Many of the most famous Hollywood actors before achieving stardom went through small, often unnoticed parts. They can be seen as background characters, extras, or brief television appearances, yet these small parts helped shape their future careers. Working long hours in the background refining his craft, waiting for the big moment to take center stage. Their journeys express the importance of patience and resilience in waiting for the right role, whether small or big, towards bigger breaks. Today, their stories inspire actors to stay in line and pursue their dreams until they reach their desired place.
1) Leonard DiCaprio
Prior to Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio had starred in TV programs such as Roseanne and The New Lassie. His earlier films consisted of low-budget horror films such as Critters 3 (1991). Then came the big one in the form of What's Eating Gilbert Grape? in 1993, after which he won an Oscar nomination. These early roles went on to put forth his raw talent, laying a base for his legendary career in films like The Aviator and The Revenant that has established him as one of Hollywood's most respected actors.
2) Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence started off as a recurring guest star on shows such as Cold Case and Monk. Another notable role was the run on The Bill Engvall Show. She did brief stints on both Medium and The Burning Plain (2008). Lawrence's breakout film, however, was the portrayal of a tenacious young girl in Winter's Bone (2010). Winter's Bone gave Lawrence the first Academy Award nomination, and her earlier projects just set her up perfectly to become a huge Hollywood star with The Hunger Games and Silver Linings Playbook.
3) George Clooney
George Clooney first appeared in small roles on TV shows like The Facts of Life and Roseanne before becoming a global superstar. He also had some early film roles, which include Grizzly II: The Revenge (1982), a slasher film released decades later. He gained fame through the hit show ER in 1994, where he portrayed Dr. Doug Ross. All the years of small, humble roles showed his persistence before reaching fame in films like Ocean's Eleven and Up in the Air.
4) Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt's career started with his small roles in TV shows Everwood and Parks and Recreation, where he played the sweet goofy Andy Dwyer. His major film role would be Wanted (2008), and he would later find himself on the fan-favorite list playing Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). Many of these early roles came in small parts, especially as a waiter in the movie Cursed Part 3, and helped him rise to starring roles in most of the Hollywood movies. These early, often small roles set the stage for Pratt's rise to leading-man status in Hollywood.
5) Amy Adams
She did have a minor role in TV series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed. Her significant film appearance was as an unscrupulous cheerleader in Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999). From her early career, roles such as Catch Me If You Can and Junebug (2005), Amy showed her versatility. These low-budget films served as an introduction to lead roles in such Oscar-nominated performances for American Hustle and Arrival, putting her among the most critically acclaimed actresses in Hollywood.
6) Zooey Deschanel
In earlier days, Zooey Deschanel acted in very minor roles in Almost Famous (2000), and The Good Girl (2002), and appeared on some shows like Freaks and Geeks (1999) as a guest star. She was a department store worker in Elf (2003). Those small and insignificant roles indicated that there was a little something charming about her. Her big break came when she was cast in the lead role in New Girl (2011-2018), where her offbeat, lovable character made her a household name, so securing her place as a TV star.
7) Laurence Fishburne
Laurence Fishburne started with minor roles in films such as Apocalypse Now (1979) and the TV series One Life to Live. His first big break came with The Color Purple (1985), but his early performances already demonstrated his incredible talent. Laurence Fishburne's role as Morpheus in The Matrix (1999) made him an international celebrity, but his minor roles early in his career indicated his commitment and talent, which later on won him recognition and a permanent place in Hollywood. The role of Morpheus not only earned him widespread acclaim but also opened the door to even bigger and more diverse roles in films like The Matrix sequels, Mystic River(2003), Mission Impossible III (2006), and John Wick Chapter 2 (2017).
8) Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson appeared in a number of low-budget films and television series early in his career, such as The Cry Baby Killer (1958) and the TV series The Andy Griffith Show. It was not until the 1970s that Nicholson's talent came to the fore with such films as Easy Rider (1969) and Five Easy Pieces (1970). These small roles found Nicholson his distinctive voice for the unforgettable performances in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and The Shining (1980).
9) Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey's career starts with small parts in the Dazed and Confused (1993) movie and the Unsolved Mysteries series. He featured in The Wedding Planner (2001) and A Time to Kill (1996). In those minor roles, his laid-back mannerisms and easygoing charm showcased the potential to become the next leading man, catapulting him to leading status in films such as The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) and Dallas Buyers Club (2013), wherein his dramatic change won him his Oscar.
