20 Amazing Actors (And Their Embarrassing First Appearances)
![20 Amazing Actors (And Their Embarrassing First Appearances)](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/1/7/850117_320x180.jpg)
Nobody really begins where they want to be, and Hollywood is a prime example of this. Indeed, ignoring actors being handed starring roles purely out of ego-based nepotism, many performers begin in roles with names such as Background Extra #3, Poopin’ Man, or Conservative Comedian. These roles may seem weird or embarrassing, but hey, we all gotta start somewhere — after all, did you know Mila Kunis’ very first feature film was a Hulk Hogan Christmas movie? “Conservative Comedian” at least allows you to practice some acting chops as a disingenuous douche, but what can you even do in a Hulk Hogan Christmas movie?
Even if we have discussed this topic here at Cracked, this is a gift that just keeps on giving. Thus, here’s another batch of really early (and cringe-worthy) roles from awesome actors. We have focused mainly on movies (including some classic examples and other less-known gems we found while digging through the internet scrolls), but the research resurfaced some non-movie roles that are also worthwhile. Also, we take it back, playing a secondary character in a Hulk Hogan Christmas movie sounds way better than playing a Conservative Comedian.
Tom Hanks
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES TOM HANKS in a cheap slasher Many think Hanks' first movie was 1982's Mazes and Monsters, but he had a small role two years before in the Halloween knock-off (and surprisingly successful movie) Не Knows You're Alone. How was his character killed, you ask? Не wasn't, as the producers reportedly found him too likable. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/4/850134.jpg)
Source: Wikipedia
Charlize Theron
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES CHARLIZE THERON in Children of the Corn III Theron appears (uncredited) in 1995 as a cult follower in the B-tier horror franchise inspired by Stephen King. Nowadays, Theron has rather focused her interest in action movies, even appearing in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/0/850130.jpg)
Source: Eighties Kids
Jason Statham
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES JASON STATHAM was an oily backup dancer In the early '90s, Statham did what is truly his finest work to date. Не was a backup dancer in a few music videos in which he would appear all oiled up, like in that oil fight scene from The Transporter, but less homoerotic. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/3/850133.jpg)
More: 8 Insane Early Roles Famous Actors Don't Want You To See
Jean-Claude Van Damme
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME in Breakin' Before hypnotizing us with his dancing moves in Kickboxing, Van Damme was overenthusiastically shaking his shoulders in this 1984 movie. Seriously, the man kicks ass, but also dances like Elaine Benes in Seinfeld. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/8/850138.jpg)
Source: Eighties Kids
Jon Hamm
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES JON HAMM in a '90s dating show Back in 1995, Hamm appeared on The Big Date and offered a foot massage to a girl that had just said she had a foot fetish. Yes, that sentence is insane, but it's nothing compared to Hamm's boy-band '90s hairstyle. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/8/850128.jpg)
More: 8 Insane Early Roles Famous Actors Don't Want You To See
Kristen Stewart
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES KRISTEN STEWART in Flintstones: Viva Rock Vegas Stewart's very first role was as a girl tossing a ring in a Flintstones movie nobody saw and nobody remembers. Now, in the scene itself you can only see her back, yet the role is pretty well-documented and there are even photos of her on set. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/6/850136.jpg)
Source: Complex
Paul Rudd
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES PAUL RUDD in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers Back in 1995, the same year he appeared in Clueless, Rudd also starred in the sixth Halloween. Не was approached to reprise his character in 2021's Halloween Kills, but was unable to and so gave his blessing to Anthony Michael Hall. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/7/850127.jpg)
Source: Wikipedia
Jennifer Lawrence
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES JENNIFER LAWRENCE in Monk Even before her first TV roles in Medium or The Bill Engvall Show, Lawrence appeared as a college basketball mascot in Monk in 2006. It's a blink-and- you'll-miss-it appearance, but it's there. Oh, it's there. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/5/850135.jpg)
Source: Screen Rant/YouTube
Lena Heady
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES LENA HEADEY was the last person to talk to MacGyver The MacGyver TV show ended in 1991, but there were two more TV movies in 1994. By the end of the very last one, Trail to Doomsday, Headey is the very last person MacGyver ever talks to. Well, not counting SNL's MacGruber. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/9/850129.jpg)
