10 Early Film Roles For Famous Actors You Totally Forgot

2. Jim Caviezel - The Rock

Jane Lynch Fugitive Glee
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

While the height of his fame was shorter-lived than Jesus, Jim Caviezel had a fairly good run in the first decade of the new millennium before settling comfortably into a lead role on the peculiar hit TV show Person of Interest.

Prior to portraying Jesus in the still controversial The Passion of the Christ, however, he toiled about in small roles in '90s films. Though the pedigree of filmmakers range from workmanlike (Gregory Hoblit in the time travel thriller Frequency) to outstanding (Terrence Mallick for The Thin Red Line), he never quite found his place in the crowded field of late '90s leading men.

He did, however, live out the dream of at least some filmgoers' dream: He got to firebomb Nicolas Cage.

Yes, that's Caviezel behind the oxygen mask who drops his payload of missiles on the island of Alcatraz at the climax of Michael Bay's directorial debut, The Rock.

Contributor
Contributor

Kenny Hedges is carbon-based. So I suppose a simple top 5 in no order will do: Halloween, Crimes and Misdemeanors, L.A. Confidential, Billy Liar, Blow Out He has his own website - thefilmreal.com - and is always looking for new writers with differing views to broaden the discussion.