Bit roles before they were "famous"

The Borgified Corpse · January 15 2009, 04:58 AM

I recently got to thinking about watching old movies with actors in little bit roles that weren't anything back then but are suddenly noteworthy because the actor went on to become much more famous for something else.

This has happened to me a few times lately where I've gone, "Ooh! Ooh! It's that guy!"

An obvious one is a very young, pre-Buffy/Angel, pre-Playboy, prepubescent Mercedes McNabb appears a couple of times in the early 1990s movie versions of The Addams Family & Addams Family Values. She plays a girlscout selling cookies in the first film and has a sizable supporting role in the 2nd as the stuck up rich girl at camp.

A pre-Sex & the City Cynthia Nixon also appears in Addams Family Values as a hippy nanny.

A pre-Heroes Masi Oka plays a Japanese pedestrian who explains that, due to copyright reasons, the monster chasing them isn't actually Godzilla in Austin Powers in Goldmember.

PKTrekGirl · January 15 2009, 05:10 AM

I believe I read that Kevin Costner was the corpse being dressed in the opening credits of The Big Chill.

Johnny Depp has only a few lines in Platoon.

Non Sync · January 15 2009, 05:17 AM

Farrah Fawcett had a minor role in Logan's Run but on some airings you would have thought she had the lead.

MeanJoePhaser · January 15 2009, 05:18 AM

John Travolta in The Devil's Rain.

Jack Nicholson in Little Shop of Horrors.

Djimon Hounsou as a Horus guard in Stargate.

Spot's Meow · January 15 2009, 05:25 AM

I was watching Dr. Strangelove the other day and noticed that a young James Earl Jones was one of the co-pilots on the plane. That was weird but cool.

Small White Car · January 15 2009, 05:25 AM

Here's a good one. Remember the early GEICO Gecko ad where he tries out to be in a GEICO commercial?

Then, the Taco Bell Dog comes out of the interview.

"Oh great, a talking Gecko!"

Well, halfway through the ad, look who's sitting next to the Gecko!

It's Saturday Night Live's Fred Armisen!

I can't PROVE this one...it's nowhere online. But damned if I'm not pretty sure! It's even more obvious in the moving video than it is in this still photo.

Kira's Mom · January 15 2009, 05:30 AM

The Borgified Corpse wrote:

A pre-Heroes Masi Oka plays a Japanese pedestrian who explains that, due to copyright reasons, the monster chasing them isn't actually Godzilla in Austin Powers in Goldmember.

Haha! I forgot about that.

How about Brad Pitt's guest spot on Growing Pains? Lame.

Skywalker · January 15 2009, 05:44 AM

George Clooney was in several episodes of The Facts of Life back in the late '80s.

Magisterfrodo · January 15 2009, 06:04 AM

In the first episode of the TV show Angel, the first vampire to get dusted is Sawyer from Lost.

Of course, Kiera Knightely is barely noticeable in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

Liam Neeson has a minor role in a great movie called The Mission back in 1985, which starred Jeremy Irons and Robert DeNiro.

Brad Pitt in Cool World is pretty fun.

Daniel Craig is a pretty nasty Afrikaaner soldier in The Power of One which came out in the early 90's and starred Morgan Freeman among others.

Bill Pullman is a spiky-haired punk that is the first guy killed in the original Terminator.

Edward James Olmos is in Bladerunner.

Capt. Vulcan · January 15 2009, 06:09 AM

Simon Pegg has a small role in Band of Brothers.

Mr. Laser Beam · January 15 2009, 06:15 AM

Magisterfrodo wrote:

Bill Pullman is a spiky-haired punk that is the first guy killed in the original Terminator.

No, you're thinking of Bill Paxton.

OdoWanKenobi · January 15 2009, 06:15 AM

I wouldn't call EJO's role in Blad Runner a bit role. as he's a pretty important character (and according to some theories the true Blade Runner)

Donald Draper · January 15 2009, 06:16 AM

Harrison Ford in American Graffiti. His role is small but pivotal. Taking on greater significance with knowledge of his later career. Bob Falfa is almost a prototype for Han Solo. Of course its also the first time he worked with George Lucas.

Mr. Laser Beam · January 15 2009, 06:19 AM

Teri Hatcher on ST:TNG

Canadave · January 15 2009, 06:20 AM

Spot's Meow wrote:

I was watching Dr. Strangelove the other day and noticed that a young James Earl Jones was one of the co-pilots on the plane. That was weird but cool.

His first film role, actually.

The only thing that comes to mind for me is Jeff Goldblum in The Right Stuff, as the-dude-who-runs-down-corridors-at-NASA-a-lot.

