# Early bit parts by actors famous later. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 5, 2002, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434 "2002-08-05T14:09:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Jello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@Jello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jello)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/81 "2002-08-07T05:14:26Z")
Fishburne appeared in Apocalypse Now in 1979 as Clean, one of the men on the boat that bring Martin Sheen up the river. He lied about his age to get the part. The racist major in that M_A_S\*H episode has been in lots of things too…the first that comes to mind is Lethal Weapon. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Diablo\_Gringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/aeb1de/32.png) [@El\_Diablo\_Gringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Diablo_Gringo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/82 "2002-08-07T06:33:56Z")
Speaking seperately of Jeff Goldblum and **Annie Hall** , he was the guy at the L.A. party who has to call his guru because “I forgot my mantra”. Also, I’ve always been fond of Harrison Ford’s bit parts in **American Grafitti** and **Apocalypse Now**. And, I remember reruns of “Growing Pains” with Jennie Garth pre-90210 and Matthew Perry (Carol’s boyfriend who dies in drunk driving accident — a very special episode). Of course, Leonardo DiCaprio also got his start there. Makes you wonder if the kid that played Ben is selling used cars or insurance. ---
**Author:** ![taggert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/96bed5/32.png) [@taggert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taggert)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/83 "2002-08-07T07:43:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\*The most surprising is **Sylvester Stallone** playing a hood in Woody Allen’s **Bananas**. It seems like a deliberate cameo to modern viewers, but Stallone was an unknown at the time. > > Of course, there’s **Robert Blake** showing up in **The Treasure of Sierra Madre** , but I doubt anyone recognizes him. \*\* Blake was one of the later Little Rascals [http://www.ramseyltd.com/rascals/faq/](http://www.ramseyltd.com/rascals/faq/) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Frink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Mr.Frink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Frink)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/84 "2002-08-07T10:23:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Doubting Robert \* > **Tom Hanks played Uncle Ned in three episodes of “Family Ties.” In one of these episodes, he is revealed to be an alcoholic. It is an impressive performance.** I’m gonna have to call you on this one. While Tom Hanks wasn’t the superstar that he is today, he wasn’t exactly _unknown_, either. He was the star of a sitcom called _Bosom Buddies_ which ran from 1980-1982, so he was moderately famous by the time he did _Ties_. ---
**Author:** ![RexDart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RexDart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RexDart)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/85 "2002-08-07T10:45:19Z")
Everyone mentioned _Star Trek_ but I didn’t see mention of Nicci Cox’s appearance as a young alien girl on TNG. Of course, whether she’s a star is debatable, but she’s pretty hot. _Unhappily Ever After_ was actually a moderately successful show compared to the standard fare on the 5th and 6th networks. I’m not sure whether James Earl Jones had done much by the time he had that one-line bit part on _Strangelove_. Allright, it’s more than one line if you count “release 1st safety”, “release 2nd safety” “radar switched to target orange”, “bomb doors negative function”, “firing explosive bolt”, and “bomb doors still negative function.” Those aren’t lines, they’re following orders. If he’d been a bigger star at that point, he probably could have persuaded them to keep his longer speech in. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/86 "2002-08-07T12:49:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dooku \* > \*\*Another great source for seeing actors before they were stars: _Hill Street Blues_. Just last night I saw an episode with the Mother from _Six Feet Under_ in a small role. \*\* Future Star Trek actors also show up a lot on _Hill Street Blues_. Watching the reruns on Bravo, I’ve seen Johnathan Frakes, Armin Shimerman, Tim Russ, and the guy who played the Traveler, all in small parts. Marc Alaimo and Bablyon 5’s Peter Jurasik make regular appearances in Hill Street’s final seasons. I imagine they were well-established character actors at this point, but it always makes me happy to see them. Future Dukat and future Londo! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/87 "2002-08-07T13:23:47Z")
