# Big movie stars in bit parts! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 13, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102 "2002-03-13T19:07:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mkmiller99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@mkmiller99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkmiller99)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/21 "2002-03-14T05:47:06Z")
He’s not a **Movie Star** but: David Duchovney - Don’t Tell Mom, the Babysitter’s Dead ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/22 "2002-03-14T06:09:45Z")
Kevin Costner played the dead guy in _The Big Chill_ . We didn’t see enough of ya, man. But it was your best performance to date. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/23 "2002-03-14T07:08:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by **BigKahunaBurger** \* > Plus, who can forget that woman pulling a shotgun oh him? Dude, not me. I love that movie so much it’s almost a sickness. … And speaking of Parker Posey, this might be a little big for a ‘bit part’ characterization, but how about Tori Spelling in _The House of Yes_? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/24 "2002-03-14T14:37:56Z")
John Wayne as a Centurion in _The Greatest Story Ever Told_ “True lee he wuz the sunn of gawd.” Sting, Robin Williams, and Uma Thurman in _The Adventures of Baron Munchausen_ aaaarrrrrrrrooooooooooommmmmmmmmrrrrrrooooooooo _ **hijack alert:** _ While looking Terry Gilliam (director) up on IMDB, I saw that he’s going to direct the film adaptation of GOOD OMENS by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett! I’M SO PSYCHED!!! I’ve ALWAYS thought this would make a great movie! _ **end hijack alert** _ aaaarrrrrrrrooooooooooommmmmmmmmrrrrrrooooooooo ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/25 "2002-03-16T20:56:36Z")
Ted Knight in _Psycho_ (prison guard in last scene) George Wendt in _My Bodyguard_ (handyman at the hotel) I’ve seen both Patrick Swayze and Lawrence Fishburn as patients on _M_A_S_H\*. Haven’t seen it for myself, but I’ve heard that Ed O’Neill played a cop in _Deliverance_. I’ve also heard that Jerry Seinfeld played bit parts in old sitcoms like _Benson_ and _The Cosby Show_. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/26 "2002-03-16T23:57:09Z")
Billy Bob Thornton in _Chopper Chicks in Zombietown_ John Goodamn in _C.H.U.D._ (uncredited) John Ratzenberger in _Motel Hell_ ---
**Author:** ![Ankh\_Too](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Ankh\_Too](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ankh_Too)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/27 "2002-03-17T00:05:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pezwookiee \* > \*\*Be specific, bit parts, not cameos!! \*\* For those of us who have trouble discerning the difference… how can you tell if it’s a **bit part** or a **cameo**? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/28 "2002-03-17T00:19:51Z")
Not only bit parts, but uncredited bit parts: Martin Landau and Christopher Walken, in _Sleepy Hollow_. Although I’m not sure the the Headless Horseman can be considered a bit part. But he has no face to recognize for most of the movie and no lines, as such, so… jayjay ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/29 "2002-03-17T03:02:20Z")
Jack Nicholson in the _original_ (1960) “Little Shop of Horrors” Zsa Zsa Gabor in “Queen of Outer Space” (1958) ---
**Author:** ![ignatzmouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b2d939/32.png) [@ignatzmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ignatzmouse)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/30 "2002-03-17T07:26:53Z")
David Duchovney as a party goer in Working Girl . John Travolta as Subway Thug in Woody Allen’s Bananas. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/31 "2002-03-17T11:08:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ignatzmouse \* > \*\*John Travolta as Subway Thug in Woody Allen’s Bananas. \*\* I believe you mean Sylvester Stallone. Not a cameo/bit part, but Stallone was in **The Lords of Flatbush** , with Henry Winkler. I kept waiting for Tony Manero to show up. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/32 "2002-03-17T11:27:27Z")
Not a movie star, and a nonspeaking role, and uncredited, but didja notice **Fred Gwynne** (Herman Munster) in **On The Waterfront**? ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/33 "2002-03-17T14:14:14Z")
{b}James Cagney\*\* as George M. Cohan doing a dance duet with **Bob Hope** as Eddie Foy in _The Seven Little Foys_ This makes a pretty good trivia question. In what two movies did James Cagney play George M. Cohan? But not any more, I guess, since I gave it away. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/34 "2002-03-17T14:35:39Z")
Jim Carrey in Simon Birch, Tom Hanks in Radio Flyer ---
**Author:** ![ignatzmouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b2d939/32.png) [@ignatzmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ignatzmouse)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/35 "2002-03-17T18:12:25Z")
> [@](#): > > I believe you mean Sylvester Stallone. You are absolutely correct. I get those two mixed up a lot. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/36 "2002-03-17T19:53:10Z")
I realize this is becoming a John Ratzenberger salute but he was also in **Ghandi** as a military driver for another that probably belongs in this category Candice Bergen as Margaret Brooke White. The weird thing about **Ghandi** , however, is that while everyone else seems to have his or her own voice, clearly Ratzenberger does not. Someone else dubbed over him. Another example of a big star doing a bit roll was Jack Nicholson in Strisand’s **On a Clear Day You Can See Forever**. He played Barbara’s younger brother appearing in two or three scenes. By the time he did this film he was a big star. Why then did he do it? Earlier someone mentioned Nicholson and the original **Little Shop of Horrors**. Wasn’t he the star? Hardly a bit part. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/37 "2002-03-17T20:13:45Z")
I will attempt to respond to the “Cameo” Vs. “Bit” parts question. A bit part is one that while minor, advances the plot or story. On the other hand, a cameo has no other purpose than to let the audience go, “Oh, there’s that big star.” ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/38 "2002-03-17T20:21:33Z")
And to extend the Ratzenberger hijack… Don’t forget he played a missle technician in _Superman - The Movie_. He’s the one who tells the highers ups that the XJ-101 Rocket has gone off course and it refuses to self-destruct. And I might question whether his voice was dubbed in Gandhi. It’s been 20 years since I’ve seen it but I do know that Ratzenberger’s ‘Cliff Claven’ voice is a pose. He doesn’t really sound like that. Really, he’s not a bad actor. And he developed a character for the ages. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/39 "2002-03-17T21:18:48Z")
_“Earlier someone mentioned Nicholson and the original Little Shop of Horrors. Wasn’t he the star? Hardly a bit part.”_ No, he played the dental patient (same part played by Bill Murray in the remake). I’m pretty sure it was his first big-screen credit as well, though I could be mistaken. Near the beginning of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” Dan Aykroyd plays the guy who ushers Indy and Whatzername onto the plane that ends up belonging to the gangster he was running away from. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102/40 "2002-03-17T21:35:40Z")
How about Bill Murray as Dustin Hoffman’s roommate in Tootsie? I can’t remember why, but Murray didn’t take any billing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-movie-stars-in-bit-parts/98102.md?page=3)