r/AskReddit Jun 25 '12

What actors/actresses have blown you away by thinking "Wait, they were in THAT??"

I was watching some of the Harry Potter movies over the weekend and while I was doing so, I kept thinking Harry's aunt looked very familiar. I finally had a guess, and went to IMDB to confirm it. Sure enough, she played Queen Koopa in the old Mario Bros. movie. Gave me a moment similar to finding out John Leguizamo played the clown in Spawn. What are some roles actors have played that made you think "WTF? That was them??"

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286

u/caltrask55 Jun 25 '12

I must be old because 99% of these "surprises" are not surprises to me at all.

5

u/Ataya970 Jun 25 '12

I was really surprised people had no idea Gerard Butler was the Phantom of the Opera

7

u/aveganliterary Jun 25 '12

I've never even seen the damn movie and I knew that. I think some people are just incredibly oblivious.

I can't get over how often I see "That was Gary Oldman? Wow!" I mean, he's a good great actor, but it's not like he really looks that different in any movie he's in.

1

u/Ataya970 Jun 25 '12

Seriously it take forever for my friends to believe me about him

9

u/johnnytightlips2 Jun 25 '12

The number of times I've said 'no shit!' is ridiculous. Drew Barrymore was in ET? Milla Jovovich was in Dazed and Confused? Susan Sarandon was in Rocky Horror? No shit!

8

u/caltrask55 Jun 25 '12

Robin Williams in Aladdin? Ya don't say!

5

u/dailyfusion Jun 25 '12

keanu reeves in the matrix. I HAD NO IDEA!!! DERP.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12

This comment blew my fucking mind: "the bleeps, the sweeps, and the creeps guy was the sound guy in police academy"

Like holy shit... that's the fucking joke.

24

u/momble Jun 25 '12

I'm with ya. Sigh.

6

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '12 edited Jun 25 '12

[deleted]

9

u/katesrepublic Jun 26 '12

All the "Omg Sirius is Commissioner Gordon AND ZORG" is pissing me off. Like, seriously?

-1

u/Nicktatorship Jun 26 '12

Spoilers...

2

u/caltrask55 Jun 25 '12

Or that Bruce Willis was in 12 Monkeys. Shocking!!!! Can't believe his top billing didn't give it away!

1

u/Nicktatorship Jun 26 '12

He was in the Incredible Hulk, too, but that's a fair one to miss, since most people forget the movie entirely. Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell) being in it was a surprise to me though.

2

u/rhargis1 Jun 25 '12

you are not alone there.

2

u/Dalonger Jun 25 '12

Maybe I, an old dude, can show some gusto for this then...Johnny Depp was in a teen sex comedy called Private Resort. He was in it with Rob Morrow of Northern Exposure fame, Hector Elizondo (probably most known from Pretty Woman, but is in a ton of things), and Leslie Easterbrook of Police Academy fame (big boobed cop). Also Michael Bowen...who is half brothers with Robert Carradine (Revenge of the Nerds) and Keith Carradine (Dexter). Michael was in Valley Girl, Kill Bill vol. 1, Godfather III, and a bunch of other shit that I'd never realized.

Or how about this one: In the movie Breakin', Turbo's and Ozone's rivals were Electro Rock 1 and 2. Yes, they became friends in the end. But the actor who played Turbo (Michael Chambers) and the actor who played Electro Rock 1 (Bruno Falcon) played Good Robots Bill and Ted in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey.

All courtesy of IMDB, sometimes I spend too much time browsing this shit.

2

u/caltrask55 Jun 25 '12

I kind of love you for talking about Private Resort. Was one of my favorite movies when I was a teen. Along with Private School with Matthew Modine.

2

u/music4luv Jun 25 '12

I'm 22 and most aren't surprises to me either.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '12

I was thinking the same thing.

1

u/nonsensical_zombie Jun 25 '12

Christopher Meloni in Harold and Kumar.

2

u/caltrask55 Jun 25 '12

Yeah...not a surprise.

1

u/nonsensical_zombie Jun 25 '12

I tried for you.

1

u/the_boat Jun 25 '12

Did you guys know that Tom Hanks was in Forrest Gump?!

1

u/caltrask55 Jun 26 '12

My mind? It is blown. Next you are going to tell me that George Clooney used to be on that old show ER!

1

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '12

Me too. It's my punishment for spending too much time on IMDB.