Celebrities are normal people just like the rest of us. Before they became famous, some of them did the usual, mundane jobs and studied right alongside us. But sometimes, even during their career, these famous individuals have to turn to other job opportunities and do not shy away from a well-earned salary. Besides being famous celebrities, it always seems interesting to know how these people started or ended up.
Read on and check out these celebrities who have worked or are still working normal jobs you never would have imagined them working otherwise.
Frankie Muniz - Race Car Driver and Band Manager
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Frankie Muniz is best known for his role in Malcolm in the Middle, which made him a worldwide child star. The role also earned Frankie an Emmy and two Golden Globe nominations. In 2003, the then-eighteen-year-old Frankie was considered among the most profitable teen actors in the biz. He also appeared in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, My Dog Skip, Agent Cody Banks, Pizza Man, and others.
In his 20s, Frankie took a break from acting to play drums in a band called Kingsfoil and to compete as a professional driver in open wheel racing. He hosted 2018's Dancing with the Stars: Juniors and currently manages a band called Astro Lasso.
Jon Gosselin - DJ
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Jon Gosselin became a known television personality when he appeared on a family reality show with his former wife and their eight children who were the highlight of the program. Just like the show, the couple’s separation also created news as they had quite a feud over the custody of kids.
Once a reality star, Jon had to take several humble jobs such as a solar panel installer and a restaurant waiter to meet his expenses after his stint on television was over. Most recently, he has been performing as a disc jockey and manages to get a fair number of gigs in his hometown. Times do change drastically!
Ariana Richards - Artist
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Ariana Richards is known for her portrayal in 1993's Jurassic Park—a movie which raked in earnings of over $1 billion worldwide. She has also received multiple Young Artist Awards for her acting. She reprised her role in The Lost World: Jurassic Park and has appeared in films such as Tremors 3: Back to Perfection, and Angus. Richards, who was once included in VH1’s 100 Greatest Child Stars list, chose to focus on painting as she grew up.
Ariana is the direct descendant of Carlo Crivelli, a Renaissance painter, and she went to study art at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. She is now occasionally hosting exhibitions and doing commissioned paintings.
Vanilla Ice - Touring
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Vanilla Ice is a rapper best known for his hit, Ice Ice Baby—the first hip-hop song to reach number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. His particular style caught on quickly in the ‘90s which caused SBK Records to push Vanilla Ice to reach to an even wider audience. Vanilla’s later albums were more underground.
In 2009, he began hosting his own reality show, The Vanilla Ice Project. Ice has since released another album, had various roles in movies and on the stage, and currently earns money by headlining the I Love the '90s Tour.
Danica McKellar - Author and Actor
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Danica McKellar is known for her contribution to education, mathematics, as well as her acting. She played the role of Winnie Cooper in The Wonder Years TV show. Younger audiences may recognize her voice from the Young Justice animated series where she brought the character of Miss Martian to life.
Danica was also part of the Netflix series, Project Mc², and currently voices Judy Jetson on The Jetsons. Her written works include titles such as Math Doesn’t Suck, Hot X: Algebra Exposed, Kiss My Math, Girls Get Curves: Geometry Takes Shape and others.
Rebecca Ritters – Journalist and Blogger
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Rebecca Ritters is recognized for her role as Hannah Martin in Neighbours, having first appeared in 1992 when she was 8. She was on the soap opera for 7 more years and reprised her role in specials and celebration editions.
Rebecca later did some stage work, primarily for the British Shakespeare Company in the early ‘00s, and then worked at Warner Bros. Records as a plain receptionist. After relocating to Australia, she enrolled at the University of Melbourne studying Politics and International Relations and got a job at ABC. Rebecca currently works as a journalist in Berlin and runs the blog, Europe To Date.
Peter Ostrum - Veterinarian
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Peter Ostrum is a child actor-turned-veterinarian who is best known for the movie, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. He was 12 at the time of the filming and only had some children’s theatre performances to his name prior to the movie.
Immediately after, Peter had offers to continue his acting career but decided to indulge in his passion for animals, particularly horses. He got his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and has since worked and lived in NYC with his family. The 61-year-old Peter, in recent years, returned to acting a bit and also spoke to students about his experience from the filming of Willy Wonka.
Heather DeLoach - Represents a Fertility Doctor
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Heather DeLoach is mostly recognized from Blind Melon’s 1992 music video for No Rain from. She was the ‘Bee Girl’ who did all the tap dancing. She also had roles in two episodes of ER and reprised her ‘Bee Girl’ role in "Weird Al" Yankovic’s Bedrock Anthem. Pearl Jam even dedicated the song Bee Girl to her.
