Small Roles These Big Celebs Started Out In
Everyone’s got to start out somewhere. When we enter the workforce it’s pretty rare that the first job we get is something super great or even respected in the larger terms of the working world. You take what you can get and then start clawing your way to the top, right? Unless nepotism is at play, it can take a while before any of us get a chance to shine or find a role that we’re comfortable enough to stay in.
Breaking into the acting world and earning those big bucks is even harder than that! Some people tend to forget that when they see their favorite big names on the screen they weren’t always Hollywood A-listers. In fact, most of them started out as extras, background characters, or just had tiny walk-on roles that most of us have already forgotten about!
Mila Kunis on Days of Our Lives
You may know her as Meg from Family Guy (or Jackie from That 70s Show), but Mila Kunis is much more than someone’s punchline or a supporting character. This highly accomplished actor and humanitarian has been in the game for a while. She also has a ton of range! Before she hit it big in the late 90s she was pretty well-known in soap opera circles.
Oh yeah, Meg has a dramatic past! Kunis’ career started when she was 11 she was on the ultra-famous (and never-ending) soap opera Days of Our Lives! Kunis played the younger version of Hope Williams. The name proved fortuitous, because that Hope turned into a whole lot of other roles.
Lady Gaga on The Sopranos
Long before her disco stick and call to 911 catapulted her to superstardom, Lady Gaga was a television extra on one of the world’s most famous shows. Credited under her non-stage name (Stefani Germanotta) she played a kid full of giggles on The Sopranos. This was back in 2001 (When television first started using color) and the still green Germanotta wasn’t used to working on a set.
Apparently, she later rewatched the scene after earning some big acting awards and saw what she should have done better. The first being she should have actually laughed authentically instead of making eye contact with the camera and screeching. Either way, that role didn’t hurt her career. If anything, it helped her learn and grow into the powerhouse performer she is today.
Megan Fox in Bad Boys II
Most people aren’t born into a modeling, acting, and voiceover career. Those things take time and refinement to get just right. That, and, it’s nearly impossible to secure that as a career. Nobody told Megan Fox any of that. Despite growing up in an extremely strict religious home, Fox has broken records and dropped jaws with her accolades. While many of us know her from the Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle series, she’s actually been acting as far back as 2003!
One of her first movie roles was as an uncredited extra in Bad Boys II! Fox played the super important character called “Bikini Kid Dancing Under Waterfall” in a single scene. That was enough to add to her IMDB and catapult her to other projects!
Jennifer Lawrence in Monk
Before becoming one of Hollywood’s highest-paid female stars, Jennifer Lawrence started off as a high school mascot. Okay, kind of, but not in a normal high school. In 2006, the future Hunger Games and Silver Linings Playbook star put on a mascot outfit to play a character on Monk! This cult-hit classic starring Tony Shalhoub is a great watch. Even Lawrence’s single episode (Mr. Monk and the Big Game, season 5, episode 3) is a great one.
Lawrence may not be the lead but she definitely stole focus from Shalhoub. Her star power was undeniable. That’s saying a lot for someone wearing a giant dog mascot costume. Since that big break, she’s been unstoppable in Hollywood! We’re pretty sure she can hire a whole team of mascots now just for the fun of it.
Lucy Liu in Beverly Hills 90210
Did you go to school in the highly sought-after 90210 ZIP code? If you did, then maybe you attended Beverly Hills High with Lucy Liu! Well, that or you saw her on-screen attending Beverly Hills High. Before becoming a world-class doctor, spy, and detective/sober companion she worked at a high school cafe.
In season 2 of 90210 Liu plays (for a single episode) Courtney. Courtney didn’t stay at school long (the character goes off to college pretty quick). However, she stays on-air just long enough for people to see one of Hollywood’s most accomplished stars get their big break!
Scarlett Johansson in North
Sometimes, kids just know better. At least, that’s what they think. North, a 1994 film about a kiddo on his quest to find perfect parents, is an interesting film. Critics were not a fan of many parts of it. Roger Ebert even said it was one of his least favorite films! However, for every bad comment people have to say about it there are still some good moments. The best is that one of Marvel’s most well-known heroes has a part in it.
If you happen to rewatch the movie then you may catch a glimpse of Scarlett Johannson! This flick turned out to be her first major acting role. What makes it better is that she got to take part in a birthday party on a movie set. That’s a pretty sweet first gig to have if you’re nine.
Jada Pinkett Smith in True Colors
Jada Pinkett Smith is an amazing actor. Not only has she earned an Emmy for Red Table Talk, but she’s also been part of some INCREDIBLE projects. She commanded her own crew in The Matrix series, and she was also a top physician on Hawthorne. It’s hard to imagine such a top-billed actor starting out on a short-lived sitcom. However, that’s how legends are born.
