I find it truly fascinating to delve into the careers of these renowned actors and actresses, uncovering their humble beginnings in commercials that would later catapult them to fame. It’s like discovering a secret time capsule of their lives before they became household names.
This famous film and television personality had humble beginnings, often seen in advertisements. Interestingly, there are instances when an actor has already reached great heights but still chooses to use their stardom for advertising purposes. This assortment of TV ads showcases such celebrities at different stages of their careers.
Ben Affleck (Burger King)
In the early stages of Ben Affleck’s acting journey, he starred in a commercial for the well-known fast food brand, Burger King. Known later as the live-action Batman and an Oscar-winning director, Affleck portrayed a teenager who unintentionally created DoorDash when his car phone picked up a call from a girl intending to order a Whopper.
Cameron Diaz (Coca-Cola)
In her modeling days, Cameron Diaz got her initial taste of acting, prior to her debut in The Mask, through a TV commercial for Coca-Cola. This early ’90s advertisement for Coke has a distinct resemblance to an era’s perfume ad, with its enchanting direction that really showcases the future star of Shrek.
Paul Rudd (Super Nintendo)
Paul Rudd’s diverse abilities, seen in comedies like “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and action roles as Ant-Man in Marvel films, can be traced back to an old commercial for a Super Nintendo console from the early ’90s. In this ad, he portrays an extremely excited video game enthusiast who draws a crowd when he manages to connect his gaming system to a drive-in theater projector for an extraordinary experience of playing games such as “The Legend of Zelda” and other favorites.
Jennifer Lawrence (My Super Sweet 16)
Jennifer Lawrence, despite not being on “My Super Sweet 16” itself, was still portrayed as the main character in promotional materials for the show when it first aired. MTV used dramatized clips featuring Lawrence, who later won an Academy Award and became famous for “The Hunger Games,” to depict her as the birthday girl experiencing some problems during her extravagant party celebrations.
Brad Pitt (Pringles)
Prior to his appearance in the Super Bowl Heineken ad directed by David Fincher, who also helmed “Fight Club”, Brad Pitt, then on the rise, had already dabbled in commercial acting. This was back in 1988, when he starred in a Pringles advertisement. In this ad, he portrayed one of three surfer buddies stranded by the roadside in California. A group of attractive women then arrive and invite them to an unexpected Pringles party.
Amy Adams (Commercial Federal Bank)
As a dedicated fan, I was initially introduced to Amy Adams’ exceptional vocal skills through her role in Enchanted (2007). However, it was the patrons at Commercial Federal Bank who had the privilege of discovering her talent earlier, as she graced their screens in 1997, portraying an Olivia Newton-John doppelganger in a humorous reenactment of Grease (1978) for the bank.
Steve Carell (Brown’s Chicken)
Before becoming famous as Michael Scott on NBC’s The Office, Steve Carell showcased his character’s quirky charm even in his early acting days, particularly in commercials from the 1990s. A notable example is when he portrayed a Brown’s Chicken employee who, while setting up a marquee for “cholesterol-free cooking,” made a blunder that led customers to believe they wouldn’t have to pay for the food at all.
Drew Barrymore (Pillsbury)
It was evident to anyone who saw Drew Barrymore in her early Pillsbury commercial back in 1979, where she played a young girl enjoying chocolate chip cookies with her mom on a gloomy day, that she would soon win ours over in the movie E.T. the Extra-terrestrial, which came out just a few years later.
Leonardo DiCaprio (Bubble Yum)
Prior to becoming a breakout star in “Growing Pains” and eventually leading the cast of “Titanic”, an aspiring Leonardo DiCaprio appeared in several advertisements. One commercial showcases the future Academy Award winner displaying his captivating charm while highlighting the strong taste of Bubble Yum bubble gum.
Arnold Schwarzenegger (Alinamin V)
After seeing the extraordinary, mind-boggling commercials starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in Japan, you might find yourself viewing him differently. In these ads, he served as the spokesperson for an energy drink named Alinamin V. With a gigantic, manic grin plastered on his face, he is shown riding a bottle of the drink into space or even emerging from it like a genie.
