Match The Actor To Their First Big TV Role

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It's very rare that a film star is born through his or her first major role in the entertainment industry. Like in any other industry, performers in show business need to develop their skills, gain experience, and meet the right people before breaking through and earning high-paying, prominent jobs. It's a little different for child actors - Drew Barrymore, Anna Paquin, and Haley Joel Osment come to mind - but, for the most part, aspiring Hollywood actors need to hone their craft on lesser-known TV shows or soap operas. You could go on IMDB and enter in almost every major Hollywood star and you'll find that, at the beginning of their career, they bounced from TV series to TV series in an attempt to find steady work.

Some actors merely had guest roles for one or two episodes on multiple shows, while others were fortunate enough to tackle lead roles on popular shows before blossoming into the highly-sought-after film stars they are today. In this quiz, you'll find some of the world's best dramatic and comedic actors, all of whom cut their teeth on memorable - and sometimes not-so memorable - TV shows. And while many had multiple small-screen roles, we're looking for the one in which they first had and/or had the longest.

Question 1

Jenifer Aniston

In recent years, Jennifer Aniston has been limited to secondary roles in comedic films such as We're the Millers, Office Christmas Party, Horrible Bosses, and Wanderlust. It wasn't long ago, however, that Aniston was one of the biggest draws in Hollywood as a romantic lead in comedy films. She held lead roles in Marley & Me, The Break-Up, and Bruce Almighty, among others. She's also comfortable outside of comedy as evident by her 2015 Best Actress Golden Globe nomination. She began her acting career in 1990, but didn't earn national recognition until 1994, when she began starring in this popular sitcom.

Question 2

Shailene Woodley

There's arguably no actress more popular in the teenage drama category right now than Shailene Woodley, although that isn't to say she doesn't have range. The 25 year old co-starred with Ansel Elgort in The Fault in Our Stars, but was also in the mystery-action-science fiction films Insurgent, Allegiant, and Divergent. She also recently starred in Snowden and the HBO mini series Big Little Lies. She had a minor role in The O.C. back in 2003 when she was just 12 years old but earned her breakthrough role in this 2008 TV series as the lead character Amy Juergens.

Question 3

Michael Cera

A 29 year old native of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, Michael Cera has a natural ability to play weird, eccentric, and awkward characters; in fact, he appears so natural in doing so that it seems as though he isn't even trying. He actually had numerous acting roles prior to starring in this 2003 sitcom, but was a relative nobody when he was hired. Cera has since had lead roles in popular films such as Superbad, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Juno, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Question 4

Mila Kunis

Golden Globe-nominated actress Mila Kunis is still only 34 years old despite seemingly being around forever. If it seems as though she's younger than you imagined, that's because she actually lied about her age in auditions for the show that propelled her to prominence as an actress. Kunis was only 14 years old when she began shooting for the series, which included cast members depicting teenagers who were all at least three years older than her. The lie paid off as she is now a superstar who has appeared in films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Book of Eli, and Black Swan.

Question 5

George Clooney

A native of Lexington, Kentucky, George Clooney is a former People Magazine Sexiest Man Alive and not to mention a superbly-talented actor. He won a pair of Academy Awards throughout his 35-year career in show business, which began with a small role in the 1982 film And They're Off. Clooney had a few more small roles before appearing in one season of a popular long-running drama series in 1985. He continued to take on small roles in TV throughout the late 1980s before finally breaking through as a big-screen star in the 90s.

Question 6

Melissa McCarthy

Long before she became a popular lead in comedic films and began appearing regularly on Saturday Night Live as Sean Spicer, Melissa McCarthy developed her acting ability in shows not necessarily known for their comedic timing. Although her recent resurgence as a major comedy actor can be tied to her role as Molly Flynn in Mike & Molly, her first major acting role came in this drama series, which debuted in 2000 and lasted seven seasons. McCarthy, as Sookie St. James, appeared in 153 of 154 episodes.

