Stacey Dash
I knew Adam Driver has been nominated for numerous Emmys on Girls and has had small roles in award-winning films like Lincoln and Inside Llewyn Davis. And like most of the world, I loved him as Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, now the highest-grossing film in U.S. box office history.
“Unfortunately for the young Marine, Driver injured his sternum in a mountain biking accident before deploying. He attempted to mitigate his debilitated state by training harder than before, if for no other reason than to show off that he was okay. However, after two years of service with no time in the field, Driver was medically discharged. …When he returned to the U.S., he attended Julliard and studied drama. He graduated in 2009 and began acting in Broadway and off-Broadway plays while pulling odd jobs to pay bills. …
Of his Marine Corps days, he reminisces, “You miss the rigor, the discipline, the camaraderie…I think you become very aware, probably more than average people your age, that we’re all going to die. You’re aware of your own mortality, and also of how much you can accomplish in a day. Time is precious, and you don’t want to waste it.”
When not acting, Driver operates the non-profit Arts in the Armed Forces which aims to bring stage plays to servicemembers.”
I discovered this non-profit when VICE News did a feature on Driver returning to the Middle East to put on plays for our troops. His wife operates it with him.
But the best part of the VICE News coverage is seeing Driver interact with the troops. He shows a comfort, empathy, and understanding as he chats with the troops that can only come from someone who has served his nation. It’s amazing to see and it makes me respect Adam Driver even more than I did before.
He’s a great villain in Star Wars and it makes me happy that he’s a great patriot serving our troops in real life.
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