Mila Kunis (Telephone Tammy)
If Mila Kunis’ character, Jackie Burkhart, had been a child of the 90s, it seems like the Telephone Tammy doll, which answers calls with an included play phone, would have been one of her childhood toys. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the actress who later became a cast member on That ’70s Show, Mila Kunis, appeared in a commercial for Mattel when she was just starting out.
Morgan Freeman (Polaroid)
In his early career, future Academy Award winner and talented voice actor Morgan Freeman appeared in several television commercials. One of these ads was a 1970s advertisement for Polaroid, where he played the role not of the man taking the instant photos but the man advising the overeager photographer to slow down on the retakes.
Britney Spears (Maull’s)
Devoted followers of pop sensation Britney Spears are aware that she began her career as a child actor, sharing the spotlight with Ryan Gosling on The Mickey Mouse Club, alongside other budding stars. One of her early acting gigs involved a young girl who seemed particularly thrilled about sinking her teeth into a homemade hamburger for a commercial promoting Maull’s Barbecue Sauce, a beloved St. Louis-based brand.
Mark Hamill (Kodak)
Prior to portraying Luke Skywalker in the “Star Wars” films, Mark Hamill was exposed to technology from a distant galaxy that likely seemed like advanced innovation at the time. He appeared in a 1975 advertisement for Kodak cameras, showcasing a model capable of capturing high-resolution photos from afar. This enabled him to take a picture of his girlfriend (and her mother) on a balcony while remaining on the ground.
Anne Hathaway (Better Homes And Gardens Real Estate)
In 1996, Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway showcased her acting abilities in romantic dramas such as “One Day” and “The Idea of You,” even before she made her big screen debut. In a Better Homes and Gardens commercial, she portrayed a young woman who thought she and her boyfriend had time to spend together before his family moved away. However, they discover that the real estate agency has already sold the house, a reality they hadn’t anticipated.
J.K. Simmons (Farmers Insurance)
By the time J.K. Simmons landed the role as Professor Nathaniel Burke in a long-running Farmers Insurance ad campaign, he was already recognized for his iconic roles on HBO’s Oz and Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films. When he won an Oscar for his performance in Whiplash, the host Neil Patrick Harris spontaneously sang a parody of the company’s famous jingle during the ceremony.
Harrison Ford (Kirin)
Harrison Ford, famous for portraying Han Solo in Star Wars and Indiana Jones in their respective films, became an international sensation and one of the most financially successful actors ever. Additionally, his fame grew even further in Japan due to his appearances in a series of advertisements for Kirin, a popular regional beer brand.
Keanu Reeves (Corn Flakes)
In the 80’s, before embodying a master of kung fu in The Matrix, a master of gun-fu in John Wick, and a master of excellence in Bill & Ted, Keanu Reeves portrayed a master of quietly enjoying a bowl of cereal as a waiter who relished the breakfast he was serving in an advertisement for Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.
Betty White (Snickers)
Snickers ran an amusing advertising campaign featuring famous actors portraying unusual behaviors associated with hunger. One of the first and most hilarious ads featured the iconic Betty White as a man struggling to maintain his composure during a friendly football match, only to find himself craving a protein-packed Snickers bar when his game performance faltered.
Bruce Willis (Seagram’s Coolers)
Before becoming famous for Die Hard and during his Moonlighting days, Bruce Willis also gained recognition as the spokesperson for Seagram’s Golden liquor. He showcased his talent in a series of advertisements for the brand, which occasionally incorporated his musical abilities.
Jeff Goldblum (Apartments.com)
It’s quite surprising that a well-known and adored actor like Jeff Goldblum, who has been nominated for an Academy Award, would be chosen to feature in a continuous advertisement campaign as a new character instead of himself. However, the star of “Jurassic Park” and “The Fly” is captivating and charming in the Apartments.com commercials, portraying Brad Bellflower.
