Every big Hollywood name had to earn their spot under the spotlight. Some spent years grinding through tiny TV parts and forgettable movie cameos, while others walked straight into a starring role on their very first try. Want to know who did what? Keep reading to discover the humble beginnings behind some of the biggest careers in show business!
Zach Galifianakis — ‘Boston Common’ (1996) and ‘Flushed’ (1999 )
Before Zach Galifianakis became the king of awkward comedy, he showed up as Bobby in five episodes of ‘Boston Common’ back in 1996. His big-screen entrance came three years later in ‘Flushed,’ a strange little film where every single scene takes place in a bathroom — and his character was simply called Pathetic Guy.
Robert De Niro — ‘Trois Chambres à Manhattan’ (1965)
Long before he became one of the most celebrated actors on the planet, a young Robert De Niro was cutting his teeth in European film. His very first screen credit came in the 1965 French production ‘Trois Chambres à Manhattan,’ and he followed that up with a role in the Danish satire ‘Greetings’ three years later.
Nicole Kidman — ‘Bush Christmas’ (1983)
Nicole Kidman was just a teenager when she stepped in front of the camera for the first time. Her debut film, ‘Bush Christmas,’ told the heartfelt story of an Australian family doing everything they could to keep their farm from being taken away — a quiet start to a career that would stretch across more than three decades.
Leonardo DiCaprio — ‘Romper Room and Friends’ (1979)
Hard to believe, but Leo was only five years old when he landed his first television role on ‘Romper Room and Friends’ in 1979. After popping up in a handful of TV projects, he grabbed a small part in ‘Critters 3’ (1991), a low-budget sci-fi movie about alien creatures loose in Los Angeles.
Heath Ledger — ‘Ship to Shore’ (1993)
Heath Ledger kicked off his acting life in the lighthearted family series ‘Ship to Shore’ in 1993, then moved on to the Australian sports drama ‘Sweat’ in 1996. His real breakthrough moment arrived in 1999 with back-to-back hits ’10 Things I Hate About You’ and ‘Two Hands.’ Ledger left the world far too soon in 2008, but the work he left behind continues to inspire.
Tommy Lee Jones — ‘Love Story’ (1970)
Tommy Lee Jones stepped onto screens for the first time in the 1970 romantic drama ‘Love Story,’ playing Oliver’s college roommate — a small but memorable part in a beloved film. It wasn’t until ‘Eyes of Laura Mars’ (1978) that audiences really took notice, with Jones playing a sharp detective working alongside a woman who can see through a killer’s eyes.
Cameron Diaz — ‘The Mask’ (1994)
Cameron Diaz burst onto the scene in a big way, landing both the villain role and the love interest in the smash hit ‘The Mask’ (1994) — not a bad way to introduce yourself to Hollywood.
John Travolta — ‘Emergency!’ (1972)
John Travolta got his foot in the door with a spot on the TV series ‘Emergency!’ in 1972. His movie career launched three years later in ‘The Devil’s Rain’ (1975), where he played a cult member who rises back from the dead.
Denzel Washington — ‘Wilma’ (1977)
Denzel Washington made his very first screen appearance in a brief flashback scene in the TV movie ‘Wilma’ (1977), a biography centered on Olympic sprinting legend Wilma Rudolph. His feature film debut followed in ‘Carbon Copy’ (1981).
Tom Cruise — ‘Endless Love’ (1981)
Tom Cruise began his journey to superstardom with a small supporting part in the 1981 teen romance ‘Endless Love’ — a quiet entry point for someone who would go on to dominate action cinema.
Morgan Freeman — ‘New York Television Theatre’ (1969)
Morgan Freeman, one of the most recognized voices and faces in film history, got his start on an episode of ‘New York Television Theatre’ in 1969. He made his movie debut shortly after with a small role in ‘Who Says I Can’t Ride a Rainbow!’ (1971), a film about the very last farm standing in Manhattan.
Jack Nicholson — ‘Matinee Theatre’ (1956)
Jack Nicholson landed his first TV role all the way back in 1956 on ‘Matinee Theatre,’ playing the son of a musician. His film debut followed two years later in ‘The Cry Baby Killer,’ where he played a young man swept up in a terrible misunderstanding.
Hugh Jackman — ‘Paperback Hero’ (1999)
Before he was Wolverine, Hugh Jackman was building his career one Australian TV role at a time. His film debut came in 1999 with ‘Paperback Hero,’ where he played Jack Willis, a rugged outback truck driver who secretly becomes a beloved fiction writer.
