Major Celebrities In Minor Roles
Before they were famous, these household names took on some minor film roles that you may only recognize them in many years later. If you've recently re-watched an old classic and thought, "Huh? That's insert famous actor/actress here", then this list might be for you.
Bryan Cranston: Seinfeld
We (probably) all know Bryan Cranston from Breaking Bad (2008), but before he was Walter White, he was Hal on Malcolm In The Middle (2000), and before that, he played a recurring minor role as Dr. Tim Whatley—Jerry Seinfeld's dentist.
Al Pacino: Gigli
We all know Al Pacino from The Godfather, but after the incredible success of The Godfather, Pacino accepted a very rare supporting role in a comedy called Gigli (2003). You may not have heard of it, but those who did watch it were likely surprised to see Al Pacino in the role of Starkman, a gangster who made a brief on-screen appearance.
Luckily, Pacino had plenty of other films under his belt, so playing such a small part wasn't a big deal for one of the greats.
Seth Macfarlane: Gilmore Girls
Before Seth was an award-winning comedian and creator of one of the most successful animated shows of all time, he starred in Gilmore Girls, playing Lorelai's classmate, Zach.
Warner Bros., Gilmore Girls (2000–2007)
Tom Cruise: Tropic Thunder
Another actor who wasn't used to taking a back seat in action films—even those of a silly, comedic bent—is Tom Cruise. Yet, in the 2008 comedy Tropic Thunder starring Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., and Jack Black, Cruise played a minor role as Les Grossman, the studio executive producer of the movie.
DreamWorks, Tropic Thunder (2008)
Seth Rogen: Donnie Darko
I haven't watched Donnie Darko (2001) in many years and have (probably like yourself) just found out that Seth Rogen was in it! He starred as a belligerent unnamed classmate of Gretchen Ross, making fun of her and her jail-bound father—he was immediately expelled from the classroom to the principal's office and that's his final appearance in the 2001 classic.
Pandora Cinema, Donnie Darko (2001)
Jared Leto: Fight Club
I know, I know—we're not supposed to talk about it. But before Jared Leto was playing The Joker in Suicide Squad, he was getting the snot beaten out of him by Edward Norton in the Brad Pitt classic Fight Club (1999).
20th Century Fox, Fight Club (1999)
Dane Cook: Waiting...
Whilst making his way up in the world as a stand-up comic, Dane Cook starred in the 2005 comedy Waiting. Playing a vulgar line cook, he delivers a powerful message not to mess with the folks who prepare your food. His only role in the film was to in some way defile the food of guests at the restaurant when directed to by staff.
Eden Rock Media, Waiting...(2005)
Robin Williams: Law & Order: SVU
Robin Williams earned an Emmy nomination for this fairly minor role as a protagonist on one episode of Law & Order: SVU, where he played Merritt Rook—a highly intelligent criminal who evaded Benson and Stabler at every turn before (of course) getting caught in the end.
Universal, Law & Order: SVU (1999-)
Drew Barrymore: Scream
Drew Barrymore was originally slated to play Sidney Prescott (a role eventually given to Neve Campbell), but unfortunately, she would have to settle for a very minor role in the 1996 horror classic: a role that lasted only a few scenes as she was killed off 12 minutes into Scream.
Jack Black: The Cable Guy
While Black might not have a major role in The Cable Guy (1996), he does play a major role in unveiling a plot point to the audience. Black plays a man named Rick, who reveals to Steven that Chip Douglas was let go from his job for stalking customers.
Sony Pictures, The Cable Guy (1996)
Bill Murray: Zombieland
In one of the ultimate cameo appearances, Bill Murray dresses up like a zombie in Zombieland (2009) and attempts to scare Jesse Eisenberg's character, Columbus. However, the unfortunate prank gets Murray killed by Columbus and so ends Murray's minor role as himself, playing a zombie.
Columbia Pictures, Zombieland (2009)
George Clooney: The Facts Of Life
George Clooney played handyman George Burnett in the 7th and 8th seasons of The Facts Of Life (1979). Although Clooney's appearance didn't come until 1985, it was one of his many minor roles throughout the 1980s before his breakthrough on TV as Dr. Doug Ross in ER (1994)
Embassy Television, The Facts Of Life (1979-88)
Jennifer Lawrence: Monk
Jennifer Lawrence is a household name nowadays, starring in many a blockbuster, but before her role as the daughter in The Bill Engvall Show (2007), she played a mascot in Monk (2002). Yes, one of Jennifer's first roles was in a costume.
