15 Weird Roles Famous Actors Played Before They Blew Up
So you mean...he wasn't always Ron Swanson?
1. Ellen Pompeo in Strangers With Candy
Debut episode: "Feather in the Storm" (Season 1, Episode 8)
Who they played: Grey's Anatomy's namesake played Lizzie Abrams, Flatpoint High debate team member and nemesis of main character Jerri Blank.
2. Leslie Odom Jr. on Gilmore Girls
Debut episode: "Bridesmaids Revisited" (Season 6, Episode 16)
Who they played: The Hamilton star played Quentin Walsh, editor of the Daily Princetonian and Rory's fellow panelist at a college journalism-focused event.
3. Chris Pratt on The O.C.
Debut episode: "The Avengers" (Season 4, Episode 1)
Who they played: The man now known as Andy Dwyer had a nine-episode ~streak~ on the teen drama as Ché, college friend of Summer and fan of going au naturel.
4. Elizabeth Banks on Sex and the City
Debut episode: "Politically Erect" (Season 2, Episode 3)
Who they played: The 30 Rock and Hunger Games actor played Catherine, a woman who encourages Charlotte to have a party specifically for the purpose of meeting "unwanted" men.
5. Kevin Hart on Undeclared
Debut episode: "Parents' Weekend" (Season 1, Episode 11)
Who they played: The comic entered Undeclared's California college campus as Luke, a devout Christian student who converts awkward protagonist Steven Karp — temporarily, at least.
6. Max Greenfield on Veronica Mars
Debut episode: "Silence of the Lamb" (Season 1, Episode 11)
Who they played: Before he became New Girl's endearingly vain roommate Schmidt, Greenfield played Leo D'Amato, deputy to Sheriff Lamb.
7. Sandra Oh on Popular
Debut episode: "Mo' Menace, Mo' Problems" (Season 1, Episode 2)
Who they played: Prior to her days playing Grey's Anatomy's Cristina Yang, Oh was a nameless but nonetheless *extremely intense* Jacqueline Kennedy High School humanities teacher.
8. Nick Offerman on Gilmore Girls
Debut episode: "The Festival of Living Art" (Season 4, Episode 7)
Who they played: Offerman wasn't always everyone's favorite meat-guzzling Pawnee libertarian; he first spent some time as Beau Belleville, brother of Dragonfly Inn produce supplier Jackson Belleville.
9. Adam Scott on Boy Meets World
Debut episode: "Band on the Run" (Season 2, Episode 8)
Who they played: The Parks and Recreation actor played Griff Hawkins, a transfer student who takes the place of Harley Keiner as head of the school bully brigade.
10. Sara Ramirez on Law & Order: SVU
Debut episode: "Baby Killer" (Season 2, Episode 5)
Who they played: The Grey's Anatomy actor played Mrs. Barrera, whose young son is suspected in the murder of a peer. In "Chameleon," the first episode of SVU's fourth season, Ramirez plays a totally different character.
11. Jessica Alba on The Secret World of Alex Mack
Debut episode: "The Accident" (Season 1, Episode 1)
Who they played: The Dark Angel and Fantastic Four star was a Paradise Valley mean girl named — wait for it — Jessica.
12. Jon Hamm on Gilmore Girls
Debut episode: "Eight O'Clock at the Oasis" (Season 3, Episode 5)
Who they played: The Mad Men actor was once Peyton Sanders, a man Lorelai meets at an auction and subsequently goes on a date with.
13. Amy Adams on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Debut episode: "Family" (Season 5, Episode 6)
Who they played: The Nocturnal Animals actor played Beth Maclay, nagging out-of-town cousin of Buffy's Tara Maclay.
14. Kal Penn on Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Debut episode: "Beer Bad" (Season 4, Episode 5)
Who they played: The House and Harold and Kumar star played Hunt — a UC Sunnydale student who, along with his comrades, gets turned into a caveman via bewitched beer. You know, obviously.
15. Lucy Liu on Beverly Hills, 90210
Debut episode: "Pass, Not Pass" (Season 2, Episode 6)
Who they played: Before she was Dr. Watson on Elementary or even Alex in Charlie's Angels, Liu stole the show on 90210 as Courtney, an overly enthusiastic waitress.