# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/101 "2002-08-07T20:02:04Z")
In **Amityville 3-D** , bouncing perkily along, is **Meg Ryan** , looking pretty much the same as she would later in life. Also in **Friday the 13th** is **Kevin Bacon** , probably the only person to have a big career after those movies. If this doubles, I apoligize ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/102 "2002-08-07T20:10:07Z")
17-year-old Robert Townsend appeared as an uncredited “Boy in the Gym” in _Cooley High_. **Superdude** , a slight nitpick: [Samuel L. Jackson actually plays one of Eddie’s uncles in _Raw_.](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0092948) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/103 "2002-08-07T21:22:20Z")
Lucille Ball appears (as a blonde!) in an old Three Stooges short. James Arness (later of Gunsmoke fame) appeared ever-so-briefly as the title critter in The Thing (1950’s version, of course). Chris Rock had a tiny part in Beverly Hills Cop II. ---
**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, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/104 "2002-08-07T21:35:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bordelond \* > \*\* > **Superdude** , a slight nitpick: [Samuel L. Jackson actually plays one of Eddie’s uncles in _Raw_.](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0092948) \*\* Ah…close enough, right? 🙂 And I see that **Tatyana Ali** was also in there. She later went on to be on _Fresh Prince of Bel-Air_, and her own recording career. **Seth Green** played Ritchie Tozier in the TV adaptation of _It_, and has went on to be in three Austin Powers movies, and the show _Greg the Bunny_, among other roles. However, he will probably be best known as the “Ch-Ching!” kid from the Rally’s(?) commercials several years ago. **Mila Kunis** played, IIRC, a young Gia in the movie starring Angelina Jolie, then went on to star in _That '70’s Show_. ---
**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, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/105 "2002-08-07T21:41:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spoke- \* > \*\*Chris Rock had a tiny part in Beverly Hills Cop II. \*\* And **Daman Wayans** was in the first one. He’s the guy that gives Eddie Murphy the bananas to put in the tailpipe. ---
**Author:** ![Kirkland1244](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kirkland1244](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kirkland1244)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/106 "2002-08-08T00:06:27Z")
Actually, Dooku, they did intend to spin off Gary Seven as its own show. The concept didn’t make it past the inital kicking-around stage, though. ---
**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 8, 2002, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/107 "2002-08-08T00:13:01Z")
Makes perfect sense now that I think about it that they were trying to create a spin-off. Maybe that should be its own thread…spin-offs. Coming soon. ---
**Author:** ![Bedrosian\_Bixby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@Bedrosian\_Bixby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bedrosian_Bixby)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/108 "2002-08-08T06:03:57Z")
**Morgan Freeman** played a deathrow inmate in the Robert Redford film **Brubaker**. I’m not sure how well known he was before that movie was made, but it certainly counts as a bit part. Wasn’t he also in the kid’s TV show, **Electric Factory**? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/109 "2002-08-08T12:34:13Z")
\*\* Jodie Foster \*\* was on the Partridge Family as a girl who kept beating Danny up. Of course, she was a pretty well established child actor at the time. And let’s not forget \*\* Brad Pitt \*\* appearing on Another World for two days as a high school student. ---
**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 8, 2002, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/110 "2002-08-08T12:55:03Z")
Yeah, Morgan Freeman was on The Electric Company as **Easy Reader**. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/111 "2002-08-08T17:01:52Z")
**erictelevision, Dinsdale** : Speaking of Paul “Pee-Wee Herman” Reubens, did you check out his small part as a waiter in _The Blues Brothers_ “We have a Dom Perignon for $129.” (Jake) “That’ll be fine, pal.” **Superdude** : Seth Green appeared in a 1986 movie called _My Stepmother Is An Alien_\*. The 14-year-old year girl whose alien stepmother (Kim Basinger) is married to her father (Dan Aykroyd) and whom Seth Green’s character is sorta dating is none other than **Alyson Hannigan**. Years later, they would be Oz and Willow on _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_. ---
**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 8, 2002, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/112 "2002-08-08T17:19:11Z")
You know, **CaptMurdock** , you reminded me of something else: In the movie \*Funny Farm[/i, starring Chevy Chase, one of his daughter’s classmates is played by a young **Sarah Michelle Gellar**. If memory serves, this was before her roles on _Swan’s Crossing_ and _All My Children_. ---
**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 8, 2002, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/113 "2002-08-08T18:44:34Z")
What should happen to come on TV last night but [The Dead Pool](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0094963). Talk about a goldmine: - You’ve got Jim Carrey hilariously serious as rock star Johnny Squares, who quickly ODs at the beginning of the movie - You’ve got Liam Neeson as a horror film director. (And that reminds me - Liam would probably prefer to forget that he was Patrick Swayze’s hillbilly brother in _Next of Kin_, also featuring Helen Hunt as Patrick’s hillbilly wife) - You’ve got Marc Alaimo in a brief scene where Harry beats him up before realizing he was hired as his bodyguard - And to top it all off you’ve got the guy from the Enter the Dragon spoof “A Fistful of Yen” from _Kentucky Fried Movie_ as Harry’s partner. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/114 "2002-08-08T19:39:38Z")
Am I remembering SJP correctly? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/115 "2002-08-09T00:13:29Z")
Just went to [indb.com](http://indb.com), and yes, it was Sarah. ---
**Author:** ![quarx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/50afbb/32.png) [@quarx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quarx)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/116 "2002-08-09T01:22:37Z")
[ahem] … uh, count me in [cough] … as a fan of … ummm … **Harrison Ford** … [ahem] … in, uh … [cough] **Apocalypse Now**. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/117 "2002-08-09T03:48:25Z")
**John Travolta** appeared in the terrible Elvira-flick [**The Devil’s Rain**](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0072869) (1975). **Fred Gwynne** (Herman Munster) had an uncredited, I believe unspeaking role in [**On The Waterfront**](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0047296) (1954). Don’t know if this counts, but I found it jarring to see **Bruce Dern** towards the end of [**Marnie**](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0058329) (1964). ---
**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/118 "2002-08-09T04:35:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Annie-Xmas \* > \*\*And let’s not forget \*\* Brad Pitt \*\* appearing on Another World for two days as a high school student. \*\* **Brad Pitt** also guested on _Dallas_ for three episodes. He dated Jenna’s daughter. Sheri ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/119 "2002-08-09T12:30:44Z")
Nobody has mention Fran “The Nanny” Dresser in \*\* Saturday Night Fever \*\*. She’s Travolta’s dance partner, and pats him on the ass. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434/120 "2002-08-09T17:39:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dr. Rieux \* > \*\* And Gabriel Byrne played the Duke of Cornwall. \*\* :smack: That is, Byrne played Uther Pendragon–Corin Redgrave was Cornwall My favorite movie, and I make a mistake like that:smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-bit-parts-by-actors-famous-later/122434.md?page=7)