Most Amazing Career Transformations
Amazing Career Transformations
Her near-constant media coverage as the lone conservative 'View' co-host and her appearance at Republican rallies in the presidential election almost make you forget that Elisabeth Hasselbeck first graced our TVs and mental space as a contestant on 'Survivor: The Australian Outback.' Stretching 15 minutes of fame into a career in journalism: impressive.
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We remember Adam Sandler from his days on MTV's game Show 'Remote Control,' playing characters "Trivia Delinquent" or "Stud Boy." Then came his 'SNL' days, playing "Opera Man" and singing his famous "Chanukah Song." We weren't even surprised by his string of sophomoric but hilarious flicks - but no one saw his starring role status coming. Adam Sandler now plays leading man to actresses like Drew Barrymore, Tea Leoni, and Emily Watson. We're proud to say we knew him when.
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Mickey Rourke was a boxer, then an actor, then a boxer, then an actor - an actor who was nominated for an Academy Award for his work in 'The Wrestler.' It hasn't stopped him from climbing back into the ring to settle some old scores, of course.
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It pains us to think that the very young might grow up thinking of Ozzie Osbourne as, primarily, the star of reality shows and family variety hours. To us, Ozzie is and always will be just the Prince of Darkness.
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From 'Terminator' to Governator. Arnold Schwarzenegger is currently the Governor of the state of California, but he's more famous for his action movie acting career. Schwarzenegger began as a bodybuilder and transitioned to starring roles in the 'Terminator' series, 'Predator,' 'Red Sonja,' etc. etc. There was also a foray into comedy ('Twins,' 'Kindergarten Cop') - but that's another story.
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Straight up, now tell us: Did you ever think former Laker girl and pop songstress Paula Abdul would revamp her career the way that she did? After a string of hits in the '80s and '90s, we figured that Paula had gone the way of many of her pop peers, but we can admit when we're wrong. As the co-host of 'American Idol,' she's more famous than she was in her musical heyday. Props, Paula. Props.
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We saw Jon Stewart first on Comedy Central's 'Short Attention Span Theater,' and in various stand-up routines. Somehow, since then, Stewart has become a political satirist so well informed, quick-witted and merciless that we forget the 'Daily Show' isn't a real news program. (We're not the first to say it and we won't be the last - but we're not sure it's NOT a real new program at this point.)
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How is it POSSIBLE that Jamie Foxx, who started his career as a comedian in shows like 'In Living Color,' won an Academy Award for his pitch-perfect portrayal of musician Ray Charles in the 2004 film 'Ray?' The fact that Foxx is a classically trained musician and phenomenal actor probably has something but do with it, but wow - what a turnaround.
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Another 'In Living Color,' alum, Jim Carrey auditioned for 'SNL' and didn't make the cut. Hard to believe that struggling comedian would go on to make a successful string of slapstick comedies like 'Ace Ventura' and 'The Cable Guy.' Even so, we were not prepared for Carrey's shocking talent in dramatic roles like Joel in 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,' a part for which Carrey received a Golden Globe nomination.
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Will Smith was the 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.' It would be easy to forget that this box office wunderkind was once just a family-friendly rapper and then a sitcom star... if reruns weren't all over the TV 24/7. Still, it's hard to reconcile the two seemingly disconnected personas now that we've seen Smith air his acting chops in 'Ali,' 'I Am Legend' and 'The Pursuit of Happyness.'
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