What Are They Doing There: Volume One

Two of my favorite things about movies are when actors or actresses make a comeback (something I am sure I will get to later) or when they show up in roles that are completely unexpected.

The people on this list generally did these projects early in their careers before becoming famous but looking back it still feels strange to see them in these roles:

Jay Mohr, Jerry Maguire: This role falls closest to the actual actor with Mohr basically playing the same role from everything else he has done: the jerk. The reason I am including this here is that it's really the only big profile movie he has ever been involved with and it's amazing to see how much screen time he actually has.


Dave Chappelle, You've Got Mail: This was five years before he would become world famous for Chappelle's Show but he was still showing up in small parts in various comedies. The strange thing here is that he is actually playing a character, Tom Hank's best friend, and not just there to run off crazy one liners.

George Lopez, Bread and Roses: This is probably the least seen out of this group and that is what makes it so special. Here, Lopez is playing a completely unsympathetic character and what's more, it's in a Ken Loach film. Loach is known for making British socialist dramas and this is the one time (I can think of) that he has made a film set on American soil.


Chris Rock, Nurse Betty: Rock was already well known when he made this but like Lopez above, Rock was working with a talented writer/director (Neil Labute). Better yet, he spends the entire film acting opposite Morgan Freeman and the two of them have wonderful chemistry. Rock also has one of the most affecting death scenes from the past ten years.