7 Movie Stars That Started on TV ...

Sadly, I forget sometimes that Sarah Jessica Parker has a movie career at all, let alone remembering her as one of the many movie stars that started on TV. Parker tends to play the lead in romantic comedies. That’s probably a role she’s used to after being in “Sex and the City” for six seasons. Even before that though, she was on TV shows such as “3-2-1 Contact” and “Square Pegs.” After those shows, she was in movies like “Footloose” and “Hocus Pocus” (which I love). Sometimes it’s easy to forget where people’s careers began, much like in this case.

I remember Jessica Alba the complete opposite way that I remember Sarah Jessica Parker. Instead of forgetting that she did movies, I forget that Jessica Alba was on TV! What’s sad is that I used to watch “Dark Angel.” I guess it didn’t leave a lasting impression. Then again, it was only on for two seasons, how much of an impression could it have left? Although she had a role in “Never Been Kissed” before getting her own series, that role probably wouldn’t have turned into that big of a career.

I love Michael Cera! I had no idea that he started out on TV until I started watching “Arrested Development” years after it had originally aired. Who wouldn’t love the adorable little Michael Cera navigating his way through his awkward adolescence with his crazy family?! Michael Cera hasn’t become a huge movie star since then, but he has quite a few hits under his belt. He’s just so darn cute and awkward!

“In West Philadelphia born and raised…” who could forget that Will Smith originally starred in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"? I wonder who would have thought that he would later be seen in movies like “The Pursuit of Happyness” or “I Am Legend,” there probably weren’t many. Smith has prided himself on keeping his career clean and getting famous without cursing or being vulgar. From what I can see, it’s worked for him ever since “The Fresh Prince,” so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Robin Williams is another one whose TV career gets forgotten a lot of the time. Robin Williams originally stared in his “Happy Days” spin-off “Mork and Mindy.” Of course talent and comedy like his couldn’t go to waste and he soon started appearing in a slew of other projects. To this day Robin Williams is considered a hilarious and talented actor, even though his career isn’t as huge as in the past. Who would have thought that Mork would become such a huge success?

Oh, George Clooney. It’s so hard to find people who don’t love Mr. Clooney, isn’t it? No matter what your opinion of him is, it’s hard to deny that he has had quite the career. He got his first big role starring in “E.R.,” which is what many people know him to be originally from. Don't forget about precursors "The Facts of Life" and "Roseanne," though. After that he continued to do more TV work until he eventually made the crossover and did movies such as “From Dusk ‘Til Dawn” and “Batman and Robin.” Interestingly enough though, his career didn’t take off until the 2000s; I wonder what took so long.

I’ve never seen “Bosom Buddies,” but it is on my list of TV shows to check out. If it helped to launch the career of Tom Hanks, it must be worth watching! After doing “Bosom Buddies,” Hanks went on to appear in a couple of other shows before starring in movies such as “Splash” and “The Money Pit.” He has quite a few hits under his belt, including so many movies that I love. Who could forget him in “Cast Away"?!

I love when I’m watching TV and I see somebody who is famous now, but was just getting started then, because it’s always a nice surprise. I’m sure there are even some actors that you didn’t know crossed over! Do you have any favorites? What other actors can you think of that made the switch?