Chris Pratt: Wanted
In the 2008 action film starring James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie, Chris Pratt plays the main character Wesley Gibson (McAvoy's) workplace tormentor who famously gets hit in the face with a keyboard as Gibson embarks on a new life as an action hero, leaving behind his office job and the tormenting Pratt.
Amy Adams: The Office
That's right! Before there was Jim and Pam from The Office (2005), Jim had a girlfriend named Katy Moore. Katy was played for a few episodes by Amy Adams. She has since gone on to star in Enchanted (2007), Disenchanted (2022), American Hustle (2013) and Hillbilly Elegy (2020). Good, I'm glad she found success after getting in the way of Jim and Pam for a few episodes.
Jason Segel: Can't Hardly Wait
If Jason Segel's role in Can't Hardly Wait (1998) was anything like the title of the movie, then Segel wouldn't have had to wait long for his role to be over. This very small part lasted only a few minutes and forever immortalized him as "Watermelon Guy" among the internet movie sleuths, before (of course) How I Met Your Mother (2005).
Columbia, Can't Hardly Wait (1998)
Ryan Reynolds: Sabrina, The Teenage Witch
It could not be more 90s than Ryan Reynolds' get-up and hairstyle in this made-for-TV movie based on the hit show, Sabrina, The Teenage Witch (1996) in which he played Seth, Sabrina's love interest.
Viacom Productions, Sabrina, The Teenage Witch (1996-2003)
Jessica Alba: The Secret World Of Alex Mack
Jessica was just 13 when she played a "mean girl" in three episodes of The Secret World of Alex Mack (1994). Just six years later, Alba would receive a Golden Globe nomination for her lead role in Dark Angel (2000-2002)
Hallmark Entertainment, The Secret World Of Alex Mack (1994-98)
Michelle Williams: Baywatch
Michelle Williams' first on-screen role came in Baywatch (1993) of all shows, where she played a seductive lass targeting Mitch Buchannon's son, Hobie. One year later, Williams made her film debut in the classic Lassie (1994).
GTG entertainment, Baywatch (1989-2001)
Ryan Gosling: Are You Afraid Of The Dark?
Before he was in The Notebook (2004), Ryan Gosling was a Canadian child actor playing minor roles in small Canadian TV shows. His most notable of these was the Canadian show Are You Afraid Of The Dark?, a horror anthology wherein a 10-year-old Gosling recounts ghost stories around a campfire with other members of "The Midnight Society".
Nickelodeon, Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (1990-2000)
Michael B. Jordan: The Wire
Michael B. Jordan rose to prominence with his lead roles in Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed (2015), and Black Panther (2018), but before that, he was an unfortunate victim in The Wire, where he played child dealer Wallace, in a short but moving role.
Emma Stone: Malcolm In The Middle
Emma Stone hadn't even settled on a stage name when she played a role in a 2006 episode of Malcolm In The Middle called "Lois Strikes Back". She is credited as Riley Stone, as that was one of her choices for a professional name. She would eventually settle on Emma Stone and hasn't looked back.
20th Century Fox, Malcolm In The Middle (2000-06)
Lucy Liu: L.A. Law
Before Lucy Liu starred in Charlie's Angels (2000), she played a minor role in a 1993 episode of the police procedural TV show L.A. Law (1986). She played a Chinese widow giving evidence to the police in Mandarin. After this, she would star in a one-season flop, Pearl (1996) and Ally McBeal (1997).
Chris Tucker: The Fifth Element
The action/sci-fi flick starring Bruce Willis and Mila Jovovich saw Chris Tucker play one of the most memorable and unserious cameos ever. He was Ruby Rhod, the exuberant and flamboyant talk show host who accompanies Bruce Willis on his journey to Fhloston. He later played a supporting role in Tarantino's Jackie Brown (1997) and gained major stardom for his role in the Rush Hour series alongside Jackie Chan.
Gaumont, The Fifth Element (1997)
Tom Hardy: Band of Brothers
Tom Hardy played Pvt. John Janovec in the HBO-BBC miniseries Band of Brothers (2001). He also had a minor role in Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down (2001).
