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When you see your favorite famous people on TV and in magazines, it's hard to believe they were ever people like us - working on getting by. But even the brightest stars had to start with their simple first jobs before making it big!

Whether you're a waitress, a cashier, even a janitor, or have a weird job like lion taming chances are that at least one of the famous actors and actresses you admire once worked a day job as crappy as yours. Some were also in the process of training to enter long-term careers, such as law and teaching, when their big career change came, while others were fresh out of jail after getting caught up in crime.

The moral of the story? You might be stuck doing shifts at a burger joint right now or working your ass off with manual labor, but you never know what opportunities lie ahead, so stay focused on your Hollywood dreams. Find out what stars were doing with their lives before they hit the screen below, and let us know which ones surprised you the most!

#1

Steve Buscemi Was A Firefighter. During The 9/11 Attacks He Returned To His Former Job As A New York Firefighter To Help Out

Steve Buscemi Was A Firefighter. During The 9/11 Attacks He Returned To His Former Job As A New York Firefighter To Help Out

Joseph Marzullo Report

#2

Christopher Walken Was A Lion Tamer, He Was 16 At The Time And Would Perform With A Lioness Named Sheba

Christopher Walken Was A Lion Tamer, He Was 16 At The Time And Would Perform With A Lioness Named Sheba

Laurence Agron Report

#3

Danny DeVito Was A Hairdresser For Corpses, He Would Style Women's Hair To Make Them Look Beautiful Before They Went Six Feet Under

Danny DeVito Was A Hairdresser For Corpses, He Would Style Women's Hair To Make Them Look Beautiful Before They Went Six Feet Under

Matt Sayles Report

#4

Harrison Ford Was A Carpenter

Harrison Ford Was A Carpenter

Sergio Mendes , Alexandra Wyman Report

#5

Christopher Lee Worked For The Intelligence Service

Christopher Lee Worked For The Intelligence Service

Pascal Le Segretain Report

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Anna Sheridan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This man is actually one of the most awesome people ever seriously look up his bio

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#6

Johnny Depp Worked As A Telemarketer And Hated It, He Only Made One Sale - And Promptly Talked The Customer Out Of The Purchase

Johnny Depp Worked As A Telemarketer And Hated It, He Only Made One Sale - And Promptly Talked The Customer Out Of The Purchase

Dior Report

#8

Pierce Brosnan Was A Professional Fire Eater In His Teens And Performed Under The Big Top For Three Years

Pierce Brosnan Was A Professional Fire Eater In His Teens And Performed Under The Big Top For Three Years

Frazer Harrison Report

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#9

Jim Carrey Quit School To Support His Family And Started Working As A Janitor

Jim Carrey Quit School To Support His Family And Started Working As A Janitor

Evan Agostini Report

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Master Markus
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably should've stayed in school in order to not be gullible enough for your wife to convince you that vaccines cause autism!

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#10

Brad Pitt Used To Dress Up As A Chicken For An El Pollo Loco Restaurant In Hollywood

Brad Pitt Used To Dress Up As A Chicken For An El Pollo Loco Restaurant In Hollywood

EMPPL PA Wire Report

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#11

Barack Obama Was An Ice Cream Scooper At Baskin Robbins

Barack Obama Was An Ice Cream Scooper At Baskin Robbins

Obama White House Report

#13

Bob Ross Was A Sergeant In The Air Force

Bob Ross Was A Sergeant In The Air Force

Bob Ross Inc Report

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BREAK YOUr perceptions
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

more than that, i believe he was a drill sergeant. he actually hated it SO MUCH about yelling at people that when he quit he decided he was going to do something the complete opposite for the rest of his life. and so he went on to painting little trees and rivers in the most calming voice.

