Actors who make it big but weren't really expected to...

[Davideaux]

(kind of an awkward thread title)

I was watching 'Clueless', the Alicia Silverstone movie and it hit me that Brittany Murphy has become a bigger star than Alicia Silverstone. She really wasn't expected to do that, especially since Alicia's career was supposed to blast-off.

Then I thought of John O'Hurley's career. Isn't funny how of all the people on Seinfeld, excluding Jerry, his career has been the most successful? George, Elaine and Kramer produce flop after flop, but Peterman is getting ads, doing Broadway and reality TV.

Let's add to the list of supporting actors who eventually outshined their leads.

[Ontir]

Michael J. Fox was unliked by NBC exec Brandon Tartikoff. He told Family Ties producers that he just didn't see the kids face on a lunchbox. When the Family Ties Lunchbox was released, Fox sent him one, with a lovely "crow" entree inside.

Ryan Phillipe was fired from One Life to Live, as were Brandon Routh and Elizabeth Rohm.

[Tommy]

I will allways remember Hillary Swank as Buffy the Vampire Slayer's friend.

I never expected her to win two oscars...

[Legato]

I will allways remember Hillary Swank as Buffy the Vampire Slayer's friend.

I never expected her to win two oscars...

You forgot about her stint in 90210. She has came a long way since then.

[bert]

Ha!

from the main page, this thread reads

"actors who make it big but

I was sure this was a thread about Jennifer Lopez

[DMike]

Actually J-Lo's a pretty good example. Who would have thought one of the Fly Girls would've become one of the the biggest stars out of all the In Living Color veterans?

[jerrymcl89]

I think when Morgan Freeman was playing Easy Reader on 'The Electric Company', he was not widely viewed as a future huge movie star.

[marshal99]

Who would have predicted a young Johnny Depp would one day be that famous when he appeared on the first nightmare on elm street.

[boolean]

You forgot about her stint in 90210. She has came a long way since then.

And don't forget The Next Karate Kid.

[Legato]

Im sure TPTB in hollywood never expected Jamie Foxx to be a oscar worthy actor. This is the guy who went from In Living Color to The Jamie Foxx Show and now has won an academy award.

[Grant]

Harrison Ford comes to mind. He had a minor role in America Graffitti and Lucas never intended to cast him in Star Wars (he was there just to help with auditions) and even after Star Wars he was doing small roles in other movies like Apocalypse Now and The Conversation. I think it wasn't until Raiders of the Lost Ark he started being taken seriously as a leading man.

[stealthwise]

Russell Crowe used to be the guy in Virtuosity

William H Macy was a nobody for years

I remember a time when Halle Berry was underrated... and an actual, decent actress

[Phrozen]

Harrison Ford comes to mind. He had a minor role in America Graffitti and Lucas never intended to cast him in Star Wars (he was there just to help with auditions) and even after Star Wars he was doing small roles in other movies like Apocalypse Now and The Conversation. I think it wasn't until Raiders of the Lost Ark he started being taken seriously as a leading man.

Considering they wanted Tom Selleck to play Indy but couldn't get him....

[cactusmaac]

Vin Diesel - guy with basically an extended cameo in Saving Private Ryan.

Ben Stiller - I wouldn't have thought the director of Cable Guy would go on to as big a comedic star as Jim Carrey.

Guy Pearce - Mike from Neighbors is one of the most respected actors around.

[The Mirrorball Man]

Jack Black is another good example, in my opinion.

[GozertheGozarian]

Lawrence Fishburne certainly started low as Cowboy Curtis on Pee-Wee's Playhouse.

[KenK]

Lawrence Fishburne certainly started low as Cowboy Curtis on Pee-Wee's Playhouse.

He was actually in Apocalypse Now, as a young soldier.

[Greg Hatcher]

I'm a little befuddled by Jessica Alba suddenly showing up all over the big screen. I really thought it was game over for her when Dark Angel got canceled; I always figured Michael Weatherly was the one that would hit big from that show.

[KenK]

I remember her from the new Flipper, back when she was like 14. I always thought she was cute, but I never thought she'd make it big. I figured she'd stay with series television for the long run.

[Dennis K]

I've got six words. Tom Hanks. Bosom Buddies. I win.

[i_mmmchocolate]

How about:

Jim Caviezel
Viggo Mortenson

[Forefinger]

I've got six words. Tom Hanks. Bosom Buddies. I win.
This is one that I always bring up when ever these kinds of discussions come up. Although he isn't nearly as big, I usually point out how Robin Williams has also been in several very good dramatic roles, and he started out as Mork on Happy Days.

I remember her from the new Flipper, back when she was like 14. I always thought she was cute, but I never thought she'd make it big. I figured she'd stay with series television for the long run.
I used to watch that, mainly to drool over an underage Alba, but then again, I was underage when that show was on.

[Jared]

Mork was on Happy Days?! :confused:

Anyway: Teri Hatcher. I remember her as a recurring damsel on MacGuyver. She had a round of stardom with Lois & Clark, then she disappeared, and now she's more famous than ever, with an emmy nomination to boot.

[dougputhoff]

(kind of an awkward thread title)

I was watching 'Clueless', the Alicia Silverstone movie and it hit me that Brittany Murphy has become a bigger star than Alicia Silverstone. She really wasn't expected to do that, especially since Alicia's career was supposed to blast-off.

Then I thought of John O'Hurley's career. Isn't funny how of all the people on Seinfeld, excluding Jerry, his career has been the most successful? George, Elaine and Kramer produce flop after flop, but Peterman is getting ads, doing Broadway and reality TV.



What about Jerry Stiller. He's been on King of Queens almost from the day Seinfeld ended.

Jim Carrey was the biggest suprise star coming out of In Liiving Color.

Michael Keaton and David Letterman were both on Mary Tyler Moore's short-lived variety show, which lasted about two months.

Ironically Art Carney, best know for being Jackie Gleason's second banana, won an Oscar for Best Actor, while Gleason never won one.

[Devon C.]

Luther Vandross was five years old during his first televised appearance. He did a solo number on Sesame Street.

[mattbib]

Mork was on Happy Days?! :confused: Yep, it was a spin-off.


Speaking of which, I doubt anybody could have predicted Ron Howard becoming as big as he did when he was cast as Opie.

[yeoman]

Vin Diesel - guy with basically an extended cameo in Saving Private Ryan.


And he was the Iron Giant.

[stealthwise]

Guy Pearce - Mike from Neighbors is one of the most respected actors around.

YES! My favourite actor, who people still aren't aware of. At best, they remember him as "that guy from that backwards Memento movie," but he's so much better than that.

I wish HBO could coax him into starring in a kickass series. Something along the lines of Six Feet Under.

[Magneto_X]

Jennifer Garner.

Who knew the mousy nurse with big glasses from Pearl Harbor would be such a hottie. :)

Ryan Reynolds & Nathan Fillion from "Two Guys, A Girl & A Pizza Place". Fillion even had a cameo in Saving Private Ryan. :eek: