Many of the celebrities of tomorrow could be hiding somewhere among the game show contestants of today. Yes, believe it or not, a large number of Hollywood’s A-listers got their starts not on sitcoms or scripted reality series, but on popular game shows.
From six-foot-tall heartthrobs (Jon Hamm, Tom Selleck) to chart-topping musicians (Joey Fatone, Lady Gaga) to deep-V-necked game show hosts (Simon Cowell), the game shows of yore have proven a veritable breeding ground for A-list talent. In other words, if you’re a casting director, get thee to a game show set, stat. Don’t believe us? Here, you’ll find 20 celebs who catapulted their careers off the backs of good-hearted competition. And for more wild Tinseltown trivia, check out these 20 Celeb Friendships You Never Could’ve Predicted.
1 Jon Hamm was on The Big Date.
Before we knew him as Don Draper, Jon Hamm was just another guy looking for his happily ever after. In 1995, the Mad Men star appeared on The Big Date—though he’s hardly recognizable with his long hair and questionable clothing choices. During a visit to The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Hamm shared a laugh about his prior game show appearance, saying: “I was all of 24 years old and making some questionable decisions in my life, as you could see.”
2 Arnold Schwarzenegger was on The Dating Game.
Tinseltown is lacking in the love department, apparently. Though when Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared on The Dating Game in 1973, he was hardly the A-lister he is today, having only starred in Hercules in New York at the time. And for more fun Hollywood fun facts, don’t miss the 30 Hilariously Bad Celebrity-Endorsed Products.
3 Vanna White was on The Price is Right.
Today, Vanna White is best known as the well-dressed dame turning letters on Wheel of Fortune. But in 1980, the game show gal was better known as a young and eager contestant on The Price is Right. White even came prepared with a custom T-shirt, which host Bob Barker appreciated immensely.
4 Steve Martin was on The Gong Show.
Rewatch old episodes of Chuck Barris‘ The Gong Show, and you might just come across an episode starring Steve Martin. Way back when, Martin served as a guest panelist on an episode of the show, and he even played the banjo under such pseudonyms as “The Mad Banjo” and the “Wild Stringed Instrumentalist.” These days, Martin has embraced his inner musical talents, and has released a dozen studio albums—half of which charted at number one on the Billboard bluegrass charts. And if you think Martin’s side gig is impressive, then you won’t believe these 30 Celebrities With Amazing Hidden Talents.
5 Aaron Paul was on The Price is Right.
Perhaps one of the most famous of all the celebrity game show contestants is Aaron Paul. If you’re a fan of the Breaking Bad star, then you’ve likely watched his The Price is Right episode, in which he lights up the stage with his unadulterated enthusiasm.
