25 TV stars who had entirely different careers before Hollywood

Few actors have a resume quite like Steve Buscemi's. Long before "Boardwalk Empire" made him a television leading man, he spent four years working as a firefighter with New York City's FDNY. Acting eventually won out, but Buscemi never forgot where he came from. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, he quietly returned to his old firehouse to help search and recovery crews at Ground Zero.

Medicine wasn't just a stepping stone for Ken Jeong — it was his profession. After earning his medical degree and completing a residency in internal medicine, he practiced as a physician while performing stand-up comedy in the evenings. As audiences grew, so did the opportunities. Eventually, the future "Community" star traded exam rooms for television sets, becoming one of comedy's most recognizable faces.

At one point, Craig Robinson's days revolved around elementary school music lessons instead of television scripts. The future "The Office" star earned a master's degree in music education and taught elementary school music in the Chicago area while pursuing stand-up comedy after hours. Comedy slowly took over, and what started as a passion project outside the classroom eventually became a full-time career that introduced him to millions of viewers.

Terry Crews had already reached the professional level once before Hollywood came calling. He spent several seasons in the NFL after a successful college football career, but life after sports proved uncertain. Acting became an unexpected second act, and his larger-than-life personality eventually made "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" one of the defining roles of his career.

If football had worked out differently, television might never have gained one of its most beloved sitcom stars. Ed O'Neill briefly signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers before his professional playing career came to an early end. He later taught high school classes while exploring theater, a decision that ultimately led him to "Married... with Children" and, years later, "Modern Family."

Walking into cosmetology school wasn't part of a plan to become a Hollywood star. Danny DeVito simply wanted a stable career, so he trained as a hairstylist and worked in his sister's beauty salon in New Jersey. Meeting actors through that job sparked a new interest, eventually leading him to acting classes. The gamble paid off, and "Taxi" turned him into a television favorite.

Some aspiring actors wait tables while auditioning. Christopher Meloni chose much tougher work. He supported himself as a construction worker, personal trainer, and bartender while trying to break into the industry. Those years of persistence eventually opened the door to "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", the crime drama that made him a household name after decades of determination.

Military service came long before television fame for Bea Arthur. During World War II, she enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Women's Reserve, working as both a typist and truck driver. It wasn't until after leaving the service that she began studying drama. Her commanding presence later became one of the defining features of both "Maude" and "The Golden Girls".

Television almost missed out on Tom Selleck because his future once seemed headed in another direction. While attending college, he served in the California Army National Guard, fulfilling military duties before fully committing to acting. After years of auditions and smaller roles, everything changed when he landed "Magnum, P.I.", a series that made his mustache as famous as he was.

Mr. T reached television by a very unique route. Before "The A-Team" introduced him to millions of viewers, he worked as a military policeman and later built a reputation as a sought-after bodyguard for celebrities including Muhammad Ali, Diana Ross, and Michael Jackson. His larger-than-life personality eventually proved just as valuable in front of the camera as it had behind the scenes.

Professional sports seemed like Carl Weathers' future for years. After starring at San Diego State, he played linebacker in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders before continuing his football career in Canada. When injuries and roster changes ended that chapter, he shifted his focus to acting. Television audiences would later know him just as well for "Arrested Development" and "The Mandalorian."

Alan Alda's early adulthood included something many actors never experience: military service. After graduating from college, he served for six months in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he trained as an artillery officer. Once his service ended, Alda pursued theater full-time, eventually becoming one of television's most respected leading men through the long-running success of "MASH."

Michael Clarke Duncan's path to television looked nothing like a typical Hollywood success story. Before appearing in series such as "The Finder" and "Two and a Half Men", he worked as a ditch digger for a gas company and later found a job as a bodyguard, protecting celebrities including Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, and LL Cool J. Those industry connections eventually led him to audition for acting roles.

For R. Lee Ermey, acting wasn't even on the radar while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. He spent more than a decade in uniform, eventually becoming a drill instructor, a role that defined much of his early adult life. His military background later opened unexpected doors in entertainment, leading to acting work and eventually hosting the History Channel's "Mail Call."

