# Bit parts when they were not so famous **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 27, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521 "2004-10-27T19:29:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/1 "2004-10-27T19:29:25Z")
Acting is a tough career. Most actors don’t just step off the street and into academy award winning roles. Sometimes they’re lucky to get 1 line in a movie. It’s always fun to watch an older movie and see your favorite actor in one of these tiny roles. For instance: In _The Prisoner of 2nd Avenue_, Jack Lemmon gets mugged. In a different scene, he gets in a cab. The cabbie’s only line? “Where to, buddy?” The mugger was Sylvester Stallone. The cabbie was F. Murray Abraham. In _The Hot Rock_, a Redford/Segal picture, Cop #2 was Christopher Guest. In _Who’s Minding the Mint_, a phone in a phone booth was answered by a 4-year-old girl on a trike. None other than Erin Moran. Who have you spotted? ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Bongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a9adbd/32.png) [@Winston\_Bongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Bongo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/2 "2004-10-27T19:53:01Z")
My favorite is the bit role played by a young Leonard Nimoy in the hilariously cheesy 1953 serial, \*Zombies of the Stratosphere \* (the last of the three “Rocketman” serials). Nimoy plays a Martian invader and wears a costume even sillier than his familiar Spock pajamas. It’s a hoot! ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/3 "2004-10-27T20:24:48Z")
Harrison Ford as an uncredited bellboy in _Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round_. I think he had one line. > **[Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round (1966) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060287/)** > > Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round: Directed by Bernard Girard. With James Coburn, Camilla Sparv, Aldo Ray, Nina Wayne. A paroled conman co-ordinates the robbery of an L. A. Airport bank with the arrival of the Soviet premier. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/4 "2004-10-27T20:25:44Z")
In _Top Gun_, Maverick’s RIO (Merlin) during the final dogfight scene was Tim Robbins. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/5 "2004-10-27T20:29:21Z")
In **Bananas** , Sylvester Stallone is in one scene as a thug who terrorizes the people in a subway car. No lines, but it’s a real shock to see him. (This was before “Rocky.” ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/6 "2004-10-27T20:38:05Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > In **Bananas** , Sylvester Stallone is in one scene as a thug who terrorizes the people in a subway car. No lines, but it’s a real shock to see him. (This was before “Rocky.” I was going to post that, but I wasn’t really sure about it. I guess he did a lot of tough guy cameos! ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/7 "2004-10-27T20:45:43Z")
Jeff Goldblum in _Annie Hall_ on a phone in a house in California during a party as Annie Alvy Singer walks past: “Hello? I forgot my mantra.” Also Goldblum in the first _Death Wish_, as one of the rapists. Don’t remember if he had any lines, though ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/8 "2004-10-27T20:49:00Z")
Matt Damon played the younger brother of Julia Roberts’ love interest in _Mystic Pizza_. Looks about 12 at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Mystery\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@Mystery\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mystery_Dog)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/9 "2004-10-27T20:49:35Z")
I just re-watched _Mystic Pizza_ for the first time in ages, and was stunned to see a very young Matt Damon as Julia Roberts’ boyfriend’s brother. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/10 "2004-10-27T20:50:57Z")
It wasn’t exactly his first movie, but its always fun to see Bill Paxton (or its it Bill Pullman…no, no…its Paxton) as the “Punk Leader” whom Arnold requests his clothing from as **The Terminator** begins. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/11 "2004-10-27T20:51:17Z")
John Larroquette as the X-ray tech in Ken Russell’s _Altered States_. ---
**Author:** ![Mystery\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@Mystery\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mystery_Dog)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/12 "2004-10-27T20:51:27Z")
Hey, fessie, I think we get the same channels! ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/13 "2004-10-27T20:51:58Z")
Actually, is TV okay for this question? Because Quentin Tarantino played a cop on an episode of _Golden Girls_. That cracked me up. I thought he was just a video store clerk back then. Also, if you watch old episodes of _Hill Street Blues_ you’ll spot just dozens of people - Ally Sheedy, Tim Robbins, that woman from _Fargo_ who’s married to that director. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/14 "2004-10-27T20:52:58Z")
I remember seeing Jennifer Beals (who’s really not all that famous) as an extra in a scene of _My Bodyguard_. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/15 "2004-10-27T20:52:58Z")
James Earl Jones in a small, but pivotal role in _Dr. Strangelove_. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/16 "2004-10-27T20:53:08Z")
Hey, wow, **two** simulposts? Bizarre, MysteryDog! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/17 "2004-10-27T20:54:31Z")
Oh, also Andy Kaufman as one of the shooters in Larry Cohen’s inimitable _God Told Me To_. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/18 "2004-10-27T20:55:43Z")
Frank Thornton had several bit parts in the '50s & '60s, before he became famous as Capt. Stephen Peacock. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/19 "2004-10-27T20:59:19Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > It wasn’t exactly his first movie, but its always fun to see Bill Paxton (or its it Bill Pullman…no, no…its Paxton) as the “Punk Leader” whom Arnold requests his clothing from as **The Terminator** begins. Holy crap! And I just saw that. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/20 "2004-10-27T21:05:49Z")
And of course Jack Nicholson as the insipid hero of Roger Corman’s THE RAVEN, and as the sadistic dentist in the original (1960s, non-musical) LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521.md?page=2)