Is starring on a game show the way to get your foot into Hollywood’s door? These celebrities on game shows before they were famous certainly make us think so.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Aaron Paul
Before you saw him on Breaking Bad, Aaron was probably most famous for his over-the-top performance on The Price Is Right. If there was ever anyone more excited to meet Bob Barker, we’ve certainly never seen him.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Jon Hamm
The Big Date was a cheesy 90’s game show with one claim to fame: Jon Hamm was a contestant. Back in 1996, the Mad Men star competed for a date with a lady with a foot fetish.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Arnold Schwarzanegger
The Governator went on The Dating Game back in 1975. We’re pretty sure he’s the funniest and the muscle-iest contestant the show has ever had.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Lady GaGa
Before she was Lady GaGa, a 19-year-old Stefani played a college student on MTV’s prank show Boiling Points. And when a “waitress” brought her food back with garbage all over it, she completely lost her cool.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Joey Fatone
If there’s anything more ’90s than *NSYNC member Joey Fatone on an episode of Nickelodeon’s Nick Arcade, we don’t know what is. Long before he learned to harmonize, Joey was capturing the hearts of teenage fans everywhere by answering questions and completing virtual obstacles.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Kirstie Alley
Back in 1979, the Cheers star was just an interior designer from Kansas who managed to win $6,000 on the game show Match Game. She followed that with an appearance on Password Plus in 1980 before finally breaking into the big time.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Oscar Nunez
Oscar from The Office was on another episode of The Match before he landed the role that would make him famous. There’s no actual footage of the episode but Oscar says it doesn’t matter because he didn’t win the date anyway. We bet she’s kicking herself now…
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Pee-Wee Herman
Would you go on a date with Pee-Wee Herman? Before the debut of Pee-Wee’s playhouse — but not before he bought his iconic suit — Paul Rubens starred on a hilarious episode of The Dating Game.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Vanna White
Sometimes the best way to break into game shows is to star on another game show. Years before she became famous as the letter turner on Wheel of Fortune, Vanna White was a contestant on The Price Is Right.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Britney Spears
Britney Spears was discovered while singing her heart out on a 1992 episode of Star Search singing Love Can Build A Bridge. Britney won the first round only to be knocked out of the competition in the second round by just one quarter star.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Sally Field
Back in the ’60s, The Dating Game certainly seemed like the place for Hollywood hopefuls to be. A young Sally Field made her debut appearance in 1965 as one of the most adorable contestants in the show’s history.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Cynthia Nixon
Way before Sex and the City, second grader Cynthia Nixon’s first TV appearance was on the game show To Tell the Truth. Her mom worked on the show at the time and just knew her adorable daughter belonged on a TV screen.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Brad Garett
Back in 1984, long before he played Ray Romano’s brother on Everybody Loves Raymond, Brad Garrett was on several episodes of a show called Hot Potato. The show is long forgotten, but Brad’s performance is unforgettably hilarious.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Billy Crystal
Before Billy Crystal starred in When Harry Met Sally, he was cleaning up on the game show circuit in the ’70s and ’80s. He was on everything from The Hollywood Squares to The 20,000 Pyramid and still holds the record as the contestant to get his partner to the top of the pyramid the fastest.
Image Source: Tumblr.com
Rob Lowe
The Parks and Recreation star also cleaned up big on the The 20,000 Pyramid before he made his way to the big screen. And check out that fabulous 70’s hair.
