# Clips of famous people: before they were famous **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856 "2010-05-10T01:19:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/21 "2010-05-10T23:31:57Z")
Adam Savage also appears in the Billy Joel Video, [You’re Only Human (Second Wind)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhxjNYvJbgM) (Adam shows up at 2:05 as the nerdy kid saved from drowning). ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/22 "2010-05-11T01:43:46Z")
Speaking of Burger King, sarah Michelle Gellar in a BK commercial: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-Ss7_5PSnyA/hqdefault.jpg "Sarah Michelle Gellar Burger King Commercial - 1981") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ss7_5PSnyA) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/23 "2010-05-11T01:51:07Z")
An eleven-year-old Jody Foster on [The Partridge Family](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9niAG8Zymu0). Amazingly, she had already been acting for four years by this time and this was her 24th credit. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/24 "2010-05-11T01:55:12Z")
[10 Commercials Before They Were Stars](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juSfFqEpwrs&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/25 "2010-05-11T01:57:29Z")
[Harrison Ford’s first movie appearance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMwpZfZ59Dw) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/26 "2010-05-11T05:39:01Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Can’t supply a link but. . . > > There used to be a youtube clip of a “To Tell the Truth” segment with an 9-ish year old Cynthia Nixon as one of the impostors. Cynthia Nixon played a hippie camper named Sunshine in 1980’s [Little Darlings](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081060/) when she was 14. It’s available to watch in pieces on Youtube. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/27 "2010-05-11T06:28:45Z")
Ridiculous 80’s McDonald’s [ad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTSdUOC8Kac)featuring Jason Alexander. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/28 "2010-05-11T07:26:20Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Speaking of Burger King, sarah Michelle Gellar in a BK commercial: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ss7\_5PSnyA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ss7_5PSnyA) Speaking of Sarah Michelle Geller, here’s Alexis Denisoff in a [very 80’s clip (from a 60’s legend).](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSXn6IKZXIM&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/29 "2010-05-11T07:56:18Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Speaking of Sarah Michelle Geller, here’s Alexis Denisoff in a [very 80’s clip (from a 60’s legend).](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSXn6IKZXIM&feature=related) First time I’ve ever seen that video…I like it better than the better known one. But, boy, Alexis has barely changed since '87. Got a little less skinny, but…he still has the exact same face. ---
**Author:** ![Orville\_mogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/aeb1de/32.png) [@Orville\_mogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orville_mogul)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/30 "2010-05-11T07:59:49Z")
Here’s [Matt Bellamy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c02gBveKq70) of Muse… ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/31 "2010-05-11T08:07:38Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > A more modern one, but I thought this one was neat - [Stephani Germanotta](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM51qOpwcIM), playing piano and singing for NYU’s annual talent show. She came in 3rd. > > Oh, and she’s better known these days as “Lady Gaga.” As a comparison, I offer [Kesha](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs4jeV9HN5w) [Rose](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJOW3Mxe63o) [Sebert](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9Ydm_JcUtI#t=2m24s). ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/32 "2010-05-11T08:25:13Z")
[Farmer’s Daughter - Crystal Bowersox](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKaTlmrMyQk) [Holy Toledo - Crystal Bowersox](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q9h_TcnT4o&feature=related) [Piece of My Heart - Crystal Bowersox](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB2HD7CnUI8) Love ya, MamaSox! ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/33 "2010-05-11T13:23:06Z")
Oh, (can’t access youtube), check out the old \*McDonald’s commercial, which features John Amos. Also, some other noticeable actors, like Robert Ridgely (and a guy that looks like Donovan Scott), a man with a ton of credits, who was barely noticed, but probably his most recognized role is that of “The Colonel” in “Boogie Nights,” when he was already dying of cancer. \*Grab a bucket and mop, Scrub the bottom and top, Before you open the door, Put a SHINE on the floor. . . . ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/34 "2010-05-11T14:18:52Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Oh, (can’t access youtube), check out the old \*McDonald’s commercial, which features John Amos. Also, some other noticeable actors, like Robert Ridgely (and a guy that looks like Donovan Scott), a man with a ton of credits, who was barely noticed, but probably his most recognized role is that of “The Colonel” in “Boogie Nights,” when he was already dying of cancer. > > \*Grab a bucket and mop, > Scrub the bottom and top, > Before you open the door, > Put a SHINE on the floor. . . . I remember that commercial well. What’s odd is the notion that McDonald’s is staffed by a bunch of middle-aged white males. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/35 "2010-05-11T16:05:51Z")
An old Head & Shoulders commercial [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/7uC4bVK5Xeo/hqdefault.jpg "Farrah Fawcett Head&Shoulders 1970's w Laverne") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uC4bVK5Xeo) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/36 "2010-05-11T16:20:38Z")
A young standup comic named Danny Whitney, before he latched onto his most successful gimmick. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIWO5LgUZ28) ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/37 "2010-05-11T16:42:49Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I remember that commercial well. What’s odd is the notion that McDonald’s is staffed by a bunch of middle-aged white males. \ Funny enough, I can remember in the late 60s when this was the case. In some installations, it’s come full circle, with more adults working than kids. ---
**Author:** ![Flip\_Pancake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f1d935/32.png) [@Flip\_Pancake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flip_Pancake)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/38 "2010-05-11T16:46:44Z")
[David Bowie’s first film, _The Image_.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lV75LN9uLA) And a funny blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance in [_Virgin Soldiers_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rub5ouLx0ik). ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/39 "2010-05-11T16:52:24Z")
> [@In\_Winnipeg](#): > > \ Funny enough, I can remember in the late 60s when this was the case. In some installations, it’s come full circle, with more adults working than kids. Things may vary by geography, but I agree, I haven’t seen “kids” working at a fast food place in Texas in a long, long time. Teens will work all kinds of menial retail and restaurant jobs, but fast food jobs seem to be in disfavor. In Texas, I’ll see lots of Mexicans working at fast food resturants, lots of blacks, lots of Indians/Pakistanis, lots of senior citizens, a fair number of mentally and physically handicapped people. But white teenagers in Texas are NOT about to work at Mickey D’s, apparently. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/40 "2010-05-11T22:42:16Z")
Most probably know [Marilyn’s small role with Groucho in _Love Happy_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P9S-N3IV10); [here she is in _Dangerous Years_, her second film role](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlmX01MDI_c). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856.md?page=3)