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#14

George Clooney Sold Women's Shoes, Was A Door-To-Door Insurance Salesman, Stocked Shelves, Was A Construction Worker, Cut Tobacco

George Clooney Sold Women's Shoes, Was A Door-To-Door Insurance Salesman, Stocked Shelves, Was A Construction Worker, Cut Tobacco

Kevin Wilkes , David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock Report

#15

Bill Murray Used To Sell Chestnuts Outside Of A Chicago Grocery Store

Bill Murray Used To Sell Chestnuts Outside Of A Chicago Grocery Store

Dominique Charriau Report

#16

Gal Gadot Served In The Israeli Defense Forces

Gal Gadot Served In The Israeli Defense Forces

gal_gadot Report

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Aahzmandus Pervect
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Israel, conscription was mandatory for men and women. It's not like it was her choice.

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dikla kuzy
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not a job.... Everyone in Israel needs to serve the army at 18

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BobbyMcD
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Too bad she didn't get any acting lessons. She was awful in WW.

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Amanda Avelar
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find it irritating how everyone is surprised about this and praises her because as aahzmandus said, it's mandatory. Who know what type of work she actually did. It could have been simple office work. I think everyone's praise should go to those who volunteer and commit to this type of job.

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Mayank Devmurarjee
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One hell of woman... This is women empowerment not something girls shout out today

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Targaryen
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@Loulou, no, babe, it's you who needs to read more about what Israel is all about. There're those things, made of paper originally, called books. This is where the information is hidden. No reason to believe everything you read on the Internets.

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Some Body
Community Member
6 years ago

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JEW IS A JEW. Nothing more. During WW2 she would be perfectly raped by everybody. :)

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Moha Omar
Community Member
6 years ago

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Yah its fun to kill children. What abunch of pathetic f***s.

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#17

David Bowie Worked As A Butcher's Delivery Boy

David Bowie Worked As A Butcher's Delivery Boy

Steve Schapiro Report

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Agnes Jekyll
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He drew up plans for his first band in grade 7 (or earlier!)--lights, outfits, hair--the whole thing!

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#18

Katheryn Winnick Is An Accomplished Martial Artist Who Holds A Third-Degree Black Belt In Taekwondo And A Second-Degree Black Belt In Karate. By 21 She Had Founded And Owned 3 Martial Arts Schools

Katheryn Winnick Is An Accomplished Martial Artist Who Holds A Third-Degree Black Belt In Taekwondo And A Second-Degree Black Belt In Karate. By 21 She Had Founded And Owned 3 Martial Arts Schools

FayesVision / WENN Report

#19

Jason Lee Was A Professional Skateboarder

Jason Lee Was A Professional Skateboarder

Kevin Winter Report

#20

Chris Pratt Worked As A Stripper While Struggling To Make A Living In Hawaii

Chris Pratt Worked As A Stripper While Struggling To Make A Living In Hawaii

Gregg DeGuire , prattprattpratt Report

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#21

Helen Mirren Worked As A Promoter For An Amusement Park In Southend On Sea

Helen Mirren Worked As A Promoter For An Amusement Park In Southend On Sea

Bentley Archive/Popperfoto , Jeff Vespa Report

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Alusair Alustriel
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She was such a lovely fint young girl! Love the fresh looks she had! And she's a beautiful woman now! That's aging with class.

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#22

Tom Hanks Was A Popcorn And Peanuts Vendor

Tom Hanks Was A Popcorn And Peanuts Vendor

Dennis Plehn , Paul Treadway Report

#23

Kate Winslet Was A Sandwich Maker In A Delicatessen

Kate Winslet Was A Sandwich Maker In A Delicatessen

Ian Gavan Report

#24

Liam Neeson Trained To Be A Teacher

Liam Neeson Trained To Be A Teacher

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#25

Whoopi Goldberg Was A Morgue Beautician

Whoopi Goldberg Was A Morgue Beautician

Jason Kempin Report

#26

Sandra Bullock Worked As A Bartender And Waitress At A Restaurant In Manhattan

Sandra Bullock Worked As A Bartender And Waitress At A Restaurant In Manhattan

Alessio Botticelli Report

#27

Tim Allen Was A Drug Dealer

Tim Allen Was A Drug Dealer

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#29

Nicole Kidman Studied Massage So She Could Help Her Mother, Who Was Diagnosed With Breast Cancer, With Physical Therapy

