[PW] Inexperienced people in occupations who then excel at them

[Erica Cathers]

How about Harold Russell?

>From Wikipedia: "Canadian-American World War II veteran who became one of
only two non-professional actors to win an Academy Award for acting."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Russell

He lost both hands in the Army, then played the role of Homer Parrish, a
sailor who'd lost his hands, in The Best Years of Our Lives. (Great movie,
if you've never seen it.)

Erica Cathers
Gloucester City Public Library (NJ)