It is not uncommon to see A-listers go back and forth between television and movies in Hollywood, but this wasn’t always the case.
Some actors still cannot let go of the shadow they left on the small screen, with Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green in Friends and Will Smith as the Fresh Prince in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air being their highest earner.
But others have been fortunate enough to start anew after getting their big break in big-budget films when their television career remains long forgotten. But we do not forget as we have compiled a list of famous film actors who have TV to thank for garnering them a spot in the realm of acting.
20 Famous Celebrities Who Started Out Career on TV
| 1. | Michael J. Fox |
| 2. | Leonardo DiCaprio |
| 3. | Chris Hemsworth |
| 4. | Jared Leto |
| 5. | Jim Carre |
| 6. | Ryan Goslin |
| 7. | Joseph Gordon-Levitt |
| 8. | George Clooney |
| 9. | Shia LaBeouf |
| 10. | Steve Carell |
| 11. | Robin Williams |
| 12. | Michael B. Jordan |
| 13. | Tom Hanks |
| 14. | Chris Pratt |
| 15. | James Franco |
| 16. | Morgan Freeman |
| 17. | Johnny Depp |
| 18. | John Travolta |
| 19. | Jennifer Lawrence |
| 20. | Benedict Cumberbatch |
1. Michael J. Fox
The first actor on our list is none other than the Back to the Future film trilogy star Michael J. Fox. The Canadian-American retired actor was one of the most up-and-coming acts of 1970, as he worked in several high earners, including Teen Wolf, The Secret of My Success, Doc Hollywood, and The Frighteners, to name a few.
His career got cut short when he got diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, forgoing his thriving name in the industry to advocate for finding a cure, and he founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 to help fund research.
Little known to most, he got his debut role in Midnight Madness but returned to the small screen when he played a Young Republican, Alex P. Keaton, in the show Family Ties.
He was never supposed to get the part, as he was a second choice after Matthew Broderick. The NBC program became a staple for seven years and attracted one-third of America’s households every week. His performance got so much love that he became a permanent cast member with three Emmy awards.
2. Leonardo DiCaprio
No one can forget losing their hearts to the underdog Jack when James Cameron’s Titanic first aired in 1997, catapulting a young DiCaprio to the height of stardom.
That was the only beginning as he has managed to maintain the reputation, gathering numerous accolades, and has a box office record of $7.2 billion worldwide. He is one of the few actors who have gained worldwide notoriety, with every project smashing a new milestone in his career.
But the 48-year-old starred out as a mere child actor, starting with a role in the pilot of The Outsiders and playing a young Mason Capwell in one episode of the soap opera Santa Barbara. He began with recurring roles in various television shows, with the sitcom Parenthood being the most notable.
His character, Garry Buckman, was a troubled teenager as he embodied Joaquin Phoenix’s performance in the original film. The project got him two nominations at the 12th Youth in Film Awards and an unforgettable presence in front of the camera.
3. Chris Hemsworth
Christopher Hemsworth, better as the Greek god Thor from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is one of the highest-paid actors, with multiple citations on the sexiest man alive lists.
Although his character as the blonde-haired god of thunder has been his defined caricature, he has acted in a few top earners with Star Trek, Red Dawn, Extraction, Red Dawn, and Men in Black: International, to name a few.
The Australian native started with TV when he starred in two episodes of the fantasy television series Guinevere Jones as King Arthur.
He also played roles in the soap opera series Neighbours, and The Saddle Club, before auditioning as Robbie Hunter in the Australian soap opera Home and Away. The makers had him in mind for another role, as he appeared in 171 episodes as Kim Hyde.
4. Jared Leto
Musician turned actor Jared Leto has made name for excelling in two careers that went hand to hand.
Initially, he grew a fanfare for his work as the lead vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and principal songwriter for Thirty Seconds to Mars before he dived into his true love with acting.
But music was not his only passion, as he gets recognized for his method acting and unforgettable reenactments in American Psycho, Suicide Squad, House of Gucci, and Blade Runner 2049.
In 1992, a young Leto moved to the city of Angels with dreams of perusing directing but found minor roles on television shows. After two years of struggling, he was cast opposite Claire Danes as Jordan Catalano in his short-lived apparel in ABC teen drama My So-Called Life. Despite the cancellation, the show gained a cult following, and Leto got praised for its portrayal of adolescent life.
5. Jim Carrey
Another Canadian-American started his career on the small screen with none other than the energetic slapstick actor Jim Carrey.
The Ontario local has always proved his knack for playing a variety of emotions as he awed the audiences through his performances in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber.
People thought he had reached the perk in 1994 but then broke bounds when he gained further notice for his portrayal of the Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. He smashed through the redundancy of getting typecast as a comedic star through his dramatic success in starring in the Emmy-nominated film Doing Time on Maple Drive.
As a child, he used to make faces in the mirror and started stand-up comedy at the age of 15. His work led him to Los Angeles when he got the central role on The Duck Factory, a sitcom getting developed for NBC.
He was a supporting cast member for Finders Keepers and appeared in late-night shows for his impressions while the program evolved.
In 1984, the NBC series finally came on air but did not gain momentum, as it ended up getting canceled.
