People love to say, “You gotta start somewhere.” This is because few people are just magically handed opportunities. You have to work your way up. The same principle can be found in Hollywood.
Now that we are in the golden age of streaming, television is more respected than ever. Back in the day, there was more of a distinction between movie stars and television stars. The 10 actors on this list managed to blur the lines even more. They made the jump from television to movie stars and we love them for that.
Ryan Gosling
Before he was just Ken, Ryan honed his singing and dancing skills as a member of the 1990s reboot of The Mickey Mouse Club. This was a preview of things to come. He wasn't the only famous face in the club. He shared the stage with Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and Keri Russell.
Halle Berry
These days she is known as Academy Award winner Halle Berry but in 1989 she was a cast member of the short-lived ABC sitcom Living Dolls. It was a spin off of Who’s the Boss? Halle played Emily Franklin. Critics disliked the series and said that Halle was underutilized.
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Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington was a complete unknown when he started on the medical drama St. Elsewhere. The show told the story of an underfunded teaching hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He played Dr. Phillip Chandler, who started out as a resident but eventually gave up medicine altogether.
Sally Field
Before Sally Field realized people really liked her when accepting her Academy Award for her work in Norma Rae, she worked in many 1960s sitcoms. One of these was Gidget. She played the title character, who was a teenager who loved surfing and boys.
George Clooney
Much like Denzel, George Clooney got his start in procedural medical dramas. He starred as the cocky Dr. Doug Ross on ER in the 1990s. The show ran for an impressive 15 seasons, with George appearing in the first five.
Amy Adams
Amy Adams is best known for her roles as Giselle in Enchanted and conwoman Sydney Prosser in American Hustle. The woman has range. She got her first couple of credits in television. She played Katie on The Office. She was Jim’s ex, so really audiences have her to thank for Jim and Pam. Her character paved the way for their relationship to even be possible.
Idris Elba
Before he was part of the Marvel universe as Heimdall, Idris Elba was part of two popular television series. He played Stringer Bell on the hit HBO series The Wire. He was the title character on the BBC One series Luther. Next up, this Golden Globe winner is going to direct a short film he wrote called Dust to Dreams.
Constance Wu
Constance Wu’s breakout role was as ambitious mom Jessica Huang on the hit sitcom Fresh Off the Boat. She was hilarious as she pushed her family to succeed, whether they wanted to or not. This role led to film roles such as Rachel Chu in Crazy Rich Asians and Destiny in Hustlers. She got back to family friendly entertainment with Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile in 2022.
Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks is an American treasure with a love for old typewriters. Before he was on the big screen, he graced television audiences with his talents. His breakout role was on ABC's short lived sitcom Bosom Buddies. Although the show was canceled after just two seasons, critics loved it and doors were opened for Tom. Ian Praiser, a producer on the show, knew Tom would go on to big things. "I thought, 'Too bad he won't be in television for long.' I knew he'd be a movie star in two years," he recalled to Rolling Stone.
Zendaya
It's hard to believe that Zendaya got her start as a Disney Channel star but it's the truth. She appeared as background dancer Rocky Blue on Shake it Up from 2010 to 2013. She also appeared as spy K.C. Cooper on K.C. Undercover from 2015 to 2018. These roles would open the door for her feature film debut in 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming. She met Tom Holland on set and sparks flew.
