Author Archives: robin
Before They Were Stars: Werner Herzog Directs “The Unprecedented Defence of the Fortress Deutschkreuz”
Since we recently devoted an entire Shouts From the Back Row podcast to the eccentric career of Werner Herzog, I’ve decided to post one of his earliest short films. In 1967, Herzog directed The Unprecedented Defence of the Fortress Deutschkreuz, … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Mila Kunis in a Failed Nickelodeon Pilot
In 1997, when she was around 13 or 14, Mila Kunis was cast in the pilot of a Nickelodeon TV series called Simon Says What?, playing a girl who looks at a wedding invitation on a computer and accidentally winds … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: A Bizarre James Franco Audition Tape
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5i12S1pzac I’ve uncovered a lot of old celebrity audition tapes recently, but this is definitely the most bizarre of the lot. This was apparently filmed in about 1997 or so and features an unknown James Franco auditioning for some short … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Seth Rogen on “Dawson’s Creek”
When he was still a relative unknown, Seth Rogen made a guest appearance on this 2003 episode of Dawson’s Creek. I know it will probably astonish you to hear this, but it appears that he played the role of a … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: James Gandolfini in “True Romance”
As you’ve probably heard, James Gandolfini tragically passed away of a heart attack a few days ago at the age of 51. Long before The Sopranos was a thing, I first remember seeing Mr. Gandolfini play a mobster in the … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: A Julia Roberts Audition Tape from 1986
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j23wSxuYEU It’s always fun when they pull audition tapes out of mothballs which feature future celebrities auditioning for parts they didn’t get. This audition tape from 1986 features an unknown Julia Roberts reading for a role alongside an actor named … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Natalie Portman in a Stage Production of “Cabaret”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw5Kb1uzm2c During an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Natalie Portman was surprised when Oprah pulled out an old clip of her performing in a stage production of Cabaret during her childhood days at drama camp. But that’s not the … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars (2-for-1 Special): Neil Patrick Harris and Michael Chiklis in “B.L. Stryker”
In 1989, Burt Reynolds portrayed the title character in a detective series called B.L. Stryker, with the late, great Ossie Davis playing his sidekick. It only lasted 12 episodes, but one of them was notable for featuring both Michael Chiklis … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Mandy Patinkin as the “Teen Angel” in 7 Up Commercials
In the early 1970s, a young Mandy Patinkin started off his career in a series of 7 Up commercials, playing a character called the “Teen Angel”. Basically, he was the ghost of a 1950s teenager who apparently died in a … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: 11-Year Old Kurt Russell Kicks Elvis in “It Happened at the World’s Fair”
Kurt Russell was a very busy actor during his childhood, but his first official film appearance came at the age of 11 when he kicked none other than Elvis Presley himself in the shins in the 1963 film, It Happened … Continue reading
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