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Top 10 Music Video Cameos by Movie and TV Stars Before They Were Famous

It stands to reason that several big-name film directors, such as David Fincher, Spike Jonze and Gus Van Sant cut their teeth making music videos. What may be less evident is that plenty of small- and big-screen actors started out their careers in videos, too. Whether affording a brief cameo or a full-on starring role, music videos have become a great way for struggling actors to become recognizable faces. In that vein, here are the top 10 music videos featuring movie and TV stars before they were famous.
10
Everclear, 'One Hit Wonder'
Featuring Christina Hendricks
The actress better known as Joan Holloway from 'Mad Men' may have starred in Broken Bells' recent video for 'The Ghost Inside,' but that wasn't her first music
video experience. Back in 1999, she was the lead character in this Everclear's 'One Hit Wonder' video -- a title that, fortunately, one can't apply to Hendricks.

09
Janet Jackson, 'Love Will Never Do (Without You)'
Featuring Djimon Hounsou and Antonio Sabato Jr.
Before appearing in this 1991 video, Djimon Hounsou and Antonio Sabato Jr. were just a couple of underwear models trying to make it in the world. But writhing shirtless against a flowing white background and canoodling with Ms. Jackson on the beach were their springboards to success, vaulting Sabato to soap opera fame on 'General Hospital' and Hounsou to a film career highlighted by a pair of Oscar nominations.

08
Paula Abdul, 'Rush, Rush'
Featuring Keanu Reeves
The year was 1991, and Keanu Reeves was best known for his roles in cult hits
like 'River's Edge' and 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.' But he was yet to find superstardom, as he would with roles in 'Speed' and, of course, 'The Matrix' trilogy. Seeing his "not a boy, not yet a man" goofy charm captured so perfectly, it's hard
not to let out a Neo-esque "whoa!"

07
Beck, 'Sexx Laws'
Featuring Jack Black
Jack Black hasn't changed much over the years, but before his breakout supporting role in the music-geek opus 'High Fidelity' he was grabbing bit parts in TV series and movies wherever he could. The 1999 video for 'Sexx Laws' is abstract and absurd, in typical Beck fashion -- the image of a fridge doing unspeakable things to an oven says it all -- but it fits Black's silly, hyperactive personality like a glove.

06
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 'Into the Great Wide Open'
Featuring Johnny Depp
Just saying 'Johnny Depp' can weaken knees these days. The actor made a name for himself with quirky parts in films like 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,' 'Donnie Brasco' and just about everything directed by Tim Burton -- not to mention the blockbuster 'Pirates of the Caribbean' series. But in 1991, he had just starred in Burton's 'Edward Scissorhands' after a run on TV's '21 Jump Street' and was nowhere near the megastar he is today.

05
Alanis Morissette, 'Walk Away'
Featuring Matt LeBlanc
In 1991, it might have been hard to believe that Alanis Morissette and Matt LeBlanc would respectively go on to record a massive hit record and a star in one of the most beloved television series of all time. LeBlanc was a busy if unremarkable TV actor at the time, but if you watch the video closely -- and you can stop giggling at Alanis' '90s dance moves long enough -- you can almost hear him thinking, "Hey, how you doin'?"

04
Aerosmith, 'Cryin''
Featuring Alicia Silverstone and Josh Holloway
The video was the first of three to feature Alicia Silverstone, who was only 17 when it was released in 1993, and led directly to her breakthrough role as Cher in 'Clueless.' But perhaps more surprising is the appearance of a young Josh Holloway, better known as James 'Sawyer' Ford on TV's 'Lost.' In fact, his role as a wily purse snatcher in the video seemingly foreshadows the shady character that would make him famous eight years later.

03
Annie Lennox, 'Walking on Broken Glass'
Featuring Hugh Laurie
It's tough to recognize him in full period attire, but that's definitely the future star of 'House' under that powdered wig. Hugh Laurie was most well-known for his roles
in Rowan Atkinson's 'Blackadder' series at the time, but this appearance opposite Lennox and John Malkovitch, shot in 1992, is a treasure any 'House' fan can appreciate.

02
The Rolling Stones, 'Anybody Seen My Baby?'
Featuring Angelina Jolie
It's hard to believe there was a time when most people didn't know the name 'Angelina Jolie.' But before she was the 'Mrs.' in 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith,' before she
was Lara Croft in 'Tomb Raider' and before she won an Oscar for her role in 'Girl, Interrupted,' the Rolling Stones cast her as the object of Mick Jagger's desire in
their 1997 video for 'Anybody Seen My Baby?'

01
Bruce Springsteen, 'Dancing in the Dark'
Featuring Courteney Cox
Perhaps the most famous "before they were famous" appearance, the future star of 'Friends,' the 'Scream' movies and 'Cougar Town' was pulled onstage by the Boss in 1984 to show future generations how hilarious '80s dance steps were. If you ever wondered where Carlton from 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' got his signature move, this video just might have been his inspiration.

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42 Comments

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illarion

täitsa vaadatavad videod.

March 19 2011 at 12:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Carla

Can't believe Bruce Sprinsteen's "Dancing In the Dark " was almost 30 years ago . Damn time flies .

August 05 2010 at 3:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tomubsaf

Lots of oldsters on these music videos, LOL. Christopher@protectionstuff.com

August 05 2010 at 3:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ed Hill

Since when is Cox famous ? Let alone before, famous is MM, Rita Hayward, Madonna Streep, she not famous !! What is she famous for, 4 oscars, or charity donations?

August 05 2010 at 7:27 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JEB BUCKINGHAM

I heard a rumor that the girl with the blonde hair next to Courtney Cox in the "Dancin In The Dark" video was Lisa Kudrow. Does anybody know if this is true or not?

August 05 2010 at 1:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
eezeetiger

What about Barack Obama in "whoomph there it is" video of the 90's?

July 31 2010 at 3:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
carosd

Laurie appeared in the music videos for the 1986 single "Experiment IV" by Kate Bush and the 1992 single "Walking on Broken Glass" by Annie Lennox, in full Regency-period costume as Prince George from Blackadder the Third, opposite John Malkovich, similarly reprising his role of the Vicomte Valmont from Dangerous Liaisons. (c) Wikipedia

Just because Americans hadn't heard of him does not mean he wasn't famous. He's just not, umm, American.

July 27 2010 at 6:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
NAIKELE

You forgot Jean Reno in a Texas video (I see trought) and Alan Rickman doing the tango in another Texas video (In demand)

July 26 2010 at 5:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jan

What about Wesley Snipes in "Bad" (1987) by Michael Jackson? That was really way before he became famous. Johnny Depp was 7 years in the business when he did that Tom Petty video.

July 26 2010 at 6:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
james

this is incorrect about Hugh Laurie, he was famous in lots of countries before this clip in a touch of fry and laurie with stephen fry and hugh laurie

July 26 2010 at 5:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply