Living

Crime Show Stars Who Served in Military & Law Enforcement IRL

By Raquel Lekic In Woman's World

Updated May 25, 2026 1:07 PM

a360 photography — Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

Whether it’s drama you’re looking for, action, or even a little bit of occasional romance, crime shows often deliver hours upon hours of pure entertainment. From cult classics like Magnum P.I. to more modern series that have stood the test of time thanks to wildly loyal fan bases such as Law & Order: SVU, there’s something to be said about the gripping storylines that fill episode after episode. While it’s of course the intricate plots and ever-evolving dynamics that pull us in, the folks that bring these series to life do so in a way that almost makes you feel as though they’re actual members of law enforcement—and believe it or not, some of them actually were! Here, get to know these crime show leads with links to law enforcement and the military.

Tom Selleck

From Magnum P.I to Blue Bloods to Jesse Stone, you’d think Tom Selleck was truly a cop—but the 81-year-old actor just knows how to play one on TV really well! Despite not being a member of law enforcement, the actor did serve in another capacity as an infantryman in the California National Guard.

Dennis Farina

Dennis Farina has left his mark on a handful of crime series and films, and it was his nearly two decades of work as a Chicago police officer that led him to a career in front of the camera. Farina crossed paths with director Michael Mann, who was in his city filming Thief (1981). Consulting Farina and the Chicago police department, Mann eventually offered him a small role—that would eventually evolve into a long career on the screen after he eventually stepped away from life on the police force.

David Zayas

Many know David Zayas for his detective role in Dexter, but you might not have known that he worked for the NYPD for almost 15 years! Prior to that, he served in the U.S. Air Force for five years.

Chuck Norris

Before he brought to life an iconic lawman on Walker, Texas Ranger, Chuck Norris served in the U.S. Air Force as an Air Policeman. It was while he was deployed in South Korea that he was first introduced to martial arts.

Erik Estrada

Erik Estrada portrayed highway patrol officer Frank “Ponch” Poncherello on the hit series CHiPs, and after he stepped away from television, he went on to pursue a real career in law enforcement as a sworn reserve police officer and deputy sheriff.

Ice-T

Ice-T serves the public in the fictional world of Law & Order: SVU, but he served in real life too in the U.S. Army.

James Garner

Garner took the lead as private detective Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files, and he served his country similar to the way his iconic character served his community. Garner was a part of the U.S. Merchant Marines and the U.S. Army, serving as an infantryman during the Korean War.

This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 12:30 PM.