Hollywood Marine veteran Rob Riggle doubts modern stars would make Jimmy Stewart's WWII sacrifice

Hollywood has doubts about whether today's stars would be willing to step away from the spotlight to serve in uniform like WWII bomber pilot Jimmy Stewart.

Stewart famously walked away from an Oscar-winning career at its peak to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a private nine months before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

In the upcoming biopic "Jimmy," Riggle, who is a retired U.S. Marine officer, plays Colonel Terrill, Stewart's squadron commander and mentor.

TOM HANKS PUT 'BAND OF BROTHERS' STARS IN THEIR PLACE DURING BOOT CAMP 'MUTINY', NEAL MCDONOUGH REVEALS

During a recent interview with Fox News Digital, the 56-year-old actor and comedian weighed in on whether modern celebrities would be willing to make the same wartime sacrifice as the late movie icon.

"I would be surprised if anybody made that same choice today, especially an actor of his status," Riggle said.

"You got to remember, he won an Academy Award before the war," "The Hangover" star continued. "It wasn't like he was an up-and-coming actor. He was an established Academy Award-winning actor before the war. And then decided to put on the uniform and not in a safe way."

"He wanted to put on the uniform and serve where he could be used best," Riggle added. "And he was a pilot, so he put his hand in the air and went into harm's way. And I don't know if you'd see that today. I mean, I hope you would, but I would be surprised."

Stewart joined the military in March 1941, just 28 days after winning the best actor Academy Award for his performance in the classic 1940 film, "The Philadelphia Story." He had tried to enlist in late 1940 prior to winning his Oscar but was initially rejected for being five pounds under the weight requirement for his 6'3" frame. Determined to serve, Stewart actively gained the weight so he could reapply and enlist right after the Academy Awards.

Due to his fame, the military initially tried to keep Stewart, who was a licensed commercial pilot, stateside as a flight instructor and used him for publicity and March of Dimes promotional tours. However, Stewart repeatedly requested overseas combat duty, appealing to his superiors to let him fly rather than serve in public relations.

99-YEAR-OLD WWII VETERAN AWARDED PURPLE HEART AFTER WAITING MORE THAN 80 YEARS

Stewart's persistence eventually paid off, and he was sent to England in late 1943 with the 445th Bombardment Group. He went on to fly 20 official combat missions over Nazi-occupied Europe as a command pilot, squadron commander and wing commander in B-24 Liberator heavy bombers.

By the end of WWII in 1945, Stewart had risen from private to full colonel. His combat awards included the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and the French Croix de Guerre.

REMEMBERING THE COLLEAGUES WE LOST: A VETERAN'S MEMORIAL DAY REFLECTION

Riggle noted that people may be unaware of the danger that Stewart willingly placed himself in while serving his country.

"I think Jimmy went through a lot harder service than most with the flying over Germany, dropping bombs, having to make those sorties under tremendous stress and loss of his peers," Riggle said.

"But I do think when you decide to serve your country, you're kind of writing a blank check with your life and limb and I think it takes a lot to do that, so I'm s