Meryl Streep — ‘Julia’ (1977)
Even Meryl Streep had to start small. The actress who would go on to rack up more Oscar nominations than anyone else in history made her film debut in a minor role in ‘Julia’ (1977), a story about a playwright secretly carrying money into Nazi Germany.
Benicio Del Toro — ‘Shell Game’ (1987) and ‘Licence to Kill’ (1989)
Benicio Del Toro first appeared on screen in a 1987 episode of the TV series ‘Shell Game.’ His profile jumped considerably when he played a Bond villain’s henchman in ‘Licence to Kill’ (1989), giving audiences their first real taste of his menacing screen presence.
Dan Aykroyd — ‘Coming Up Rosie’ (1975)
Dan Aykroyd made his television debut on the Canadian series ‘Coming Up Rosie’ in 1975, then took on his first film role as a blind man in ‘Love at First Sight’ (1977). Fame arrived in full force just a few years later when ‘The Blues Brothers’ turned him into a household name.
Johnny Depp — ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ (1984)
A 21-year-old Johnny Depp walked into horror history when he played Glen Lantz in Wes Craven’s original ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street.’ It was his first movie credit, and while the role didn’t last long, it opened the door to everything that followed, including his fan-favorite turn in ‘Cry-Baby’ (1990).
Angelina Jolie — ‘Lookin’ to Get Out’ (1982)
Angelina Jolie made her screen debut as a little girl alongside her father, Jon Voight, in the 1982 comedy ‘Lookin’ to Get Out,’ a story about two gamblers on the run from New York.
Russell Crowe — ‘Spyforce’ (1972)
Russell Crowe was just eight years old when he appeared as an uncredited orphan in the Australian WWII drama series ‘Spyforce.’ He later showed up in several episodes of ‘Neighbours’ before scoring his first American film role in ‘Blood Oath’ (1990) opposite George Takei.
Jim Carrey — ‘All in Good Taste’ (1983) and ‘Once Bitten’ (1985)
Jim Carrey’s path to fame started behind a microphone, doing voice work on a Canadian TV program in 1980. He made his film debut in the Canadian comedy ‘All in Good Taste’ (1983), then crossed into Hollywood with ‘Once Bitten’ (1985), playing a regular guy who falls head over heels for a vampire.
Matthew McConaughey — ‘Dazed and Confused’ (1993)
After a handful of forgettable early credits, Matthew McConaughey found his voice and his audience as the too-cool-for-school bad boy in Richard Linklater’s ‘Dazed and Confused’ (1993). The rest, as they say, is history.
Don Cheadle — ‘Moving Violations’ (1985)
Don Cheadle quietly slipped into the acting world with a small part in ‘Moving Violations’ (1985), a comedy about a court-ordered driving class, where he played a fast food worker with more personality than the plot.
Edward Norton — ‘Primal Fear’ (1996)
Edward Norton didn’t ease his way into Hollywood — he exploded onto the scene. His debut in ‘Primal Fear’ (1996), a tense courtroom drama, earned him an Academy Award nomination right out of the gate.
Penélope Cruz — ‘Los mundos de Yupi’ (1990) and ‘Jamón, Jamón’ (1992)
Penélope Cruz got her start at home in Spain, appearing in the beloved children’s TV show ‘Los mundos de Yupi’ in 1990. Two years later she made her film debut in ‘Jamón, Jamón’ (1992), playing a young working-class woman caught between love and family pressure.
Scarlett Johansson — ‘North’ (1994)
Scarlett Johansson was only ten years old when she appeared in ‘North’ (1994), a quirky Rob Reiner film starring Elijah Wood as a kid who sets off around the world in search of better parents.
Seth Rogen — ‘Freaks and Geeks’ (1999)
Seth Rogen found his comedic footing playing the sarcastic Ken Miller across 18 episodes of the cult classic series ‘Freaks and Geeks.’ He followed that up with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment in ‘Donnie Darko’ (2001).
Jennifer Lawrence — ‘Monk’ (2006) and ‘The Poker House’ (2008)
Jennifer Lawrence’s acting career started with a mascot costume on the TV show ‘Monk’ in 2006. Not exactly a glamorous beginning, but she quickly leveled up with a starring role in ‘The Poker House’ (2008) and never looked back.
Donald Glover — ‘Winner Takes All’ (1998)
Donald Glover, now equally known for his music as for his acting, started out in the background — literally — as an extra in the hip-hop crime film ‘Winner Takes All’ (1998). His real breakthrough came a decade later when he led the indie comedy ‘Mystery Team’ (2009).