Nicole Kidman Studied Massage So She Could Help Her Mother, Who Was Diagnosed With Breast Cancer, With Physical Therapy

Patrick Riviere , Georges Biard Report

#30

Gerard Butler Was A Trainee Lawyer But Got Fired Due To His Partying And Frequently Missing Work

Gerard Butler Was A Trainee Lawyer But Got Fired Due To His Partying And Frequently Missing Work

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#31

Charlize Theron Studied At The Joffrey Ballet School In New York, But Had To Cut Her Dancing Career Short Due To A Knee Injury At The Age Of 19

Charlize Theron Studied At The Joffrey Ballet School In New York, But Had To Cut Her Dancing Career Short Due To A Knee Injury At The Age Of 19

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#32

Jon Hamm Was A Set-Dresser For Porn Films

Jon Hamm Was A Set-Dresser For Porn Films

Pascal Le Segretain Report

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Brandon Collinsworth
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the rumors about him are true then he was equipped enough he could have starred in a few

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#33

Victoria Beckham Played A Sperm On Roller Skates For A BBC Sex Education Show Called ‘Body Matters’

Victoria Beckham Played A Sperm On Roller Skates For A BBC Sex Education Show Called ‘Body Matters’

Neilson Barnard Report

#34

Michelle Pfeiffer Was A Cashier At A Supermarket

Michelle Pfeiffer Was A Cashier At A Supermarket

Gary Gershoff Report

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Alusair Alustriel
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I adore her looks. Ever since I was a kid I found her one of the prettiest women there were :D

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#35

Jake Gyllenhaal Was A Lifeguard

Jake Gyllenhaal Was A Lifeguard

Araya Diaz Report

#36

Sheryl Crow Was A Music Teacher In An Elementary School

Sheryl Crow Was A Music Teacher In An Elementary School

Jason Merritt Report

#38

Adrien Brody Performed Magic Shows At Children's Birthday Parties As "The Amazing Adrien"

Adrien Brody Performed Magic Shows At Children's Birthday Parties As "The Amazing Adrien"

Jim Smeal , Daniel Zuchnik Report

#40

Lucy Liu Was A Secretary, Aerobics Instructor And A Hostess

Lucy Liu Was A Secretary, Aerobics Instructor And A Hostess

celebmafia Report

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#41

Jon Bon Jovi Worked As A Christmas Decoration Maker

Jon Bon Jovi Worked As A Christmas Decoration Maker

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CookieChep
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At first I didn't read the 'maker, so I thought he work as a Christmas decoration XD

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#42

Matthew Mcconaughey Cleaned Chicken Coops And Washed Dishes

Matthew Mcconaughey Cleaned Chicken Coops And Washed Dishes

Peter Kramer Report

#43

Julia Roberts Worked As A Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Scooper

Julia Roberts Worked As A Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Scooper

Dan MacMedan Report

#44

Bradley Cooper Worked As A Doorman At The Morgans Hotel

Bradley Cooper Worked As A Doorman At The Morgans Hotel

abaca Report

#45

Mick Jagger Was A Bexley Mental Hospital Porter

Mick Jagger Was A Bexley Mental Hospital Porter

ANGELA WEISS Report

#47

Jennifer Lopez Worked In A Law Office

Jennifer Lopez Worked In A Law Office

Jon Kopaloff Report

#50

Ashton Kutcher Swept Cereal Dust At A General Mills Factory, Sold His Blood For Extra Cash

Ashton Kutcher Swept Cereal Dust At A General Mills Factory, Sold His Blood For Extra Cash

NBC Report

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#52

Kate Bosworth Was A Competitive Horse Rider

Kate Bosworth Was A Competitive Horse Rider

David Crotty Report

#53

Michael Fassbender Was An Altar Boy At Weddings And Baptisms, Conducted Market Research For Britain's Royal Mail And Had Numerous Bartending Positions