Source: Looper/YouTube
Ryan Gosling
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES RYAN GOSLING in Frankenstein and Me Gosling's very first film role was in this low-budget family horror, starring Burt Reynolds at a pre-Boogie Nights time when he, erm, wasn't exactly making good movies. The entire, awful-looking thing can be found on YouTube, '90s commercials and all. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/1/850131.jpg)
Source: Insider
Emma Stone
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES EMMA STONE voiced a dog on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody A year before her big screen debut in Superbad, Stone voiced a Pomerainian named Ivana Tipton on the Nickelodeon show. It was the only time the dog talked. At least she also appeared on Malcolm in the Middle in 2006, which is actually cool. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/2/850132.jpg)
Source: Seventeen
Clint Eastwood
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES CLINT EASTWOOD in Revenge of the Creature In fairness, Clint Eastwood also appeared in 1955's Tarantula!, but at least that one has some cult value. As for Revenge, the first of two sequels to Creature from the Black Lagoon, it was quickly forgotten, even if Eastwood appears as an uncredited lab technician. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/7/850137.jpg)
Source: Eighties Kids
Leonardo DiCaprio
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES LEONARDO DICAPRIO in Critters 3 Yes, back in 1991 DiCaprio appeared in Gremli- sorry, in Ghoulies, wait, no, in Munchies? Hobgoblins? Oh, we got it, in Critters. Well, the third one, it was a whole genre back then. Leo then went on to better things, like a lifetime of dating 20-year-old models. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/5/850125.jpg)
Source: Insider
Courteney Cox
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES - COURTENEY COX in Masters of the Universe Three years after dancing with Bruce Springsteen, Cox appeared in 1987's infamous He-Man movie with Dolph Lundgren. We like Courteney Сох, but come on, if the movie wasn't even set in Eternia it didn't even have a chance. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/6/850126.jpg)
Source: Eighties Kids
Jennifer Connelly
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES /-7 - TARRE DOS ..... JENNIFER CONNELLY was a pop musician In Japan Way before standing on docks in Dark City and Requiem for a Dream, Connelly recorded two romantic songs in phonetic Japanese, because of reasons. One of these 1986 songs was even used in a Japanese stereo commercial, which yes, can be found on YouTube. You're welcome. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/4/850124.jpg)
More: 8 Insane Early Roles Famous Actors Don't Want You To See
Cate Blanchett
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES CATE BLANCHETT in an Egyptian boxing movie When Blanchett began her film career in 1996, she had already appeared in 1990's Kaboria. Apparently, she was offered the role while backpacking, and never saw the movie out of embarrassment. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/1/850121.jpg)
Source: Eighties Kids
George Clooney
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES GEORGE CLOONEY in Grizzly II: The Concert Partially filmed in 1976 but only finished in 2020, the awful horror flick Grizzly II: Wait, Does the Bear Really Attack a Concert? is Clooney's actual first movie. Suddenly Batman & Robin doesn't look so bad, uh? CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/3/850123.jpg)
Source: Insider
Emilia Clarke
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES EMILIA CLARKE in Triassic Attack Just a year before Game of Thrones, Clarke's film debut was in this Syfy movie about dinosaur skeletons coming back to life. No, not as full-on dinosaurs, but as walking skeletons. Sounds awful, but at least it's not Terminator Genisys. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/2/850122.jpg)
Source: Eighties Kids
Ben Affleck
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES BEN AFFLECK in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Nope, not the show - he appeared in 1991's original Buffy movie, as Basketball Player #10. We would make fun of it, but actually the movie had a pretty solid cast, with Rutger Hauer, Donald Sutherland, and Hilary Swank. The reviews were not so good, though. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/0/850120.jpg)
Source: Cinemablend
Jennifer Aniston
![EMBARRASSING EARLY APPEARANCES JENNIFER ANISTON in Leprechaun Aniston's film debut is this (not so) classic horror movie from 1993. The franchise has had eight movies, the last one featuring the daughter of Aniston's character. Spoiler alert: None are any good. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/1/9/850119.jpg)
Source: Game Rant