Question 7

Will Smith

In West Philadelphia born a raised, on the playground is where Will Smith spent most of his days. The Grammy-winning rapper had never had an acting role in his life when he was given the lead role in a new NBC sitcom back in 1990. There was some early struggles, but he eventually became comfortable on screen and has since become one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. The Pursuit of Happyness star has twice been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Question 8

Shia LaBeouf

Shia LaBeouf is about as talented as he is crazy, and that's saying something because he has been known to orchestrate numerous publicity stunts designed to close the gap between reality and film. That said, the 31 year old Los Angeles native can certainly act. He appeared in the first Transformers film, but displayed his acting chops in more serious films such as Lawless, Fury, American Honey, and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. Despite appearing as a serious actor in those films, LaBeouf 's first major role was a comedic one in this 2000 TV series.

Question 9

Steve Carell

No, we're not looking for The Dana Carvey Show, which Steve Carell starred in back in 1996. The Saturday Night Live spin off of sorts fell flat after just one season and clearly didn't help Carell's career as a comedic actor, nor did his appearance as Yorgo Galfanikos in Over the Top the following year. It wasn't until he was hired by this show in 1999 that he truly broke through to mainstream consciousness with his deadpan and offbeat humor. He worked on the show until 2005, when he was hired to play Michael Scott in The Office and shortly after starred in films such as Evan Almighty, Dan in Real Life, and Get Smart.

Question 10

Adam Sandler

Despite being well past his prime in terms of comedic relevance, Adam Sandler remains a money-making machine for Netflix. His recent string of films for the company - Sandy Wexler, The Do-Over, The Ridiculous 6 - have been poorly-reviewed, but are somehow performing well in terms of views. You could make the argument that he hasn't made a decent movie since Anger Management in 2003. Prior to that, Sandler was one of the biggest comedic stars in Hollywood, responsible for films such as Mr. Deeds, The Waterboy, and Happy Gilmore.

Question 11

Hayden Panettiere

A 27 year old native of New York, Hayden Panettiere stars in the popular CMT drama Nashville as Juliette Barnes. Before signing on to star in the show in 2012, she enjoyed a brief run as a popular lead in teenage comedies and dramas, including films such as I Love You, Beth Cooper and The Forger. Nonetheless, her film career hasn't been as lucrative as anticipated when she first earned critical acclaim for her performance as Claire Bennett in this 2006 NBC show. A noted child actor, she actually began working when she was seven years old.

Question 12

Bill Hader

Bill Hader had appeared in a few video shorts before earning his breakthrough, but wasn't exactly someone known to producers and directors throughout Hollywood. In fact, his biggest claim to fame prior to earning his breakthrough TV job was as a member of Animals from the Future, an offbeat sketch comedy group. Known primarily for his impressions, he has since shown great range as an actor with comedic lead role in Trainwreck as well as the critically-acclaimed drama The Skeleton Twins, which co-starred Kristen Wiig.

Question 13

Michelle Williams

Ryan Gosling's co-star in the 2010 drama Blue Valentine also earned her big break on a series about high school students. The four-time Oscar-nominated actress actually had her first credited film role in Baywatch back in 1993 and later had guest spots on various TV shows, including Home Improvement, but didn't earn her first major role until 1998. She lasted five years on this show and was at one point the love interest of the title character. Her recent film credits include Manchester by the Sea, My Week with Marilyn, and Wonderstruck.

Question 14

Kristen Wiig

An Oscar-nominated writer for her work on the Bridesmaids screenplay, Kristen Wiig is equally as comfortable in front of the camera, as evidenced by her starring role in the film as well as subsequent films such as Girl Most Likely, The Skeleton Twins, and Ghostbusters. Before becoming a popular comedic actor, Wiig was a little-known actress when she joined this long-running show in 2005. Her only prior role of any relevance was as Dr. Pat the Quack on The Joe Schmo Show, a faux reality TV show.

Question 15

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Long before he was a clean-cut, attractive megastar desired by women around the globe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt was a long-haired, awkward boy who co-starred in a popular Fox sitcom for a five-season run from 1996 to 2001. Gordon-Levitt was only 15 when he began working on the show, but previously had lesser-known roles on The Powers That Be, Dark Shadows, and even Family Ties, when he was only seven years old. He has since appeared in popular films such as Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Looper, and 500 Days of Summer.

Question 16

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner had multiple roles in TV shows and small-budget films throughout the late 1990s, but it wasn't until 2001, when she was given the lead role in this TV series, that she broke through as a mainstream actress. Early in her career, she had roles in series such as Significant Others, Law & Order, Spin City, and Felicity. Following her starring role, which she held for five seasons, Garner appeared in films such as Juno, The Kingdom, Dallas Buyers Club, and Danny Collins.

