It might come as a surprise that not all celebrities become famous when they’re still bright-eyed and fresh-faced. Believe it or not, many of Hollywood’s most iconic stars spend years, and sometimes even decades, searching for their big break. Some work odd jobs as they hone their craft, while others make their living in completely different careers before finding success in the cutthroat market. From doctors who traded medicine for comedy to Broadway performers who finally got their first major opportunity in film, these stars prove that perseverance, talent, and timing matter more than age when chasing dreams.
#21 Gene Hackman At 37
Unlike other actors on this list, Gene Hackman only spent about nine years pursuing an acting career before he scored his breakout role in the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde. From then on, he starred in quite a few blockbuster movies like The French Connection and Unforgiven, earning two Academy Awards for his performances.
4points
#22 Viola Davis At 46
Chances are, most people associate Viola Davis with her unforgettable performance as Annalise Keating in the hit TV series How to Get Away with Murder. Surprisingly, that wasn’t when she rose to fame. Davis actually began receiving attention in her late 40s after her Oscar nomination for her role in the 2011 period drama The Help.
3points
#23 Bradley Cooper At 36
Despite appearing in several small roles in TV shows like Sex and the City since 1999, Bradley Cooper only really broke into Hollywood in 2009. He skyrocketed to stardom after starring in The Hangover, one of the most successful R-rated comedies ever, and became a top-tier actor in Hollywood soon after that.
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3points
#24 Burt Reynolds At 36
Remembered as one of Hollywood’s greatest legends, Burt Reynolds began his iconic career in the late ‘50s but didn’t land his breakout role until 1972, when he starred in the film Deliverance. At the time, he was already well into his 30s and had been in the industry for over two decades.
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3points
#25 Kathy Bates At 42
With a career spanning over five decades, Kathy Bates has starred in her fair share of films, TV shows, and even Broadway productions since 1971. Despite this, her career-defining moment came many years later when she played Annie Wilkes in the 1990 film Misery, earning her an Academy Award for Best Actress.
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3points
#26 Betty White At 51
It’s impossible to mention Betty White without picturing her iconic role in The Golden Girls. Believe it or not, she had been acting since the 1940s but only gained recognition after appearing on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1973. Before her passing in 2021, she had earned seven Emmy Awards, three SAG Awards, a Grammy Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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3points
#27 James Gandolfini At 38
You probably can’t think of the Mafia without picturing James Gandolfini, and that’s because his breakout performance as crime boss Tony on The Sopranos left such a lasting impact. Before his untimely passing in 2013, he had earned 19 awards, including three Emmy Awards, five SAG Awards, one Golden Globe Award, and many others.
3points
#28 Jon Hamm At 36
Jon Hamm is best known for his breakthrough role in the drama series Mad Men, which aired in 2007 when he was 36. Despite a disappointing start to his career in the late 90s, he pushed on. In a 2009 interview with The Times UK, he said, “So I gave myself five years. I said, if I can't get it going by the time I'm 30, I'm in the wrong place. And as soon as I said that, it's like I started working right away.”
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2points
#29 Ricky Gervais At 40
When picturing Ricky Gervais, it’s hard to imagine him as anything other than a comedian, but surprisingly, he started out as a pop star in the 1980s. Eventually turning to comedy in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, he co-created, co-wrote, and starred in the British television sitcom The Office, which skyrocketed him to fame. Gervais’s success doesn’t end there; he also produced and appeared in the record-breaking American rendition of The Office.
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2points
#30 Kim Cattrall At 42
Kim Cattrall’s performance as Samantha Jones on HBO's Sex and the City pretty much launched her into the spotlight in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. What many probably aren’t aware of is that she took on the part when she was 42, which was over 20 years after her acting debut.
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2points
#31 Christoph Waltz At 53
You might be surprised to learn that, although playing Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds was Christoph Waltz’s breakout performance, it wasn’t his acting debut. Interestingly, at the time he scored the memorable part, he already had a solid acting career in Germany spanning over twenty years.
1point
#32 Rainn Wilson At 39
After his film debut in 1999, Rainn Wilson starred in other small roles in several movies and TV shows. However, it was only when he played the eccentric Dwight Schrute on the sitcom The Office that people took notice of his outstanding acting performance and star quality.
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1point
#33 Naomi Watts At 33
First finding success on Australian TV in the late ‘80s and early '90s, Naomi Watts headed to Hollywood in the 2000s, where she initially struggled to find her footing as an actress. It wasn’t until 2001 that she finally snagged her breakthrough role in the mystery film Mulholland Drive.
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1point
#34 Larry David At 42
Larry David began his TV career in the early ‘80s, first starring in ABC’s Fridays, then briefly writing for Saturday Night Live. He didn’t really take off until the late 1980s when he co-created the hit sitcom Seinfeld with fellow comedian, actor, and producer Jerry Seinfeld. After this, David created the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, which became another popular series.
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-2points