We all know that military children are phenomenal. They adapt to constant changes between moving, new schools, new friends, deployments and endless TDY’s. But did you know that there are many military children who have hit the big leagues and made a name for themselves in Hollywood? Here are some of our favorites:
Bruce Willis
We all know Bruce Willis as the actor from the Die Hard series. Before making it big, he was born in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany where his father was stationed. He lived there for 2 years before his father was discharged and moved the family back to New Jersey. Bruce would find his big break when he was cast for a leading role in Moonlighting, opposite of Cybill Shepherd.
Kathie Lee Gifford
Best known for her time as co-host of Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee Gifford, before joining Hoda Kotb on the Today Show. Katie was born in Paris, France while her father was stationed there as a US Navy Chief Petty Officer. After his discharge, Kathie’s father would move the family back to Maryland. Her first times on tv would be as a singer on the game show of Name That Tune before joining a morning show with Regis Philbin.
Amy Adams
Amy’s accolades include two Golden Globes, several nominations for the Academy Awards, British Academy Film Awards, and nine Screen Actors Guild Awards. But before she was making a name on the silver screen, she was born in Vicenza, Italy where her father was serving the military in the 1970’s. She is best known for her roles in Enchanted, Catch Me If You Can, American Hustle, Vice, and as Louis Lane in several DC Extended Universe Films.
Martin Lawrence
Actor, comedian, producer and former Golden Gloves boxer, Martin was born in Frankfurt, Germany as the fourth of six children while his father was serving in the military. Once he was discharged when Martin was 7 years old, the family moved to Maryland where his father became a police officer. His breakthrough performance was in Do The Right Thing, and eventually on to Def Comedy Jam.
Julianne Moore
Born as Julie Anne Smith, her father was a paratrooper during Vietnam before becoming a military judge. Julianne was born at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 1960. As a true military child, she moved around frequently with her family having lived in Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Nebraska, Alaska, New York, Virginia, and Panama and attended nine different schools. Her break on the small screen came with a role on As the World Turns. Her biggest roles would come from the films The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Hannibal, and the final two films of the Hunger Games Series.
A few other notable military children include Bob Marley whose father was in the Royal Marines, Michael J Fox whose father was a member of the Canadian Forces, and Elton John whose father served in the Royal Air Force.
So as we celebrate our children this month, never forget that the skies the limit when it comes to their potential!