Author Archives: robin
Before They Were Stars (2-for-1 Special): Michael Keaton and James Belushi on “Working Stiffs”
It’s always amusing to see future stars cross paths in a failed project before they were famous. Michael Keaton and James Belushi were both unknowns in 1979 when they got their first lead roles on a sitcom called Working Stiffs, … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Kermit the Frog on “Sam and Friends”
A lot of people don’t know that Kermit the Frog was around for 20 years before the Muppets were even a thing. Jim Henson spent two decades using his most famous creation in any project he could find, including sales … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Ed O’Neill in “Popeye Doyle”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KbQZgVT61c Well, here’s an obscure failed attempt to turn a famous movie into a television series. In 1986, Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle, the hard-boiled New York cop portrayed so memorably by Gene Hackman in two French Connection movies, was resurrected and … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: James Rebhorn on “Guiding Light”
2014 has been pretty a shitty year for celebrity deaths thus far. One of Hollywood’s top character actors/“That Guys” is now gone as James Rebhorn just passed away at the age of 65. Of course, Rebhorn was one of those … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: 14-Year Old Juliette Lewis on “I Married Dora”
In 1987, 14-year old Juliette Lewis got her first major role when she joined the cast of a sitcom called I Married Dora. The storyline involved an El Salvadorian housekeeper named Dora, who works as a housekeeper for an American … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Bette Midler as an Extra in “Hawaii”
In 1966, Bette Midler made her screen debut as an extra in Hawaii, a drama starring Julie Andrews, Max von Sydow and a relatively unknown Gene Hackman. She appears in the background as a ship passenger in a few scenes, … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Aaron Eckhart in a Mormon Short Film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQYHVabpvQc During his youth, Aaron Eckhart was raised as a Mormon with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and while attending the LDS-operated Brigham Young University, he got his first acting role in a short Mormon seminary film … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: 9-Year Old Shailene Woodley in a Deleted Scene in “Not Another Teen Movie”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ0P7WPZfu0 When you’re an aspiring actor, there’s probably nothing more heartbreaking than getting a role in a major film, only to have your entire part left on the cutting room floor. Shailene Woodley was only nine years old when she … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Russell Brand in a Chewing Gum Commercial
In 2001, while he was still working a gig as a drugged-out host for MTV Europe, Russell Brand appeared in this commercial for Stimorol chewing gum. The gag is basically that this guy has such bad breath that he has … Continue reading
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Before They Were Stars: Kristen Bell Sings in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”
In 2001, Kristen Bell was attending New York University to major in musical theater and was a few credits shy of graduating when she decided to leave school after being cast as Becky Thatcher in a new Broadway musical version … Continue reading
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