NBCBefore Matthew McConaughey was an actor he was a reenactor.
In 1992, the Dallas Buyer Club star, portrayed Larry Dickens who was fatally shot by Edward Harold Bell—Dickens and his mother intervened and alerted authorities when they caught Bell performing lewd acts in public. One year later, the Oscar winner landed the Dazed and Confused role that made him and his catchphrase, "alright, alright, alright" famous.
Much like the 44-year-old thesp, other Hollywood heavyweights took on supporting and background parts before making their way onto the A-List.
Jared Leto and his perfect hair debuted on the early '90s sitcom Camp Wilder. Lindsay Lohan's breakout role as a child star was on The Parent Trap, but she got her initial start as a young soap opera actress. And prior to starring in a Sex Tape, Cameron Diaz starred opposite Jim Carrey in The Mask.
Find out how more celebs kicked off their careers as we check out their first steps into fame in the gallery below.