Ronald Reagan Was a Hollywood Star
Long before Ronald Reagan entered the White House, audiences knew him from Hollywood. He appeared in dozens of movies, worked in television, and served as president of the Screen Actors Guild before politics eventually became his second major public career.
George Foreman Was a Boxing Champion
Depending on your age, George Foreman might bring to mind either heavyweight boxing or a countertop grill. The boxing came first. Foreman was an Olympic gold medalist and heavyweight champion long before his enormously successful grill endorsement introduced him to a completely different audience.
Jessica Alba Became an Entrepreneur
Jessica Alba was already an established Hollywood star when she co-founded The Honest Company in 2011. Rather than simply attaching her name to a product, she became closely involved in building a consumer goods business that gave her an entirely separate reputation as an entrepreneur.
Alton Brown Worked Behind the Camera
Before Good Eats put Alton Brown in front of the camera, he was working behind one. Brown began his career in film and television production and worked as a cinematographer on music videos, including R.E.M.’s “The One I Love,” before eventually attending culinary school and reinventing himself.
Gordon Ramsay Was a Top Chef Before Reality TV
The shouting and reality shows made Gordon Ramsay recognizable far beyond the restaurant world, but television wasn’t responsible for his original success. Ramsay had already established himself as an elite chef and restaurateur, with his flagship Restaurant Gordon Ramsay earning three Michelin stars.
