30 Well-Known Actors And Actresses Who Played Minor Roles In Major Films And Shows Before Becoming World-Famous
Growing up with these actors is part of the magic that extends beyond enjoying movies.
Some stars were impossible to miss from the start, but plenty of famous actors spent years popping up in tiny roles before anyone knew their names. That is part of the fun here, because these early appearances make old movies and shows feel like hidden treasure.
This roundup looks at actors and actresses who later became household names, even though they once showed up as background characters, one-off guests, or brief supporting parts. It is a reminder that big careers often start in very small places, and that a familiar face can be hiding in plain sight.
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Now those early credits are part of the story too, and a few of them are surprisingly easy to miss. Read on.
1. You may know Paul Dano from his most recent role as the Riddler in The Batman
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But his first role was as Nicholas in an episode of Smart Guy
Disney
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Some of these first roles are so small, you could watch the whole episode and still miss them.
2. We have Joey King here from The Kissing Booth movies or The Act
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This is the young Joey playing Emily in an episode of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
Disney
3. Here is Kat Dennings from 2 Broke Girls, Dollface, Wandavision, or all three
David Livingston / Getty Images
She played a 13-year-old who hired Samantha to plan her bat mitzvah in Sex and the City
HBO
4. Dylan Minnette is best known for his lead role in 13 Reasons Why
Steve Granitz / FilmMagic / Getty Images
But he also starred in an episode of Grey's Anatomy
ABC
5. Here's Rachel McAdams from Mean Girls, The Notebook, The Time Traveler's Wife, and many more
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She appeared in an episode of The Famous Jett Jackson as Riley's sister
Disney
6. You probably know Kristen Stewart from Twilight and her role as Princess Diana in Spencer
Karwai Tang / Getty Images
But her first role was as "Girl in Fountain Line" in The Thirteenth Year
Disney
7. Here's Emma Stone from Easy A, The Help, and The Amazing Spider-Man movies
Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images For Louis Vuitton
She played the leader of a group of popular girls in Malcolm in the Middle
20th Century
8. Here's Jennifer Lawrence, who starred in The Hunger Games and Silver Linings Playbook
James Devaney / GC Images / Getty Images
Jennifer acted as a mascot at a school in the movie Monk
USA Network
9. Here's Steven Yeun, who played roles in Minari, The Walking Dead, and Sorry to Bother You
Abc / ABC via Getty Images
He appeared in an episode of The Big Bang Theory, playing Sheldon's old roommate
CBS
10. Dianna Agron is famously known for her role as Quinn Fabray on Glee
Amanda Edwards / Getty Images
She played the girl who went on a date with Drake in Drake & Josh
Nickelodeon
11. You probably know Mila Kunis from That '70s Show
Momodu Mansaray / Getty Images
She played a schoolgirl named Annie in Baywatch
NBC
Here is Mila again in 7th Heaven as Lucy's frenemy, Ashley
The WB / The CW
12. You probably know Seth Rogen from Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, or many of his other comedy films
Phillip Faraone / Getty Images
He acted in Dawson's Creek, where he played a stoner who went with Joey, Audrey, and Eddie to Los Angeles
The WB
That kind of early TV credit is exactly what makes these throwback appearances fun to spot.
13. Here is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who starred in 500 Days of Summer and 50/50
David Livingston / Getty Images
He acted as DJ's friend in the movie Roseanne
ABC
14. Ryan Gosling starred in many movies like The Notebook, Crazy, Stupid, Love, and La La Land
Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images
He played a character who was obsessed with death in Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Nickelodeon
15. Here's Dakota Fanning, who played major roles in Uptown Girls, The Cat in the Hat, and Charlotte's Web
Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images
She played the girl who lived in the house Chandler and Monica bought in Friends
NBC
16. Here's Jessica Chastain from The Help and Take Shelter
Lionel Hahn / Getty Images
She played an abuse survivor in Veronica Mars
UPN
17. Here's Lin-Manuel Miranda, the writer of the musical plays Hamilton and In the Heights
Kevin Winter / Getty Images
He acted in an episode of How I Met Your Mother
CBS
18. You may know Simon Helberg as Howard on The Big Bang Theory
Emma Mcintyre / Getty Images
He portrayed a nerd in A Cinderella Story
Warner Bros. Pictures
19. Here's Jane Lynch, who played Coach Sue Sylvester on Glee
Michael Loccisano / Getty Images
She acted as Greta on Married... with Children
Fox
20. You may know Ashley Tisdale from The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and the High School Musical movies
Phillip Faraone / Getty Images
She acted as a student in Donnie Darko
Pandora Cinema
21. Here's Octavia Spencer, who played major roles in The Help and Ma
Kevin Winter / Getty Images
She played a woman who tried to talk Peter out of joining a professional wrestling event in Spider-Man
Sony Pictures Releasing
22. Here's Adam Scott from Parks and Recreation
Jc Olivera / WireImage / Getty Images
He had a recurring role as a bully in Boy Meets World
ABC
23. Scarlett Johansson is popularly known for playing Black Widow in the MCU films
Gregg Deguire / FilmMagic / Getty Images
She acted as the sister in Home Alone 3
Hughes Entertainment
24. Ben Affleck is known for his numerous major roles in Good Will Hunting, Pearl Harbor, and Gone Girl
Steve Granitz / FilmMagic / Getty Images
He acted as a basketball player in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie
20 Century Fox
25. John Cho, who played Harold in the Harold & Kumar movies
Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images
He played a parking valet in The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas
Universal Pictures
26. Here's Johnny Galecki, who acted as Leonard on The Big Bang Theory
Emma Mcintyre / NBCU Photo Bank / NBCUniversal via Getty Images
He played Rusty in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
John Hughes Entertainment
27. Jessica Alba starred in many box office hits like Fantastic Four, Valentine's Day, and Good Luck Chuck
Lionel Hahn / Getty Images
She had a small role in Camp Nowhere
Buena Vista Pictures
28. Brie Larson, who played roles in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Short Term 12, and in the MCU films as Captain Marvel
Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images
She is one of the Six Chicks in 13 Going on 30
Sony Pictures Releasing
29. Abigail Breslin, known for Little Miss Sunshine, My Sister's Keeper, and Definitely, Maybe
Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images
She plays one of the orphans in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Disney
30. Kiernan Shipka from Mad Men and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
John Shearer / Getty Images
She acted as a kid customer in an episode of Monk
USA
It is always a little wild to see how many stars started out in roles this small.
So many of them were already on screen long before they became famous, and that is half the fun of looking back.
Think you know everyone? Meet the “secret twins” hiding in plain sight across Hollywood.
