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Celebrities

14 Actors Who Got Their Start in TV Ads

By Linnea Zielinski
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Before they were Hollywood’s A listers landing big budget roles, these famous actors and actresses starred in old TV commercials for everything from gum to video games.

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Click through the slides to see what they looked like when they landed their TV spots.

MORE: 12 Unforgettable Kids from Famous Ads and What They Look Like Today

  1. Actors Start Tv Ads Keanu Reeves

    via YouTube; Getty Images

    Keanu Reeves (Coca-Cola)

    This Canadian feel-good ad was Keanu's very first, followed quickly by a spot for Kellogg's Corn Flakes.

  2. Actors Start Tv Ads Drew Barrymore

    via YouTube; Getty Images

    Drew Barrymore (Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough)

    This adorable cookie ad aired right around the time she landed her big break in E.T.

  3. Actors Start Tv Ads Jack Black

    via YouTube; Getty Images

    Jack Black (Atari)

    Between that face and his acting style, there's no mistaking this young actor for anyone else.

  5. Actors Start Tv Ads Jodie Foster

    via YouTube; Getty Images

    Jodie Foster (Coppertone)

    Although this shot is from a Crest ad, Foster repped the sunscreen brand at the age of 3.

  6. Actors Start Tv Ads Jason Bateman

    via YouTube; Getty Images

    Jason Bateman (Golden Grahams)

    Bateman smiled next to the cereal in this 1980 ad right before he landed his role in Little House On the Prairie.

  7. Actors Start Tv Ads Elijah Wood

    via YouTube; Getty Images

    Elijah Wood (America's Dairy Farmers)

    There's nothing like this actor telling you veggies are better with Cheddar to make you run out and buy some!

  9. Actors Start Tv Ads Kim Basinger

    via YouTube; Getty Images

    Kim Basinger (Bright Side Shampoo)

    The young beauty flipped her hair in this 1972 spot long before she starred in L.A. Confidential.

  10. Actors Start Tv Ads Paul Rudd

    via YouTube; Getty Images

    Paul Rudd (Super Nintendo)

    Has he even aged from this super cheesy ad for the gaming system from back in 1991?

  11. Actors Start Tv Ads Lindsay Wagner

    via ; Getty Images

    Lindsay Wagner (Twice as Nice Shampoo)

    Long before she filmed The Bionic Woman, Wagner almost ditched a date in this 1967 ad because of unruly hair.

  13. Actors Start Tv Ads Leonardo Dicaprio

    via YouTube; Getty Images

    Leonardo DiCaprio (Bubble Yum)

    All Leo needed in this late 80s ad was his Bubble Yum and boombox (and later in his ad career, Kraft Singles).

  14. Actors Start Tv Ads Matt Leblanc

    via YouTube; Getty Images

    Matt LeBlanc (Heinz Ketchup)

    Long before he played Joey on Friends, LeBlanc made his splash by dripping ketchup off a building.

  15. Actors Start Tv Ads Lindsay Lohan

    via YouTube; Getty Images

    Lindsay Lohan (Grape Jell-O)

    Lohan made it when she was little, but this ad for grape Jell-O (starring Bill Cosby) came before the big time.

  17. Actors Start Tv Ads Tobey Maguire

    via YouTube; Getty Images

    Tobey Maguire (Doritos and Atari)

    Though the actor talks about that first Doritos ad (shot when he was in 8th grade), we could only track down this Atari ad.

  18. Actors Start Tv Ads Sarah Michelle Gellar

    via YouTube; Getty Images

    Sarah Michelle Gellar (Burger King)

    This little cutie just couldn't get behind McDonald's way back in 1981, so she repped the competition.

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