# 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:** 9\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/261 "2005-08-26T00:02:16Z")
Thora Birch played Sally Ryan in _Patriot Games_. Robin ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/262 "2005-08-26T01:42:49Z")
The hot Milla Jovovich was once on Married With Children! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/263 "2005-08-26T02:32:05Z")
I’m bothered by a bit of information that will not come out of the corners of my mind. In _Malcolm X_, the reporter who interviews Malcolm after his house is firebombed was someone I recognized. When I rewatched the movie, I remember being suprised by the actor playing the part but problem is I don’t remember who that was. Anyone have the DVD? ---
**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:** [August 26, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/264 "2005-08-26T02:42:59Z")
> [@The Long Road](#): > > I’m bothered by a bit of information that will not come out of the corners of my mind. In _Malcolm X_, the reporter who interviews Malcolm after his house is firebombed was someone I recognized. When I rewatched the movie, I remember being suprised by the actor playing the part but problem is I don’t remember who that was. Anyone have the DVD? IMDB will do just as well. One of the two reporters was [Michael Imperioli](http://imdb.com/name/nm0408284/) of _The Sopranos_. The other reporter’s name is [Steve Stapenhorst](http://imdb.com/name/nm0822878/). I’m guessing it was Imperioli you recognized, unless you have an eye for bit players. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/265 "2005-08-26T02:51:26Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > IMDB will do just as well. One of the two reporters was [Michael Imperioli](http://imdb.com/name/nm0408284/) of _The Sopranos_. The other reporter’s name is [Steve Stapenhorst](http://imdb.com/name/nm0822878/). I’m guessing it was Imperioli you recognized, unless you have an eye for bit players. That was it. Thanks. I looked at IMDB but the cast was rather long and I didn’t pick up the name. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/266 "2005-08-26T02:56:51Z")
> [@DrMemory](#): > > Harrison Ford also played the biology teacher (seen only from the back) in E.T. Harrison Ford wasn’t Famous in 1982? That was the year Blade Runner was released. Of course that was hot on the heels of Raiders of the Lost Arc and ESB. It is safe to say that he was a known commodity in 1982. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/267 "2005-08-26T04:06:36Z")
I mentioned this in anothr thread, but it applies here as well. **Keira Knightley** was the decoy princess in The Phantom Menace. ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/268 "2005-08-26T09:08:54Z")
[Appointment with Danger](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043292/), a film-noir movie, includes Jack Webb (Dragnet) and Harry Morgan (Dragnet, MASH) as a pair of cold-blooded killers. It’s a bit of a shock to see Sgt. Joe Friday playing a psychotic killer who kills his partner with a pair of bronzed baby shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521/269 "2005-08-26T10:22:38Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > John Cusack as one of the geeks in _Sixteen Candles_. And as Gordon Lachance’s older brother in _Stand By Me_. > [@Dooku](#): > > He was an officer in Hoth. In the scene where Han and Luke haven’t returned and Leah’s looking out mournfully, another officer comes in and says to Cliff “Sir, the patrols are in. Still no—” And Cliff motions for him to lower his voice in front of Leah before he continues “still no contact from Solo or Skywalker.” Cliff then turns to Leah and says “Your Highness, there’s nothing more we can do tonight - we must close the sheild doors.” No, that’s not him. He’s the guy telling Han Solo that they’re having trouble adapting the speeders to the cold, which is why Han goes out on a tauntaun instead. > [@DrMemory](#): > > Harrison Ford also played the biology teacher (seen only from the back) in E.T. Really? According to the IMDb, it was [Richard Swingler](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842721/). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bit-parts-when-they-were-not-so-famous/271521.md?page=13)