Heather has been married to Matt Grenier since 2017, after meeting online. The couple’s romantic ceremony was filled with Bee Girl memorabilia and tribute details. She currently works as a representative of a California-based fertility doctor.
Liam Gallagher - Singing
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Liam Gallagher is known as the lead singer of the bands Oasis and Beady Eye. He began a solo career later and released his debut solo album, As You Were, in 2017. The album topped the charts in the UK and went Platinum.
Liam is also credited with penning the two most popular hits of Oasis—I’m Outta Time and Songbird. Since 2015, Liam has been performing solo at various festivals. He confirmed in 2018 that he is working on his second solo album. Following his commercial success as a solo artist, Liam’s net worth is now an estimated $7.5 million.
Josh Saviano - Lawyer
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Josh Saviano is known as a child actor from The Wonder Years. He was active briefly from 1988 to 1993. Besides that TV show, Josh was also in The Wrong Guys, Camp Cucamonga, The Wizard, The Ray Bradbury Theater, and others. He quit acting to study at Yale and pursue a career as a lawyer.
Since 1998, he has worked as a paralegal and also held positions in several other law firms mostly in New York. In 2014 and 2015, Josh somewhat returned to acting when he appeared in three episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Kirk Cameron - Actor/Evangelist
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Kirk Cameron is an actor best known for his portrayal in the show, Growing Pains, which earned him two Golden Globe nominations. He actually began as a child actor, appearing on TV and film in Like Father Like Son, Listen to Me, Left Behind franchise, Saving Christmas, and others.
Apart from earning paychecks by his career in acting, Kirk teaches evangelism to Christians, partnering with fellow evangelist and minister, Ray Comfort, who is from New Zealand. Interestingly enough, Kirk defined himself as an atheist as a teen but was born again to Christianity at the height of his acting fame.
Nikki Blonsky – Hair and Makeup Artist
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Nikki Blonsky is an actress, dancer, and singer best known for starring in Hairspray, Queen Sized, and Huge. It was her dream to play Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray since she was 15. Her dream finally came true in 2007.
The role, which earned her a Golden Globe and several other important awards, remains Nikki’s most successful one to date. Nikki released a musical album in 2007 with a notable hit, On a High. In 2011, she obtained a license for cosmetology and currently works as a makeup artist in her hometown of Great Neck, NYC.
Al Franken - Resigned Senator
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Al Franken is a known media personality and author who is a former Senator of Minnesota. He was in office from 2009 until 2018. He represented the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party but resigned in 2018.
But long before his career in politics, Al was a known comedian in the ‘70s and ‘80s who was mostly seen on Saturday Night Live. In the early 2000s, Al began hosting his own show titled The Al Franken Show which had a political theme and published a book entitled Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them.
Tiffany Renee Darwish – Competes in Talent Shows
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Tiffany Renee Darwish, or simply known as Tiffany, is a singer and songwriter from California. She became a teen icon in the late ‘80s, most notably for doing a cover of the song, I Think We’re Alone Now. The single and her album topped various Billboard charts.
Following the success of the album and the following tour, Tiffany achieved commercial success. Tiffany’s musical career continued throughout the ‘90s and ‘00s but with mediocre success. However, she was still making money as an actress. Her latest album, Pieces of Me, was released in 2018 while she still performs on tours and competes on various TV shows.
Carrie Henn - School Teacher
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Carrie Henn’s first and only acting credit was in the 1986 movie, Aliens. She was Newt, the child who Sigourney Weaver carried while fighting aliens in the dark corridors of the overrun space colony. For her role, Carrie won the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actress.
Despite the movie’s huge success, Carrie decided not to pursue acting. She got a degree in liberal studies and child development at California State University and now works as a teacher. She now resides in Atwater, California and is married to Nathan Kutcher, with whom she has 1 child.
Philip Michael Thomas – Psychic Network Spokesperson
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Philip Michael Thomas is famous worldwide for his role in Miami Vice where he played Ricardo Tubbs. He appeared in the films Coonskin and Sparkle, in the mid-‘70s and also became the spokesperson of a telephone psychic service called Psychic Reader Network. Younger audiences would probably recognize his voice as he did voice acting for Lance Vance, a character from the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Vice City Stories video games.
He is also known for coining the abbreviation "EGOT" to pertain to the four major awards—Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony—which he planned to achieve in his career. Philip is a father to five sons, six daughters, and one stepdaughter.
Julia Stiles - Habitat for Humanity & Amnesty International Volunteer
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Julia Stiles has been an actress since she was 11 years old, with her debut being in the TV series, Ghostwriter, from the early ‘90s. She quickly got recognized for films such as Wicked, 10 Things I Hate About You, Down To You, Save the Last Dance, Mona Lisa Smile, and the Bourne film series. She received numerous awards and nominations throughout her long career.