Smith got her start starring in a single episode of the 1990 sitcom True Colors! It’s kind of like a modern version of The Brady Bunch (but with fewer kids). After that, she started booking guest roles in other acclaimed shows such as Doogie Howser, M.D. and even 21 Jump Street. Once those roles were on her resume she leaped into stardom and started performing in films.
Ryan Gosling in Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Did you even have a childhood in America if you weren’t watching Are You Afraid of the Dark? It was the scariest show allowed on children’s programming and we had a love/hate relationship with it. The pinball episode was great, but some were just too scary to ever watch all the way through (even as adults). Looking back, we did have a favorite above all the others: The Tale of Station 109.1. It has nothing to do with the story.
The best part of the haunted radio station episode was that Ryan Gosling (yes, THAT Ryan Gosling) starred in it! Long before The Notebook and Drive were even in development, Gosling was just a kid who loved the radio. Good thing the Midnight Society was just telling a story. If it were true we wouldn’t have one of the greatest Canadian actors ever on our screens.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Law and Order
Phillip Seymour Hoffman was one of those incredible actors just brought a unique presence to every project he was attached to. His reserved and diabolical nature in Doubt, being the Gamemaker with a heart in The Hunger Games, every role just gives us goosebumps for different reasons. He was a true force to be reckoned with in Hollywood that left this world far too soon.
Rewind the tape and you’d think he’s been a big name since his first film. However, Hoffman got his start on a lil’ known show called Law & Order (before SVU). Sure, with its nearly infinite spin-offs, Law & Order is no stranger to having stars on set. How many times can you say it helped create some of Hollywood’s biggest stars?
Ben Affleck in Dazed and Confused
He’s not just known for one of the shortest tenures as Batman. He’s not just known for helping bring the world Good Will Hunting. He’s an incredible actor who has been in a ton of highly acclaimed films. What most fans don’t know is that he got his start in a cult classic film called Dazed and Confused.
Fred O’Bannion was a bad guy with a bad attitude that nobody really liked. Who would have thought he’d grow up to be a fantastic actor and film writer? Success stories like this just go to show you that you can’t judge an actor on their first character.
Ben Stiller in Miami Vice
If you haven’t heard Fast Eddie try his slick sales technique on people then you’re missing out. After watching his suave syntax in Miami Vice we were convinced to convert and invest in his business. The only thing that didn’t sit right was that he wasn’t on the up and up. He also wasn’t a main character (so we only got one episode with him). Eddie made such an impression though that we decided to follow his career.
Since then he’s starred, produced, and been connected to some of Hollywood’s funniest titles. Oh, we forgot to mention, Fast Eddie is played by leading man and all-around great actor, Ben Stiller! Never forget that there are no small parts. Even the least spotlighted roles can fast-track your career to something great!
Kristen Stewart Viva Rock Vegas
What do the Flintstones and vampires have in common? Not much. Aside from Count Rockula, there aren’t many prehistoric blood-suckers in Bedrock! With all the crossovers the series had over the years you’d think it would’ve happened. Maybe the paranormal world hadn’t evolved enough by then. Either way, there’s still one (future) vampire that makes an appearance in a live-action Flintstones flick!
The sequel (which served as a prequel) movie called Viva Rock Vegas shows off everyone’s favorite cave-dwellers exploring their version of Las Vegas! Fun and adventure befell all. There’s even a cameo by a pretty recognizable (not at the time) actor. Rewatch the film and you may notice Kristen Stewart trying to win a prize at the ring toss game.
Ashley Tisdale in Donnie Darko
Ashley Tisdale can’t stand her step-sister. While siblings may fight, telling a public speaker that she eats too much seems kind of rude. Oh, and having that perm at that age is rude too. Sorry, we’re really protective of Donnie Darko. It’s not only a great (and weird) movie, but it has some MASSIVE names hidden amongst the cast. One of the most surprising is Ashley Tisdale appearing as a student at Donnie’s school!
She doesn’t have many lines, but her one scene is both funny, sad, and kind of spooky (once you realize what’s going on). Donnie meets a lot of people on his journey. While Kim doesn’t make a huge impression on him, she definitely stood out to people revisiting the film after Tisdale made it big.
Leonardo DiCaprio on Roseanne
We were told we had to at least try and not make a Titanic joke the next time we mentioned Leo. Here we go. Before The Revenant, The Great Gatsby, and other hits with a “The” in the title, Leo was just a kid. While some kids move around a lot, not everyone moves into Roseanne Connor’s neighborhood. Those that do usually have a story or two to tell.
