10 Celebrities Who Started as Background Actors
Before their names rolled in movie credits or headlined awards shows, a surprising number of stars were just blurred faces in the background. These early roles weren’t glamorous, but they were real and planted the seeds that would later blossom. Here’s a look at 10 actors who once stood behind the action before stepping into the spotlight.
Brad Pitt in Less Than Zero
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If you squint during a party scene in Less Than Zero, you might catch Brad Pitt loitering in the background. He also popped up in No Man’s Land and Hunk the same year, all nameless roles. Word is, he once tried to sneak in a line while serving drinks.
Viola Davis on NYPD Blue
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Before becoming one of the few actors to achieve EGOT status, Viola Davis had early screen time on the television series NYPD Blue. Her character didn’t drive the story, but those moments still counted. She also worked as an extra in The Substance of Fire.
Channing Tatum in War of the Worlds
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In War of the Worlds, there’s a scene where Tom Cruise runs past chaos outside a church. If you pause at the right moment, you’ll spot Channing Tatum sprinting through the background. That’s all he did—just run. His original scene got cut, which left him in a blink-and-miss-it shot.
Kristen Stewart in The Thirteenth Year
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Disney Channel’s The Thirteenth Year featured a young Kristen Stewart standing near a school water fountain. She didn’t speak, and the shot was quick, but it marked one of her first appearances on camera. Not long after, she’d land lead roles in major films.
Daniel Day-Lewis in Sunday Bloody Sunday
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Daniel Day-Lewis showed up briefly in Sunday Bloody Sunday. He played a teenager who vandalized a car by scratching it with a broken bottle. That somehow feels perfectly on-brand for someone who’d later dive deep into roles like There Will Be Blood.
Jennifer Lawrence on Monk
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Jennifer Lawrence once played a student mascot on the detective series Monk. She wore a fuzzy costume and appeared in a scene set in a school hallway. Her part didn’t involve much. Just a few years later, she’d win an Oscar and lead major franchises.
Leonardo DiCaprio on Roseanne
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Before Titanic made him a household name, Leonardo DiCaprio appeared on Roseanne as one of Darlene’s classmates during a home economics class. He had a small speaking role, and the scene is brief, but it’s one of those early TV appearances fans love spotting once a future star becomes impossible to miss.
Evangeline Lilly in Freddy vs. Jason
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In Freddy vs. Jason, Evangeline Lilly appears in a school hallway as a student. She doesn’t scream or get chased, but she looks concerned as characters discuss the film’s infamous villains. It’s a curious moment for someone who would later lead an ensemble cast in Lost and enter the Marvel universe.
Megan Fox in Bad Boys II
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Megan Fox shows up in Bad Boys II as a club dancer in a stars-and-stripes bikini. The role didn’t involve acting range, but it landed her in front of director Michael Bay. The connection led directly to Transformers, her breakout film.
Sylvester Stallone in Bananas
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In Bananas, Stallone plays a subway mugger who hassles Woody Allen’s character. The story goes that Allen almost sent him away, thinking he didn’t look menacing enough. Stallone changed his mind at the sight of one look. It’s a funny twist, considering he’d later become one of cinema’s most recognized tough guys.