Thread: Non-Actors Who (Attempt To) Act - TWoP Forums

A fair number of good professional actors get their start as non-actors with substantial non-entertainment The dad from Frasier was a medical-type guy (I think he wrote papers or something) before he became an actor. He was so good on Say Anything as Ione Sky's dad.

Oh yeah, Christina's impression of Samantha was spot on. I really liked her on SNL.

I completely forget this guy's name, but the younger, good-looking dark haired cast member of her show (who ended up on Wonder Woman, I think) played Spitz Lyle Waggoner

A fair number of good professional actors get their start as non-actors with substantial non-entertainment careers behind them. Couple other examples: Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Joe from "Petticoat Junction"), who worked as a dentist for many years before trying acting...Why does dentistry keep coming up here? Going back even futher, Walter Brennan became very wealthy by growing pineapples, believe it or not, and only got into...

A fair number of good professional actors get their start as non-actors with substantial non-entertainment careers behind them. Dennis Farina was a veteran Chicago cop when he was asked to be a consultant for Michael Mann's film "Thief". He also was given a small role in the film and decided on the spot that he wanted to pursue an acting career. Mann helped him along with good roles in "Miami Vice",...

I remember him on a Bob Hope special after the '72 Olympics. Since he was going back to dental school after the Games, he naturally did a sketch where he played himself as a dentist. It's still the most painful dentist scene of all time not involving Sir Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman. Speaking of water-based Olympic greats, didn't Greg Louganis try his hand at stand-up? I think there is a post - Olympics TV tour that is...

What about Sasha Cohen on CSI:NY playing--shocker!--a figure skater? She was bad and they decided the episode had to end with her stupid skating.

Bruce Jenner did a fake infomercial when Conan O'Brien came out with his 10th Anniversary and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog DVDs. I thought he was really funny and charming. The whole thing was supposed to be cheesy and over the top, though, so it's not like it required extensive acting skills. I LOVE Christina Aguilera's impression of Samantha in SNL's Sex and the City parody. I was so impressed when I first saw it.

It is always interesting when athletes try to act. My idol Reggie Jackson provided a few interesting moments in his guest appearances on TV. He played himself on Archie Bunkers Place and The Love Boat. But he did get to "act" in an episode of Diff'rent Strokes. He played a guy who Arnold enlisted to join him in some father/son competition because Arnold felt Mr. Drummond would not be up to the challenge. Reggie...

Long ago and far away, when TVs were powered by coal, Olympic swimmer Mark Spitz tried his hand at "acting". He was a hot property at the time (in every way) and (probably at the urging of his agent or handler) appeared on several shows. Olympic swimmers who have spent their entire lives training and competing aren't exactly topnotch at social skills; despite looking great, Mark could barely get his lines out and seemed...