10) Steve Carell
Steve Carell had earlier appeared in minor roles in The Dana Carvey Show (1996) and the movie Curly Sue (1991), which were some early glimpses of his comedy skills. However, the role of the bumbling weatherman in Anchorman (2004) was more notable for him. His major career breaks came with The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) and The Office (2005–2013), in which his awkward yet lovable persona cemented his stardom as a comedian, winning him critical acclaim and box-office success.
11) Bradley Cooper
Prior to his breakout role in The Hangover in 2009, Bradley Cooper acted in small television roles such as Sex and the City (2000) and Alias (2001-2006). He also acted in smaller movies like Wet Hot American Summer (2001). Those earlier experiences featured the comical timing and on-screen presence that Bradley Cooper developed. It was only in Silver Linings Playbook (2012) that he earned his first Academy Award nomination, which propelled him to become one of the leading men in movies like American Sniper and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
12) Jennifer Aniston
Some of Jennifer Aniston's first roles were small-scale television appearances in shows, including Molloy (1990) and Ferris Bueller (1990). The latter was a relatively short-lived television adaptation of the classic film. Also in her early career, she was casted in Leprechaun (1993), a low-budget horror film. Her leading role as Rachel Green made her an international star and an overnight sensation in the TV series Friends (1994). She began her career in relatively inconsequential roles that hardly resemble the sitcom icon she became. Still, these small beginnings allowed her to hone her craft for the big leagues.
13) Tom Hardy
Early significant roles include Band of Brothers (2001) and Black Hawk Down (2001). It is, however, with Bronson (2008) that he proved his talent to the world. The way Hardy could morph into complex characters made him famous in Hollywood, and soon enough, he was cast in a role in Inception (2010) and as the lead in the franchise of Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). His early roles defined him as a versatile actor who held great promise for larger works.
14) Michael Fassbender
Early in his career, Fassbender has starred in TV series and movie dramas such as Band of Brothers (2001), Hex (2004), with minor roles in the 300 (2006), and Hunger (2008) productions. His breakthrough to feature leads was in the production of Inglourious Basterds (2009). He portrayed a British intelligence officer. This propelled his performances in such small film roles to leading character productions: X-Men: First Class (2011), followed by 12 Years a Slave (2013), and many others he gained critical acclaim for.
15) Jason Segel
Some early small roles include Dead Man on Campus (1998), but probably best known as a cast member on Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000), in which Jason Segel first found acclaim as a budding actor. But it would not be until the series How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014) and his Muppets movie series that really showed off Segel as one of the best all-around comedic actors who could get you both laughing and sometimes even feeling.
16) Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba started small, with appearances in such television shows as Flipper (1995) and movies like Camp Nowhere (1994). However, the real breakthrough came when she got a role in the television series Dark Angel (2000), for which she received many critical accolades. From those early small roles to the major box-office successes such as Fantastic Four (2005), Alba was able to hone her craft and eventually move on to her entrepreneurial pursuits.
18) Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams' earlier credits included a few guest spots on the TV show Step by Step and Baywatch, and then she came along with this iconic role on Dawson's Creek (1998-2003). She began her film career with The Species (1995) as a young girl for a small but memorable appearance. This is how Michelle Williams went through a career full of diversified credits until she was nominated for Academy Awards for performances in Brokeback Mountain (2005) and My Week with Marilyn (2011).
19) Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman's early background was in smaller films and television shows, including playing a role in The Electric Company (1971-1977) and appearing in the film Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow? (1971). Freeman's real-life breakthrough came with Street Smart (1987), his first Academy Award nomination, but it was during this time that he learned most of his craft and that led to the famous movie roles in The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and Driving Miss Daisy (1989), one of Hollywood's finest and most respected actors.
20) Ben Stiller
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Ben Stiller had his early career in low-scale roles in films like Empire of the Sun (1987) and Hot Pursuit (1987) as well as in the show The Ben Stiller Show (1992), which he created for himself. These did not have much significance in themselves but helped him define his comedy. Stiller's biggest break came with Something About Mary (1998), but it is his directorial debut for Zoolander (2001) along with his role in the movie Meet the Parents (2000), which made him one of Hollywood's top comedic actors blended with directing.
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