12 Major Movie Stars Who Got Their Start as TV Supporting Acts

Dan Clarendon
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Emma Stone, Michael B. Jordan, and Leonardo DiCaprio
Joe Viles/20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection, NBC/Courtesy: Everett Collection, Warner Bros./Courtesy: Everett Collection

Give it up for the television industry’s casting directors: Many of them have found future A-listers to fill out the call sheets of TV shows.

The stars below, for instance, went from bolstering television casts to getting top billing on movie posters — and, in some cases, becoming even more famous than their TV shows’ leads. (But you didn’t hear us say that!)

Austin Butler as Sebastian Kydd in 'The Carrie Diaries'
Patrick Harbron/The CW Network/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Austin Butler

Long before he was an Oscar nominee for 2022’s Elvis, Butler played Sebastian Kydd, a love interest for a young Carrie Bradshaw (then played by AnnaSophia Robb), in The CW’s The Carrie Diaries.

Michael Cera as George Michael Bluth in 'Arrested Development'
Joseph Viles/20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection

Michael Cera

After getting a part as awkward teen George Michael Bluth on the Fox sitcom Arrested Development, it wasn’t long before Cera was starring in Superbad, Juno, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Bradley Cooper as Will Tippin and Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow in 'Alias'
Scott Garfield/ABC/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Bradley Cooper

This acclaimed director and actor of A Star Is Born and Maestro fame got his start as Will Tippin, best friend of spy Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), on ABC’s Alias.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Luke Brower in 'Growing Pains'
Warner Bros./Courtesy: Everett Collection

Leonardo DiCaprio

DiCaprio was still several years away from his Titanic stardom when he played once-homeless kid Luke Brower in the final season of the ABC sitcom Growing Pains.

Michael B. Jordan as Vince Howard in 'Friday Night Lights'
NBC/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Michael B. Jordan

Before starring in the Black Panther and the Creed series, Jordan played high school quarterback Vince Howard in the NBC-turned-DirecTV drama Friday Night Lights.

Jennifer Lawrence as Lauren Pearson and Graham Patrick Martin as Trent Pearson in 'The Bill Engvall Show'
Danny Feld/TBS/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Jennifer Lawrence

This Academy Award winner — known for Silver Linings Playbook and The Hunger Games — had a TV role as Lauren Pearson, Bill Engvall’s onscreen daughter, in the TBS sitcom The Bill Engvall Show.

Lucy Liu as Ling Woo in 'Ally McBeal'
Saeed Adyani/Fox/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Lucy Liu

Liu earned an Emmy nomination playing Ling Woo in the Fox comedy-drama Ally McBeal before hitting the big screen in the Charlie’s Angels and Kill Bill film series.

Chris Pratt as Bright Abbott in 'Everwood'
WB/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Chris Pratt

This Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World star’s early roles include supporting parts on The WB’s Everwood, as Bright Abbott, seen here, and Andy Dwyer on NBC’s Parks and Recreation.

Emma Stone as Violet Trimble in 'Drive'
Joe Viles/20th Century Fox Film Corp./Courtesy: Everett Collection

Emma Stone

Now an Oscar winner for La La Land and Poor Things, Stone appeared in the short-lived Fox series Drive, playing Violet Trimble, one of the competitors in an underground cross-country road race.

John Travolta as Vinnie Babarino in 'Welcome Back, Kotter'
Everett Collection

John Travolta

Years before Grease, Travolta landed a breakthrough role as Vinnie Babarino, one of the troublemaking high school students in the ABC sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter.

Denzel Washington as Dr. Phillip Chandler in 'St. Elsewhere'
NBC/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Denzel Washington

Washington got “Also Starring” status as Dr. Phillip Chandler on the NBC medical drama St. Elsewhere, which ended just before the actor’s role in Glory earned him his first Oscar.

Michelle Williams as Jen Lindley in 'Dawson's Creek'
Sony Pictures/Courtesy: Everett Collection

Michelle Williams

Speaking of Oscar darlings, Williams has racked up five nominations at that awards show — for her roles in Brokeback Mountain, The Fabelmans, and other pictures — since her days as Jen Lindley in The WB’s Dawson’s Creek.

Austin ButlerBradley CooperChris PrattDenzel WashingtonEmma StoneJennifer LawrenceJohn TravoltaLeonardo DiCaprioLucy LiuMichael B. JordanMichael CeraMichelle Williams



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    Laurel Nevans

    Didn't Michael B Jordan start his career on All My Children (replacing Chadwick Boseman)? I'd love to see y'all do a list like this for Stars Who Got Their Start on Soaps!