Less-known people who went on to overshadow then-bigger names

its_steve116 · 13-01-2025 03:24PM #1

I recently learned that Megan Fox, all the way back in 2001, appeared as a teenager in the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen film "Holiday in the Sun" in which she played Briana Wallace, who seemed to be a spoilt department store heiress. This was some six years before she became a household name in the Transformers films. Now she's one of the most famous people in the world, while Mary-Kate and Ashley, much more well-known at the time, have become not as heard of as often as they were back then.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=mxoqBDapVeE

Can any of you think of more examples of people who were unknown at some point, worked in some way alongside a much-better known name, and then went on to be much more well-known than (or as well-known as) them?

13-01-2025 04:06PM

Looks like it could be the case for Kieran Culkin. He has serious acting chops.

Ray Palmer · 13-01-2025 04:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058388392/less-known-people-who-went-on-to-overshadow-then-bigger-names

The twins own and run a successful fashion business and produced their own movie. To say they are hasbeens and she is more successful is some stretch. No doubt then have more money and fame than she has to date

its_steve116 · 13-01-2025 04:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123051823#Comment_123051823

Megan Fox was completely unheard of in 2001; AHITS was her first role.

its_steve116 · 13-01-2025 04:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123051808#Comment_123051808

Maybe I worded it wrongly, but my point is you don't hear as much from them nowadays.

Boggles · 13-01-2025 04:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058388392/less-known-people-who-went-on-to-overshadow-then-bigger-names

Can any of you think of more examples of people who were unknown at some point, worked in some way alongside a much-better known name, and then went on to be much more well-known than them?

Probably the vast majority of all famous actors today, they all have to start somewhere.

Strange thread.

13-01-2025 05:00PM

In terms of acting, the Olsen twins are of course has-beens. And they're not their sister.

Jim Herring · 13-01-2025 05:01PM

I just watched ‘His Three Daughters’ yesterday with Elizabeth Olsen and Carrie Coon.

Oscar_Madison · 13-01-2025 05:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123051844#Comment_123051844

Nellie?

cj maxx · 13-01-2025 05:07PM

I never knew Mary-Kate and Ashley had a sister.

LambshankRedemption · 13-01-2025 05:09PM

Last I heard of Megan Fox was the Turtles movie in 2014. Then she fell out with Michael Bay and that was kind of it.

I thought this thread was going to be how Plato was really well known and then he taught Aristotle and now arguably Aristotle is more famous.

Jim Herring · 13-01-2025 05:16PM

Megan Fox is possibly better known for being partner / ex-partner of ‘Machine Gun Kelly’ rather than for her recent acting I thought?

She and Michael Bay ‘made up’ since, apparently.

She is an attractive lady. 😆

Ray Palmer · 13-01-2025 05:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123051885#Comment_123051885

They changed careers and are very successful. They aren't chasing acting fame and a has-been would suggest they are still trying to be famous for acting. Megan Fox has stayed in the public eye most lately because of her relationship although it appears she did a surprise hit in the last year

Taxburden carrier · 13-01-2025 05:28PM

Conor Sheehy and Biddy Byrne

BrianD3 · 13-01-2025 05:45PM

Every famous actor has to start somewhere, one of Brad Pitt's very early films starred Charlie Sheen and Randy Quaid. It might be more interesting if you were to include sport where unknowns or lesser knowns became direct competitors with knowns and then blew them away. E.g In darts, Phil Taylor was a relative unknown when he was mentored by Eric Bristow, the biggest name in the sport and only only 3 years older than Taylor. Taylor went on to dominate for the next 30 years, obliterating every record that Bristow ever held.

Curtis Strange was a pretty big name in golf - 2 major wins. Yet, this is one of things hes subseqently became most known for. "You'll learn". LOL

https://youtu.be/iElAEfPq56Q

csirl · 13-01-2025 05:57PM

NFL GOAT Tom Brady was Drew Bledsoe's backup as Patriots QB.....until Bledsoe had a freak medical condition. Bledsoe was one of the biggest stars in the NFL at the time and had won a Superbowl.

Before turning pro, Brady shared time with and backed up Drew Henson at Univ. of Michigan. Henson was a 2 sport star who was expected to be brilliant in the pros. He went on to play pro baseball and QB for the Dallas Cowboys. Henson was a bust in the NFL wheras Brady became the GOAT.

13-01-2025 06:36PM

Thora Birch was a young actress whose performance in American Beauty was highly acclaimed. She wasn't massively famous obviously, but the film was, and she was excellent in it. It looked like a great career beckoned. One of her subsequent films was Ghost World, with one Scarlett Johansson. Birch was the bigger name, and then...

Shame her career didn't take off.

Charlo30 · 13-01-2025 07:23PM

Where Eagles Dare. Starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood. Made around 1968. Burton at the time was one of the best known actors in the world. Eastwood, although he had success with Leone's Westerns was still in the process of establishing himself as a leading man. Burton continued his decent into alcoholism and his career started going down the tubes. And although he eventually got sober in the mid 70's. His career never recovered. Eastwood went to to become a hugely successful actor and highly respected Director.

L Grey · 13-01-2025 07:29PM

Stone Cold Steve Austin.

13-01-2025 08:41PM

Bruce Willis after being in Moonlighting with Cybill Shepherd. She was the bigger name at first, having been in the major, now culturally significant films The Last Picture Show and Taxi Driver. Bruce had just been cast in a handful of bit parts... and look how things turned out for him.

TinyMuffin · 13-01-2025 08:45PM

Megan fox, and no pictures.
# disappointed

thereiver · 13-01-2025 08:59PM

Every actor starts on in small tv roles some then go on to be film stars . Its been years since Megan fox was in a hit movie.

now she just appears in newspapers who is she dating now ,gossip columns

Triboro · 13-01-2025 09:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123052110#Comment_123052110

Also re Mr Brady. He was only the 199th pick in the NFL draft!

13-01-2025 09:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123052692#Comment_123052692

Yes but here the OP specifically asked if people can think of actors who had bit part roles with more famous people and then went on to be the more famous ones themselves.

silliussoddius · 13-01-2025 09:34PM

Colin Farrel in Killybashangel.

Jim Herring · 13-01-2025 09:49PM

Barry Keoghan in Love/Hate. Cat killing *******.

buried · 13-01-2025 09:59PM

Satan

13-01-2025 10:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123052780#Comment_123052780

Virtually every famous actor ever has started their career with small roles alongside more famous people: think of a famous actor; go to their IMDB page; go to the start of their acting credits; open the first couple of productions; find someone famous. Example: George Clooney was in a show called E/R (not that one) in 1984 with Elliott Gould

Donald Trump · 13-01-2025 10:29PM

That Gabriel Byrne fella went on to become better known that Joe Lynch (Dinny). Mad

13-01-2025 10:31PM

OP, people are just not getting the "and became more famous than their famous co actor" bit. Another AH thread with the point of the title missed.

thereiver · 13-01-2025 11:01PM

Elizabeth olsen appears in hit tv drama,s i dont think gen z know anything about her sisters .+

Less-known people who went on to overshadow then-bigger names

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