GUEST EDITORIAL: What These 5 Stars Did Before They Were Famous Will Amaze You

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What These 5 Stars Did Before They Were Famous Will Amaze You

by Lewis Robinson

Famous people can create a reaction in a crowd that is amazing to see. Screaming, fainting and weeping are all responses you might see in a crowd when a celebrity appears. But even the most elite stars had to start somewhere. You might be surprised at the regular jobs that some of these superstars had before they found fame.

1. Johnny Depp

It's hard to list Johnny Depp's successes as there have been so many. Handsome enough to have built a career as a typical leading man, Depp chose instead to go for avant-garde projects and has created such amazing characters as Gilbert Grape, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood and of course Jack Sparrow. Before his fame on "21 Jump Street", Johnny Depp worked as a telemarketer selling pens. Apparently, he never mastered the art of the sales call, only making a single sale, but those were probably some entertaining cold calls.

2. Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. He has played the iconic roles of Indiana Jones, Han Solo and Jack Ryan in some of the most successful film series ever made. When he first started acting, he was not happy with the roles he was being offered and so decided to teach himself carpentry skills to supplement his limited income. It was actually his carpentry that brought him to the attention of famed director and producer Steven Spielberg. The two met when Ford was working on a door at Francis Ford Coppola's home. When it came time to cast the iconic role of Han Solo, Spielberg remembered him and the rest is history.

3. Danny DeVito

One of the most successful character actors of all time, Danny DeVito came to America's notice when he played a despicable taxi dispatcher in the television series "Taxi". Since then, DeVito has gotten roles in a slew of major films like "Romancing the Stone" and "Throw Momma from the Train". This funny man had a not-so-funny job before he got famous; DeVito worked at a mortuary where he specialized in styling the hair of corpses. 

4. Sir Christopher Lee

This stone-faced British actor was really famous for a very long time. Fans older films remember him for his genre-changing portrayal of Count Dracula, his voice work in the classic animated film "The Last Unicorn" and for playing Lord Summerisle in the cult classic "The Wicker Man". Even younger generations will recognize him for his roles as Saruman in all three of the "Lord of the Rings" films and Count Dooku in "Star Wars-Attack of the Clones".

What you may not know is that Sir Lee was also a member of the British Secret Service where he decoded German ciphers during WW2 as well as taking part in multiple covert missions that he kept secret to his death. As famous as he was, his most important work with the government remains classified to this day.

5. Brad Pitt 

Before Brad Pitt become one of the most famous actors in the world, he made money by dressing up in a chicken costume and working the sidewalk to attract customers to a local restaurant. Considering the fact that this man is one of only 4 who have won the People's Sexiest Man Alive award twice, it's hard not to think that there was a better use for his talents. With a face like that, he would probably have attracted more customers with the chicken head off.

For all those regular folks out there, it's nice to know that even some of the biggest celebrities had pretty humble beginnings. Many people say that success in the acting world is only partly due to talent. Of course, good looks don't hurt, but these stars prove that it is the ability to do whatever you need to do when things are tough that is the real secret to success.