Stiles took a short break and worked with non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Amnesty International while still doing small acting gigs. She recently starred in the 2017 series, Riviera. However, it looks like she's taking another break as she became a new mom in October 2017.
Elizabeth Berkley – Ask-Elizabeth Program Founder
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Elizabeth Berkley is an actress best known for her roles in the series, Saved by the Bell, and the movie, Showgirls. She always aspired to become a dancer and actress since she was a child and even did some modeling for Elite.
After Showgirls, Elizabeth appeared in various TV shows and also independent movies such as The Taxman, Roger Dodger, and Moving Malcolm. She also hosted various reality shows and has set up the Ask-Elizabeth online program for self-help aimed at teen girls. She promotes vegetarianism and fights for animal rights.
George Foreman – Entrepreneur
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Two-time world heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist George Foreman competed as a professional boxer between 1969 and 1977 and again between 1987 and 1997. ‘Big George’, as he was nicknamed by boxing fans, is an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. His boxing record includes 76 wins out of 81 fights—68 of them were via knockdown.
He is still the oldest boxer to ever win the world heavyweight championship. George is also an entrepreneur best-known for his successful George Foreman Grill brand which has earned him an estimated $200 million.
Lisa Kudrow – Stay-at-Home Mom
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Lisa Kudrow is known all over the world for her role as Phoebe in the super popular TV show, Friends. She was also known for her recurring appearances on Mad About You and Cheers throughout the ‘90s. Kudrow's portrayal in Friends won her a Primetime Emmy with six nominations, two Screen Actors Guild Awards with 12 nominations, and one Golden Globe.
She continues to appear in movies until today. Lisa is married to Michael Stern with whom she has one son. She was actually pregnant when they filmed the fourth season so her pregnancy was written into the show.
Julia Roberts - Modeling
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Julia Roberts needs no introduction as she is famous all over the world for her roles in many big Hollywood hits like Pretty Woman, Ocean’s Eleven and Twelve, Notting Hill, and, more recently, Wonder in 2017. Julia currently stars in the Amazon Video series, Homecoming, which started in 2018. As an actress, Julia was a top earner for practically a decade and a half, during the ‘90s and early ‘00s.
But prior to that, she was working as a model and was signed to Click Modeling Agency. After her debut role in 1988's Satisfaction, she has enjoyed a 30-year-long acting career filled with blockbuster films and a number of awards.
Nicole Kidman – Massage Therapist
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Nicole Kidman is an Oscar-winning Australian actress who, during her now 35-year-long career, had a string of hit films and accolades. After making a Hollywood debut with Days of Thunder, she kept on appearing in several big-budget movies, and her stardom continued to rise in the subsequent years. She was most recently seen in 2018's Aquaman, which is her highest-grossing movie so far.
However, this prominent celebrity once had to pause acting to be a massage therapist to help her ailing mother, who was battling with cancer. Thankfully, things eventually got better, and the entertainment world became fortunate to have a precious gem like Kidman.
Patrick Dempsey - Juggling
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While his acting career began all the way back in the ‘80s, Patrick Dempsey is best known for his role in the medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy, from 2005 to 2015. Aside from his TV stint, he also appeared in films such as Made of Honor, Enchanted, Can't Buy Me Love, and Bridget Jones's Baby.
Patrick also likes auto racing and has a collection of vintage and sports cars. He competed in events such as 24 Hours of Le Mans and Ensenada Score Baja 1000. When he was young, Patrick competed in juggling competitions such as the International Jugglers’ Association Championship where he placed second as a junior.
Sasha Obama – Worked at a Restaurant
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Known primarily as the daughter of former US President Barack Obama, Sasha was born in 2001 to Barack and his wife, Michelle. She is their second daughter and was the youngest resident of the White House since they brought in the then-infant John F. Kennedy Jr. in 1961. Sasha and her sister, Malia, always had busy schedules during their schooling period.
You might be surprised to know that Sasha worked at Nancy’s seafood restaurant in Massachusetts in 2016. It was a summer job that she had for a couple of months and she was reportedly protected by Secret Service agents.
Dylan Sprouse – Entrepreneur
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Disney child stars are not easy to forget, especially when they are a set of adorable twins. We are talking about Dylan Sprouse, whom we all remember from The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, a successful show that gathered millions of viewers. The actor, along with his brother, continued to appear on several other shows before taking a pause from acting to complete his education.
