Actors who made it, and embarrassing past movies

[tracy]

Kevin Costner was the dead friend in "The Big Chill"....you see parts of him during the opening sequence. Plus he was one of the "frat boys" in the party in the morgue scene in "Night Shift".

[alandhopewell]

When you look at the filmographies of many leading or popular actors, you'll see their beginning bit-part movies, too.  Denzel Washington was an uncredited mugger in Death Wish.  Robert Patrick was in the Mad Max rip-off Equalizer 2000.  Jean-Claude Van Damme can be seen in the background in one of those Breakin' movies.  I even remember Kelly Hu looking like a schoolgirl, being thrown about by Jason in a Friday The 13th movie.

Who are some of your favourite actors that made it, or what obscure and possibly embarrassing movies lurk in the past of some who later became stars?

And another, harder question: who do you see in bit parts now that you think or hope will make it?

     Jeff Goldblum was also in DEATH WISH.

[alandhopewell]

      Mike Farrell (M*A*S*H*) was shot in a phone booth in the Boris Karloff thriller TARGETS (1968)

[mrsskinner]

While Robert Englund's role in Galaxy of Terror would be strangely prophetic, my all time favorite has to be the elevator scene in St. Ives.

Robert Englund's first role was in Eaten Alive (1977) "My names Buck and I's raring to f----"

[Fausto]

Gene Simmons and John Stamos. Also Robert Englund has a bit part in the end. Discuss.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvOvVtE4rgI

[66Crush]

Simmons was already known for being in Kiss and willing to do anything if the price is right. Stamos might have been embarrassed though. Robert Englund made a lot of bad movies both before and after being Freddy.

[66Crush]

Tom Hanks crying and flipping out in Mazes and Monsters.

What is this movie I haven't heard of it?

[Chainsawmidget]

Simmons was already known for being in Kiss and willing to do anything if the price is right. Stamos might have been embarrassed though. Robert Englund made a lot of bad movies both before and after being Freddy.

Englund has said he'll appear in just about any movie that doesn't require him to wear heavy makeup.  He probably doesn't get embarrassed easily.

Stamos starred in Full House.  He hasn't earned the right to be embarrassed by any movie role.

[alandhopewell]

     Tom Selleck was in this....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_GusW0fDn4

     Also, since we don't have a thread for directors, may I include an early James Cameron effort....?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scGjDZbEFn4

[voltron]

I read that Jennifer Conelly was embarassed about being in Argento's Phenomena. She basically said it was an excuse to go to Italy which I find sad because it's a great movie no matter what she thinks about it.

[66Crush]

Simmons was already known for being in Kiss and willing to do anything if the price is right. Stamos might have been embarrassed though. Robert Englund made a lot of bad movies both before and after being Freddy.

Englund has said he'll appear in just about any movie that doesn't require him to wear heavy makeup.  He probably doesn't get embarrassed easily.

Stamos starred in Full House.  He hasn't earned the right to be embarrassed by any movie role.

When you're right, you're right.

[claws]

Kevin Costner was the dead friend in "The Big Chill"....you see parts of him during the opening sequence. Plus he was one of the "frat boys" in the party in the morgue scene in "Night Shift".

He was strutting his stuff in Malibu Hot Summer (1981) before that, and he was a weight lifting victim in the utterly bad slasher Shadows Run Black (1986).

[ChaosTheory]

I read that Jennifer Conelly was embarassed about being in Argento's Phenomena. She basically said it was an excuse to go to Italy which I find sad because it's a great movie no matter what she thinks about it.

Bummer.  That's probably my favorite Argento movie.




Now lest we forget:  Tom Cruise and his tiny shorts debuting in 1981's ENDLESS LOVE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GePZApDteR4

[Pacman000]

Tom Hanks crying and flipping out in Mazes and Monsters.

What is this movie I haven't heard of it?

I haven't seen it, but I have heard of it.  Tom Hanks plays a teenage obsessed with Dungeons and Drag....uh, "Mazes and Monsters."  The game, being evil, drives him insane. 

Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084314/

[JaseSF]

Isn't Lester's profile pic from Mazes and Monsters? Michael Landon was the teenage werewolf in I Was A Teenage Werewolf although personally I consider that to be his best role. He also played a former bedwetter turned runner in the TV movie The Loneliest Runner...