All the legendary stars you by no means knew had been spies – from Elvis to Frank Sinatra
From the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll to Roald Dahl, numerous celebrities were living a double life as a secret agent. The Daily Star looks back on some of the most famous names in espionage.
Elvis Presley
The ‘Hound Dog’ singer was reportedly recruited as a spy by President Richard Nixon during the 1970s to snoop on Beatles singer John Lennon. ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris, a former BBC Radio 2 presenter, claimed Nixon told the King of Rock and Roll to keep track of Lennon’s movements while living in New York City.
By 1972, The president reportedly “loathed” Lennon’s anti-Vietnam war stance and was trying to get him deported so asked Presley to gather as much information about the singer’s whereabouts as he could.
Elvis Presley(Image: Getty Images)
Audrey Hepburn
The 1950s film and fashion icon was just a teenager when she became involved in the Dutch Resistance during World War Two. The 5-time Oscar winner staged secret ballet performances where audiences were forbidden from making any sound so they were not discovered by German patrols.
After each performance, money was collected from audience members for the Resistance against Nazi Occupation. Hepburn also delivered food and secret messages to Allied pilots who crash-landed in Holland, hiding a Resistance newspaper in her socks.
Audrey Hepburn(Image: Getty Images)
Frank Sinatra
The ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ singer reportedly offered to be a deeper spy for the FBI in 1950 but was turned down according to confidential Washington documents.
(Image: Getty Images)
Roald Dahl
The children’s author, best known for ‘The Twits’ and ‘Matilda’, was a fighter pilot for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. After being seriously injured when he crash-landed into the Libyan desert, Dahl became a spy working for a division of MI6 in Washington DC.
His job was to persuade powerful Americans to help with the Allied war effort and gather intelligence and information for the British government.
Roald Dahl(Image: Getty Images)
Ian Fleming
The James Bond author Ian Fleming worked as a naval intelligence officer devising a number of wartime plans, acting as a liaison for MI5 and the Secret Service.
The writer also acted as a propagandist in the US alongside Roald Dahl, persuading high-profile diplomats to aid the Allies.
Ian Fleming(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
Harry Houdini
Legendary escapologist Houdini reportedly worked as an undercover informant for Scotland Yard, sending intelligence reports back to the British Secret Service. Biographers William Kalush and Sloman claim the Hungarian-born magician was providing the German police with information about wanted German criminals.
Harry Houdini(Image: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Josephine Baker
The iconic entertainer transformed into a Resistance spy, gathering top-secret information at high society events at foreign embassies and gaining access to high-profile personnel.
Baker used her fame to make sure she was not searched by the Nazis, pinning notes to the inside of her underwear and transmitted information to the British, French and American secret services.
Josephine Baker(Image: Getty Images)
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