How serving in the Marine Corps helped prepare Rob Riggle for Hollywood
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Rob Riggle is known for his roles in "The Hangover," "Step Brothers," "Dumb & Dumber," and countless of other characters in movies and TV shows.
But before the 47-year-old made his mark in Hollywood, Riggle served in the Marine Corps for 23 years.
"All that time in the Marines definitely made me ready [for Hollywood]," Riggle told Fox News.
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The actor spent nine years in active duty followed by 14 in the reserves.
"Coming from the Marine Corps, you definitely get a thick skin, you definitely learn how to deal with adversity and you definitely learn how to overcome things," he said.
Riggle added, "If you're going to plan on having a life in Hollywood, you better get used to adversity, you better get used to being talked to in a very direct manner and you better get used to picking yourself up and dusting yourself off.
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Riggle, who recently teamed up with Holiday Inn Express' Readiest campaign, told us his time in the Marines and his success in Hollywood has made him proud to be an American.
"[America gives you] a chance to pursue whatever dream you might have," Riggle said. "I wanted to serve my country, so I did. That was one dream fulfilled. I wanted to pursue comedy and acting. I did, that's another dream fulfilled. I wanted to have a house and children, those are other dreams I had [and] I did that."
Riggle said, "You can pursue your dreams if you've got the ambition and the drive and determination, you can do whatever you want in this country."