Gene Wilder – United States Army

Gene Wilder was drafted into the Army in 1956 and was assigned to the medical corps. Later, when he was given the chance to choose his post, he served as a paramedic while also attending acting classes at the HB Studio. After leaving the Army, he got a scholarship to the HB Studio and lived on unemployment insurance and his savings. He later managed to become a successful actor, best known for his role as Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. In his later years, he focused on writing and published several books. Wilder died in 2016.