Many huge movie stars started out in tiny roles that most people completely forgot about. Sometimes we rewatch an old classic and suddenly spot a familiar face in the background. Here are ten surprising appearances by massive Hollywood names before they were famous. You might need to pause your screen to catch them.
Tobey Maguire in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Before he became our friendly neighborhood web slinger Tobey Maguire showed up in one of the weirdest movies of the nineties. He played a confused hitchhiker who somehow gets stuck in a crazy road trip with Johnny Depp. You have to admit it is hilarious seeing him look so completely terrified in that back seat.
Jimmy Fallon in Band of Brothers
Everyone knows Jimmy Fallon from his late night talk show but he actually had a serious acting gig in a very famous World War II drama. He showed up to deliver supplies as an army officer and it was completely unexpected. It is always a little funny to see a comedian trying to play such a serious and historical role.
Leonardo DiCaprio in Roseanne
Leonardo DiCaprio commands huge movie roles today, but he was merely a random background student on this famous show. His screen time was tiny, yet sharp fans easily spot him if they look close. Big actors all start small, and appearing on television early on makes complete sense.
Samuel L. Jackson in Coming to America
Many people love Samuel L. Jackson for his fierce movie lines which he also used for a tiny part in this comedy. He plays a wild robber who barges into a fast food place. He is barely in the scene for a minute but his recognizable voice gives it away.
Nicolas Cage in Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Nicolas Cage actually used his real last name Coppola for this blink and you miss it appearance. He worked at a fast food burger joint alongside Judge Reinhold and mostly just stood around looking young. It is a tiny part but it officially kicked off a truly wild Hollywood career.
Seth Rogen in Donnie Darko
Most people know Seth Rogen as a lovable funny actor. But before all those big comedies he started out in Donnie Darko. He played a rude high school bully who shoved other students around. Seeing him act mean is really strange because we are used to him making us laugh.
Elijah Wood in Back to the Future Part II
You can spot a very young Elijah Wood hanging out by an arcade machine in the famous cafe scene. He completely dismisses a classic video game and it is such a funny little moment. This was way before he carried a magic ring across Middle Earth and it is cute to see him as a kid.
Scarlett Johansson in Home Alone 3
The third movie in this franchise gets a lot of hate but it does feature a very young Scarlett Johansson playing a grumpy older sister. She spends most of her time being annoyed by her little brother. This role gave her a nice early chance to act before she became a massive blockbuster superstar.
George Clooney in Roseanne
It might surprise you that George Clooney showed up in season one of Roseanne. He took on the role of a sweet factory manager who loved to flirt. His signature smile was already there years before he landed giant movie roles. Watching him in that old factory is really wild.
Ryan Reynolds in Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Ryan Reynolds played the typical high school heartthrob with very floppy hair in this nostalgic nineties television movie. He was the popular athlete who tried to win over Sabrina and it is incredibly funny to look back at his old hairstyle. This was way before he became a huge action star known for cracking constant jokes.
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