Fans always think they know everything about their favorite celebrities. However, just like ordinary people, there are a few things that celebrities prefer to keep away from the limelight. This list goes through some of the most bizarre facts about famous people that will leave you dumbfounded.
1. Nolan Gould is Part of Mensa
Nolan Gould, who plays Luke Dunphy in the Modern Family sitcom, is perhaps the “dumbest” kid ever seen on TV. He never does anything right to the point his parents take him to a psychotherapist. Besides his dim-witted character, Nolan Gould is super intelligent in real life. He has an IQ of 150, which placed him in MENSA, an organization that only accepts people who score at the 98th percentile on IQ tests. Nolan got into this organization at thirteen years old.
2. Dr Ruth Westheimer was a Trained Sniper
Even though she passed on in July 2024, Dr Ruth Westheimer will always be remembered for her TV show, The Dr Ruth Show, where she offered valuable advice on sexuality and relationships. What most people don’t know about this charming host is that she was a trained sniper. Ruth was a soldier of the Haganah, which is currently the Israel Defense Forces. Throughout her career, Ruth had never killed anyone in combat. But if war struck, she could easily take enemies from a distance. Even when she was 90, she demonstrated that she could still assemble a sten gun with her eyes closed.
3. Christopher Walken Used to Be a Lion Tamer
Christopher Walken is one of the most experienced actors in the industry. During his 50-year career, he was featured in blockbusters such as Vendetta, Father Figures, and Last Man Standing. However, before discovering his iconic voice and impeccable acting skills, Christopher used to be a lion tamer. He worked for Terrel Jacobs in a circus and would instruct a female lion named Sheba to do magic tricks in front of a crowd. This is one of the many odd jobs done by the legendary actor.
4. Jason Momoa Faked Being a Model to Land a Role
When auditioning for Baywatch, Jason Momoa faked being a model to get the gig. This was after waiting seven hours to get to the frontline. He openly admitted to this in an interview with Square Mile.
5. Elvis Presley was Blonde
One of the traits that people loved about Elvis Presley was his jet-black locks. However, he wasn’t born this way; he was born with blonde hair. It was during his teenage years that he started dying it black. Elvis’s inspiration for dying his hair black was to emulate Roy Orbison’s look.
6. The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) Underwent Breast Reduction Surgery
Looking at his physique, one might completely deny the fact that the rock once had man boobs. He has admitted that earlier in his life, he underwent breast reduction surgery for aesthetic purposes. This surgery was done in 2005.
7. Rob Riggle Served in the US Marines
Popularly known for his charm and ability to make anyone laugh, Rob Riggle was initially a US Marine before he joined comedy. He served for 20 years and was deployed to Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Liberia. By the time Rob left the Marines, he had already risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
8. Katy Perry Collects Hair Samples from Other Celebrities
When attending one of the Grammys, Katy Perry had an opportunity to share a dressing room with Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. In a surprising turn of events, she asked for a hair sample from both of them. Even though this sounded creepy, the two didn’t hesitate to give Katy Perry a sample.
9. Jerry Springer was the Mayor of Cincinnati
The first thing that comes to mind after seeing the Jerry Springer show is – who the hell comes up with these stories? Well, the genius behind the crazy fights is Jerry Springer himself. This is one of the most controversial shows of all time.
Before starting this show in 1993, Jerry Springer was the mayor of Cincinnati in 1977. He contested in the gubernatorial race in 1982 but was unsuccessful. Initially, he had served as a member of the city council before being removed from office due to a prostitution scandal.
10. Bill Murray was Caught with Marijuana Worth $20,000 in the 1970s
Everyone’s favorite comedian, Bill Murray, was supposed to be a doctor. While going back to med school in 1970, Bill was arrested at O’Hare International Airport with 10 pounds of Marijuana. At that moment, this quantity was the equivalent of $20,000. After the incident, he decided to drop out of med school and pursue comedy.
11. Tom Hardy was a Rapper
In films such as Peaky Blinders, Venom and Batman, Tom Hardy plays the role of a badass. However, before he made it, Tom was once a rapper in the 90s. He went by Tommy No 1 and even landed a record deal. According to Tom Hardy, he didn’t make it in this industry because he came from a middle-class neighborhood. So, it was difficult for him to sell a struggling story.
12. James Lipton was Once a Pimp
James Lipton is remembered mainly for hosting the TV series “Inside the Actors Studio”, where he interviewed many talents. He also wrote films like The Best of Everything and The Edge of Night. Besides being a renowned scriptwriter, actor and TV host, James Lipton was once a pimp. Talking to Vanity Fair, James admitted to being a pimp in the 1950s in Paris. He worked with several beautiful women with whom he managed their affairs. James got into this industry because he was desperate for money; a friend introduced him to the business.