Behind every famous actor lies a very unique story of how they “made it” in Hollywood. Some artists were born into the business, while others worked for years to make a name for themselves. One of the first major hurdles for an actor to overcome while building a career is obtaining a membership in the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Many actors do this by participating in additional work in film and television. After three days of working on a SAG production, actors are automatically eligible to obtain their SAG cards.
Groundwork is also a great way for actors to pay the bills while they audition for roles and hone their craft. In fact, many big stars started out as extras in major film and television productions. If you look very closely, you might even spot them in some of your favorite movies. Sometimes they’re barely recognizable – you’ll see a bit of their shoulder or a vague silhouette in the background. It is often a blinking moment and you will miss it.
While these actors ended up becoming top talent, it’s always cool to think that at one point they were just young performers at the start of their careers. Everyone starts somewhere, and often an actor’s first screen appearance occurs long before they reach their big breakthrough. Who knows how many future stars are lurking in the background of today’s movies and television?
Continue reading below to learn more about these 12 stars who started their acting careers as extras in movies and on television.
12 actors who started out as extras in film and television
These famous actors all started their screen careers with uncredited roles in film and television.
