# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2010, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/41 "2010-05-11T23:46:27Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > 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. I don’t have a link but since you are Jodi Foster fan, she did a commercial and/or a print ad for Coppertone when she was even younger… young enough for a little girl to only be wearing a bathing suit bottom if I remember corrrectly… ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/42 "2010-05-12T00:02:47Z")
> [@luv2draw](#): > > I don’t have a link but since you are Jodi Foster fan, she did a commercial and/or a print ad for Coppertone when she was even younger… young enough for a little girl to only be wearing a bathing suit bottom if I remember corrrectly… Yup, it’s [here on Foster’s Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=12208269902). She turns up briefly as a topless tot. ---
**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 12, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/43 "2010-05-12T04:33:53Z")
Not to mention a GAF Viewmaster ad she did with Henry Fonda in 1971: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5QGd-0X3bg) ---
**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 12, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/44 "2010-05-12T13:30:41Z")
There’s a Salem cigarette commercial on youtube that features a post-Petticoat-Junction Lori Saunders, but also I’m pretty sure an unknown Candice Bergen and Roger E. Moseley. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/45 "2010-05-12T13:53:31Z")
If I’d gone to a Black Sabbath concert in 1982 and played this song, I imagine the crowd would have booed mercilessly… not knowing that this was Sabbath’s lead singer, Ronnie James Dio, back when he was a young, clean-cut pop balladeer in a band called “Ronnie and the Prophets.” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SAnyqhUQcS0/hqdefault.jpg "Ronnie Dio & The Prophets - Will you still love me tomorrow") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAnyqhUQcS0) ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/46 "2010-05-12T22:46:32Z")
This is the only clip I could find of it, but Kurt Russell had his screen debut kicking Elvis in the shins in “It Happened at the World’s Fair.” [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_zWYwlRI70c](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zWYwlRI70c) ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/47 "2010-05-12T23:25:46Z")
[A very young Elijah Wood is cute in a cheese commercial.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbOqWKm7Cmg&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/48 "2010-05-14T03:39:58Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > 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). It’s sad that the Kesha of today can’t produce anything more worth listening to than her own 13-year old rendition of Karma Police. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/49 "2010-05-15T14:43:51Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I’ve always liked this [clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1myP9FtKUg) of a very young Jim Morrison, > > Any clips out there of other celebrities, pre-fame? Jim Morrison was always larger then life to me. Thanks, I linked to his last 24 and realized he was just one of us. Alcoholism was taking him slowly but add a woman bearing heroin and he went quickly. Sad. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/50 "2010-05-15T15:14:48Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > 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. :dubious: I don’t think this is actually the case. I see young white people working fast food all the time here. I worked two fast food-ish jobs during my teen years, and I would be considered white. And a lot of other white teens worked with me. But there’s a lot of hispanics too. My city is something like 65% hispanic, though, so it makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/51 "2010-05-15T16:00:41Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > This is the only clip I could find of it, but Kurt Russell had his screen debut kicking Elvis in the shins in “It Happened at the World’s Fair.” > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_zWYwlRI70c](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zWYwlRI70c) He was on Gilligan’s Island, too: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Txf-mi6lckQ/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/Txf-mi6lckQ?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/52 "2010-05-15T19:20:58Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > If I’d gone to a Black Sabbath concert in 1982 and played this song, I imagine the crowd would have booed mercilessly… not knowing that this was Sabbath’s lead singer, Ronnie James Dio, back when he was a young, clean-cut pop balladeer in a band called “Ronnie and the Prophets.” > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAnyqhUQcS0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAnyqhUQcS0) This isn’t relevant to thread, but Robert Picardo, the EMH from Stat Trek Voyager, has own version: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUMzRByx2lo&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUMzRByx2lo&feature=related) That’s the first time I’ve heard the original. Regarding people before they were famous: [Brent Spiner on Night Court](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrLvtoKZfxY) [Bjork as a little girl](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq62sSo7g98) There are also some 80’s interviews but they’re in Icelandic. [Ice-T hiphop dancing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYkIkmnNP8s) and [vintage rapping](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h75G2mN-aKQ&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/53 "2010-05-15T19:32:38Z")
How about the classic episode of _The Cosby Show_ with Rudy’s slumber party? When Cliff plays a game with the kids – seeing who can “race” the longest on his leg – the winner of the race is [Alicia Keys, seen here at 2:43 in the video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EbxalIlQEs#t=2m43s). ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/54 "2010-05-16T14:16:14Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > [10 Commercials Before They Were Stars](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juSfFqEpwrs&feature=related) Holy crap! Tori Amos WAS a Cornflake Girl! ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/55 "2010-05-16T14:24:05Z")
> [@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.” Lady Gaga was also a candidate on [MTV’s Boiling Point](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SIK-yzlxiU) from 2005. She must be about 18 there, as she’s n0w 23. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/56 "2010-05-16T19:51:23Z")
> [@choie](#): > > How about the classic episode of _The Cosby Show_ with Rudy’s slumber party? When Cliff plays a game with the kids – seeing who can “race” the longest on his leg – the winner of the race is [Alicia Keys, seen here at 2:43 in the video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EbxalIlQEs#t=2m43s). Speaking of [The Cosby Show](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd0QUElJnxY)… ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/57 "2010-05-16T21:11:59Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > If I’d gone to a Black Sabbath concert in 1982 and played this song, I imagine the crowd would have booed mercilessly… not knowing that this was Sabbath’s lead singer, Ronnie James Dio, back when he was a young, clean-cut pop balladeer in a band called “Ronnie and the Prophets.” > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAnyqhUQcS0](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAnyqhUQcS0) R.I.P., Ronnie. ☹ ---
**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:** [May 17, 2010, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/58 "2010-05-17T08:26:24Z")
Leonard Nimoy on [Dragnet](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2jCs5ZJu8w) in 1954 (he appears at about 1:55) with one sweet 'stache. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/59 "2010-05-17T11:09:49Z")
> [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](#): > > Leonard Nimoy on [Dragnet](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2jCs5ZJu8w) in 1954 (he appears at about 1:55) with one sweet 'stache. I’ve never seen that before. Fascinationg. I wonder what Shatner’s earliest appearance is? - ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856/60 "2010-05-17T15:31:44Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > Led Zep’s Jimmy Paige first TV appearance (includiing interview) > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0tAOIQiz-8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0tAOIQiz-8) “I’ll do biological research”. Hilarious! Made my day. Thanks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clips-of-famous-people-before-they-were-famous/538856.md?page=4)