6. Ryan Gosling
Independent film hitmaker Ryan Thomas Gosling has dabbled in varying genres and has gathered a worldwide box office gross of over 1.9 billion USD.
His accolades are enough to give an idea about his stance as he gained recognition and stardom for the 2004 film The Notebook. After a decade of mainstream movies, he starred in the romantic musical La La Land, which won him the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
But his roots run deep within the industry as he had his beginnings when he came on TV after scoring the Disney Channel’s The Mickey Mouse Club. He thought he made it after getting the two-year contract but appeared on-screen infrequently because other children, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake, were more talented.
After his return to Canada, he starred in more series, like Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps, and starred as Sean Hanlo in Breaker High.
7. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
American actor and filmmaker Joseph Leonard Gordon-Levitt has been a successful entrepreneur since he founded the online media platform HitRecord.
Coming from a Jewish family, he has been a part of many hit projects, including Angels in the Outfield, which earned him a Young Artist Award, 3rd Rock from the Sun, for which he received three nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and many more. He also wrote and directed Don Jon in 2013, with was released to positive reviews.
He had been on the part of acting since he was four years old, joining a musical theater group and working in their theater productions. His time on stage got him approved for commercials as he made his first on-screen appearance in The Powers That Be, a sitcom starring John Forsythe.
8. George Clooney
Married Man George Clooney is the star power behind Soderbergh’s heist comedy remakes Ocean’s Eleven, The Descendants, The American, Gravity, and more, but he got his beginning as a doctor.
Indeed, he became a household name when he starred as Dr. Doug Ross on the NBC medical drama ER. For six years, he reigned as one of the heartthrobs, receiving two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his stellar portrayal.
His first film role came simultaneously as his schedule became too much to handle. He picked the big-budgeted movies over ER and never looked back.
9. Shia LaBeouf
Controversial artist Shia LaBeouf is the only child of Shayna Saide and Jeffrey LaBeouf.
Coming from an artistic family, they can get best described as hippies, as his entry into Hollywood was only a matter of time. He got his big break when he got cast in one of the highest-grossing films of 2007, the Transformers, followed by its two sequels which did just as great.
His most unforgettable performances include Holes, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Lawless, The Company You Keep, and Nymphomaniac, which got him critical acclaim.
Indeed, the same man known for his rugged outlook on life had beginnings in the place where childhood dreams commence, in Disney. He played Louis Stevens in Even Stevens, a role that later earned him a Daytime Emmy Award. In a later interview, he talked about his mental transformations on the sets, saying the experience was the best thing that ever happened.
10. Steve Carell
The Office gained new fan base years after it finished airing with Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell, winning hearts despite his crass and sarcastic outlook on life.
Carell knew he had won the lottery when he got cast by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant in NBC’s adaptation of the British series of the same name, which soon gained a cult following. He did not mind killing off his cash cows after movie offers began lining up as he accepted parts in The 40-Year-Old Virgin Evan Almighty, Date Night, Crazy, Stupid, Love, and many more. He also voiced Gru in the well-loved Despicable Me franchise.
He began his career in the performing arts later than his counterparts, as he used to work as a USPS mail carrier in Littleton. He lasted a mere seven months before joining a comedy trope.
By 1996, he had caught the eyes of the makers of The Dana Carvey Show, a short-lived sketch comedy program on ABC where he had co-stars like Stephen Colbert.
11. Robin Williams
Late acting legend Robin McLaurin Williams is an unforgettable gem of the industry known for his improvisational skills and the wide variety of characters.
The creative man began performing stand-up comedy in San Francisco, and he descended into stardom through his commercially successful films, including The World According to Garp, Patch Adams, The Birdcage, Good Will Hunting, and Night at the Museum trilogy, to name a few. He has been nominated for every notable award and has received two Primetime Emmy Awards.
While his beginning was in comedy, he relished his love for art when he got cast by Garry Marshall as the alien Mork in a 1978 episode of the TV series Happy Days.
The last-minute replacement was a trick of fate as he successfully impressed the producer with his quirky sense of humor. Even the cast and crew sat in awe of his presence as the executives moved quickly to get him on contract just four days later.
12. Michael B. Jordan
Santa Ana, California, born Michael Bakari Jordan has been in the industry since 1998 but only recently received millions of fans.
In 2018, his life changed for the better when he got cast as the antagonist in the once-in-a-lifetime event movie produced by Marvel Productions. He received critical acclaim, with Dani Di Placido of Forbes stating that Jordan stole the show. The part got followed by boxer Donnie Creed in Creed and its sequels.
But he started as a child model for companies, including Modell’s sporting goods and Toys R Us, before making a guest appearance in the television series Cosby and The Sopranos.
He scored his breakthrough when he portrayed the pivotal role of Wallace in the first season of HBO’s The Wire. Then he replaced future co-star Chadwick Boseman in All My Children.
13. Tom Hanks
Forrest Gump star Tom Hanks is a nationwide superstar, and he gets known for his comedic and dramatic roles.
