Author Archives: robin
Before They Were Stars: Mia Farrow Auditions for “The Sound of Music”
I always love uncovering rare footage of recognizable actors auditioning for iconic roles before when they were famous… especially when it’s clear they were all wrong for said role. Here’s an unknown Mia Farrow testing for the role of Liesl Von … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: William H. Macy is Punked by Gary Busey in “Foolin’ Around”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3saLfCXuDY0 In 1980, William H. Macy made his screen debut in a comedy called Foolin’ Around, playing a con man who screws over Gary Busey before Busey returns to get revenge by dangling Macy’s car from a tree. The hilarious … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Rose McGowan as an Extra in “Class of 1999”
1982 saw the release of Class of 1984, a Canadian thriller about gang violence at an inner city school and it became an unexpected cult hit. Eight years later, they decided to go all-out when they made a sequel, Class of … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Johnny Knoxville as a Little League Umpire
It’s always fascinating when someone who knew a celebrity before they were famous decides to post old homemade footage of them on Youtube. Apparently, this video was uploaded by a former girlfriend of Johnny Knoxville. Back in 1992, Knoxville was … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: 11-Year Old Taylor Swift Sings the National Anthem at an NBA Playoff Game
The next time you see a kid singing the national anthem at a sporting event, just remember: they could be a huge star someday. Much like when 11-year old Christina Aguilera sang the “Star Spangled Banner” at the 1992 Stanley Cup finals, … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: 16-Year Old David Tennant in an Anti-Smoking PSA
There have been many anti-smoking PSAs produced over the years, but where else are you gonna see a teenage Doctor Who discouraging you from taking up the habit? Incidentally, given that this is a Scottish PSA about cigarettes, it’s amusing to … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Richard Kiel on “Gilligan’s Island”
As saddened as I was by Richard Kiel’s passing this week, I’ve had a lot of fun discovering some of the goofy roles he had prior to portraying Jaws in the James Bond series. Yesterday, I showcased an appearance he made … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Richard Kiel Dances with the Monkees
I’m sad to report that Richard Kiel, a.k.a. the quintessential James Bond henchman, Jaws, has just passed away at the age of 74. Even though the seven-foot tall Kiel was best known for portraying Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Jimi Hendrix Performs with Little Richard and the Crown Jewels
When Jimi Hendrix was just starting out, he got a gig in Little Richard’s ensemble band, The Crown Jewels. In 1965, Hendrix made his first television appearance playing guitar in the background during this rendition of “Shotgun” on the show, Night Train. … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Matthew Lillard Hosts “SK8-TV”
In 1990, back when he was still going by the name “Matthew Lynn”, an unknown Matthew Lillard got a gig hosting a Nickelodeon program called SK8-TV, a variety show about skateboarding. It only lasted 13 episodes before cancellation, but Lillard’s … Continue reading
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