15 Famous Actors Who Started Out as Extras Before Becoming Hollywood Stars

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood didn’t launch their careers with starring roles — they started in the background. Actors who started out as extras gained early on-set experience by blending into the scenery, often without lines, credit, or recognition. Background work (often called “extra work”) is one of the most common ways new actors begin their journey.

Before they were icons, award winners, and box-office legends, these now-famous actors were just faces in the crowd. Here are 15 actors who started out as extras — proving that even the smallest beginnings can lead to massive careers.

1. Sylvester Stallone

Before writing and starring in Rocky, Sylvester Stallone appeared as an extra in Woody Allen’s Bananas (1971), playing a subway mugger. He also appears uncredited in Klute (1971) as a disco club patron.

2. Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt earned just $38 for his background role as “Partygoer / Preppie Guy at Fight” in Less Than Zero (1987). This tiny appearance came years before his breakthrough in Thelma & Louise.

3. Clint Eastwood

In the 1950s, Clint Eastwood worked steadily as a background actor through Central Casting. His uncredited roles eventually led him to starring parts in Westerns and classic films like Dirty Harry.

4. Renée Zellweger

Renée Zellweger appears as an extra being hazed in the cult classic Dazed and Confused (1993). Just a few years later, she became a household name with Jerry Maguire.

5. John Wayne

As a young actor in the 1920s, John Wayne appeared in several silent films as an extra. His perseverance paid off, leading to his breakout role in The Big Trail (1930) and an iconic career.

6. Megan Fox

Long before Transformers, Megan Fox danced as an extra in a club scene in Bad Boys II (2003). Director Michael Bay later cast her in the blockbuster franchise that launched her career.

7. James Dean

James Dean had an extra role in Sailor Beware (1951), delivering the line:

“The guy’s a professional.”

Not long after, he became a cultural icon with Rebel Without a Cause.

8. Ben Affleck & Matt Damon

Boston natives Ben Affleck and Matt Damon worked as extras in Field of Dreams (1989). They appear in the Fenway Park scenes — years before writing and starring in Good Will Hunting.

9. Jackie Chan

As a teenager, Jackie Chan appeared as an extra and stunt performer in Bruce Lee’s Fists of Fury (1971) and Enter the Dragon (1973). These early experiences helped shape his action-comedy style.

10. Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis appears as an extra in the courtroom scenes of The Verdict (1981). It would be several years before he landed his breakout role on Moonlighting.

11. Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe’s first on-screen appearance was as an extra in Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948). She has a quick line — “Hi, Rad” — and appears briefly in a canoe.

12. Matt Bomer

Before starring in White Collar and Magic Mike, Matt Bomer worked as an extra on the long-running soap opera All My Children. His background work helped him understand how professional sets operated.

13. Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum appeared uncredited as a dancer in several music videos early in his career. Those background roles eventually led to modeling, then acting, and finally global stardom through Step Up and Magic Mike.

14. Kristen Stewart

Before Twilight fame, Kristen Stewart appeared as an uncredited extra in The Thirteenth Year (1999), a Disney Channel movie. She later booked her first major role in Panic Room alongside Jodie Foster.

15. Jeremy Renner

Jeremy Renner worked as an extra in several commercials and small TV roles before eventually breaking out with The Hurt Locker. Those early appearances gave him on-camera confidence and industry awareness.

Why Many Actors Start as Extras

Extra work may seem small, but it provides valuable advantages:

• Experience working on real film sets

• Exposure to directors and casting teams

• A firsthand understanding of how productions operate

• Confidence in front of the camera

• A way to build credits when starting with zero experience

For many aspiring actors, background work is the first stepping stone toward bigger roles.

Final Thoughts

These actors who started out as extras prove that humble beginnings can still lead to powerhouse careers. Whether you’re in the background of a major film or performing a tiny role in a student project, every opportunity helps you grow.

Your journey might start the same way — and who knows where it could lead?

Continue Reading – How to Become an Actor:

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4 Acting Secrets the Pros Won’t Tell You – As an actor, acting can be tough and finding acting jobs can be even tougher. Here are acting tips you can use to build your acting career.

4 Hidden Secrets to Landing a Talent Agent- Learn how to get a talent agent to represent you as an actor. So you want to become an actor?

How to Master Your Monologue in 4 Steps- Learn how to perform a monologue better with these 4 easy steps.

5 Killer Tips You Should Know to Prepare for an Audition- Learn what an acting audition is and how to prepare for your next audition as an aspiring actor.

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