Before they were collecting golden statues and fronting perfume ads with faraway gazes, some of Hollywood’s biggest names were busy running from chainsaws, demons, trolls, and, in one case, a homicidal leprechaun with a rhyming problem. No, horror wasn’t always their first role (calm down, IMDb detectives), but it was part of their early career DNA—a spooky stepping stone between the acting classes and the talk show circuits. These scream-filled, blood-splattered gigs didn’t just pay the bills—they launched careers, forged cult classics, and left behind a trail of VHS tapes we still can’t quite believe exist. So grab some popcorn (and maybe a crucifix), because we’re digging up the early horror movie appearances of famous actors in horror movies—before the Botox, before the blockbusters, and definitely before the budget.
Kevin Bacon in Friday the 13th (1980)
Long before he danced his way into our hearts in Footloose, Kevin Bacon found himself in a less rhythmic situation at Camp Crystal Lake. Portraying Jack, a camp counselor whose idea of a good time involved premarital activities and ignoring local legends, Bacon’s character met a particularly penetrating end. While relaxing post-coitus, Jack receives an unwelcome neck massage from below the bed—courtesy of an arrow. It’s a scene that truly sticks with you.
Jennifer Aniston in Leprechaun (1993)
Before she became everyone’s favorite friend, Jennifer Aniston starred as Tory Redding, a fashion-forward teen who battles a gold-obsessed, rhyming leprechaun with a penchant for murder. Armed with early ’90s skepticism and a pair of LA Gear sneakers, Aniston’s character learns that when it comes to homicidal leprechauns, it’s not about the pot of gold—it’s about survival.
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Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween (1978)
Dubbed the original “Scream Queen,” Jamie Lee Curtis made her film debut as Laurie Strode, the babysitter with a sixth sense for masked killers lurking in the shadows. With a knitting needle and remarkable lung capacity, Laurie set the gold standard for final girls everywhere, proving that sometimes, the best cardio is running for your life.
Jason Alexander and Holly Hunter in The Burning (1981)
Before he was master of his domain, Jason Alexander played Dave, a summer camp counselor with a full head of hair and a knack for wisecracks. Meanwhile, Holly Hunter made her blink-and-you’ll-miss-it debut as Sophie, proving that even Oscar winners have to start somewhere—sometimes in the woods, running from a shears-wielding maniac.
Marisa Tomei in The Toxic Avenger (1984)
Marisa Tomei’s uncredited role as “Health Club Girl” in this cult classic is brief but memorable. She graces the screen just long enough to witness the janitor-turned-mutant-superhero mop up crime in the most gruesome ways imaginable. It’s a far cry from her Oscar-winning performances, but hey, everyone starts somewhere—even if it’s in a tutu-wearing monster movie.
Jennifer Connelly in Phenomena (1985)
At 15, Jennifer Connelly starred as Jennifer Corvino, a sleepwalking teen who communicates with insects to solve murders at a Swiss boarding school. Yes, you read that right. Directed by Dario Argento, this film is a bizarre blend of beauty and bugs, with Connelly proving that entomology can be a girl’s best friend when facing off against serial killers.
Bill Paxton in Mortuary (1983)
Bill Paxton took on the role of Paul Andrews, a mortician’s son with a few screws loose and a penchant for ritualistic murder. Sporting a sinister grin and an unsettling obsession with embalming, Paxton’s character adds a whole new meaning to the phrase “family business.” It’s a performance that foreshadows his future as one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors.
Johnny Depp in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
In his film debut, Johnny Depp played Glen Lantz, the boyfriend who couldn’t stay awake. Despite his crop-top fashion choices, Glen’s inability to heed warnings about the dangers of sleep leads to one of the most memorable death scenes in horror history—a blood geyser that redecorates his bedroom in shades of crimson. Sweet dreams, indeed.
Justin Long in Jeepers Creepers (2001)
Justin Long portrayed Darry Jenner, a college student whose road trip takes a detour into terror when he encounters a flesh-eating creature with a love for vintage trucks and human organs. Despite his best efforts, Darry learns the hard way that curiosity killed the cat—and the college kid.
Leonardo DiCaprio in Critters 3 (1992)
Before he was king of the world, Leonardo DiCaprio played Josh, a teenage boy battling carnivorous furballs in an urban apartment complex. It’s a humble beginning for the future Oscar winner, proving that even A-listers have to start with B-movies.
John Travolta in Carrie (1976)
John Travolta took on the role of Billy Nolan, the bad-boy boyfriend who helps orchestrate a cruel prank that leads to prom night pandemonium. With a bucket of pig’s blood and a devil-may-care attitude, Billy’s antics set the stage for one of horror’s most iconic climaxes.
George Clooney in Return to Horror High (1987)
George Clooney appeared as Oliver, an actor portraying a cop in a film within a film. His character’s aspirations for stardom are cut short—literally—proving that not even future “Sexiest Man Alive” titles can protect you from a slasher’s blade.