Michael Fassbender Was An Altar Boy At Weddings And Baptisms, Conducted Market Research For Britain's Royal Mail And Had Numerous Bartending Positions

Charles Sykes Report

#54

Vince Vaughn Was A Lifeguard At The YMCA

Vince Vaughn Was A Lifeguard At The YMCA

Alberto E. Rodriguez , miramax Report

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Daria B
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That.... That one makes me wanna sing.... Young man.... YYYYYYYYYYMCA! YYYYYYYYYYYYMCA! ♬♪

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#55

Patrick Dempsey Was A Juggler

Patrick Dempsey Was A Juggler

Jeff Lipsky Report

#56

Jake Johnson Used To Sell Burritos Out Of A Van

Jake Johnson Used To Sell Burritos Out Of A Van

Alberto E. Rodriguez Report

#57

Ozzy Osbourne Used To Work At A Slaughterhouse

Ozzy Osbourne Used To Work At A Slaughterhouse

Jason LaVeris Report

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Hisseefit
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I had worked at a slaughterhouse, I would probably have used drugs and alcohol to hide my pain.

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#58

Madonna Worked At Dunkin Donuts Until She Got Fired

Madonna Worked At Dunkin Donuts Until She Got Fired

Michael McDonnell , WENN Ltd Report

#59

Demi Moore Was A Debt Collector

Demi Moore Was A Debt Collector

Jim Spellman Report

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Ronja Rövardotter
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rumours say that she was really successful debt collector because everybody always paid her Moore :)

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#60

Elon Musk Shoveled Dirt In A Boiler Room For $18/hour

Elon Musk Shoveled Dirt In A Boiler Room For $18/hour

forbes Report

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Susan Forbes
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where was this boiler that he got $18 an hour for shoveling in? Not too shabby

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#62

Megan Fox Was A Waitress, She Quit Because Customers Couldn't Keep Their Hands Off Her Body

Megan Fox Was A Waitress, She Quit Because Customers Couldn't Keep Their Hands Off Her Body

Genaro Molina Report

#64

Eva Mendes Worked In A Pizza Place And A Hot Dog Stand In Local Mall

Eva Mendes Worked In A Pizza Place And A Hot Dog Stand In Local Mall

Alexander Tamargo Report

#65

Courtney Cox Worked For A New York Concert Booking Agency

Courtney Cox Worked For A New York Concert Booking Agency

celebmafia Report

#67

Amy Adams Was A Hooters Waitress

Amy Adams Was A Hooters Waitress

Steve Granitz Report

#69

Will Ferrell Was A Hotel Valet

Will Ferrell Was A Hotel Valet

Eva Rinaldi Report

#70

Lady Gaga Was A Waitress

Lady Gaga Was A Waitress

Malgorzata Saniewska , ladygaga Report

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#71

Tina Fey Was A Snack Bar Server At A Swim Club

Tina Fey Was A Snack Bar Server At A Swim Club

Jason Merritt Report

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John Polyak
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's one of the brightest, funniest people alive. She's beautiful to boot.

#72

Marisa Tomei Worked At A Tony Roma's Steakhouse

Marisa Tomei Worked At A Tony Roma's Steakhouse

Gregg DeGuire Report

#74

Blake Shelton Used To Paint Houses

Blake Shelton Used To Paint Houses

justjared Report

#75

Julianne Moore Was A Waitress

Julianne Moore Was A Waitress

CBS Photo Archive , celebmafia Report

#76

Ewan Mcgregor Was A Stagehand At Perth Repertory Theatre

Ewan Mcgregor Was A Stagehand At Perth Repertory Theatre

Taylor Hill Report

#77

Mariah Carey Studied Cosmetology And Had Several Jobs In Salons Before She Gave Up On That Dream

Mariah Carey Studied Cosmetology And Had Several Jobs In Salons Before She Gave Up On That Dream

Ron Galella, Ltd. , mariahcarey Report

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Steve Woods
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shame she hasn't given up her dream of being an annoying bint!

