Random Real Stories of How Famous Actors Were "Discovered" (15 items)

(#6) Ellen Pompeo
- Grey's Anatomy
Ellen Pompeo was working as a bartender in SoHo in New York City in the mid-1990's. A casting agent saw her and tried to offer her advice, which Pompeo mistook for flirting. But soon she was acting in commercials and landing minor television roles, including Law & Order and Friends.

Film roles followed, and Pompeo made a memorable turn as Jake Gyllenhaal's love interest in Moonlight Mile and as Luke Wilson's love interest in the hit comedy Old School. Major breakout success eluded Pompeo until 2005 when she was cast as Meredith Grey, the titular doctor in the long-running ABC drama Grey's Anatomy.
(#15) John Wayne
- Producers' Showcase, Running Hollywood, Casablanca (1955), Wide Wide World, Screen Director's Playhouse, Raquel!, Dateline: Hollywood, V.I.P. Schaukel, The American West of John Ford
John Wayne originally wanted to play sports instead of acting. He attended the University of Southern California on a football scholarship in 1925. However, an injury ended his football career and his scholarship money. Thankfully, he managed to find work as a prop boy and extra, which is how he met director John Ford.

Wayne appeared in several B-movies over the next decade. Then, in 1939, Ford cast Wayne in his breakout role as Ringo Kid in the acclaimed western Stagecoach. Wayne went on to not only become one of the most lauded actors in Hollywood history, but also a silver screen icon.
(#8) Mel Gibson
- Punishment, Complete Savages, Clubhouse, For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots, Carrier
Mel Gibson was supposedly just being a good pal by giving a friend a ride to an audition. The Australian ended up in a bar fight the night before and had bruises and cuts all over his face. His condition caught the eye of director George Miller, who thought that Gibson would be a good fit for one of the villainous background roles in his post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie Mad Max.

When Gibson returned to the set a few weeks later, Miller took one look at the bruise-free, extremely handsome Aussie, and decided to give him the lead role. At least, that's the way Gibson tells it; the director denies this account.
(#9) Harrison Ford
- Star Wars Holiday Special, The Graham Norton Show, The Making of Star Wars, Spike Guys' Choice Awards
Harrison Ford moved out to Hollywood to become an actor but quickly grew frustrated. He taught himself carpentry in order to earn a living and support his family. Ford landed a small gig in George Lucas's American Graffiti (1973). However, success did not come quickly to Ford, who still had to do carpentry to make ends meet.

Then, Lucas spotted the 35-year-old doing woodwork at a movie studio while the director was conducting auditions for his new movie Star Wars. Lucas remembered Ford from his small role in American Graffiti and asked the actor to audition for the part of Han Solo. Once Ford landed the iconic gig, he no longer had to work in carpentry.
(#12) Katherine Heigl
- Grey's Anatomy, Roswell, State of Affairs, Romy and Michele: In the Beginning, The Tempest
When Katherine Heigl was just nine years old, she reportedly posed for pictures for her aunt's hair care products. Those pictures were sent to modeling agencies, and Heigl signed with world-renowned agency Wilhelmina Models. Her signing led to a career in commercials, TV, and film. She even made the cover of Seventeen magazine in 1994.

Her breakout role on television came in 1999 with the sci-fi program Roswell, which lasted for three seasons. After appearing in several independent films, Heigl then landed the role of Dr. Izzie Stevens on the mega-hit medical drama Grey's Anatomy, which instantly made the actress a household name.
(#2) Pamela Anderson
- Home Improvement, Baywatch, Days of Our Lives, Dancing with the Stars, Stacked, V.I.P., Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding, Baywatch the Movie: Forbidden Paradise, Stripperella, E!'s Pam: Girl on the Loose!, Package Deal
Pamela Anderson worked as a fitness instructor in the late '80s. While living in British Columbia, she attended a B.C. Lions football game wearing a Labatt Blue t-shirt. Anderson was put up on the stadium's Jumbotron, and the crowd cheered so enthusiastically that the Labatt company hired the future Playboy playmate as a "Blue Zone Girl" spokesmodel.

After modeling in Playboy, Anderson began focusing on acting and received small parts on several TV shows. Her big break came as "Tool Time Girl" Lisa on Home Improvement. Then, in 1992, Anderson got the role that would define her career: blonde bombshell C.J. Parker on Baywatch.