**Mary Pickford** played a party guest in her first film, _Mrs. Jones Entertains_ (1908), one of the popular _Jones_ series starring Florence Lawrence and John Compson—perhaps the first long-running “sitcom.” ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/88 "2002-08-07T13:34:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Doubting Robert \* > \*\*Tom Hanks played Uncle Ned in three episodes of “Family Ties.” In one of these episodes, he is revealed to be an alcoholic. It is an impressive performance. > \*\* Geena Davis also appears on _Family Ties_ as an inept maid hired by Alex. She suffers from a terminal case of 80s Big Hair. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/89 "2002-08-07T13:34:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Future Star Trek actors also show up a lot on Hill Street Blues. Watch the various _Roots_ shows for _Star Trek_kers-to-be, too: **Roots** LeVar Burton John Schuck **Roots: The Next Generation** (an interesting thing in and of itself, no?) Brock Peters Paul Winfield **Roots: The Gift** Avery Brooks LeVar Burton Kate Mulgrew Tim Russ Some of these folks were already well-known, and none of these were really “bit” parts, but still. It’s noteworth. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/90 "2002-08-07T14:08:48Z")
Estelle Parson more than had a part in Bonnie and Clyde - she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/91 "2002-08-07T15:18:00Z")
May not be as old, but talking about Lawrence Fishburne gave me pleasant thoughts about Cowboy Curtis on PeeWee’s Playhouse. Now THAT was some fine TV! ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/92 "2002-08-07T15:40:32Z")
The movie _This Is Spinal Tap_ reads like a virtual “who’s who” of later-to-be-famous people: [list] 1. **Dana Carvey** and **Billy Crystal** play mimes at the party hosted by Bobbi Fleckman, who is played by **Fran Drescher**. 2. The Stonehenger designer is played by **Angelica Houston**. 3. **Bruno Kirby** is the limo driver at the beginning. 4. Although he was at least fairly well-known as a songwriter (he _DID_ co-write “It’s Raining Men”) and sidekick for **David Letterman** , **Paul Schaffer** plays a disc jockey in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/93 "2002-08-07T16:19:14Z")
Here’s one I spotted back when AMC still showed old movies: in the 1956 musical cheapie _Rock, Rock, Rock_, there’s an audience of teens listening to Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers sing _I Am Not a Juvenile Delinquent_. Right up front—looking just like herself—is a 15-year-old (or so) **Valerie Harper**. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/94 "2002-08-07T16:27:22Z")
Joe Pesci was a drummer for Joey Dee and the Stalighters in 1961’s **Hey, Let’s Twist**. BTW, Bobby Blake in **Treasure of Sierra Madre** was a little boy selling lottery tickets. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/95 "2002-08-07T16:31:32Z")
Valerie Perine played the buxom woman given to Kilgore Trout in the movie version of “Slaughterhouse Five.” I think she appeared in Playboy shortly thereafter. ---
**Author:** ![PRNYouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PRNYouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PRNYouth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/96 "2002-08-07T16:45:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > **I saw John Ritter on an episode of “The Waltons” as-get this!-a fire and brimstone fundy seminary student. It’s kind of odd to see Ritter screaming, "REPENT!!! REPEEEENNNNT!!!"** That would be the Rev. Matthew Fordwick, and he was actually a recurring character, not just a one-shot. On the IMDb, he’s listed as having one guest appearance, then listed as a cast member from 1973-1976. 'Course not long after, he turned in his collar, fell from grace, and posed as a homosexual to move in with a couple of tramps out in California. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/97 "2002-08-07T17:54:39Z")
Elvis’ **Roustabout** has an opening scene with **Raquel Welch** as a college gal in a tea house and **Teri Garr** as one of the “crowd” dancers. In fact, Terry danced in at least four more of Elvis’ films, including \*\*Fun in Acapulco, Kissin’ Cousins, Viva Las Vegas \*\*and **Clambake**. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/98 "2002-08-07T18:01:29Z")
Speaking of John Ritter, he played a minor role in the 1971 horror film **The Other** (not to be confused with “The Others”, heh.) And Paul Schaffer played a PR man in _Spinal Tap_, not a DJ, if I recall correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/99 "2002-08-07T18:42:58Z")
Speaking of Teri Garr, let’s not forget about her memorable guest appearance in that weird _Star Trek_ episode where they go back in time and find “Gary Seven” from the future or something. I always wondered what the hell was going on in that episode - like they were going to spin off “Gary Seven” into his own TV show later on. Teri looked pretty good, though… ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/100 "2002-08-07T19:56:26Z")
> [@](#): > > like they were going to spin off “Gary Seven” into his own TV show later on Yep. Exactly like that, as a matter of fact. And people think _Voyager_ was bad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434.md?page=6)