Fame can make someone’s earlier life seem almost impossible to imagine. It is easy to picture a future movie star, musician, or television personality as someone who was always destined for the spotlight, but many famous people spent years doing completely ordinary work before anyone knew their names. They waited tables, worked office jobs, taught classes, sold clothes, drove trucks, and handled the same everyday responsibilities as millions of other people. Some were already pursuing entertainment on the side while paying the bills, while others stumbled into their eventual careers unexpectedly. These surprisingly normal jobs offer a glimpse at lives that looked very different before Hollywood came calling.
Danny DeVito Was a Hairdresser
Before becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors, Danny DeVito worked as a hairdresser at his sister’s beauty salon, where he developed an interest in makeup and eventually pursued acting.
Harrison Ford Was a Carpenter
Harrison Ford spent years working as a carpenter while struggling to find enough acting work to support himself, eventually landing jobs that put him in the homes of some influential Hollywood figures.
Steve Buscemi Was a Firefighter
Before becoming famous for roles in Fargo and The Big Lebowski, Steve Buscemi worked as a New York City firefighter, a career he returned to temporarily during the September 11 attacks.
