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.
