Extras Who Became Popular Hollywood Stars
Extras are those people who appear in a TV show or even a movie who are not directly involved in the scene. Those who say a few lines are called “day player” or “bit player.” On the other hand, when high-profile celebrities appear in a movie without saying any lines, they are called cameos.
But did you know that some of our well-loved Hollywood stars started as extras? To their credit, not only do they have charm and stage presence, but they also worked hard to be where they are today.
Let’s take a look at these celebrities who started at the bottom before shining bright in Hollywood.
Brad Pitt
Before he became famous for his roles in films like Interview with the Vampire and Legends of the Fall, Brad Pitt started as an extra in the movie Less than Zero in 1987. He was billed as Preppie Guy at Fight/Partygoer. For this work, Pitt reportedly earned $38. Today, he is one of Hollywood’s A-listers, earning millions of dollars per movie.
Renee Zellweger
Another celebrity who started as an extra is Renee Zellwegger. The Bridget Jones Diary star appeared as one of the freshmen girls who got hazed in Dazed and Confused in 1993. Zellwegger has certainly put her investments in her career as she appeared in other hits like Jerry Maguire, Cold Mountain, and Chicago.
Megan Fox
Megan Fox appeared as an extra in the movie Bad Boys 2 in 2003. She was one of the dancers in the club. This could be her stepping stone to becoming a part of several movies under the director Michael Bay. One thing is for sure; Fox has come a long way with several films to her name.
Ben Affleck & Matt Damon
This power duo worked as extras in the Field of Dreams. They were part of the Fenway Park scenes. Who would have thought that they would pen strong scripts like Dogma, Good Will Hunting, and Chasing Amy in the long run? Aside from that, they have also embarked on respective successful careers in Hollywood. To their credit, they are among the well-known names in the entertainment industry today.
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone is one of the biggest names in Hollywood, and with good reason. He has appeared in several blockbusters, like Rambo, Rocky, and The Expendables, to name a few. However, before making a splash in Hollywood, he was an extra for Bananas and Klute. In Bananas, Stallone appeared as the mugger in the subway, while in Klute, he played the role of a disco patron.
Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood was once part of the Central Casting, working doubly hard to break into the entertainment industry. He appeared in several films as an extra though he did not get any credit in some of them. Fortunately, his hard work paid off after receiving lead roles in several Western movies, like Unforgiven, Pale Rider, and The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. In addition, Eastwood is now one of the more prominent directors in Hollywood.
John Wayne
Did you know that John Wayne appeared as an extra in silent films before he made a name for himself? This happened in the 1920s when the young Wayne was only starting. Fortunately, he was given his first starring role in the film The Big Trail back in 1930, which helped him gain a foothold in Hollywood. Needless to say, he amassed an impressive amount of investment money during his time. After all, he made a name for himself in Hollywood.
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan is one of the best martial artists and actors from Southeast Asia. He has appeared in several Hollywood movies like Rush Hour, Around the World in 80 Days, and The Foreigner. But before that, he was an extra in two of Bruce Lee’s films. The first one was Fists of Fury and the second was Enter the Dragon. Fast forward to today, and Chan is one of Hollywood’s most highly respected Asian stars.
Bruce Willis
Did you know that RED alum Bruce Willis was an extra in The Verdict? You will find him in the courtroom scene of the movie. It seemed that the actor got a taste of the life of a star and spent his time and investments working on his craft. Needless to say, he is one of Hollywood’s veteran actors that have made a name for himself.
These are just a handful of Hollywood celebrities who got a taste of acting as extras. Who would have thought they would be big names in the entertainment industry nowadays? For sure, you were surprised to hear their beginnings.