middle of his acting career. As if his talents weren’t enough, he also pursued his love of music. He has done film scores and released music albums showcasing his guitar-playing talent. Being a 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal’s first career was as a martial arts instructor in Japan. When he moved to Los Angeles, he worked as a martial arts instructor on the James Bond film Never Say Never Again. Film executives were impressed by his martial arts skills that he was offered an acting job.

7. Mickey Rourke

Here’s an actor who started out in boxing. Philip Andre Rourke Jr. began acting in the early ‘80s, appearing in films such as Rumble Fish, 9 ½ Weeks, The Pope of Greenwich Village, and Barfly where critics praised him for his performance. Rourke trained as a boxer before Hollywood during his teenage years. In 1991, at the height of his acting career, he bid his goodbye to the screen and focused on becoming a professional boxer. Three years later, he made a comeback in the entertainment industry and left boxing for good.

And there you have it, folks. The history of how some great actors got their celebrity status through unconventional ways,