The stars of "Red," which hit theaters Friday, haven't always been in the spotlight... one was a mechanic, another worked at a shoe manufacturing company... and one dropped out of college!
Find out what Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren were doing before fame came calling.
'Red' Stars Before They Were Famous
After graduating high school, Bruce Willis worked at a DuPont factory.
Willis got his big break in 1985 when he landed the role of David Addison Jr. opposite Cybill Shepherd in the television series "Moonlighting."He is well known for the role of John McClane in the "Die Hard" series.Willis is also a two-time Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe Award-winning actor.
In the late 1980s Parker moved to New York to pursue acting. While waiting for her big break she worked at ECCO, a Danish shoe manufacturing and retail company, measuring feet.
Mary-Louise's breakout role came in 1991 when she was cast as Ruth in "Fried Green Tomatoes."She has received two Golden Globes and one Emmy Award.
Morgan Freeman attended Los Angeles Community College and later served as a mechanic in the US Air Force during the 1950s.
Freeman's first credited film appearance was in 1971's "Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow?," but it was his role as the chauffeur Hoke in "Driving Miss Daisy" that made him a household name.The actor has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in "Street Smart," "Driving Miss Daisy," "The Shawshank Redemption," "Invictus" and "Million Dollar Baby." He has also won a Golden Globe Award for "Driving Miss Daisy."
Malkovich attended Illinois State University and majored in theater.In 1976 he dropped out of college and joined the now legendary Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago.He decided to pack up his bags in 1982 and moved to New York where he was cast alongside Dustin Hoffman in the Broadway production of "Death of a Salesman."
John's major breakout role came in 1984 when he made his feature film debut alongside Sally Fields in "Places in the Heart."Malkovich received Academy Award nominations for his roles in "Places in the Heart" and "In the Line of Fire."
In the early 1960s, Mirren worked at the Kursaal amusement park in England, pulling in the punters and encouraging people to go on the rides.
Mirren became well-known in the UK for her role as detective Jane Tennison in the television series "Prime Suspect," but it was her Oscar-winning performance in "The Queen" that made her a household name in the US.Throughout her career, Helen Mirren has won an Academy Award, four SAG Awards, four BAFTAs, three Golden Globes, four Emmy Awards and two Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Awards.
Cox was trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and is an accomplished Shakespearean actor.
Brian's breakout role came in 1986 when he was cast as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in "Manhunter."