Michael Cera — ‘Twice in a Lifetime’ (1999)
Michael Cera made his acting debut as a skateboarding kid in the Canadian fantasy series ‘Twice in a Lifetime’ in 1999, then crossed the border for a role in the American film ‘Steal This Movie’ (2000).
Channing Tatum — ‘CSI: Miami’ (2004)
Channing Tatum’s entertainment career technically started on a dance floor — he appeared as a backup dancer in Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs” video in 2000. His acting path began with a guest spot on ‘CSI: Miami’ in 2004, followed by his breakout role in ‘Coach Carter’ (2005).
Cuba Gooding Jr. — ‘Better Days’ (1986)
Cuba Gooding Jr. made his first on-screen appearance in the 1986 TV series ‘Better Days,’ then landed a scene in the Eddie Murphy comedy ‘Coming to America’ two years later.
Jake Gyllenhaal — ‘City Slickers’ (1991)
Jake Gyllenhaal was still in grade school when he played a small role in the Billy Crystal comedy ‘City Slickers’ (1991) — a full decade before ‘Donnie Darko’ made him a name to remember.
Idris Elba — ‘2point4 Children’ (1994)
Before he became a global TV star, Idris Elba was playing a skydiving instructor in the British sitcom ‘2point4 Children’ (1994). His career really began to take shape when he led the French romantic drama ‘Belle Maman’ in 1999.
Sandra Oh — ‘Denim Blues’ (1989)
Sandra Oh, best known today for ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Killing Eve,’ launched her career in the Canadian TV series ‘Denim Blues’ in 1989. Her film debut arrived five years later in ‘Double Happiness’ (1994), a story about a Chinese-Canadian woman navigating love across two very different worlds.
Eddie Murphy — ’48 Hrs.’ (1982)
Eddie Murphy walked straight from ‘Saturday Night Live’ into the movies without missing a beat. His film debut in ’48 Hrs.’ (1982) had him playing a smooth-talking convict teaming up with a no-nonsense cop, and it worked perfectly. He followed it with ‘Trading Places’ (1983), cementing his status as a comedy force.
Joaquin Phoenix — ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ (1982)
Joaquin Phoenix got his start on the small screen in the musical drama ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ in 1982. His first film role came in ‘SpaceCamp’ (1986), where he played one of a group of teens who accidentally get blasted into orbit.
Sean Penn — ‘Little House on the Prairie’ (1974)
Sean Penn was only 14 when he slipped into an uncredited role on ‘Little House on the Prairie.’ It took several more years and a few more TV credits before he found real fame as the unforgettable slacker Jeff Spicoli in ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ (1982).
Mila Kunis — ‘Days of Our Lives’ (1994)
Long before she was Jackie Burkhart on ‘That ’70s Show’ or the troubled ballerina in ‘Black Swan,’ Mila Kunis made a brief appearance on the daytime soap ‘Days of Our Lives’ in 1994. A year later, she popped up in the horror film ‘Piranha’ (1995).
Ryan Reynolds — ‘Hillside’ (1991)
Ryan Reynolds was just 15 when he landed his first acting role in the Canadian teen drama ‘Hillside’ (1991). He then starred in ‘Ordinary Magic’ (1993), playing a teenager who grew up in India and brings his activist ideals back to small-town Canada.
Viola Davis — ‘The Substance of Fire’ (1996)
Years before she was winning Emmys and Oscars, Viola Davis quietly made her film debut in the 1996 drama ‘The Substance of Fire,’ setting the foundation for one of the most powerful careers in modern Hollywood.
Ben Stiller — ‘Kate & Allie’ (1987)
Ben Stiller’s very first acting credit was a guest spot on the TV sitcom ‘Kate & Allie’ in 1987. That same year he joined the cast of ‘Saturday Night Live’ and made his film debut in the comedy ‘Hot Pursuit’ alongside John Cusack.
Liam Hemsworth — ‘Home and Away’ (2007)
Before ‘The Hunger Games’ turned him into a global star, Liam Hemsworth was a familiar face on Australian TV, appearing in both ‘Home and Away’ and ‘McLeod’s Daughters’ in 2007. His film breakthrough came with ‘Knowing’ (2009).
Geoffrey Rush — ‘Dad and Dave: On Our Selection’ (1995)
Geoffrey Rush had been working steadily in Australian theater and television since the early 1980s, but his feature film debut didn’t arrive until ‘Dad and Dave: On Our Selection’ (1995), a comedic story about a determined outback farmer taking on shady politicians.
