19 Celebs That Starred In Commercials In The Early Days Of Their Careers
Drew Barrymore started appearing in commercials when she was just a baby!
Some of Hollywood's biggest names got their start in the most ordinary places, long before the red carpets and blockbuster paychecks. For a lot of them, that meant showing up in commercials, modeling gigs, and tiny TV spots that barely hinted at what was coming next.
This roundup looks at 19 celebrities who spent the early days of their careers selling everything from toys and snacks to fast food and soda. Their paths were different, but the pattern is the same, small jobs first, major fame later.
[ADVERTISEMENT]
It is a fun reminder that even the biggest stars usually start somewhere modest. Read on.
1. Zendaya starred in an iCarly toys commercial under her modeling jobs with Macy's and Old Navy. This was way before she got her own show on Disney.
Playmates Toys
[ADVERTISEMENT]
Watch the video here:
She then landed a role in Disney Channel's Shake It Up, playing Rocky Blue from 2010 to 2013. She's now also known for her role as Rue in Euphoria and as Tom Holland's MJ in Spider-Man.
Craig Sjodin / Disney Channel via Getty Images/ HBO
[ADVERTISEMENT]
2. Drew Barrymore was in a dog-food commercial at just 11 months old. She was set to become a Hollywood star the moment she came out of the womb!
Gaines-Burgers/dVour Brands Corporation
Watch the video here:
She then landed her role as Gertie in E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, which cemented her reputation as one of the most famous child stars of that time.
In 1982, Barrymore landed the role of Gertie in E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, making her one of the most famous child stars in the industry at the time.
3. Mila Kunis landed her first gig in 1993 and was featured in Barbie and Lisa Frank commercials.
Lisa Frank Incorporated
Watch the video here:
After that, Kunis had a few minor roles in TV shows and movies. In 1998, she landed her role as Jackie Burkhart in That '70s Show.
Fun fact: the character required the actor to be 18 years old, but Kunis was just 14 at that time. When the producers found out her actual age, they still kept her because she was the perfect fit for the role.
20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection/Fox / Getty Images
4. Before Paul Rudd became ultra-famous, he appeared in a 1991 commercial for the Super Nintendo.
Nintendo
Watch the video here:
Rudd then appeared on Sisters. In 1995, he landed his first role in a film as Josh in Clueless.
Paramount Pictures / CBS / Getty Images/Paramount / courtesy Everett Collection
5. Steve Carell worked as a mail carrier for USPS before making it big. In 1989, he starred in a Brown's Chicken commercial.
Brown's Chicken & Pasta
Watch the video here:
Not long after that, he landed his role as Gary in the comedy sketch, The Ambiguously Gay Duo, on The Dana Carvey Show/Saturday Night Live from 1996 to 2011. He is famously known as Michael Scott on The Office (2005-2011).
ABC / NBC/ Ron Tom / NBC / courtesy everett collection
6. Ben Affleck starred in a Burger King commercial in 1989 before he had his big break.
Burger King
Watch the video here:
His first lead role was in Dazed and Confused (1993). He further cemented his reputation as an actor in Good Will Hunting (1997), Armageddon (1998), Daredevil (2003), and many more.
Miramax/20thcentfox/Courtesy Everett Collection
7. Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the most famous Hollywood actors, but way back in the late 1980s, the early days of his career were spent starring in commercials such as Bubble Yum bubble gum.
The Hershey Comapny
Watch the video here:
After starring in commercials, DiCaprio started landing huge gigs, including Romeo in Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Jack Dawson in Titanic (1997).
20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
8. After modeling for companies like Abercrombie & Fitch, Channing Tatum started his career in TV by doing Pepsi and Mountain Dew commercials in 2002. He used to model for Abercrombie & Fitch and other companies.
PepsiCo
Watch the video here:
That same kind of restriction reminds us of Danielle Fishel being told she couldn’t show her arms in the final season of “Boy Meets World”.
Tatum's role in Step Up (2006) cemented his status as a reputable actor in the industry.