Earlier known to be a part of the Sprouse duo, Dylan has now started working in independent roles, and the young guy has also become an entrepreneur running a Meadery in Brooklyn. It looks like someone is going to be a multi-millionaire soon!
Sarah Ferguson – Toilet Cleaner
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Sarah Ferguson, known as Fergie, is the Duchess of York and a known British TV personality, charity patron, and writer. She was once married to Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Queen Elizabeth II’s second son. However, the two split in 1996.
After that followed what appeared to be a string of unfortunate events which culminated in Sarah having outstanding debts estimated from $2.5M to over $6.5M. She was recently seen at her daughter Princess Eugenie's wedding in October 2018. In an interview in August 2018, Sarah revealed that she used to clean toilets before marrying Prince Andrew and said she was good at it.
Mackenzie Rosman - Actress
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Mackenzie Rosman is known for the TV show, 7th Heaven, where she played Ruthie Camden. She got the part when she was 7 years old and stayed with the show throughout its 11 seasons, earning award nominations along the way.
Prior to that, Mackenzie has appeared in several commercials since the age of 4. She has also appeared in films such as Gideon, The Tomb, Fading of the Cries, and Beneath. She continues to work both in front and behind the camera, with her stint in 2016's Love Will Tear Us Apart involving acting and production work.
Steven Seagal – Martial Arts Instructor
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Steven Seagal is a world-famous action movie star and martial artist. Seagal, a 7th-dan Aikido black belter, studied martial arts and became an instructor in Japan long before his fame. His first movie, 1988's Above the Law, kick-started his enormously successful film career in the ‘90s. He also starred in numerous action films such as Under Siege, Hard to Kill, Marked for Death, Out for Justice, and The Glimmer Man.
Besides acting, Seagal also added movie production, writing, and soundtrack composing to his portfolio as he has done so on most of his movies. Seagal became a Russian citizen in 2016 and was appointed as Russia's special envoy to the U.S. in 2018.
Chuck Norris – Martial Artist, Entrepreneur, & Philanthropist
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Chuck Norris is a world-renowned actor and martial artist who won numerous championships after serving in the U.S. Air Force. His roles in Way of the Dragon, The Octagon, Good Guys Wear Black, and The Delta Force franchise sealed his status as an action movie icon. Chuck has his own fighting school called Chun Kuk Do and is a promoter for Total Gym since 1997.
Additionally, he was made an internet star when he became the subject of satirical factoids, Chuck Norris facts, in 2005. Chuck frequently appears in various commercials while he is also quite active in charitable work.
Charlie Korsmo - Law Professor
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Charlie Korsmo is a well-known child actor, recognized mostly from his role in 1991’s Hook where he played Peter Pan’s son. After his portrayals in Dick Tracy and What About Bob?, he played his final role in the film, Can’t Hardly Wait. Korsmo was later employed by the Environmental Protection Agency and obtained a law degree at Yale. He was in the Federalist Society and was active in politics.
He currently teaches law in Cleveland. Former US President Barack Obama nominated Korsmo for the Board of Trustees in 2011, while in 2018 he came back to acting in Chained for Life.
Kevin Jonas - Entrepreneur
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Kevin Jonas is a famous young musician whom we all know since the time Jonas Brothers came into the limelight. The trio has once again come together, but there was a time when the group had its own differences and parted ways after giving many successful albums.
Kevin has since been running a construction company named as JonasWerner and also leads The Blu Market (a company that serves social media influencers) as a co-CEO. Other than that, he has also been involved in the development of apps such as Yood and We Heart It. Well, apparently, the eldest sibling is smart enough to have multiple income sources!
Amanda Bynes - Fashion Design Graduate
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Amanda Bynes was known to be a popular child star during the mid-1990s after she appeared in Nickelodeon’s sketch comedy series All That. Having performed in many other shows and movies, she was expected to become an A-lister, but unfortunately, a series of personal issues led her to take an indefinite break from the show business.
Post that, the former actress, who always had a keen interest in fashion, went on to take designing courses and now is all set to get a bachelor’s degree in fashion. Amanda proved herself while she was performing, and we are sure she will make it big in her newest endeavor as well!
Freddie Prinze Jr. – WWE Writer
Freddie Prinze Jr. is no stranger to the television and film industry as he appeared in programs and movies of various genres, especially the comic ones. You might find it new that apart from acting, he is a die-hard enthusiast of WWE and also participated in the company’s official blog by sharing his views about the events of the world-famous wrestling program.
In fact, Freddie was also hired by the company as a creative staff member, but the stint lasted only for a short while. As of now, the Scooby-Doo star is more involved in voice acting, and his most recent gig was in the animated series Star Wars Rebels.