Kirsten Dunst — ‘The Bonfire of the Vanities’ (1990)
Kirsten Dunst was only eight years old when she appeared in the big-screen adaptation of ‘The Bonfire of the Vanities’ (1990), sharing scenes with Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis. Just four years later, she stole every scene she was in opposite Brad Pitt in ‘Interview with a Vampire.’
Eric Bana — ‘Eric’ (1996)
There’s something almost poetic about the fact that Eric Bana’s debut TV film was simply called ‘Eric.’ He spent the rest of the decade as one of Australian television’s best-kept secrets before his raw, electrifying performance in ‘Chopper’ (2000) put him on the international map.
Anthony Hopkins — ‘A Matter of Degree’ (1960)
Anthony Hopkins began his long and storied career on the British television series ‘A Matter of Degree’ in the early 1960s. His film debut followed in ‘The White Bus’ (1967), a moody and unconventional British production that set the tone for a career full of bold choices.
Natalie Portman — ‘Léon: The Professional’ (1994)
Natalie Portman was just 13 years old when director Luc Besson cast her as Mathilda in ‘Léon: The Professional’ — a young girl left orphaned and taken in by a quiet, dangerous man. It was a remarkable debut that announced a major talent.
Matt Damon — ‘Mystic Pizza’ (1988)
Matt Damon’s first moment on screen was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance in ‘Mystic Pizza’ (1988), a coming-of-age story centered on three young women working at a pizza joint on the Connecticut coast. Julia Roberts was in it too — also early in her career.
Mickey Rourke — ‘1941’ (1979)
Mickey Rourke made his film debut in Steven Spielberg’s 1979 wartime comedy ‘1941.’ He followed that up with ‘Fade to Black’ (1980), playing a deeply troubled movie obsessive whose fixation takes a very dark turn.
Willem Dafoe — ‘The Loveless’ (1981)
Willem Dafoe has appeared in well over a hundred films, but it all started with ‘The Loveless’ (1981), a slow-burning story about a motorcycle gang rolling into a small, unsuspecting town and the tension that follows.
Cate Blanchett — ‘Kaboria’ (1990)
Cate Blanchett made her on-screen debut as a cheerleader in the 1990 Australian film ‘Kaboria.’ She spent the decade quietly building her reputation in local TV dramas like ‘Police Rescue’ and ‘Heartland’ before her role in ‘Elizabeth’ (1998) introduced her to the world.
Jackie Chan — ‘Big and Little Wong Tin Bar’ (1962)
Jackie Chan was only eight years old when he landed the lead role in the 1962 Hong Kong film ‘Big and Little Wong Tin Bar,’ a black-and-white production about a young boy learning the art of kung fu. It was the very first step in one of the most extraordinary careers the action genre has ever seen.
Naomi Watts — ‘For Love Alone’ (1986)
Naomi Watts got her start without even a credit to show for it, appearing as an unnamed model in the Australian miniseries ‘Return to Eden’ (1983). Her first official screen credit came in ‘For Love Alone’ (1986), a period drama set in Australia during the 1930s.
Julia Roberts — ‘Crime Story’ (1987)
Julia Roberts landed her first professional acting job in 1987 with a guest appearance on the gritty Chicago TV series ‘Crime Story.’ That same year she appeared in ‘Satisfaction,’ and her film career truly began to take shape when she joined the cast of ‘Mystic Pizza’ (1988).
Christian Bale — ‘Empire of the Sun’ (1987)
Christian Bale was just 13 years old when Steven Spielberg cast him as the lead in the sweeping wartime drama ‘Empire of the Sun’ (1987) — a role that demanded real emotional depth and proved he had it in abundance. He had already appeared in a TV film and miniseries the year before.
Drew Barrymore — ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982)
Drew Barrymore was seven years old when she melted hearts around the world in Spielberg’s ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.’ It wasn’t technically her first credit — she had already appeared in two TV movies and one film — but it was the role that made her a star.
Jay Chou — ‘Initial D’ (2005)
Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou had already conquered the music world before he turned his attention to acting. His big-screen debut came in the 2005 racing drama ‘Initial D,’ a full six years before Western audiences got to know him in ‘The Green Hornet’ (2011).
Adam Sandler — ‘The Cosby Show’ (1987)
Adam Sandler’s very first TV appearance came at just 21 years old, when he played a recurring character named Smitty across four episodes of ‘The Cosby Show’ in 1987. He made his film debut in 1989, but the role that truly launched him into the mainstream was the loud, lovable rocker in ‘Airheads’ (1994).