Music, not acting, came first for Michael Dorn. Raised in Pasadena, California, he studied radio/TV production before touring as a rock musician in California. A brief, uncredited appearance as Apollo Creed's bodyguard in "Rocky" (1976) and a 1978 guest spot on "W.E.B." led to formal training with acting coach Charles Conrad. He soon landed a regular role on CHiPs, paving the way for his iconic breakout as Worf in "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

Long before audiences recognized him from "Cheers", John Ratzenberger made a living with his hands instead of in front of a camera. He worked as a carpenter while traveling through Europe, taking construction jobs to support himself along the way. During those years abroad, he became interested in theater, setting the stage for a career that would eventually span television and animation.

Danny Trejo never imagined acting would become his profession. After overcoming addiction and serving time in prison, he dedicated himself to helping others by working as a drug counselor. While assisting a client on a film set, he was unexpectedly offered a small acting role. That chance encounter launched a career that later included memorable appearances in television series such as "Breaking Bad."

Few actors brought as much real-life experience to crime dramas as Dennis Farina. Before entering entertainment, he spent nearly two decades with the Chicago Police Department, working as both a patrol officer and detective. A filmmaker noticed his authenticity while serving as a police consultant, opening the door to acting. Television viewers would later know him best from "Law & Order."

Illustration, not Hollywood, was Fred Gwynne's original focus. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he trained at the Phoenix School of Design, then went on to Harvard, where he made a name for himself as a Lampoon cartoonist rather than an acting hopeful. From there, he worked as an advertising copywriter and commercial artist while writing and illustrating children's books. Acting opportunities gradually replaced his advertising work, eventually leading to his unforgettable television success as Herman Munster in "The Munsters."

Before becoming a prime-time icon, Loni Anderson expected her life's work to happen in front of a chalkboard rather than a camera. She pursued an art education degree at the University of Minnesota and spent time working as a teacher before the acting bug led her to audition for local theater and television roles. Switching gears paid off massively when she was cast as Jennifer Marlowe on "WKRP in Cincinnati", a defining role that quickly turned her into one of the era's most famous television stars.

Early in his adulthood, Steve Carell worked as a rural USPS mail carrier in Littleton, using his own car to deliver packages before his supervisor gently suggested he wasn't built for the post office's pace. After stepping away from mail delivery and ditching initial plans for law school, he turned his focus to improv and theater in Chicago. That leap of faith set off a domino effect of comedic roles, leading straight to his iconic turn as Michael Scott on "The Office."

Teaching seemed like a much more realistic future than television for Nathan Fillion. Growing up with parents who were high school English teachers, he followed in their footsteps at the University of Alberta, studying to become a teacher himself. Just months shy of finishing his degree, an unexpected audition for "One Life to Live" convinced him to leave school for New York. That sudden pivot paid off, eventually leading to long-running starring roles in hits like "Castle" and "The Rookie."

Art, not acting, was Michael Emerson's first professional focus. After earning a degree in theater, he found steady work as a freelance illustrator and commercial artist when acting opportunities proved scarce. Years later, he returned to the stage, a decision that eventually led to acclaimed performances in "Lost" and "Person of Interest."

David Boreanaz didn't immediately find success after moving to Los Angeles. Before becoming the face of "Bones", he spent time working as a valet parker, greeting customers and parking cars while attending auditions. The job paid the bills until he landed a breakthrough television role, beginning a career that has kept him on network TV for more than two decades.

Before she became one of television's most recognizable sitcom stars, Katey Sagal built a successful career in the music industry. She worked as a professional singer and backing vocalist, touring and recording with artists including Bob Dylan, Bette Midler, Gene Simmons, and Olivia Newton-John. Music remained her full-time profession until acting opportunities took over, eventually leading to her breakout role on "Married... with Children."

More great Stacker stories about celebrity careers that kept on changing

• 100 actors who served in the military
• 30 stars who hit their stride late in life
• What casts looked like at the beginning and the end of 25 popular sitcoms