Some deem the 66-year-old an American cultural icon with films that have grossed more than $4.9 billion in North America and more than $9.96 billion worldwide. We cannot deny he had his share of hits, but he received an oscar buzz after his 1994 hit Forrest Gump, which grossed $600 million at the box office. He made a new generation fall for his charms when he voiced the charismatic Buzz light year in the Toy Story Franchise.
But his beginning was when he moved to New York to make his film debut. While filming, he signed the character Kip Wilson on the ABC television pilot of Bosom Buddies, where he and Peter Scolari played young advertising men forced to dress as females to live in an inexpensive all-female hotel.
14. Chris Pratt
The frontman of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is none other than Starlord, also known as Chris Pratt.
The Guardians of the Galaxy protagonist has come a long way from sleeping inside a trailer, as he has another top-grossing franchise under his name. He took the starting role of Owen Grady in the action-adventure film Jurassic World series in 2015 and has never looked back.
Fans of TV know him as the funny office worker Andy Dwyer in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. He got cast as a temporary character, but his producers liked Pratt so much that they asked him to become a series regular. He stood up to their expectations by impressing them with outstanding improvisations and created a cult following.
15. James Franco
44-year-old James Franco has fallen from his pedestal after getting accused by his students of harassment.
Before that, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his reenactment of an adventurer who got stuck n a cave in 127 Hours. He has been a part of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, Eat, Pray, Love, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Oz the Great and Powerful. But his more notable performances come in collaborations with fellow actor Seth Rogen, having appeared in eight films.
He started with pizza commercials before getting the leading role on the well-reviewed NBC television series Freaks and Geeks. The lack of viewership got the program canceled after 18 episodes, but it became a cult hit among audiences. Franco also felt it was one of the most fun work experiences in his life, as he learned how to improvise when on the sets.
16. Morgan Freeman
American actor, director, and narrator Morgan Freeman falls at number 16 on our list as the world’s most recognized actor for his distinctive deep voice.
In the past five decades of his career, he has received an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award. The Memphis, Tennessee native got his breakout role in Street Smart and achieved further stardom in Glory.
The 90s were just as glorious after get got cast by Clint Eastwood in the western revenge film Unforgiven, marking the beginning of his collaborations with the director.
Indeed, he started on the live stage making his Off-Broadway debut in 1967. A decade later, he starred in the PBS children’s television show The Electric Company, which gave him much-needed financial stability. The American audiences were exposed to his excellence, but the grueling schedules became too tiring to continue.
17. Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp, also known as the drunk pirate from Pirates of the Caribbean, got his breakthrough from the small screen.
Last year was one of the worst for Depp when his grip on his privacy was lost after a very public defamation trial with his ex-wife Amber Heard. Although the court ruled in his favor, he still had not gotten back his previous reputation.
Indeed, Johnny was one of the most beloved movie stars, with exceptional work in Edward Scissorhands, Cry-Baby, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. He was deemed a heartthrob of the 90s, with women falling on his feet.
He fell into the acting because of his friend, actor Nicolas Cage, and got cast in the lead role in the 1986 skating drama Thrashin.
The producer had someone else in mind as he opted for a substantial role in the Vietnam War drama Platoon. His breakthrough came as an undercover police officer in the Fox television series 21 Jump Street, which premiered in 1987.
18. John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor who came to the public radar during the 1970s, appearing on the television sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter.
His peak was in the 70 when he starred in the box office successes Carrie, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Urban Cowboy.
Initially, he got inspired by his mother’s love of theatre and drama and became an actor. After dropping out of school, he moved to Los Angeles for professional reasons and got his first screen role in California as a fall victim in Emergency!
His looks got him better suited as Billy Nolan, a bully in the horror film Carrie before he landed his star-making role as Vinnie Barbarino in the ABC TV sitcom Welcome Back.
19. Jennifer Lawrence
Recognized as the world’s highest-paid actress in 2015 and 2016, Jennifer Shrader Lawrence is the face behind the Hunger Games Franchise.
At just 32 years old, she became one of the most influential people in the world, which began when she won her first Academy Award for Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook.
The awards opened many doors, skyrocketing her fame to become an A-lister night. The project got followed by the mutant Mystique in the X-Men film series and the eponymous character in Joy.
Coming from the south, she started her career with a minor role in the TV pilot Company Town. Next, she guest-starred roles in several television shows until she became a series regular on the TBS sitcom The Bill Engvall Show. She played Lauren, the rebellious teenage daughter of a family that ran for three seasons.
20. Benedict Cumberbatch
While making such a list, one cannot possibly forget the enigmatic English actor Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch.
Everyone knew he was destined for greatness when he graduated with a Master of Arts from the Victoria University of Manchester.
He started with his reenactments in Shakespearean theatre productions before scoring the part of Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series Sherlock. The program got him a primetime Emmy for outstanding lead actor.
Just when everyone thought he had reached peak greatness, he wowed people with 12 Years a Slave and entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Dr. Stephen Strange in six films starting with Doctor Strange.
But before reaching the height of stardom, he had his humble beginning on the small screen with guest roles in Heartbeat, Tipping the Velvet, and Cambridge Spies. Everything changed when he landed his first lead part in television as Stephen Hawking Hawking, earning his first BAFTA nomination.