Jump directly to the content
Before They Were Famous

Kanye West folded clothes at GAP and Brad Pitt delivered fridges… The 13 most unlikely celeb jobs

They may live the high life now, but you wouldn’t believe how these stars made a living before they found fame

THESE are some of the most famous faces in the world, but even celebrities have to start their career somewhere.

From stripping to carpentry, we reveal the most surprising jobs these A-listers had before they were famous.

Kanye West

 Kanye was so inspired by his days working in GAP that he even rapped about it on his 2004 album
13
Kanye was so inspired by his days working in GAP that he even rapped about it on his 2004 albumCredit: Getty / Getty

Kanye’s sartorial career began years before he was one of the most famous rappers in the world, as he used to work at the GAP clothes store folding clothes. He even rapped about it on his 2004 album, The College Drop-Out:

“Let's go back, back to the GAP. Look at my check, wasn't no scratch.”

Brad Pitt

 Brad Pitt dropped out of uni and was a fridge delivery man before finding fame as an actor
13
Brad Pitt dropped out of uni and was a fridge delivery man before finding fame as an actorCredit: Getty / Getty

Brad studied journalism at the University of Missouri and was two credits away from graduating when he dropped out and moved to LA to pursue acting.

Fame didn’t come quickly, though, and before he made it big he was a fridge-delivery man, wore a chicken suit to promote a restaurant and drove exotic dancers around in a limo!

Gerard Butler

 The Hollywood actor had a successful career as a lawyer on the cards, but he ditched it for acting
13
The Hollywood actor had a successful career as a lawyer on the cards, but he ditched it for actingCredit: Fame Flynet

Gerard is a trained lawyer and even worked in a law firm for a year before quitting to purse his passion for acting.

He luckily landed a job as a casting assistant which led to his lead role in Coriolanus.

Channing Tatum

 We all enjoyed watching Channing play a stripper in Magic Mike - but it looked a bit different to his days when that was his actual job
13
We all enjoyed watching Channing play a stripper in Magic Mike - but it looked a bit different to his days when that was his actual jobCredit: Splash News

Okay, it’s now fairly common knowledge that Channing used his real-life experiences of being a stripper in Florida for his film role in Magic Mike.

But did you ever see it with your own eyes? That picture truly is worth a thousand words.

Hugh Jackman

 Hottie Hugh Jackman's muscular physique makes sense now we know he used to be a P.E. teacher
13
Hottie Hugh Jackman's muscular physique makes sense now we know he used to be a P.E. teacherCredit: Film Company

Back in 1987, Wolverine himself was a PE teacher in Uppingham School in the East Midlands.

Hilariously, he was once interviewed by a showbiz reporter - and recognised him as a former student!

Michelle Keegan

 Michelle Keegan used to man the check-in desk at Manchester airport before becoming soap's hottest female star
13
Michelle Keegan used to man the check-in desk at Manchester airport before becoming soap's hottest female starCredit: Fame Flynet

Lovely Mich worked as a check-in agent at Manchester Airport before she found fame as a McIntyre in Coronation Street in 2008.

She even once ‘checked in’ Jack P Shepherd, who plays David Platt – her future on-screen boyfriend!

Helen Mirren

 Showbiz's classiest lady Helen Mirren used to earn her keep promoting by her local amusement park
13
Showbiz's classiest lady Helen Mirren used to earn her keep promoting by her local amusement parkCredit: Getty Images

Believe it or not, this Oscar-winning actress worked as a promoter for an amusement park in her hometown of Southend-on-Sea.

She’s since said she has “really fond memories” of growing up in Southend.

Matt LeBlanc

 It turns out Matt LeBlanc was already a dab hand at woodwork before shooting this scene in Friends
13
It turns out Matt LeBlanc was already a dab hand at woodwork before shooting this scene in FriendsCredit: TNT

Joey Tribbiani once tried his hand at a spot of carpentry in Friends but perhaps the writers took inspiration from real life?

Believe it or not, Matt was a carpenter before he found fame.

Agyness Deyn

 Agyness' modelling career started in the chippie, of all places
13
Agyness' modelling career started in the chippie, of all placesCredit: Rex Features

The British supermodel was a waitress in a fish and chip shop near Ramsbottom in Bury.

It was in fact here where she was discovered, aged 16, by her local newspaper.

George Clooney

 Silver fox Clooney had doors slammed in his face before rising to Hollywood fame
13
Silver fox Clooney had doors slammed in his face before rising to Hollywood fameCredit: Getty Images - FilmMagic

Years ago, George’s job wasn’t being an actor, producer or avid political campaigner… It was being a door-to-door insurance salesman.

Oh, the glamour.

Madonna

 It's hard to reconcile health freak, yoga-loving Madonna with Dunkin' Donuts, but it happened
13
It's hard to reconcile health freak, yoga-loving Madonna with Dunkin' Donuts, but it happenedCredit: Getty / Getty

The Queen of Pop is used to dipping her waist on stage, but she was a Dunkin’ Donuts in her first waitressing job, in the late 1970s.

The fitness fanatic has obviously left her doughnut-dunking days behind her now though.

Debbie Harry

 Debbie soared to fame as the lead singer of Blondie, but not that many people know about her history working as a Playboy Bunny
13
Debbie soared to fame as the lead singer of Blondie, but not that many people know about her history working as a Playboy BunnyCredit: Getty Images

Blondie were one of the biggest bands in the 1970s and 1980s, but lead singer Debbie had a surprising way of paying the bills before that…

She was a Playboy Bunny in the early 1970s at New York’s legendary Playboy club.

Mick Jagger

 Rock star Mick was a temporary porter at a psychiatric hospital before fame - and even lost his virginity to one of the nurses in the store cupboard
13
Rock star Mick was a temporary porter at a psychiatric hospital before fame - and even lost his virginity to one of the nurses in the store cupboardCredit: Getty Images

The Rolling Stones frontman worked part-time as a porter at Bexley Psychiatric Hospital in south-east London when he was 18.

The legendary lothario has even said he lost his virginity to a nurse in one of the hospital’s store cupboards.

Topics