Little Parts For Big Actors
 

How many people remember that John Goodman was in C.H.U.D.?

How about Jack Nicholson in the original Little Shop Of Horrors when he was only 19?

Now, we've got Bruce Campbell in Spiderman 3

Can you guys think of a few?

Jennifer Aniston in "Leprechaun"

Jason Alexander in "The Burning"

Johnny Depp in "Nightmare on Elm Street"

Kevin Bacon in "Friday the 13th"

Kevin Spacey in Se7en

Well, Nicholson had a ton of bit parts in early Corman films- such as playing Peter Lorre's son in the comedy version of The Raven.

But, how many remember his small but pivotal walk on in Broadcast News? Or his tiny part in the Streisand musical On a Clear Day You Can See Forever?

How bout Harry Dean Stanton's small but beautiful turn at the end of Lynch's Straight Story?

I'll think of more and post them as I do.

Of course Suzanne Somers was the girl in the t-Bird in American Grafitti.

This is Spinal Tap had quite a few cameos including Fran Drescher, Ed Begley Jr, Patrick MacNee, Dana Carvey, Billy Crystal, Howard Hesseman, Angelica Huston, Paul Shaffer & Fred Willard.

Murder By Death, the detective film send-up by Blake Edwards featured the acting debut of none other than Truman Capote- and he was hilarious.

Robert Altman was known for his large ensemble casts, but he really pulled out all the stops for The Player. In addition to a top notch cast full of big name actors there were walk ons by Steve Allen, Rene Auberjonois, Harry Belafonte, Shari Belafonte, Karen Black, Gary Busey, Cher, James Coburn, Cathy Lee Crosby, John Cusack, Peter Falk, Dennis Franz, Teri Garr, Jeff Goldblum, Elliott Gould, Joel Grey, Buck Henry, Anjelica Huston, Kathy Ireland,Sally Kellerman, Jack Lemmon, Marlee Matlin, Andie MacDowell, Malcolm McDowell, Martin Mull, Nick Nolte, Burt Reynolds, Jill St. John, Susan Sarandon, Rod Steiger, Lily Tomlin, Robert Wagner, Ray Walston & Bruce Willis.

The original version of Casino Royale featured Woody Allen as "Little Jimmy Bond."

M*A*S*H featured a very small bit by Bud Cort who would go on the star in such off the wall classics as Harold & Maude and Brewster McCloud.

Three of these weren't really small roles for big actors considering most of them were just starting out. Johnny Depp's first flick was Nightmare on Elm Street.

I believe they fit the confines of what Rayne set out in the first post- she mentioned Nicholson in Little Shop, which was definitely an early role for him before he became a star.

OJ Simpson in Roots :)

Harrison Ford in American Graffiti

& Spiderman & Spiderman 2