January 15 2009, 04:58 AM	#1
The Borgified Corpse Admiral Location: Making closing arguments with Jack McCoy & Michael Cutter	Bit roles before they were "famous" I recently got to thinking about watching old movies with actors in little bit roles that weren't anything back then but are suddenly noteworthy because the actor went on to become much more famous for something else. This has happened to me a few times lately where I've gone, "Ooh! Ooh! It's that guy!" An obvious one is a very young, pre-Buffy/Angel, pre-Playboy, prepubescent Mercedes McNabb appears a couple of times in the early 1990s movie versions of The Addams Family & Addams Family Values. She plays a girlscout selling cookies in the first film and has a sizable supporting role in the 2nd as the stuck up rich girl at camp. A pre-Sex & the City Cynthia Nixon also appears in Addams Family Values as a hippy nanny. A pre-Heroes Masi Oka plays a Japanese pedestrian who explains that, due to copyright reasons, the monster chasing them isn't actually Godzilla in Austin Powers in Goldmember. __________________ Kegg: "You're a Trekkie. The capacity to quibble over the minutiae of space opera films is your birthright."

January 15 2009, 05:10 AM	#2
PKTrekGirl Arrogant Niner Thug Location: Anchorage, Alaska	Re: Bit roles before they were "famous" I believe I read that Kevin Costner was the corpse being dressed in the opening credits of The Big Chill. Johnny Depp has only a few lines in Platoon. __________________ DS9 on DVD - Now 99.923% Borg-Free! Star Trek XI - "You know, if you have ten extra sombreros lying around, I have an idea on how to improve your current avatar..." - Samuel T. Cogley

January 15 2009, 05:17 AM	#3
Non Sync Captain Location: Mission Viejo, CA	Re: Bit roles before they were "famous" Farrah Fawcett had a minor role in Logan's Run but on some airings you would have thought she had the lead. __________________ "You're gonna need a bigger boat"

January 15 2009, 05:18 AM	#4
MeanJoePhaser Admiral Location: Missile Command	Re: Bit roles before they were "famous" John Travolta in The Devil's Rain. Jack Nicholson in Little Shop of Horrors. Djimon Hounsou as a Horus guard in Stargate.

January 15 2009, 05:25 AM	#5
Spot's Meow Vice Admiral Location: California	Re: Bit roles before they were "famous" I was watching Dr. Strangelove the other day and noticed that a young James Earl Jones was one of the co-pilots on the plane. That was weird but cool. __________________ Time present and time past are both perhaps present in time future. And time future contained in time past. —T.S. Eliot

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ABOUT US

January 15 2009, 05:25 AM	#6
Small White Car Rear Admiral Location: Washington D.C.	Re: Bit roles before they were "famous" Here's a good one. Remember the early GEICO Gecko ad where he tries out to be in a GEICO commercial? Then, the Taco Bell Dog comes out of the interview. "Oh great, a talking Gecko!" Well, halfway through the ad, look who's sitting next to the Gecko! It's Saturday Night Live's Fred Armisen! I can't PROVE this one...it's nowhere online. But damned if I'm not pretty sure! It's even more obvious in the moving video than it is in this still photo.

January 15 2009, 05:44 AM	#8
Skywalker Admiral	Re: Bit roles before they were "famous" George Clooney was in several episodes of The Facts of Life back in the late '80s.

January 15 2009, 06:04 AM	#9
Magisterfrodo Vice Admiral Location: Waco, TX	Re: Bit roles before they were "famous" In the first episode of the TV show Angel, the first vampire to get dusted is Sawyer from Lost. Of course, Kiera Knightely is barely noticeable in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Liam Neeson has a minor role in a great movie called The Mission back in 1985, which starred Jeremy Irons and Robert DeNiro. Brad Pitt in Cool World is pretty fun. Daniel Craig is a pretty nasty Afrikaaner soldier in The Power of One which came out in the early 90's and starred Morgan Freeman among others. Bill Pullman is a spiky-haired punk that is the first guy killed in the original Terminator. Edward James Olmos is in Bladerunner. __________________ "I am as conservative as the Word of God and as liberal as the love of God." - Tony Campolo

January 15 2009, 06:09 AM	#10
Capt. Vulcan Vice Admiral Location: PlanetExpress Ship	Re: Bit roles before they were "famous" Simon Pegg has a small role in Band of Brothers. __________________ She's so great. I feel like I can almost remember the magical thing I did to make her love me. But I guess I never will.

January 15 2009, 06:15 AM	#12
OdoWanKenobi Shapeshifting Jedi Location: Gotham City	Re: Bit roles before they were "famous" I wouldn't call EJO's role in Blad Runner a bit role. as he's a pretty important character (and according to some theories the true Blade Runner) __________________ I'm Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite thread on the TrekBBS.

January 15 2009, 06:16 AM	#13
Donald Draper Fleet Captain	Re: Bit roles before they were "famous" Harrison Ford in American Graffiti. His role is small but pivotal. Taking on greater significance with knowledge of his later career. Bob Falfa is almost a prototype for Han Solo. Of course its also the first time he worked with George Lucas.

January 15 2009, 06:19 AM	#14
Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Location: The visitor's bullpen	Re: Bit roles before they were "famous" Teri Hatcher on ST:TNG __________________ It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shakes, the shakes become a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.