Sharon Stone (Finesse)
During the 1990s, Sharon Stone gained significant acclaim and desirability with films such as “Basic Instinct” and her Academy Award-nominated role in Martin Scorsese’s “Casino”, establishing her as one of the most respected actors of that era. In the 1980s, her striking looks played a crucial role in making Finesse shampoo one of the most sought-after brands in the hair care industry.
Jack Black (Pitfall)
It seems that Jack Black’s charming, energetic sense of humor was something he had since he was young. For example, consider his role in a 1982 advertisement for Atari’s “Pitfall,” where he appeared as a young boy with a safari hat, excitedly sharing his adventures from the jungle-themed video game. This was long before he portrayed a character in a jungle-themed video game, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
Sarah Michelle Gellar (Burger King)
In 1983, it would have been hard to imagine that a charming six-year-old girl who was frequently the voice of Burger King commercials would transform into one of the most terrifying horror actresses in the genre. However, Sarah Michelle Gellar’s future unfolded this way as she took on the lead role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a character who fought against evil.
Tobey Maguire (Tropicana Twister)
Back in 1991, before he became the iconic Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire featured in a Tropicana advertisement for their blended juice drink, Tropicana Twister. As a teen at the time, his role was limited to a child character who playfully suggested incorporating broccoli into the next innovative flavor mix, by breaking the traditional boundaries of the scene.
Courteney Cox (Tampax)
Back in the ’80s, I was more recognized for grooving with Bruce Springsteen in his “Dancing in the Dark” music video rather than my role as Monica Gellar on Friends. But did you spot me, the eventual Scream franchise actress, in a Tampax commercial, casually hanging out at the gym?
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Pop-Tarts)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an esteemed actor, originally a child star, who continues to act in both films and television. His career dates back to the late ’80s and early ’90s, with notable roles such as “Angels in the Outfield” and “3rd Rock from the Sun”. If you look further back than these iconic performances, you’ll find the future star of “Looper” and “Inception” in a 1991 Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts advertisement, where he played a child encouraging his father to eat breakfast before work and offering him a toaster pastry.
Bryan Cranston (Preparation H)
4-time Emmy Award winner and once Academy Award nominee Bryan Cranston has taken on various roles throughout his career. He was a helpless suburban father in the “Malcolm in the Middle” series, and transformed into a cold-blooded drug lord as the main character of “Breaking Bad”. However, long before that, he had a different role: spokesperson for Preparation H, which he showcased in an advertisement from the early 1980s.
Willem Dafoe (Mercedes Benz)
Willem Dafoe’s impressive portfolio of portraying formidable villains, such as Green Goblin among others, has consistently demonstrated his exceptional talent for playing evil characters. Consequently, he was an ideal pick to feature in a Mercedes Benz Super Bowl commercial, where he donned the role of the Devil tempting a young man to sell his soul for the car. However, the deal falls apart when the young man discovers the vehicle’s affordable price.
Geena Davis (WMET)
In a versatile career spanning from her Oscar-winning performance in “The Accidental Tourist” to her beloved role in “Beetlejuice,” and beyond, it’s evident that Geena Davis can take on any role. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising for early ’80s viewers of WMET television to easily accept her as the voice of their local rock radio station when she starred in its captivating commercial.
Jeremy Renner (Duracell)
Prior to donning the role of Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jeremy Renner earned a living by acting in commercials. One of his most notable commercials was a Duracell advertisement set in the 90s, where he portrayed a tourist in Mexico who managed to harness the power of a herd of bulls using a portable stereo battery.
John Travolta (U.S. Army)
Previously, before appearing as Santa in a Capital One commercial and poking fun at his role in Grease for T-Mobile, John Travolta was featured in an Army recruitment advertisement back in 1973. Fast forward just four years, and his Academy Award-nominated leading role in Saturday Night Fever catapulted him to international stardom.
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2024-10-12 17:38