Question 17

Blake Lively

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds just might be the most adored couple in Hollywood at the moment, especially since Chris Pratt and Anna Farris announced their divorce. They also happen to be superbly-talented performers. Lively, a 30 year old California native, appeared alongside Reynolds in Green Lantern and has also had major roles in films such as The Town, The Shallows, and The Age of Adaline. Although she was in 2005's Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, she is certainly best known for her role in this teenage drama series, which debuted in 2007.

Question 18

Seth Rogen

One of the content kings in Hollywood right now, Seth Rogen is responsible for producing the popular AMC series Preacher and has given the world original comedies such as Sausage Party, This is the End, and Pineapple Express. He has admitted he prefers writing and producing films rather than appearing in them, but that hasn't stopped him from co-starring in some of this era's funniest films. His first ever role was as Ken Miller in a 1999 Judd Apatow-directed comedy which has since become a cult classic.

Question 19

Jason Segel

Speaking of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, the male lead of that film, Jason Segal, also earned his first big break from a once-popular TV show, and no we're not speaking of How I Met Your Mother. That show did help Segel revitalize his career in the mid-2000s, but the California native first rose to prominence with his role as Nick Andopolis in this 1999 teenage comedy-drama series from Judd Apatow. Segal has since appeared in other Apatow films such as Knocked Up, This is 40, and The Five-Year Engagement.

Question 20

James Franco

Oscar-nominated actor James Franco is another odd and eccentric performer and it shows through his career choices. The always-busy actor has numerous projects in the works according to IMDB and, during the height of his popularity, appeared in 54 episodes of the soap opera General Hospital and starred in the poorly-rated cult classic Spring Breakers. He shows equal preference to the absurd and the serious in his career choices and, to date, has accumulated a whopping 141 acting credits, including films such as This is the End, 127 Hours, and Spider-Man.

Question 21

Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher may have become a nationwide star through his role as host of the MTV reality show, Punk'd, but he was afforded that role through his breakthrough performance on a popular Fox sitcom, which ran from 1998 to 2006. Prior to auditioning for the show, Kutcher had absolutely no acting experience, but was discovered by a local talent scout who thought he might be good for the part. His film work since includes roles in Killers, No Strings Attached, and The Guardian.

Question 22

Eddie Murphy

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Eddie Murphy might not be as active in film now as he once was, but the comedian was once one of the most profitable stars in the world. He starred in blockbuster comedy films such as Coming to America, Beverly Hills Cop, and The Nutty Professor, and remained a big-budget draw for the better part of two decades. He was just 19 years old when he made his television debut on this long-running show.

Question 23

David Spade

Although on the back-end of his career as a comedic film actor, David Spade was not only relevant, but quite popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He starred in the TV series Just Shoot Me! as well as films like Joe Dirt, Senseless, Black Sheep, and Tommy Boy. He had great on-screen chemistry with Chris Farley in the latter two films, which have since become cult classics. He developed that chemistry with Farley on this popular comedy series.

Question 24

Nathalie Emmanuel

Most of the world might know Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei in Game of Thrones. The 28 year old English actress debuted on the series in 2013 as a slave freed by Daenerys Targaryen and has since appeared in Furious 7 and the Fate of the Furious. She's also set to star in The Titan, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, and could very well become the next big Hollywood actress. However, she had a humble beginning in show business as she starred for three years as Sasha Valentine in this teenage drama.

Question 25

Margot Robbie

Best known as the dual-colored-hair, baseball-bat-waving psychopath Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, Margot Robbie has also earned acclaim for her roles in films such as The Wolf of Wall Street, Focus, and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Her rise to prominence was rather rapid after appearing in 327 episodes of this soap opera series that is popular in her native country of Australia. The show also provided big breaks to actors such as Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, and Liam Hemsworth, among others.

Question 26

Meg Ryan

Responsible for one of the more iconic scenes in film history ("I'll have what she's having") in Sleepless in Seattle, Meg Ryan has been nominated for three Golden Globes throughout her illustrious career, most of which has been spent co-starring in romantic comedies such as You've Got Mail, When Harry Met Sally, and French Kiss. She was at the height of her popularity in the 1990s, but rose to prominence in the early 80s with her performance as Betsy Stewart in this long-running soap opera.

