# How does one get a job playing a corpse in movies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2002, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368 "2002-10-29T06:04:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/1 "2002-10-29T06:04:58Z")
This is yet another question put to me by **Spoz**. 🙂 I was reading his blogspot late last week, and came across this gem: > [@](#): > > now, here’s something for ya to ponder over… > > everytime I accidently end up watchin’ one of those shows like NYPD Blue, Law N Order, or CSI… and I see a corpse being picked over at a murder scene, it makes me wonder… WHO PLAYS THESE DEAD DUDES?? > coz… they’re obviously actors… they’re not WALK ON’s… or EXTRAs… or ONE LINERs… and NO, I’m not talking about somebody who acts in a scene… then gets killed, and next scene… is a “corpse” (coz, these people are obviously just general guest star actors…) I’m talking about people, who’s only acting role in the entire show… is to play dead… > who ARE these actors? > do they have unions? > is there a hall-of-fame of famous dead body actors? > also… I wonder, has there ever been any celebrity corpse cameos? > like… you’d be watching a show and all of a sudden… “hey! isn’t that Robert Downy Junior?” > aaand, how would I get a job doing this? > (coz… it would be pretty damn piss funny to put on a resume - “PROFESSIONAL TV CORPSE” ) So does anyone have any ideas on all these questions? I sure don’t. (though I did make him laugh just now when I said that if he was dead serious, I’d ask this question for him… and yes, I did that one on purpose :p) He said I could link to his blogspot, and he really is serious about this, F\_X ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/2 "2002-10-29T06:16:53Z")
I would figure quadriplegics would be good for these roles, since they’re not doing very much moving around anyway. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/3 "2002-10-29T06:32:47Z")
If you’re watching a show and all of a sudden… “hey! isn’t that Robert Downy Junior?” then you’re watching _Cops_. ---
**Author:** ![I\_am\_Sparticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@I\_am\_Sparticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_am_Sparticus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/4 "2002-10-29T06:38:48Z")
This OP reminds me that Kevin Costner’s first big screen debut was as a corpse in The Big Chill. In the final version, he was just a corpse, and I don’t think they showed his face. When they were filming it, his character originally had some lines before he died, but the cut it all out. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/5 "2002-10-29T07:00:19Z")
If you do not see the corpse’s face, Screen Actors Guild contracts allow anyone to play the corpse. Thus, a crew member played the corpse in the movie _Fargo_. If the corpse’s face is seen, the actor probably was sent by Screen Actors Guild (the Screen Extras Guild now being extinct). ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/6 "2002-10-29T07:11:57Z")
If you are wondering how much you can make playing a corpse in the movies, generally it’s between $110-$125 per day. For more information, see the Screen Actors Guild [guidlines](http://www.sag.org/lowbudget.html). ---
**Author:** ![nefertari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7bcc69/32.png) [@nefertari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nefertari)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/7 "2002-10-29T11:06:47Z")
Sometimes they call for extra’s and you can volunteer - a couple of friends and I volunteered as extra’s for Queen of the Damned in the concert scene. If you screw up your eyes and look to the top right…fine, you can’t see us, but we got free drink and a goth concert. Excellent. nefertari ---
**Author:** ![Weeks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@Weeks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeks)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/8 "2002-10-29T11:55:05Z")
In every show I’ve worked on(where we needed them), we used an unbelievably realistic latex corpse. they lay around real well, don’t ask for much, and look better than most actors. When I say realistic, I mean “fuckin A…” realistic. Freaky stuff, sometimes. This reminds me of the dummy we dropped from a helicopter on The Fugitive for the shot of the main characters jump from the top of the dam. The whole crew was cracking up at how shitty that looked. I mean, has anybody else seen this shot? It LOOKS like a mannequin falling. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/9 "2002-10-29T11:56:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nefertari \* > \*\*Sometimes they call for extra’s and you can volunteer - a couple of friends and I volunteered as extra’s for Queen of the Damned in the concert scene. If you screw up your eyes and look to the top right…fine, you can’t see us, but we got free drink and a goth concert. Excellent. > > nefertari \*\* My cousing does this for fun now that he’s retired. He’s in the background of a few X-files episodes… when they were still filming in Vancouver. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/10 "2002-10-29T12:06:57Z")
Most people who play these parts are struggling actors who are trying to hold on to their SAG cards. Usually casting directors realize that thses actors are out there and are familiar with them and will kindly throw them a bone to keep them drawing benefits. Seriously, if your benefits are about to be pulled, you are very, very happy to be dead for a handful of takes. TV ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/11 "2002-10-29T12:12:24Z")
I know I’d kill for the job. **snicker** ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/12 "2002-10-29T13:55:39Z")
Hi **Flam**. Contrary to your OP, in Vancouver most of the corpses are extras. I’m sure you could get some fine-looking corpse work by calling up IATSE and asking for general call-outs 😃 ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/13 "2002-10-29T19:40:15Z")
I think you can go to the film commission of your city and they’ll connect you with whoever gives out the gigs. My son and I were in Ferris Buehler’s Day Off. The producers just put a little squib in the paper and we went downtown and waited for the fun to begin. It was one of my best days ever. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/14 "2002-10-29T19:45:45Z")
I think you can go to the film commission of your city and they’ll connect you with whoever gives out the gigs. My son and I were in Ferris Buehler’s Day Off. The producers just put a little squib in the paper and we went downtown and waited for the fun to begin. It was one of my best days ever. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/15 "2002-10-29T19:52:23Z")
so _that’s_ why you’re called **EchoKitty** … ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/16 "2002-10-30T05:04:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Barbarian \* > \*\*Hi **Flam**. > > Contrary to your OP, in Vancouver most of the corpses are extras. I’m sure you could get some fine-looking corpse work by calling up IATSE and asking for general call-outs 😃 \*\* Damn, I knew I forgot to mention something. I’m sure I could do that, but as for **Spoz**? He lives in Adelaide, Australia. Who knows, maybe there’s an equivalent to the IATSE there. Thanks for the ansewrs about the Screen Actor’s Guild and everything else, guys. I’ll make sure that **Spoz** sees this thread later on tonight. Whether he comments in it will be another thing quite entirely. F\_X ---
**Author:** ![Spoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoz)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/17 "2002-10-30T06:09:10Z")
wow… I’d actually make more money as a movie corpse than I do now! there… that’s my comment! HA! ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/18 "2002-10-30T08:38:30Z")
I never said it had to be long… 😉 Now is the time for [the spin-off thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=141847)… 😃 (lest this one get too hijacked, you know… that would SO not be a good thing) F\_X ---
**Author:** ![Weeks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@Weeks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeks)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/19 "2002-10-30T11:40:01Z")
> [@](#): > > you could get some fine-looking corpse work by calling up IATSE and asking for general call-outs Why would you call the IA? They’re the union representing construction, special effects, grips, electricians, riggers etc… Although they might know what was going on, they would rightly guide you to a casting agency or the casting director, or to the production office. They have no jurisdiction in these matters and don’t want them. Weeks Local 491 ---
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2002, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368/20 "2002-10-30T12:50:20Z")
It would be really hard to get such a role as you would have to face stiff competition. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-a-job-playing-a-corpse-in-movies/134368.md?page=2)