10 Celebrities Who Were Professional Truck Drivers Before Fame

Celebrities: they’re just like us! Many came from humble beginnings and had to work various jobs while they chased their dreams. While some of these jobs might surprise you, several notable figures actually spent time as truck drivers. Yes, the same job that keeps goods moving across the country helped some of today’s famous personalities before they became household names.

The Surprising World of Celebrities and Trucking

Driving a truck might not seem like the most obvious career path to stardom, but it turns out it’s a profession that offers a lot of thinking time. Whether it’s writing screenplays or dreaming of their big break, these celebrities used their cab time to reflect and create. Here’s a rundown of ten well-known individuals who logged hours behind the wheel before they went on to achieve fame.

Elvis Presley

• Primary career: Singer and actor
• Birth year: 1935 (deceased)
• Trucking experience: Truck driver for Crown Electric

Before transforming into the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley followed a path similar to his father’s by driving trucks for Crown Electric. In 1954, despite being told he would never make it as a singer, Presley quickly proved the naysayers wrong and became a global sensation.

James Cameron

• Primary career: Filmmaker
• Birth year: 1954
• Trucking experience: Truck driver in Southern California

Before directing hit films like “Titanic” and “Avatar,” James Cameron spent multiple days driving trucks. This intense time on the road allowed him to write screenplays and inspired him to plunge full-time into filmmaking after being captivated by “Star Wars” in 1977.

Liam Neeson

• Primary career: Actor
• Birth year: 1952
• Trucking experience: Forklift driver at Guinness Brewery

Liam Neeson’s early career saw him working as a forklift operator at Guinness Brewery. He later parleyed his experience driving heavy machinery into a celebrated acting career, portraying roles in critically acclaimed films such as “Schindler’s List.”

Richard Pryor

• Primary career: Comedian and actor
• Birth year: 1940 (deceased)
• Trucking experience: Truck driver

Richard Pryor, known for his groundbreaking stand-up comedy, also spent time working as a truck driver. This was before he won five Grammys and starred in comedic classics like “Stir Crazy.”

Jason Aldean

• Primary career: Country singer
• Birth year: 1977
• Trucking experience: Pepsi delivery driver

Before becoming a country music icon, Jason Aldean drove delivery trucks for Pepsi in Georgia. This job heavily influenced some of his music, namely his song “Asphalt Cowboy,” found on his 2005 debut album.

Creative Minds on the Road

Sean Connery

• Primary career: Actor
• Birth year: 1930 (deceased)
• Trucking experience: Truck driver and milkman in Scotland

Sean Connery, the original James Bond, turned to truck driving before his film career took off. Connery worked various jobs early on, including a stint as a milkman, which would later become a fascinating footnote in his storied career.

Chevy Chase

• Primary career: Comedian and actor
• Birth year: 1943
• Trucking experience: Semitruck driver

Before rising to fame on “Saturday Night Live,” Chevy Chase drove semitrucks, which was just one of the many jobs he held before breaking into television.

Robert Duvall

• Primary career: Actor
• Birth year: 1931
• Trucking experience: Truck driver

Robert Duvall, known for his roles in “The Godfather,” supported himself through acting school by driving trucks, sharing an apartment with other then-unknown actors like Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman.

Viggo Mortensen

• Primary career: Actor
• Birth year: 1958
• Trucking experience: Truck driver in Denmark

Known for his role as Aragorn in “The Lord of the Rings,” Viggo Mortensen drove trucks in Denmark while pursuing various other creative outlets like poetry, photography, and painting.

Charles Bronson

• Primary career: Actor
• Birth year: 1921 (deceased)
• Trucking experience: Army and civilian truck driver

Charles Bronson enhanced his rugged image with real-life truck driving experience gained in the Army during World War II. After his service, he leveraged this experience to work as a civilian truck driver before embarking on a successful acting career.

These stories show how diverse the backgrounds of celebrities can be and serve as reminders that pursuing one’s passion sometimes requires taking unconventional paths to success.

Source: https://www.clickorlando.com/insider/2024/12/06/10-celebrities-who-were-professional-truck-drivers/