10 Celebrities Who Had Surprising Careers Before Hollywood Stardom
Not every celebrity was born into red carpets and director’s chairs. For many, the journey to stardom came after clocking into regular 9–5s, scraping by on odd jobs, or hiding big dreams under safe degrees. These celebs didn’t just wake up in Hollywood — they lived very different lives before the industry took notice.
From doctors and engineers to bodega clerks and dog walkers, here’s a look at 10 celebrities whose first career paths looked nothing like where they ended up.
1. Ken Jeong
Long before “The Hangover” made him a household name, Ken Jeong was treating patients in real life. A Duke University grad with a medical degree, Ken initially leaned toward drama, but the lack of Asian faces on-screen made medicine feel like the safer route.
Still, he never dropped comedy. Between shifts, he hit open mics. The turning point? Getting cast as — ironically — a doctor in “Knocked Up”. That’s when Ken said, “Alright, it’s now or never,” and went all in on acting.
2. Saweetie
Instagram | @saweetie | Saweetie served tables then dropped hits.
Saweetie wasn’t just a server at a strip club — she was also a coder and entrepreneur while at USC. “People underestimate jobs like that,” she told The Shade Room. “You learn a lot — it’s smart, strategic work.” Today, she tops music charts, but her work ethic’s been there since day one.
3. Awkwafina
Nora Lum, better known as Awkwafina, was just trying to balance her quirky rap hobby with a PR assistant gig — until her viral video “My Vag” caught her boss’s attention… and not in a good way. She got fired. That pink slip became a green light.
She bounced between odd jobs, even working at a vegan bodega, before realizing, as she put it, “Awkwafina was more than just a side hustle.” It was her full-time calling.
4. Jason Momoa
When Jason Momoa told casting agents he had modeling experience before auditioning for “Baywatch: Hawaii”, it wasn’t exactly true — but it worked. He landed the role and made the most of it. After his run ended, roles didn’t exactly pour in.
He took on security gigs, borrowed cash, and couch surfed until landing parts on “North Shore” and eventually, the role of a lifetime as Khal Drogo in “Game of Thrones”.
5. Hong Chau
Hong Chau once filed expense reports at PBS with a film degree she wasn’t sure would pay off. “At 17, I thought a film degree meant instant job offers. That was naive,” she said. But improv classes helped her break out of her shell, and after years of auditioning in LA, she broke through with standout performances in “Downsizing” and “The Whale”.
6. Young Mazino
Instagram | @youngmazino | Young Mazino left corporate life to follow acting dreams.
Before stealing scenes in “Beef”, Young Mazino was working a business intelligence job at a skincare company. “I printed scripts and hid them on my desk. I’d pretend to type while memorizing lines,” he said.
His boss eventually caught wind — and gave him the green light to chase acting full-time. Risky, but worth it.
7. Anna Sawai
She was a J-pop star with the group FAKY, but Anna Sawai always had acting in her heart. “I loved singing, but I knew I needed to act,” she shared. Her agency wasn’t on board, so she left pop life behind. That decision led to breakout roles in “Giri/Haji”, “Pachinko”, and “Shōgun”, where she stunned as Toda Mariko.
8. Jimmy O. Yang
An economics degree? Check. Finance internship? Check. Career anxiety? Absolutely. “I was having panic attacks just thinking about doing that for 40 years,” Jimmy said. So he traded spreadsheets for stage lights and took a gamble on comedy.
The rest is history — “Silicon Valley”, book deals, and movie roles followed.
9. Rich Brian
Instagram | @brianimanuel | Rich Brian went from Vine jokes to music fame.
Indonesian rapper Rich Brian first gained attention with a viral satirical track while building a social media following as a teen. Teaching himself English through hip-hop and YouTube, he evolved from a one-hit wonder to a respected artist featured in major commercials.
10. Ke Huy Quan
After starring in “Indiana Jones” and “The Goonies”, Ke Huy Quan didn’t find much work. So he went behind the scenes, working in stunt coordination and production. “I told myself acting wasn’t fun anymore — but I was lying,” he admitted.
Years later, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” revived his acting career and earned him an Oscar nod.
These celebs didn’t just dream — they pivoted, pushed through rejection, and took leaps when it mattered most. Whether balancing spreadsheets or walking dogs, their stories remind us: there’s no “right” path to success — just the one you make your own.