Question 27

Julianne Moore

A native of North Carolina, Julianne Moore began her acting career in 1985 as a regular on a popular long-running series. She spent two years on the show before earning her first leading role in the TV movie Money, Power, Murder in 1989. She continued to garner small roles throughout the 1990s in films such as Psycho, Boogie Nights, and The Big Lebowski. Moore won an Oscar in 2015 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her work in Still Alice.

Question 28

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence is only 27 years old but is already the most powerful and highest-earning actress in the world. Her films, including the Hunger Games franchise, have grossed over $5.5 billion worldwide, and she is high in demand among major studios and directors. One of her first roles - and her first recurring role - was in this short-lived TBS comedy starring this Blue Collar standup comic. A year after the show was cancelled, she starred in the Oscar-nominated Winter's Bone and hasn't looked back.

Question 29

Demi Moore

Once one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, Demi Moore has appeared in films such as Ghost, G.I. Jane, A Few Good Men, and Striptease. She has been nominated for two Golden Globes and has won numerous awards from a variety of acting associations, but like everyone else in this quiz was once a little-known performer struggling to get noticed. Her career took off after she worked for two years on a long-running ABC series as Jackie Templeton. The following year, she earned a starring role in the teenage drama St. Elmo's Fire.

Question 30

Chris Hemsworth

Before he was Thor, this Australian-born actor played the role of Kim Hyde in a soap opera based in his home country. Hemsworth appeared in 189 episodes of the series before leaving for Hollywood and earning small roles in films such as Star Trek, A Perfect Getaway, and Ca$h. Since earning the title role in the 2011 film Thor, Hemsworth has revisited the role in four films and is set to do so again later this year in Thor: Ragnarok as well as in 2018's Avengers: Infinity War.

Question 31

Chevy Chase

Millennials might remember Chevy Chase as the disgruntled and often-raunchy Pierce Hawthorne in NBC's Community, but long before that he started his career in show business with another popular NBC series, which helped him rise to stardom as a comedic actor. Throughout his distinguished career, Chase, who was born in Lower Manhattan in 1943 as Cornelius Crane Chase, has starred in critically-acclaimed comedies such as Fletch, National Lampoon's Vacation, Caddyshack, and Under the Rainbow. He earned a pair of Golden Globe nominations in 1978 for his performance in Foul Play.

Question 32

Ryan Gosling

Growing up in Canada allowed Ryan Gosling the fortune of appearing in cheesy-but-memorable Canadian TV shows such as Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps. He had one-episode appearances in those shows, but in 1997 he began working for another memorable show that involved students completing their education on a boat. That role didn't lead to immediate success for Gosling, but two years later he was regularly appearing in films and is now one of the world's biggest stars.

Question 33

Leonardo DiCaprio

Although Titanic was his major breakthrough as a young Hollywood heartthrob, Leonardo DiCaprio actually began acting over a decade prior. He had small roles in TV series such as The New Lassie, The Outsiders, and Parenthood, and in 1991, seven years before the release of Titanic, was hired to work two seasons as Luke Brower on this popular sitcom, which also starred Kirk Cameron and Alan Thicke. That role led Leo to starring roles in films such as What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Basketball Diaries, and Marvin's Room, before his big breakthrough in Titanic.

Question 34

Laurence Fisburne

Best known for his role as Morpheus in The Matrix, Laurence Fishburne is an accomplished Oscar-nominated actor who has been in show business since 1973, when, at 12 years old, he starred as Joshua Hall in this long-running ABC series which was created by Agnes Nixon in 1968. A few years later, Fishburne earned his first major role in a Hollywood film when he played Tyrone Miller in Apocalypse Now. He is also known for his roles in Mystic River, Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Assault on Precinct 13.

Question 35

Morgan Freeman

Despite the fact it seems as though Morgan Freeman has been around forever (and hopefully will be), the 80 year old Oscar-winning actor had a relatively late start in show business. The star of such films as The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en, and Driving Miss Daisy had uncredited roles in the mid-1960s when he was already 30 years old, and didn't earn a prominent role until 1971, when he was hired by this live-action sketch show, which won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1973 for Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming.

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