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Before They Were Gleeks

12 photos
Jul 29, 2011 12:50 AM
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Dianna Agron, Glee, Heroes
1/12
Miranda Penn Turin/FOX; NBC

Dianna Agron

Before reluctantly winning America over as Quinn, Dianna went from guest spot to guest spot. Her longest stint was a couple episodes of Heroes. We so prefer her cheerleading for William McKinley High School, don't you?


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2/12
Miranda Penn Turin/FOX; Trebuchet Films

Chris Colfer

The only thing Colfer had on his resume before Glee was acting in the short film Russel Fish: The Sausage and Eggs Incident where he played "an awkward teenager." Guess practice makes perfect, since Chris is now an Emmy-nominated actor.


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3/12
Miranda Penn Turin/FOX; The CW

Cory Monteith

Before Glee, Cory has said he was "a roofer, a cab driver, a school bus driver, a Walmart people-greeter. I changed oil. I was a telemarketer." Umm, hello he left off "Gary" from his one-episode stint on Supernatural!


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4/12
Miranda Penn Turin/FOX; Broadway

Lea Michele

Is Lea not the most adorable (dirt and all) eight-year old you've ever seen? Les Misérables was Michele's first audition, and she landed the part on Broadway. Her pre-Glee connections? She did Spring Awakening with Jonathan Groff, and was roommates with Dianna and childhood friends with Jenna Ushkowitz.


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5/12
Miranda Penn Turin/FOX; HBO

Kevin McHale

Yes, there is a True Blood and Glee connection thanks to Kevin. Go back to Season One of T.B.—Kevin was a coroner that carried out Dawn's body by day and partied as a gothic fangbanger by night. Are you dying?


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6/12
Miranda Penn Turin/FOX;ABC

Jayma Mays

Before being the sweetest high school guidance counselor ev-ah, Jayma had recurring roles on Heroes (not with Ms. Agron) and Ugly Betty. Can this babe play any role that's not so damn cute?!


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7/12

Heather Morris

You didn't think Heather busted those Britney Spears moves outta nowhere, did you? Morris toured as Beyoncé's back up dancer, and was originally hired to teach Chris and Jenna the "Single Ladies" dance before auditioning and winning over Ryan Murphy for her own acting part.


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8/12
Miranda Penn Turin/FOX; The WB

Jane Lynch

Jane killed us in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Best in Show, but perhaps her most brilliant work (aside from Sue Sylvester!), was playing Pacy Witter's "overbearing and delusional" mother in Dawson's Creek. Didn't think it was possible to love this woman more.


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9/12
Miranda Penn Turin/FOX; FX

Jessalyn Gilsig

No one does conniving beyotch like Jessalyn, yet we totally heart her! Before she was lying to Mr. Schuester, Gilsig was tramping it up as Gina on Ryan Murphy's other creation, Nip/Tuck—before falling off a balcony and dying in the middle of having sex with Julian McMahon.


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10/12
Miranda Penn Turin/FOX; CBS

Matthew Morrison

Matthew may or may not be rocking Cameron Diaz's world, but before being the leader of the Glee pack, he was a semi-regular on As the World Turns. And also a "young busboy" in an episode of Sex and the City! Seems his luck certainly turned around.

 


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11/12
Miranda Penn Turin/FOX; Dimension Films

Mark Salling

Holy adorable! We feel so guilty for wanting Mark to pose for Playgirl when he looks so innocent here in Children of the Corn: The Gathering. Salling took an acting break, but still pursued his music before becoming Glee's resident bad boy.


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12/12
Miranda Penn Turin/FOX; CBS

Naya Rivera

It's hard to believe this little Cheerio can now be so disruptive and manipulative on Glee. Naya made her acting debut at the age of four in the Eddie Murphy sitcom The Royal Family.

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