Tom Hanks in He Knows You’re Alone (1980)
Before he was befriending volleyballs and commanding toy soldiers, Tom Hanks popped up in this slasher flick as Elliot, a psychology student who delivers the film’s only intellectual dialogue. He talks about why people love fear, right before disappearing from the plot faster than you can say “Oscar bait.” It’s his first film role, and he survives—because even in horror, nobody wants to see Tom Hanks die. It’s basically illegal.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Troll (1986)
In this peculiar fantasy-horror hybrid, Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Jeanette Cooper, a happy tenant who gets transformed into a leafy woodland nymph by a troll who really needs a new hobby. Wearing a fern bikini and frolicking through a magically infected apartment complex, Julia gives us proto-Elaine energy with a dash of chlorophyll. Fun fact: the main character’s name is Harry Potter—which aged suspiciously well.
Ted Danson in Creepshow (1982)
Long before he was cracking wise at Cheers or managing the afterlife, Ted Danson was neck-deep—literally—in this Stephen King/George Romero horror anthology. In the segment “Something to Tide You Over,” he plays Harry, a cheating lover who gets buried up to his head on the beach by a maniac with a camcorder fetish. He later returns as a soggy, seaweed-covered corpse seeking revenge. Talk about saltwater karma.
Hilary Swank in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Oscar wins? Sure. But first: Hilary Swank as Kimberly Hannah, a high school cheerleader more interested in lip gloss than fanged ghouls. She gives peak ‘90s valley girl vibes while wandering around the fringes of vampire carnage. It’s the kind of role where you survive not because you’re smart, but because the vampires are probably bored of your dialogue.
Stephen Dorff in The Gate (1987)
Stephen Dorff’s big screen debut came with a shovel and a backyard gateway to hell. As Glen, he opens a demon portal because… rock music and geode science, obviously. He battles rubbery goblin-things with a model rocket and a whole lot of childlike panic. It’s essentially a sleepover that escalates into an exorcism. Who knew DIY landscaping could be so metal?
Anya Taylor-Joy in The Witch (2015)
Nothing like churning butter and goat-based demonic possession to kick off a career. Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Thomasin, a Puritan teenager accused of witchcraft because—well, this was the 1600s and nobody had hobbies. Between Black Phillip whispering sweet nothings and baby-stealing forest dwellers, Anya carries the film with a haunting intensity and the best blank stare since Wednesday Addams.
Matthew McConaughey & Renée Zellweger in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994)
Before he got existential in a Lincoln commercial, Matthew McConaughey was Vilmer, a deranged tow-truck driver with a bionic leg controlled by what looks like a Frankenstein garage remote. Renée Zellweger, as Jenny, is the lone sane person trapped in a hellish prom night. Together, they make one of horror’s weirdest duos—think Leatherface meets community theater. It’s like someone dared two future Oscar winners to out-act each other in a haunted tool shed.
Adam Scott in Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)
Long before Parks and Rec, Adam Scott was channeling powdered wig energy as Jacques, a 17th-century French nobleman dabbling in Cenobite summoning. He betrays his master, gets immortal powers, and promptly loses all fashion sense. The film jumps through centuries like a horror-themed history class taught by Pinhead. It’s a cinematic fever dream—plus lace collars.
Brad Pitt in Cutting Class (1989)
Brad Pitt’s first major role? A moody high school jock named Dwight who may or may not be a killer—or worse, a mathlete. The movie tries really hard to be suspenseful, but let’s be honest: nobody’s watching for the plot. They’re watching to see young Brad Pitt swing a baseball bat and run down hallways looking confused. Which, to be fair, he does very well.
Drew Barrymore in Altered States (1980)
At the age of five, Drew Barrymore popped into the psychedelic nightmare that is Altered States as Margaret Jessup, the daughter of a scientist who thinks turning into primordial goo is science. Her role is tiny, but hey—it technically makes her a horror alum before kindergarten. It’s less of a part and more of a cameo by the universe saying, “Hey, remember this kid. She’ll scream later.”
Breckin Meyer in Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)
Breckin Meyer plays Spencer, a pot-smoking teen whose death scene involves Freddy Krueger turning his stoner fantasy into a demonic video game. Spencer gets literally bounced off the walls as Freddy mashes buttons like a caffeine-addled teenager on a Game Boy. It’s ridiculous, it’s loud, and it’s peak ‘90s—basically the horror movie equivalent of a Mountain Dew commercial.
What did we learn from all this cinematic grave-digging? That horror isn’t just a genre—it’s a Hollywood rite of passage. For every prestige drama and A-list rom-com, there’s an early-career jump scare, a regrettable haircut, and at least one scene where someone dies horribly in a basement.
These actors may have left the haunted houses behind, but their early roles still lurk in the shadows—waiting patiently on streaming platforms, convention panels, and the occasional awkward press interview.
So next time you’re watching a horror flick and thinking, “Wait, is that…?”—yes. Yes, it is. Because before they were stars, they were screamers. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Discover 12 deleted horror movie scenes that never made it to theaters. From alternate endings to shocking moments too disturbing for release, these cuts will change the way you see your favorite horror films.
