Believe that the mysterious face in the background of an old film was just background? Think again. Some of Hollywood’s most legendary stars once stood silently on the sidelines, biding their time. From bit roles to Oscar wins, these legends demonstrate that even legends begin small—sometimes tiny small. Here are 10 of the most unexpected stars who began their careers as extras:
10. Jane Wyman
Before she was an award-winning actress and Hollywood powerhouse, Jane Wyman was another hopeful passing through chorus lines and small background roles. She made her first appearance in a 1936 western, and a decade later, she was one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood. By the ’80s, she was ruling primetime with nine seasons on Falcon Crest. From background dancer to TV royalty—that’s a glow-up.
9. Randolph Scott
Scott almost took a path following his father in textiles, but destiny had different plans. A family connection landed him a background role, and before long, he was a routine extra for Central Casting in such films as Half Marriage. All the years of small, forgettable roles eventually paid dividends when Paramount noticed him. He became a Western fixture, showing that even a “background cowboy” can become a “leading cowboy.”
8. Louise Beavers
Beavers was singing and performing in amateur theater before she began as an extra. She worked behind the scenes for years, paying her dues, before her breakthrough in the acclaimed role of Imitation of Life. With more than 150 screen credits, she would later star in the TV series Beulah. She transitioned from an invisible ensemble player to one of the most highly regarded actresses of her time.
7. Joel McCrea
High school Joel McCrea wrangled horses and performed stunt work just to be hired on the set. After signing up with Central Casting in 1927, he began working in silent films as a face in the crowd. Ten years later, he was topping stars of Sullivan’s Travels and Foreign Correspondent. In the 1940s, McCrea was a box-office attraction—no longer the man in the background, but the cowboy in the foreground.
6. Sally Eilers
Eilers’s tale is one of Hollywood coincidence. She was working background jobs when Mack Sennett happened to see her during lunch in the studio cafeteria and offered her a role. That lunch hour transformed her life. Shortly, she was acting alongside legends like Will Rogers and Spencer Tracy, and she became one of the busiest actresses of the ’30s.
5. David Niven
Niven’s path to fame was far from easy. From fluctuating between the military, ill-fated business ventures, and even a period in Mexico cleaning firearms, he went to Hollywood. Central Casting dismissed him at first, but after finally getting on their books, he worked in uncredited parts for years. Skip ahead: he was the debonair lead of The Pink Panther and received an Oscar for Separate Tables.
4. Hattie McDaniel
Before becoming the first Black thespian to receive an Academy Award, McDaniel was a singer and vaudeville performer. She went on to make more than 300 background appearances before finally breaking through with Gone with the Wind. Her tenacity and enthusiasm for merely showing up on set opened doors for her historic moment—and a Hollywood legacy that would endure.
3. Gary Cooper
Cooper spent his early years riding horses and filling out crowd scenes in silent westerns. After concluding stunt work was too risky, he turned to acting more seriously and earned roles through Central Casting. Within five years, he was fronting movies such as The Virginian. Cooper went on to win two Oscars, leaving behind a career that set the strong, silent Hollywood hero standard.
2. Jean Harlow
Stardom sometimes catches you when you’re not even seeking it out. Harlow was merely driving a friend to auditions when she was spotted by talent scouts. She auditioned at Central Casting on a whim and started appearing as a background. A few years later, she was a box-office smash due to Hell’s Angels and Red Dust. From “friend of a friend” to international icon—Hollywood does not get more by accident than that.
1. John Wayne
John Wayne’s life is a Hollywood legend. When his football career was cut short by injury, he started work as a prop boy and bit player. He was among thousands of extras in the background of Noah’s Ark before gradually climbing the ranks. His initial starring role tanked, but Stagecoach in 1939 was the payoff for hard work. The rest is history: more than 140 films and a reputation as the definitive movie cowboy.
Every one of these stars started off unnoticed, blending into the background. But through persistence, timing, or pure luck, they made the leap from extra to icon. So next time you’re watching a crowd scene, keep an eye out—you never know if one of those faces is destined for Hollywood greatness.