This massively popular sitcom had some surprising guest stars over the years. One of the most unknown (at the time) was none other than Leonardo DiCaprio! He played a wise-cracking classmate of Darlene’s! Maybe she would have given him some more attention if he held a door open for her or something…
Aubrey Plaza in 30 Rock
Most projects that come from the minds of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler go on to be instant hits. These two geniuses just know comedy and how to make it work. They also surround themselves with some of the funniest and most talented actors in the country! While Poehler’s breakout show Parks and Recreation was dominating the airwaves, 30 Rock wasn’t doing too bad for itself either.
One of Parks and Rec’s most memorable characters, April, helped catapult the show into our hearts. This wasn’t April’s (Aubrey Plaza) first time in front of the camera. Before making it big in local government she actually appeared in 30 Rock! Even after leaving local government and television networks, Plaza still makes regular appearances on television as well as starring in huge blockbuster films.
Amy Adams in Charmed
While Amy Adams is known for her dramatic and comedy chops, few people acknowledge that she’s basically a witch in front of the camera. Not only is she highly skilled in acting, but she never seems to age (and has an incredibly well-rounded list of projects under her belt). Prior to taking over Hollywood, she was just a background character or extra on a few hit shows.
One of the most well-known of them being Charmed! She didn’t play a witch, but was kind of close. Cast as a Whitelighter (they’re kind of like guardian angels without wings), Adams’ character didn’t have the most stable of lives before gaining their powers. Whatever happened after the fact just kind of cemented our belief that she’s otherworldly.
Elijah Wood in Back to the Future Part II
1989 was a wild time in American cinema. Not only was the second Back to the Future movie out, but people’s idea of what the future looked like was intense. Holograms, tons of neon, and some of the sickest fashions of that era were on full display. It was totally radical. The movie also featured Uncle Fester and Alex Keaton from Family Ties.
While the entire trilogy is arguably cinematic gold, this one stands out from the pack. Everyone’s delivery was top-notch and the effects (for the time) were sick! This was also the only adventure featuring Doc and Marty that also included a Hobbit. When Marty runs into the cafe two young kids are playing a game. One of them is played by Elijah Wood!
Don Cheadle in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Don Cheadle is an American icon that’s accomplished more than just being War Machine. He’s a star actor and incredible producer that’s helped elevate movies for decades! He’s been in a ton of great pictures. One of his best performances was also one of his earliest. Cheadle guest-starred in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air!
He played Ice Tray, one of Will’s friends from Philadelphia. Brought in to help cheer up a homesick Will, Ice Tray ends up trying to date his way into Will’s family! While the family isn’t too keen, it turns out that Ice Tray is just a good guy that should have stayed a bit longer.
Steve Carell in Sleepover
The early 00s were a great time for reality television and weird movies. One of the best (or worst) to top the list is Sleepover! What do you do before you enter high school? Slumber party scavenger hunt and hijinks! It was a simpler time. It was also a time when huge stars would appear in unlikely situations for some screen time.
One of the best is Steve Carrel randomly appearing in the middle of the movie! No other actor can create such awkward yet hilarious moments! If there was any reason to see the movie it’s for his performance alone.
Adam Sandler in The Cosby Show
Every year we listen to one of the greatest holiday songs ever to be sung on television: Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah Song. Despite being created on Saturday Night Live, and helping rocket Sandler’s career to outer space, he was no stranger to TV. Sandler’s first big break took place on another comedy mega-hit for the time: The Cosby Show.
With just a single appearance, Sandler made sure Hollywood (and America) wouldn’t forget his name or iconic quips. Despite the show kind of losing its glory, back in its heyday, this was a massive break for Sandler. It’s always neat to see where some of the funniest comics of our generation got their start.
Ryan Reynolds in Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Ryan Reynolds can do just about anything. Even though he’s incredibly funny, a great actor, and an all-around good guy, he also has a special ability. This guy can make an already great show even better. Remember Sabrina the Teenage Witch? It was, and still is, one of the most magical shows to be on-air. Melissa Joan Hart was everyone’s favorite spell-casting high schooler.
Her adventures were wholesome yet exciting. The aunts also kicked butt. Her show was also known to feature a massive roster of guest stars. Not only did RuPaul appear in an episode, but so did lil’ Ryan Reynolds! What makes his appearance stand out was that it was never in the show. He appears in the special TV movie that came first.
Jason Alexander in a Mcdonald’s commercial
George Castanza could sell ice to an ice store owner. He can also perform great feats of strength and airs his grievances like no other. Jason Alexander is the only person who could have brought him to life in an unforgettable way for MULTIPLE seasons. His anger and annoyance made him both relatable and cringey at the same time. Before all that rage took him over, Alexander was a commercial actor!
