There are examples I’ve seen but not are all obvious unless you knew beforehand:

  • Richard Dreyfuss in The Graduate (starring Dustin Hoffman) as “boarding house resident” (uncredited)
  • John Krasinski in State and Main (starring William H. Macy) as “caddy / judge’s assistant” (uncredited)
  • Bruce Willis in The Verdict (starring Paul Newman) as “courtroom observer” (uncredited)
  • Channing Tatum in War of the Worlds (starring Tom Cruise) as “boy at church” (uncredited)
  • Brad Pitt in No Way Out (starring Kevin Costner) as “party guest” (uncredited)
  • Sylvester Stallone in Klute (starring Jane Fonda) as “disco dancer” (uncredited)
  • Jeff Goldblum in Death Wish (starring Charles Bronson) as “freak #1” (uncredited)
  • Vin Diesel in Awakenings (starring Robin Williams) as “hospital porter” (uncredited)
  • Gerard Butler in Tomorrow Never Dies (starring Pierce Brosnan) as “crewman” (uncredited)
  • Megan Fox in Bad Boys II (starring Martin Lawrence) as “dancer in club” (uncredited)

I mean, have you seen a movie where an actor you recognize began their career as a extra before they were stars?

  • Björn@swg-empire.de
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    14
    ·
    edit-2
    1 month ago

    Not exactly the same, but Harrison Ford was working as a carpenter on Star Wars and was asked to just read in some lines as Han Solo while they were casting the other roles. Apparently he did a good job.

    He had already acted in American Graffiti so I guess that’s why they asked him to read in.

    • TheRealKuni@piefed.social
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      edit-2
      1 month ago

      I thought that story was about how he ended up in American Graffiti. I thought he was doing work at Lucas’s house. Maybe I’m misremembering.

    • SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      1 month ago

      Here’s Harrison Ford’s first movie appearance:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eAEF5G-YXg

      According to Ford, the director told him he wouldn’t make it in the movie business because when a great actor is on the screen, you know it’s a great actor. Ford replied, “I think when I’m on the screen you’re not supposed to see a great actor, you’re supposed to just see a bellhop.”