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#78

Harry Styles Worked At The W. Mandeville Bakery In Holmes Chapel

Harry Styles Worked At The W. Mandeville Bakery In Holmes Chapel

Gary Gershoff Report

#79

Rooney Mara Was A Summer Camp Counselor

Rooney Mara Was A Summer Camp Counselor

Mike Windle Report

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#82

Beyoncé Used To Sweep Up Hair In Mama Tina Knowles' Hair Salon

Beyoncé Used To Sweep Up Hair In Mama Tina Knowles' Hair Salon

Buda Mendes Report

#83

America Ferrera Worked As A Waitress While Attending The University Of Southern California

America Ferrera Worked As A Waitress While Attending The University Of Southern California

Randy Shropshire Report

#84

Sarah Silverman Waited Tables At A Mexican Restaurant Called La Cantina

Sarah Silverman Waited Tables At A Mexican Restaurant Called La Cantina

hawtcelebs Report

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DC
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's cool. The cool kind of shameless in at least one way.

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#86

Jennifer Hudson Worked At Burger King

Jennifer Hudson Worked At Burger King

hawtcelebs Report

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Panda Man
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@ sondre, you are a jerk and there are special places in hell for people like you

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#87

Tom Cruise Attended Seminary With An Aspiration Of Becoming A Priest

Tom Cruise Attended Seminary With An Aspiration Of Becoming A Priest

Kevin Winter Report

#88

Elizabeth Banks Was A Waitress

Elizabeth Banks Was A Waitress

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#90

Simon Cowell Was A Post Boy At Emi Record Label

Simon Cowell Was A Post Boy At Emi Record Label

Earl Gibson III Report

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#91

Sarah Jessica Parker Trained In Singing And Ballet

Sarah Jessica Parker Trained In Singing And Ballet

Gotham Report

#92

Ashley Judd Was A Hostess At The Ivy Restaurant

Ashley Judd Was A Hostess At The Ivy Restaurant

Kevin Mazur Report

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#93

Ellen Pompeo Was A Bartender

Ellen Pompeo Was A Bartender

Paul Archuleta Report

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As If
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She still plays that role. Grey's Anatomy is about to kick off it's 14th season and is one of the most popular, well-written, most award-winning, and longest running medical dramas in American Television. I mean, I can believe someone in this country has never seen an episode, but to have never heard of it? I don't believe that for a second. I think those people are just trying to sound cool, being all "who? what? never heard of it". Kind of like I do with One Direction.

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#95

Gwyneth Paltrow Was A Waitress

Gwyneth Paltrow Was A Waitress

gwynethpaltrow Report

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Gilda
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This ones kind of cool her mom is Blythe Danner so it's not like she had to

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#96

Kanye West Was A Sales Assistant At Gap

Kanye West Was A Sales Assistant At Gap

Kevin Mazur Report

#97

Kelly Clarkson Worked As A Cocktail Waitress At Multiple Comedy Clubs In Texas

Kelly Clarkson Worked As A Cocktail Waitress At Multiple Comedy Clubs In Texas

Robin Marchant , Steve Zak Photography Report

#99

Naya Rivera Worked As A Waitress At Hooters

Naya Rivera Worked As A Waitress At Hooters

SGranitz , nayarivera Report

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As If
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now this is genuine...I don't know who this is. I'd Google her, but I don't care enough.

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#100

Chelsea Handler Was A Waitress At A Morton's Steakhouse

Chelsea Handler Was A Waitress At A Morton's Steakhouse

Chelsea Handler , Slaven Vlasic Report

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#101

Jay-Z Was A Drug Dealer

Jay-Z Was A Drug Dealer

Frederick M. Brown Report

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Jill
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So the comments on Tim Allen are "prefer him as a dealer" but for Jay Z it's "not surprised" ... some readers need to take a long hard look at themselves

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#102

Nicki Minaj Was A Waitress

Nicki Minaj Was A Waitress

Kevin Mazur Report

#103

Holy Madison Worked As A Waitress At Hooters

Holy Madison Worked As A Waitress At Hooters

Ethan Miller Report