DreamWorks, Band of Brothers (2001)
Morgan Freeman: Brubaker
Some of Morgan Freeman's biggest roles came later in his career. Although his career began with several minor roles in films throughout the 1980s, his earliest of note is in Robert Redford-starring Brubaker, a prison drama from 1980.
20th Century Fox, Brubaker (1980)
Bradley Cooper: Sex And The City
In 1999, Cooper received his first minor TV role in the "They Shoot Single People, Don't They?" episode of Sex And The City (1998), where he played "Jake", a downtown smoker.
HBO, Sex And The City (1998-2004)
Steve Carrell: Over The Top
Before Steve Carrell and Stephen Colbert were coming up together in the comedy world, Carrell had a few minor television roles, including one on Over The Top (1997), where Carrell played a disgruntled chef.
Columbia TriStar, Over The Top (1997)
Matthew McConaughey: Unsolved Mysteries
You might not even recognize the TV show, let alone have watched the episode in which McConaughey appeared. But, that's the point of this list. Matthew McConaughey had a role in Season 5 of Unsolved Mysteries (1987), a TV series that featured dramatic reenactments of unsolved crimes. McConaughey played a shirtless murder victim, Larry Dickens, in the episode: "Texas Most Wanted."
Cosgrove/Meurer, Unsolved Mysteries (1987-2010)
Jack Nicholson: The Andy Griffith Show
Before Jack Nicholson was, well, Jack Nicholson, he starred in The Andy Griffith Show (1960) in a 1967 episode entitled, "Opie Finds A Baby" from season 7, episode 10. Nicholson then returned to the show for a season 8 episode, "Aunt Bee, The Juror."
CBS, The Andy Griffith Show (1960-68)
Laurence Fishburne: Apocalypse Now
While this was hardly a jump-starting role, Laurence Fishburne played a minor role in the 1979 classic, Apocalypse Now. He was just 14 at the time.
Zoetrope Studios, Apocalypse Now (1979)
Zooey Deschanel: Veronica's Closet
Zooey Deschanel's career has spanned three decades, but it all began in 1997 with a small role in the sitcom Veronica's Closet (1998). She was a guest star as Elena, a young model for fashion icon Veronica Chase.
Warner Bros., Veronica's Closet (1997-2000)
Mary-Lynn Rajskub: Magnolia
Best-known for her TV work in 24, wherein she's undyingly trusting of Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer, Mary-Lynn Rajskub got her start playing Janet in Magnolia (1999), which also starred Tom Cruise.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Rami Malek: Night At The Museum
You may not have noticed Rami Malek's role in Night At The Museum with Ben Stiller in 2006. He played Pharaoh Ahkmenrah.
20th Century Fox, Night At The Museum (2006)
Ben Affleck: Buffy The Vampire Slayer Movie
Another notch for Buffy The Vampire Slayer as a major actor played a minor role. Ben Affleck was a basketball player in a red jersey in the movie.
Kuzui Enterprises, Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992)
Natalia Dyer: The Hannah Montana Movie
Before Stranger Things, Natalia Dyer played Hannah Montana's stalker's daughter in The Hannah Montana Movie in 2009.
Walt Disney Pictures, The Hannah Montana Movie (2009)
Brie Larson: 13 Going On 30
Another shoutout for a mean-girl role. This time from Brie Larson's role in the 2004 rom-com starring Jennifer Garner, when Larson played a very minor part in 13 Going On 30 (2004).
Revolution Studios, 13 Going On 30 (2004)
Sandra Oh: The Princess Diaries
Sandra Oh's role in The Princess Diaries as a principal went under the radar in this 2001 family comedy. This was before she landed her famous role in Grey's Anatomy (2005).
Walt Disney Pictures, The Princess Diaries (2001)
Mila Kunis: Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves
Before her breakout role as Jackie in That 70's Show (1998), Kunis had a minor role in the comedy movie, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves in 1997.
Walt Disney Pictures, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves (1997)
Jennifer Aniston: Leprechaun
If you watched Leprechaun in 1993, you'll have noticed the shotgun-wielding Tory Redding is played by none other than 24-year-old Jennifer Aniston. She identified Leprechaun as her worst-ever role in a 2014 interview with Entertainment Weekly.
Can you think of any other major celebrities who played minor roles? Let us know in the comments!