Touchstone Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection
9. Ryan Reynolds appeared in Pop Pops commercials in the early '90s before making it big.
The Topps Company, Inc
Watch the video here:
Later on, Reynolds would land roles in Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place (1998), The Proposal (2009), and Deadpool (2016), among many others.
20thCentFox/Walt Disney Co/20th Century Fox/ Courtesy Everett Collection
10. Matt LeBlanc first appeared on TV in a Heinz ketchup commercial.
Heinz/ H.J. Heinz Company
Watch the video here:
Not long after, LeBlanc became known as the wholesome hunk Joey Tribbiani in Friends. He was in the show for all ten seasons, plus the spin-offs made for his character.
NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection
11. Amanda Bynes started her Hollywood journey by appearing in Buncha Crunch commercials back in 1993.
Nestlé
Watch the video here:
In 1996, she rose to fame when she starred in Nickelodeon's All That (1996-2000). She landed even more major roles in various movies, including Big Fat Liar (2002), The Amanda Show (1999-2002), What I Like About You (2002), and of course, She's The Man (2006).
Universal/Tollin/Robbins/Nickelodeon/ DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection
12. Sarah Michelle Gellar also started out her acting career doing commercials.
Burger King
Watch the video here:
As she grew up, Gellar started to get huge roles, such as Kendall Hart in All My Children (1993), Daphne Blake in Scooby-Doo (2002), and of course, Buffy Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003).
Ann Limongello/Disney General Entertainment Content / Getty Images/Warner Brothers/20th Century Fox Film Corp. / Courtesy Everett Collection
13. Before Tobey Maguire became one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood, he first worked in various commercials, including one for the Atari Lynx in 1990.
Epyx/Atari Corporation
Watch the video here:
He then landed roles in Pleasantville (1998) and Wonder Boys (2000). In 2002, Maguire became the ever-iconic Spider-Man/Peter Parker.
New Line Cinema/Paramount /Columbia Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection
14. Anne Hathaway first starred in a Better Homes and Gardens commercial when she was just 14.
BH&G/ Dotdash Meredith
Watch the video here:
Four years later, Hathaway landed the role of Mia Thermopolis in Disney's The Princess Diaries. It marked the beginning of her remarkable journey to becoming one of the most famous actresses worldwide today.
Walt Disney Co. /Courtesy Everett Collection
15. Madison Pettis first did TV commercials for products like FurReal Friends, in addition to modeling, when she was just starting out in Hollywood.
Hasbro
Watch the video here:
She then landed her first big role in the Disney film, The Game Plan, in 2006.
Buena Vista Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
16. Kirsten Dunst starred in TV commercials, including Baby Uh Oh dolls, before having her big break.
Hasbro
Watch the video here:
She has definitely come a long way, especially since she starred in huge blockbusters like Jumanji (1995), Bring It On (2000), and Spider-Man (2002).
Columbia Pictures/Universal/Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Columbia Pictures/ Everett Collection
17. Kat Graham also appeared in TV commercials, such as Barbie and Pop-Tarts. At 17 years old, she was part of Fanta's promotional campaign, playing a member of the "Fantanas."
The Coca-Cola Company
Watch the video here:
She then appeared in Lizzie McGuire (2001–04), The Parent Trap (1998), and Hannah Montana (2006–11). In 2009, she became known for her role as Bonnie Bennett in The Vampire Diaries.
Quantrell D. Colbert / CW / Courtesy: Everett Collection
18. Keanu Reeves starred in Coca-Cola commercials in 1983 when he was just starting out.
The Coca-Cola Company
Watch the video here:
He started to become famously known for his role as Neo in The Matrix series in 1999.
Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
19. Brad Pitt started out by doing Pringles commercials in 1988.
Procter & Gamble
Watch the video here:
In 1991, he started getting recognized for his talent when he had a role in Thelma & Louise (1991). He then starred in many commercially successful movies such as Ocean's Eleven (2001), Troy (2004), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), and many more.
Warner Bros/ 20th Century Fox/ Everett Collection
It is always fun to look back at how far these stars have come from their earliest gigs. The glow-up was real.
Wait, Kaley Cuoco still had to deal with an A-list actress overlooking her on “Charmed”.
