Hollywood A-Listers Who Got Their Big Break in Horror Films

Jennifer Connelly

Before her Oscar-winning days, this model-turned-actress starred in one of Dario Argento's strangest works to date: the Italian horror film Phenomena (1985), released under the title Creepers in the U.S. Connelly plays Jennifer Corvino, a young girl who possesses the psychic ability to communicate with insects. NYT reviewer Jon Pareles said that the best acting in the film is "by an expressive, resourceful chimpanzee—definitely the year's Best Supporting Primate."

Tony Goldwyn

He's now the president on Scandal, but Tony Goldwyn once played one of Jason Voorhees's unfortunate victims in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986). Goldwyn portrayed Darren Robinson, a camp supervisor at Camp Crystal Lake who meets a gruesome end at the hands of the killer. The sixth installment in the Friday the 13th series received decent reviews compare to its other sequels.

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The More You Know

  • The filming of 'The Godfather' was disrupted by an actual Mafia member, Joe Colombo. Producer Al Ruddy met with him and reviewed the script, striking the word "Mafia" completely from the movie. Colombo and his pals also managed to elbow their way into casting and ended up as extras in the film.
  • George Lucas wanted to make a Flash Gordon movie but could not obtain the rights so instead, he created Star Wars.
  • Orson Welles directed much of Citizen Kane from a wheelchair, after injuring himself on set.
  • John Travolta would have played Maverick in Top Gun if his asking price wasn't too high.
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Post originally appeared on Upbeat News.