10 Huge Actors Who Were Discovered in the Weirdest Ways
Carly Tennes
Published
01/01/2025
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Making it in Hollywood is seldom an easy task.
While the majority of our favorite actors endured a whole lot of trials and tribulations before making it big — years of auditions, background roles, and for those who rose to fame in the '90s, having an at least one-episode arc on Seinfeld — other stars' breaks were just as strange as they were lucky. Just ask Pamela Anderson, Channing Tatum, and all the other stars who kick-started their careers in a whole host of weird ways.
From childhood antics leading Vin Diesel to the big screen to how a bank meltdown led to the rise of Charlize Theron, here are 10 huge actors who were discovered in the weirdest ways.
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1. Danny Trejo
Courtesy of Jason McELweenie“Danny Trejo got his first acting job when visiting a patient he was doing substance abuse counseling for on the set of ‘Runaway Train’. He was offered a job as an extra in the film's prison scenes.” -
2. Harrison Ford
Courtesy of LucasfilmDespite having starred in ‘American Graffiti,’ Ford’s acting career stalled in the mid-70s. When it came time for George Lucas to cast ‘Star Wars,’ the director hired Ford as a line reader during the audition process, helping actors vying for a part in the sci-fi flick. Lucas was ultimately so impressed with Ford’s skills that he offered him the role of Han Solo. -
3. Pamela Anderson
Courtesy of Mercy For Animals MFA“Pamela Anderson was 'discovered' by being shown on the big screen at a British Columbia Lions CFL game in a Labatt Blue T-shirt.” -
4. Charlize Theron
Courtesy of Gage Skidmore“A bank teller refused to cash Charlize Theron's check when she first came to Hollywood; so she engaged in a shouting match with him. A talent agent, waiting behind her, handed her his business card and subsequently introduced her to casting agents. She made her film debut several months later.” -
5. Channing Tatum
Courtesy of Gage Skidmore“Channing Tatum's big break was being featured as a bartender in the Ricky Martin music video for ‘She Bangs’. Tatum can be seen serving drinks and dancing.” -
6. Mandy Moore
Courtesy of Daniel Benavides“Mandy Moore was 'discovered' by a passing FedEx employee who happened to know some people at Sony Music.” -
7. Jason Statham
Courtesy of THE MEG Cast Reveal Funniest Moments, Bloopers & RUBY ROSE Superhero Details“Jason Statham sold black market goods after retiring from Britain's National diving team. This experience led him to earn the role of ‘Bacon’ in ‘Locked, Stocked, and Two Smoking Barrels,’ His first film.” -
8. Mel Gibson
Photo by Alan Light“Mel Gibson was mugged before an audition. His bruises and black eyes led to him getting the main role in Mad Max.” -
9. Chris Pratt
Courtesy of D. Thomas Johnson“Actor Chris Pratt was discovered whilst working at a Bubba Gump Shrimp Company-branded restaurant in Hawaii - he waited on an actor/director who had starred in one of his favorite movies, and she offered him a role in a short film she was working on.” -
10. Vin Diesel
Courtesy of Gage Skidmore“Vin Diesel broke into a Theater in New York with his brother when he was 7 with the intent of vandalizing it. When they were caught, instead of calling the police, the theater's artistic director offered them roles in an upcoming show, thus starting Diesel's acting career.”
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Danny Trejo
“Danny Trejo got his first acting job when visiting a patient he was doing substance abuse counseling for on the set of ‘Runaway Train’. He was offered a job as an extra in the film's prison scenes.”
“Danny Trejo got his first acting job when visiting a patient he was doing substance abuse counseling for on the set of ‘Runaway Train’. He was offered a job as an extra in the film's prison scenes.”
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