Image via Complex Original
Everyone has to start somewhere, and this includes your favorite actors. It may be hard to imagine George Clooney or Angelina Jolie as anything less than stars, but when they started their careers, they were just as unknown as you. When we think of the biggest names in Hollywood, we tend to associate them with their most iconic roles, but sometimes it’s more interesting to lean about their first films ever.
For most of the people on this list, their first gigs were in low-budget movies that barely anyone saw, and they probably wish they could forget. Others somehow managed to land roles in films that were actually well received, or eventually became cult classics. You might be shocked to find out which of today’s most famous actors started his career with a small, nameless role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
We’ve compiled this list of 15 of today’s leading actors and their humble beginnings. Check out new movies you’ve never heard of, or re-watch old favorites, and look out for an appearance by a young star in the making that you never noticed before. It’s always nice to know that the rich and famous were once regular people in low-budget flicks.
Robert Downey Jr. – Pound
Year: 1970
Before he was Iron Man, an Academy Award nominee, and one of the highest paid actors working today, five-year-old Robert Downey Jr. played a puppy in his father’s absurdist film Pound. Based on a play written by Downey Sr., the movie was about dogs, all played by humans, waiting to die in a pound. Pound was not very well known, and didn’t jumpstart the young actor’s career, but gave him experience so could star in films with the Brat Pack, and eventually become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Leonardo DiCaprio – Critters 3
Year: 1991
Most people think that Leonardo DiCaprio started his career with his role as homeless teen Luke on Growing Pains. However, the truth is that Leo’s first film was actually the straight-to-video sci-fi/horror movie Critters 3. His character didn’t have much depth, and didn’t display his acting range, but this low budget flick is definitely good for a few laughs.
Ben Affleck – The Dark End of the Street
Year: 1981
Ben Affleck is currently a major figure in Hollywood, writing, directing, and starring in critically acclaimed movies, and has won two Academy Awards. He got to where he is by acting in a few Kevin Smith films, and then penning the screenplay for Good Will Hunting with childhood friend Matt Damon. But before all this success, Affleck appeared in The Dark End of the Street, an independent movie about teens dealing with the death of a friend. We doubt even Affleck’s biggest fans have seen this one.
Christian Bale – Mio in the Land of Faraway
Year: 1987
Right before he got his break and was cast in Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun, Christian Bale appeared in the Swedish fantasy film Mio in the Land of Faraway. Bale plays Benke, the best friend of the protagonist, and the two young boys travel to a new world through a magic portal. We always knew he had a wide range, from blockbusters to small art house films, but now we know that acting in children’s fantasy films is part of his repertoire.
Will Smith – Where the Day Takes You
Year: 1991
We all know how Will Smith got his start, and anyone who was alive in the ‘90s can sing along to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s theme song. What most people don’t know is that his big-screen debut was in the 1991 film Where the Day Takes You. The gritty film follows teenage runaways living in the streets of L.A., many of whom are drug addicts and resort to prostitution to survive. Smith’s character has no legs, and his role in this dark film is pretty shocking considering his family-friendly role on TV at the time.
Mark Wahlberg – Renaissance Man
Year: 1994
In 1990, Mark Wahlberg got famous rapping as “Marky Mark” with his hit single “Good Vibrations.” After leaving his music career behind, he transitioned into acting pretty easily, and audiences really recognized his talents from his performance in Boogie Nights. He appeared in a few films before this, such as The Basketball Diaries and Fear, but his first movie ever was Renaissance Man, a comedy starring Danny DeVito, which he played a soldier.
Jennifer Aniston – Leprechaun
Year: 1993
After appearing in a series of failed television comedy series, Jennifer Aniston starred in the cult horror-comedy film Leprechaun, about an evil, murderous leprechaun. Critics hated it, but people loved it, so much that it got six sequels. Since Aniston is best known for her role as Rachel in Friends, and starring in many rom-coms, her role in this low budget film comes as quite a shock.
Scarlett Johansson – North
Year: 1994
The movie North had an ensemble cast, including big names like Dan Aykroyd, Jon Lovitz, Bruce Willis, and many others. This huge cast also included a then-unknown Scarlett Johansson, in a small role that barely anyone remembers. She was 10 years old at the time, and worked through her teen years until she switched to adult roles like Lost in Translation. It’s surprising to see her so young, since today she’s seen as one of Hollywood’s sex symbols, and is an extremely successful actress.
George Clooney – Return to Horror High
Year: 1987
George Clooney has won two Academy Awards, as well as various other awards, and is known for making high-quality, critically acclaimed films. Based on his track record, you would have no idea that his first movie role was actually in the cheesy ‘80s slasher flick Return to Horror High. This horror-comedy centers around killings in a high school, and is actually tons of fun.
Nicolas Cage – Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Year: 1982
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is an ‘80s teen comedy that kick-started the film careers of many of its young actors, perhaps most notably that of Sean Penn, who played the classic stoner character Jeff Spicoli. However, it was also the first film of Nicolas Cage, who played a nameless friend of one of the lead characters. Now Nicolas Cage is one of the most successful actors in Hollywood. He tends to get a lot of flack for his movie choices, but Fast Times at Ridgemont High is actually pretty great.
Sofía Vergara – Big Trouble
Year: 2002
Today Sofía Vergara is known for playing Gloria in Modern Family, and she’s definitely the breakout star of the show. She’s used this to her advantage and has become one of the richest actresses on television, partly due to her many endorsements and advertisements for CoverGirl, Kmart, and Diet Pepsi. Most people don’t know that first movie role was in Big Trouble, a comedy film starring Tim Allen, which started her extremely successful acting career.
Angelina Jolie - Lookin’ to Get Out
Year: 1982
Angelina Jolie is one of the most famous actresses in Hollywood, and is known for talent and hard work, as well as her personal life and family. Most people know that her father is actor Jon Voigt so it makes sense that he would help to get her acting career started. However, people don’t usually remember her small role in her father’s film Lookin’ to Get Out, playing his character’s daughter when she was just seven years old.
Jennifer Lawrence – Garden Party
Year: 2008
At this point Jennifer Lawrence is a household name, but less than 10 years ago she was completely unknown. Her first film was made just seven years ago, when she played a minor role in the dramatic film Garden Party. Since her career has started, she’s been known for blockbusters like The Hunger Games and critics’ favorites like American Hustle, so it’s odd to see her in a movie that barely anyone has even heard of.
Channing Tatum – Coach Carter
Year: 2005
Channing Tatum got his big break in the dance movie Step Up, and since then has starred in a series of blockbusters, ranging from action to comedy to more serious dramas. It’s public knowledge that Tatum was a male stripper before his acting career started, but people don’t know that between that and Step Up, he had his first film role in the basketball drama Coach Carter.
Zoe Saldana – Center Stage
Year: 2000
Zoe Saldana’s most prominent roles to date are in Star Trek, Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy. When you think of her, you think of sci-fi and fantasy movies, since she performs so well in the genre and seems to be quite fond of it. That’s why it’s surprising that her first film role was in Center Stage, a teen drama about a group of diverse young students at ballet school, who dream of becoming successful dancers.