His big claim to fame (before invading Jerry’s life) was as a singing and dancing lead in a McDonald’s commercial. This mini-musical brought Mickey D’s into the ’80s in a hip and happening way. It was also one of the only times we saw Alexander truly happy in front of the camera.
Meghan Markle as a suitcase girl on Deal or No Deal
The Royal Family is both a baffling mystery as well as one of the greatest sources of reality media consumption on the entire planet. Their air of secrecy while still keeping hold of the public eye is a rare talent that has probably helped them maintain their still relevant status in the 21st century. Even members that marry into the Windsor clan have incredibly surprising backstories and journeys into royalty.
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is no different. Prior to being a princess…and a world-renown actor, Markle was a model! She appeared as one of the models on Deal or No Deal during the show’s second season! It didn’t take long for her talents to land her acting roles and then her own briefcases full of cash and awards!
Jon Favreau on Seinfeld
Eric the Clown was a simple and hard-working party clown that was just trying to make ends meet. His appearance on Seinfeld may have been brief but it certainly was memorable! Hiding his rage for George until after he puts out a fire with his shoe, this guy was a class act. He deserved to be mad! He also deserved a whole handful of awards.
Maybe not for that performance, but definitely for others. Eric the Clown was played by none other than Jon Favreau! This guy does a lot more than just squeak his nose and slap his shoes. He can also produce some stellar films such as Iron Man and Avengers: Endgame!
Will Arnett on the Sopranos
Funnyman Will Arnett has a unique sense of humor. His dry delivery and over-the-top facial expressions make him an unforgettable powerhouse in Hollywood. Just as his star was about to enter another stratosphere thanks to Arrested Development, something else was about to help him shine brightly. Arnett appeared in a two-episode arc on The Sopranos!
Despite being such a serious show, Arnett got the part in a funny way. The entire audition consisted of him having to say just one line. Even with massive concentration, he forgot it! Somehow, that made the casting director laugh. The rest is season 4 history.
Zac Efron in Firefly
Zac Efron…that’s it. That’s the post. No? Fine, Zac Efron is much more than a pretty face. This incredible singer/dancer/model/actor kind of burst onto the scene in an explosive way. Before High School Musical shattered records and put Efron in the public eye permanently, he had few breakthroughs. One of his most unsung parts is his first one EVER.
Efron appeared in a flashback as a young Simon on Firefly! Stealing people’s attention and hearts as a minor character in a flashback episode sounds pretty incredible (and it is). We’re glad that he returned back to Earth in time to brighten up our high school days.
Emily Ratajkowski in iCarly
For five years iCarly dominated the airwaves. This kids series shows how being an Internet celebrity can change EVERYTHING (kind of but not really) connected with audiences. Miranda Cosgrove stole the show, but so did every other member of the crew! Even Carly’s co-stars knew how to make a big impression. Massive movie star Emily Ratajkowski even made a multi-episode appearance!
How can a show for young teens attract such a huge name?! Ratajkowski played the character Tasha, Gibby’s girlfriend! Even though she only had a couple of episodes, she stunned viewers and worked hard to have an incredible career that far surpasses just mild Internet fame.
Rose Bryne in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
Australian titan of stage and screen Rose Byrne is a household name in Oz. Her charm and grace aren’t just amplified on-screen. She’s just a pretty great person in real life. With so much talent and only a finite of screens she can appear on, she’s also made some savvy career moves. Byrne made a special appearance in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones!
It was really only a matter of time. When you have a franchise as deep and widespread as Star Wars, it only makes sense that all of the greats would make an appearance somehow and somewhen. Despite the second trilogy not being as iconic, it sure did have some of the greatest actors.
Renée Zellweger in Dazed and Confused
We’ve already talked about Dazed and Confused. We just don’t really remember what exactly it is we said about it. If anything, it’s got to be how Renée Zellweger stole a scene with only a beer funnel and talent. The future star of Bridget Jones’ Diary took on the role of Nesi White. This teenage party girl wouldn’t let anything get in the way of her good time.
Don’t lose your concentration when looking for her. It’s not the longest appearance, but people are still talking about it today. Not bad for a day’s work! That’s also pretty good for someone with more legendary roles than most in Hollywood.
Adam Scott in Boy Meets World
Adam Scott has always had a great smile, incredible hair, and some really interesting connections in Hollywood. A ton of people know him from his podcast, but even more people know him from Hellraiser, Stark Trek, and Step Brothers! This guy just can’t catch a second of free time. He’s everywhere! In Hollywood, that’s a pretty good thing. Before podcasting his U2 knowledge out to millions, Scott had to go to school.
He appeared in a few episodes of the classic sitcom Boy Meets World! With the name Griff Hawkins, this kid felt too cool for school. Even when he got in trouble there was something so charming about him that audiences ate right up!