Mr. T
Mr. T, whose real name is Laurence Tureaud, retired from professional wrestling in the 1980s. However, a decade before that, he worked as a military police officer, but after committing a minor misdeed, he was demoted to squad leader. In 1975, Mr. T was named the Top Trainee of the Cycle.
After leaving the military, Mr. T made a living by working as a bodyguard, receiving up to three grand a night. One of his most famous clients was the biggest, baddest heavyweight champion of the world, Muhammad Ali! However, it wasn’t until he was discovered by Sylvester Stallone that he transitioned from bodyguard work to acting.