Adam Driver is a renowned American actor for his roles in films such as Star Wars, Marriage Story, and Blackkklansman. However, before his success in the entertainment industry, Driver served in the United States Marine Corps, and his journey from Marine to an actor is interesting.
Driver joined the Marine Corps after the September 11 attacks, feeling patriotic and wanting to do something to serve his country. At the time, he was 17 years old and living in Mishawaka, a small town in Northern Indiana. He had just graduated from high school and was paying rent to live in the back room of his parents’ house. His exposure to theatre and film was limited to the plays he did in high school and Blockbuster Video, which he jokingly mentions in his talk.
Despite having auditioned for Juilliard while still in high school, Driver didn’t get in and decided that college wasn’t for him. He embarked on an acting odyssey to Los Angeles but only made it as far as Amarillo, Texas before his car broke down, and he had to return home, thus ending his acting career before it even began. At this point, he joined the Marine Corps and found that he loved being a Marine.
For Driver, the most rewarding aspect of his military service was the people he met. He describes them as a motley crew of characters from a cross-section of the United States, and he found that he had nothing in common with them on the surface. However, over time, all the political and personal bravado that led him to the military dissolved, and the Marine Corps became synonymous with his friends.
A few years into his service and months away from deploying to Iraq, Driver dislocated his sternum in a mountain-biking accident and had to be medically separated. Being told that he wasn’t getting deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan was devastating for him, as he explains. He was a civilian again, but he knew he wanted to give acting another shot.
He re-auditioned for Juilliard and got in, but the transition from military to civilian life was complex. Although he was relatively healthy, he found the process practically and emotionally difficult. Almost he had to get a job, and emotionally, he struggled to find meaning.
In the military, everything has meaning, and everything you do is either steeped in tradition or has a practical purpose. In the civilian world, there’s no rank, and you’re just another body. The Driver struggled to apply what he learned in the military to a civilian context.
Despite the challenges, Driver persevered and became a successful actor. His military background has undoubtedly shaped his approach to his craft, and he brings a unique perspective to his roles. He has used his platform to support military veterans, founding the non-profit organization Arts in the Armed Forces, which provides high-quality arts programming to active-duty service members, veterans, military support staff, and their families.
In his talk, Driver’s sense of humour and humility shine through. He acknowledges that his journey has been unique but recognizes that many veterans face challenges in transitioning to civilian life. His experience highlights the importance of supporting those who have served their country and reminds us that there’s often more to people than meets the eye.
Adam Driver’s journey from a Marine to an actor is a testament to his resilience, determination, and talent. His military service has undoubtedly shaped his approach to life and craft, and he continues using his platform to support veterans. Driver’s story reminds us that there’s often more to people than meets the eye, and we should never underestimate the power of human potential.
