10 Famous Celebrities That Started Out as Bartenders

While you look at celebrities now as major stars and have succeeded in their lives, the majority of them actually started off at a low point. Some of them had terrible paying jobs, lived in the worst conditions, drove cheap cars, and even didn't have the slightest clue that they would soon have a big name in Hollywood. In fact, if you told any one of them that they would be huge in the future, they wouldn't believe you. That was their mentality while living ordinary lives.

From rags to riches, some of these celebrities started off as bartenders before getting signed into Hollywood. Before starring in huge roles in television and movies, and becoming a singer, they were mixing drinks for drunk patrons. And some of their pays weren't the best either. These celebrities are now receiving their mixed drinks at red carpets and viewing parties. If you're curious which celebrities know how to whip up a martini on the spot, these are the celebrities that started out as bartenders.

Sandra Bullock

Yup, The Blind Side star Sandra Bullock was actually a bartender before making it big in the film industry. As amazing as her acting skills are today, so was her bartending skills in the past. Do you think she can create a cocktail… blindly? She probably can, to be honest.

Anyways, Sandra worked as a bartender at the same place she joined the Neighborhood Playhouse Theatre where she enhanced her acting talent. “I learned a lot of accents as a bartender,” she told Metro UK. “A lot of girls came in looking for rich husbands. I learned to imitate them.” Now we know where she gets her crazy good accent skills from.

Bruce Willis

From the celebrities that started out as bartenders, Bruce Willis was certainly one of them. Before getting the big role in Pulp Fiction, Bruce was shaking up cocktails for patrons. However, it seemed that Bruce was a fairly popular bartender back in the day who always entertained patrons from across the country.

He even possesses knowledge in mixology and flair bartending, making him quite the expert. I won't be surprised if mixology is his "sixth sense," since he was so famous back in those days. And after killing it behind the bar, Bruce is killing it behind the scenes in well-known films.

Michael Fassbender

Would you think Michael Fassbender whipped up 300 cocktails before starring in his film debut 300? Perhaps even more since he spent the majority of his 20s bartending and slinging drinks. While whipping up drinks behind the bar, Michael was also seeking to pursue his acting career.

In fact, he even enjoyed the bar scene and be the one behind creating drinks for patrons. Even though he grew up working long hours at his parents' restaurant, he still managed to get an acting career. Michael even mentioned that he would actually go back to bartending if his acting career suddenly died down.

Jon Stewart

Ah, yes, the host of The Daily Show is among the celebrities that started out as bartenders. Jon Stewart was actually a bartender in a New Jersey punk club called City Gardens in Trenton. Not to mention that the bar would usually be accompanied by bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

As unique as he found the job to be, there was a moment where Jon had to disarm a man after pulling out a gun while fighting someone during a concert at the club. It looks like being a bartender comes with other responsibilities, as well. But as hilarious and talented as Jon is on his show, no one would have ever thought he started off as a bartender in a punk club.

Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm is one of the celebrities that started out as bartenders… and he was a pretty popular bartender with the ladies. And honestly, I don’t blame them. The women would actually line up to watch Jon mix up drinks. According to Entertainment Weekly, actress Kelly Lynch frequently hired Jon to bartend at her parities.

While the Mad Men star started off as a bartender in his earlier years, he still has a passion for being behind the bar. I won't be surprised if he's whipping up drinks in between scenes for coworkers and others in the production.

Ellen DeGeneres

Before she was a comedian on the big screen, Ellen DeGeneres was also a comedian behind the bar. Among the celebrities that started out as bartenders, Ellen considered her bartending one of the least worst jobs she had back in the day. In fact, she even enjoyed serving drinks to patrons and starting up conversations with them.

Can you imagine Ellen mixing up drinks for people behind the bar? I can. And from this, she shortly found her calling as a stand-up comedian. Soon afterward, she gained her very own show and made it huge in the television industry. But she'll always have those bartending skills when making America laugh on her show and continuing to make inspirational accomplishments in her life.

Mila Kunis

During her younger days, Mila Kunis worked as a bartender on and off. In fact, she was such as well-kept bartender, she'd work shifts from 8PM to 4AM, take shots, bring herself home, and wake up in the morning completely fine. It's no wonders she starred in Bad Moms, Mila is a low-key savage.

While she's a major fan of whiskey, she found that her bartending days was over when she pursued an acting career. Even though she's happily married to Ashton Kutcher, has two children, and works as a talented actress, being a bartender will always stick to her history.

Ellen Pompeo

From a bartender to a full-fledged surgeon, not really actually, Ellen Pompeo is actually one of the celebrities that started out as bartenders. Before her successful acting career, Ellen was mixing cocktails and drinks at a New York restaurant. But who would've thought that a bartender in a New York restaurant would soon become one of the major stars in the hit show Grey’s Anatomy?

And while working as a bartender one night, she was approached by a commercial casting director who offered her a job. And, just like nearly anyone else in that position, she took it. Now she's starring in films, television shows, and even cosmetic ads.

Debbie Harry

American singer and songwriter Debbie Harry is among the celebrities that started out as bartenders. Before she joined the new wave band Blondie as the lead singer, she worked shifts as a waitress and a bartender at the legendary New York music venue Max’s Kansas City. With so many hit songs, it's tough to believe that she once waited tables and mixed drinks.

However, Debbie has done a lot in the past before becoming a singer. Aside from being a bartender, she worked as a secretary at BBC Radio’s office. But not only that, she was a great go-go dancer and a Playboy Bunny, too.

Russell Crowe

Finally, from the celebrities that started out as bartenders is Russell Crowe. Before being the gladiator in... the Gladiator, Russell was certainly a gladiator behind the bar. Before achieving such a big name in the film industry, Russell had to pay the bills as a waiter and a bartender.

While his earlier years consisted of finding ways to pay off his debt and mixing drinks and cocktails for drunk patrons, Russell now stars in Oscar-winning roles and making his name even bigger in the industry. Not to mention that he's also a film producer and a musician.