Before They Were Famous in the Nineties (and now), in the Eighties They Were..., Actors First Names Beginning with R

This is a list of actors from the little and big screen, and the small roles they had before their big break. I'm not looking for what a particular actor did outside of acting, I'm looking more for bit roles and TV commercials. I think you could just write down waiter for almost any actor if you really wanted to if that were the case.

This page currently edited by: IndyGent. Past editor: Banasy



Actors beginning with: [Index] [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z] [misc]
Rachel True
Rachel played Chris Rock's girlfriend in the movie CB4 and was in the movie "The Craft" with Neve Campbell. She was David Chapelle's girlfriend in "Half Baked"
Rachel True
She was in an episode of "The Cosby Show" as a recruit for the Spartin Soup, Co.
Rahsaan Patterson
Rahsaan acted as "The Kid" in Kids Incorporated.
Raven Symone
She played "Olivia" on "The Cosby Show" from 1989 to the end of the show's run in 1992 and also appeared in "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper".
Ray Liotta
Played the abusive ex-husband of Melanie Griffith's character in the 1985 (?) movie "Something Wild".
Regina King
Played Marla Gibb's daughter Brenda on 227 1984-1990. Then she went on to play Ice Cube's girlfiend in "Boys 'n' The Hood" 1991.
Reginald VelJohnson
Played the L.A. beat cop whom Bruce Willis contacted by radio in "Die Hard", then by phone in "Die Hard 2".
Reginald VelJohnson
Before playing Carl Winslow on the ABC/CBS serise "Family Matters" he made and appearance in a horror film called "Wolfen".
Renee Zellwegger
In "Reality Bites" she was the girl whose number Ethan Hawke throws away after sleeping with her at the begining of the movie. They kiss at the door and he leaves. She's in a robe. I don't recall her being a shop girl at any stage.
Renee Zellwegger
Was in 'Dazed and Confused' with a small role.
Renee Zellwegger
Working as a shop girl in early 90's film "Reality Bites" with Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke.
Renee Zelwegger
Was in "Texas Chainsaw Massacre The Next Generation" with Matthew McConaughey. She was also in the 90's Teen Flick "Empire Records"
Richard Gere
In 1976, Richard Gere appeared in an episode of Kojak. He was the bad guy, kidnapping Kojak's niece.
Richard Gere
Appeared in the 1980 film 'American Gigolo'.
Rikki Lake
Played the daughter in the film" Serial Mom" (alongside Matthew Lillard, who played her brother).
Rikki Lake
Played a bully on "Kate and Allie".Then she went on to play teenage dance sensation Tracey in the movie "Hairspray". Then she played a nurse on China Beach (1988-1989).
River Phoenix
He played Alex's tutor on an episode of "Family Ties."
River Phoenix
More linkage to Harrison Ford - he played Young Indy in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
River Phoenix
Played the youngest brother in the short-lived series "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers", loosely based on the musical of the same name.
River Phoenix
Played the son of Harrison Ford's character in an 80's movie named "Mosquito Coast".
Rob Lowe
Played "Soda Pop" in the Francis Coppola film "The Outsiders", Ponyboy's brother.
Robbert Wuhl
The Hollywood Knights, he was Fran Drescher's 5 second lover
Robbie Rist
Played cousin Oliver on the Brady Bunch. He also played Wizz on Kidd Video.
Robert Downey, Jr.
Who could forget him in "Weird Science" (Anthony Michael Hall, Kelly LeBrock), "The Pick Up Artist" (Molly Ringwald, Dennis Hopper, Harvey Keitel), and of course the brilliant "Less Than Zero" (Andrew McCarthy, James Spader).
Robert Englund
Robert Englund appeared in short lived TV series "V". He's better known for playing Freddy Krueger in "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and sequels.
Robert Sean Leonard
Robert Sean Leonard is the correct actor in the Dead Poet's Society. Ethan Hawke was his roommate, not Chris O'Donnell. Sean Patrick Leonard is a Chicago actor, director who works with a Chicago Theater Group.
Robert Stack
Before hosting The NBC series "Unsolved Mysteries". he appeared in the 1980 comedy film "Airplane".
Robin Williams
Played the alien Mork on the comedy tv series Mork and Mindy.
Ron Howard
Played the role of Opie on the Andy Griffith Show and the role of Richard Cunningham on Happy Days.
Rose McGowan
Rose had a one line bit as a student passing in the hall in Encino Man. Starring Sean Astin, Pauly Shore and newcomber (then) Brendan Frasier.
Rosie Perez
Rosie Perez started out as a dancer on "Soul Train" from 1985-1987. Then play a drug dealer's girlfriend on "21 Jump Street" in 1988. Then played Spike Lee's girlfriend in "Do The Right Thing in 1989.
Ryan Reynolds
Played a head villain on the Canadian sci-fi tv series called THE ODDESSEY.,
Ryan Reynolds
Was on a teen drama called "Fifteen" on Nickelodeon in the '80's.


Actors beginning with: [Index] [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z] [misc]
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