17 Famous Actors Who Turned Small Parts Into Breakout Roles

Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Robin Williams...

Damjan

• Published in Film & TV
• June 17, 2022

Some of Hollywood's greatest famous performers, believe it or not, were never meant to be stars. Because the television and film industries are notoriously competitive and difficult to get into, it stands to reason that in order to make it big, an actor must have something exceptionally special or simply have a really memorable moment.

Fortunately for us, several of our favorite Hollywood stars, such as Brad Pitt, Robin Williams, and Margot Robbie, were among them. They all gave such memorable performances in minor roles that their careers were catapulted to the next level.

There's something compelling about seeing a novice shine, especially in a minor role where it's less anticipated. It's extraordinary performances like this that keep us back to movie theaters and our own television screens in the hopes of witnessing the magic.

It doesn't always happen, but it's quite great when a minor character steals the show and we get to watch a career blossom right before our eyes. Sometimes you can just tell when a certain role will be the one that propels an actor to stardom.

What evidence do we have? It's something we've seen a lot of times before. To refresh your mind, here are a few well-known actors that have had minor roles that have blossomed into major ones.

Every movie star starts somewhere...

Robin Williams

Many years ago, the late actor we all remember, adore and still miss had a little role in the 1970s TV sitcom Happy Days, in which he portrayed a slightly goofy extraterrestrial named Mork for only two episodes. But it was enough. Robin Williams won the lead part in his own sitcom, Mork & Mindy, thanks to that small appearance. 

Robin became a bona fide comedy celebrity as a result of the show's four seasons.

Kirsten Dunst

Some may not recall, but Kirsten Dunst starred opposite Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in the film adaption of novelist Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire, which was released in 2000. 

Her contribution was significant, although she did not play the lead role. Her performance, which won her a Golden Globe nomination, was so strong, though, that she could have pretty much written her own career after that.

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt first entered our collective consciousness in 1991, when he was still quite young and incredibly attractive. 

He'd done a lot of TV before that, but no one noticed him until he played J.D. in Thelma & Louise, opposite Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis. 

He was on his way to becoming a megastar in a flash.

Margot Robbie

We may never have seen Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn if it wasn't for her modest appearance in the Oscar-nominated picture The Wolf of Wall Street. 

She shone in Martin Scorsese's epic despite playing opposite Leonardo DiCaprio.

Jennifer Garner

Although it's difficult to recall a period when Jennifer Garner wasn't in the spotlight, she did take some time to break into the film industry. 

Before landing a little part as a nurse in the film Pearl Harbor, she did a lot of episodic TV work. Her Hollywood career, however, took off after that.

Paul Rudd

In the legendary 1990s film Clueless, Paul Rudd performed a minor but memorable role opposite Alicia Silverstone. His role as Cher's stepbrother and love interest at the same time, which is all kinds of strange — at least strange enough to bring attention to his eccentric cuteness and set him up for future on-screen success.

Tom Hanks

Who knew director Ron Howard was the one who essentially found Tom Hanks? Although Tom had already done some acting, he also appeared in the 1970s sitcom Happy Days, which caught Ron's attention, and he was placed alongside Daryl Hannah in the 1984 comedy Splash. 

The movie was a hit, and Tom became a major star as a result.

Amanda Seyfried

Most of us remember Amanda Seyfried as one of the "Plastics" in Mean Girls, but it wasn't her performance in that film that made her a star. She had a brief appearance on Veronica Mars the following year, and the show's director was so taken with her that he decided to extend her part to 11 episodes, making her a permanent fixture on the successful show despite the fact that she was only seen in flashbacks.

Jason Segel

Jason Segel's most memorable film role was in the 1998 comedy film Can't Hardly Wait, in which he played "Watermelon Guy," a stoner who bizarrely and very inappropriately eats watermelon as a very disturbed Jennifer Love Hewitt (the film's star) observes. 

We couldn't get it out of our heads, yet Jason went on to have a successful career in Hollywood.

Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt may be a household name these days, but he wasn't before his role in Parks & Recreation. He was never supposed to be a main character on the show, and he was only supposed to appear in six episodes. 

But he was so popular that the show's creators rewrote the script solely to keep him on the show.

Bob Odenkirk

When he landed the character of sleazy, smooth-talking lawyer Saul Goodman on Breaking Bad, Bob Odenkirk had been working in the comedy circuit for years. He wasn't exactly well-known at the time, but he was so amazing at playing the now-iconic character on the famous show (he stole every scene he was in), that he went on to parlay the part into a lucrative spin-off series, Better Call Saul, and become a recognizable and respected figure in Hollywood.

Norman Reedus

Norman Reedus had roles in a few critically acclaimed films before starring in The Walking Dead, but he wasn't a household name until he took on the role of Daryl Dixon in the long-running zombie apocalypse series. But here's the thing - he was never planned to be a central protagonist, but his audition for a much minor role went so well that the show's writers created the character of Daryl specifically for him.

Retta

Retta is another Park and Recreation alum who got her start on the show. She landed the modest role of Donna Meagle on the series as a relative unknown in Hollywood, and since then she's created a thriving TV career.

She had a four-season main part in Good Girls, a recurring position on Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce, and a slew of voice acting roles for animation projects since Parks and Rec concluded.

Amy Adams

Amy Adams apparently only needed a little role on a tremendously successful TV program to finish her route to celebrity. When Amy portrayed Jim's girlfriend on a few of episodes of The Office, she had been attempting to break into Hollywood for years.

After that, she became instantly recognizable, opening the door to a slew of more lucrative TV and film jobs.

Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller hails from a long line of New York actors, but he had to fight his way to the top. He had a lot of little roles before landing a slot on Saturday Night Live.

He was only on the show for one season, but that was enough time for him to demonstrate his comedic abilities. Soon after, he landed his own sketch comedy series, The Ben Stiller Show, and from there, he was able to maintain his celebrity and grow into the megastar he is today.

Ryan Reynolds

It all boils down to the statistics for some actors. It doesn't matter if the role was good or not; as long as enough people saw it to make you famous, there's a chance you'll gain some traction. For Ryan Reynolds, who played in 1996 film Sabrina the Teenage Witch, that was enough.

It wasn't highbrow, but it attracted a lot of attention, and Ryan won't be forgotten.

Michael B. Jordan

Michael B. Jordan, who plays Michael in Creed, is a serious actor, and it takes a lot to get it to the A-list in Hollywood. Michael made his acting debut in the HBO drama The Wire, where he played for only one season.

He made a strong impression on both Hollywood insiders and the general public, and the rest is history.

Everyone has to start somewhere, and for actors, that means a lot of uncredited or minor roles. But the very fact that they've managed to turn small parts into breakout roles says enough about their acting skills and charisma.

Every work, no matter how small, counts, and these performers are living proof that you should take advantage of every chance that comes your way. It's not a bad idea to start small.

Damjan