#Jennifer Aniston’s Leprechaun & 5 Other Actors Who Did Horror Movies Before They Were Famous

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“#Jennifer Aniston’s Leprechaun & 5 Other Actors Who Did Horror Movies Before They Were Famous”

Horror films have always seemed to be a good starting point for actors when trying to find their big break in Hollywood. Traditionally, acting in horror films was looked down upon, particularly in the 70s and 80s by the Hollywood elite, as it was considered just one step above acting in pornography. However, as we’ve seen throughout history, the horror genre has been an important stepping stone in the careers of some of the most talented and famous actors of all time. Several actors have made it from having tiny appearances as extras in horror films all the way to winning Best Actor at the Academy Awards. Check out these six high-profile actors that got their start in horror films before getting their big breaks.

6 Jennifer Aniston – Leprechaun (1993)

Before Jennifer Aniston was making one-million dollars per episode in possibly the most successful TV show of all time, Friends, her first major feature film role was playing the lead protagonist in the 1993 film Leprechaun at just 24 years old. Leprechaun had a budget of just $1 million dollars, and followed an evil, sadistic leprechaun (Warwick Davis) as he goes on a killing rampage while searching for his pot of gold. Though the film wasn’t a huge success on arrival, it became much more popular when Aniston went on to star in Friends, inspiring many viewers to go back and rent and purchase the actress’ first feature film. Aniston would go on to win an Outstanding Actress Primetime Emmy for her role as Rachel in Friends, and have major roles in successful films like Bruce Almighty, Horrible Bosses, and We’re The Millers.

5 Jared Leto – Urban Legend (1998)

Although Jared Leto had a couple large roles in small films before his appearance in Urban Legend, his role in this 1998 slasher film showed off the ability and range that would land him in larger films throughout his career. In Urban Legend, Leto plays a college student that suspects a series of killings taking place are connected to a variety of different urban legends. He and his friend Natalie (Alicia Witt) must work together to solve the mystery before being killed themselves. Jared Leto would continue his horror appearances in American Psycho (2000), then go on to mostly act in sci-fi, drama, and thriller films. In 2014, Leto won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club.

Related: 90s Horror Movies That Don’t Get Enough Love

4 Matthew McConaughey – Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994)

In what is widely regarded as the worst in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, Matthew McConaughey suits up as a crazed serial-killing family member of the iconic Leatherface. The film was severaly panned by critics, and only made back $185K of its $600K budget. Even though The Next Generation had a limited release and mostly disliked by horror fans, the film spawned not one, but two Oscar-winning actors from its cast. McConaughey won an Oscar for Best Leading Actor for Dallas Buyer’s Club, and his Next Generation co-star Renée Zellweger would go on to win two, one in 2002 for Best Supporting Actress in Cold Mountain and again in 2020 for Best Leading Actress in Judy.

3 Johnny Depp – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Johnny Depp’s portayal of Glen Lantz in A Nightmare on Elm Street is probably the most memorable of this group. Not necessarily because of his performance in the role, but because his death scene was one of the goriest in horror movie history. In his famous death scene, Depp gets pulled down into his mattress, and a volcanic eruption of blood flows from his bed into the ceiling. Depp went on to play countless iconic characters since his first film role, like Edward Scissorhands and Jack Sparrow, but has never brought home the gold from the Oscars, though being nominated three times throughout his career.

Related: Every A Nightmare on Elm Street Film Ranked

2 George Clooney – Return to Horror High (1987)

In one of the smaller roles of this group, George Clooney took on the role of Oliver in his first feature film, Return to Horror High. In this low-budget 80s slasher, a film crew goes back to a high school where gruesome murders take place in order to film a horror movie. Clooney plays one of the leads in the film crew’s production, but unfortunately is the first to meet his demise when he quits the movie and becomes the first to be taken out by the killer. Since then, Clooney has appeared in several memorable roles, including putting on the bat suit in Batman & Robin, and killing vampires in From Dusk Til Dawn. He’s won two Academy Awards. His first, for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in Syriana (2005), and his second in 2012 as a producer for Argo.

1 Leonardo DiCaprio – Critters 3 (1991)

After auditioning more than 100 times to know avail, at just 17-years-old, Leonardo DiCaprio made his first feature film debut in Critters 3, the 1991 sequel to the popular 80s monster movies about space aliens that try to eat everything they see. DiCaprio was nominated for an Oscar just two years later at age 19 for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, and has been nominated another five times, taking home one win in 2016 for The Revenant. DiCaprio is also an environmentalist, creating the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which supports organizations and initiatives that dedicate themselves to a sustainable future for planet Earth. He most recently appeared in Netflix’s environmental satrical film, Don’t Look Up.