They shine on screen and command red carpets now — but long before fame, these 20 stars faced the raw reality of homelessness. From sleeping in cars and tents to crashing on studio floors, their early struggles shaped the people we now celebrate. Here are their stories, in order.
Natasha Lyonne, known from Orange Is the New Black, hit a rough patch in the 2000s after legal troubles, substance issues and severe health setbacks (including collapsed lungs and hepatitis C). Evicted from her NYC apartment, she briefly found herself without a home before rebuilding her life and career.
Shortly after moving to New York, Halle Berry ran out of money and spent time in a homeless shelter. She’s said that her mother’s tough stance — refusing to bail her out — forced her to fend for herself. Berry later parlayed pageant success into an acting career and an Oscar.
At 14, Dwayne Johnson and his family were evicted in Honolulu and lived without stable housing. Johnson has recounted the family’s financial struggles and the small acts of theft he resorted to as a child. He eventually found success in wrestling and then Hollywood.
While training in London’s theatre world as a teen, Daniel Craig supported himself with part-time jobs and at times slept on park benches when work was scarce. He rose through acting roles to become the internationally known James Bond.
Before Rocky made him a star, Sylvester Stallone endured years of rejection and homelessness in New York during the 1970s. He slept in bus stations and outside post offices until he wrote the script that launched his breakout role.
Shania Twain, her mother, and siblings once stayed in a crowded homeless shelter while escaping a tough family situation. Twain later worked her way up in country music and achieved multi-platinum success with classic albums like The Woman in Me.
Before she became J.Lo, Jennifer Lopez briefly lived on a dance-studio couch after an argument with her mother. She persisted, took a dancing job in Europe, moved to Los Angeles and launched a multi-faceted entertainment career.
Growing up after his father lost a job, a young Jim Carrey and his family sometimes lived in tents and on relatives’ lawns in Canada. Carrey worked low-paying jobs with his family before eventually breaking through in comedy and film.
At 19, Chris Pratt lived without a roof while in Maui, calling the experience “charming” at the time. He worked odd jobs — including waiting tables — and was discovered serendipitously, leading to a long film career.
Carmen Electra struggled to make ends meet in Los Angeles early on and spent periods without stable housing as she chased acting opportunities. She was discovered by Prince and later rose to fame on Baywatch and in music.
Hilary Swank and her mother endured homelessness as she pursued acting in L.A., even sleeping in their car at times and staying in empty houses when possible. Swank later secured roles that led to award-winning success.
After a fire destroyed the apartment she was sharing, Kelly Clarkson spent several nights sleeping in her car before auditioning for American Idol — which she ultimately won, launching her music career.
Tiffany Haddish has openly described multiple periods of homelessness, surviving by living in cars and shelters, showering in gyms, and even crashing weddings for food. Aid from peers and persistence helped her build a breakthrough comedy career.
Emancipated as a teen, Rose McGowan experienced homelessness and loneliness before being discovered and cast in The Doom Generation, which helped start her acting career.
In the early 1970s, after Star Trek’s original run ended and a divorce, William Shatner faced financial hardship and lived out of a pickup truck while working in regional theatre.
Steve Harvey left a stable job to pursue comedy and found himself homeless — living in his car and relying on public facilities to get by. He eventually broke through in stand-up and became a TV megastar.
While studying at Juilliard, Kelsey Grammer struggled to afford rent, at times sleeping in parks and using school facilities to get by as he chased acting opportunities that would lead to Cheers and Frasier.
Tyler Perry lived in his car during the 1990s while staging plays in Atlanta and pouring his savings into productions that initially failed. Persistence paid off after multiple tries, and he later built an entertainment empire.
Sam Worthington voluntarily chose to sell his possessions and live in his car for a period in Sydney as part of a personal reset. When he later auditioned for Avatar, studios began flying him to the U.S., and his career took off.
In her early 20s Selma Blair stayed at a Salvation Army shelter in New York while pursuing acting work, after spending her modest savings on a designer piece she later regretted. She continued to work her way into film and TV roles.
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