Elijah Wood was in Back to the Future II. Denzel Washington was an uncredited criminal in Death Wish. Samuel L. Jackson was in Goodfellas. You may not have noticed them because they weren't famous yet. Screen Junkies brings us up to speed with this compilation of actors just getting started in film, often taking very minor roles.
One role that didn't make the cut is Liam Neeson in the underappreciated 1983 fantasy movie Krull. Neeson plays Kegan, a criminal who joins King Colwyn's quest to defeat the Slayers and liberate his planet.
The most memorable scene featuring Neeson addresses his character's multiple wives. Kegan travels widely, so he keeps wives in various areas so that there's always one handy.
-via Tastefully Offensive
Not his first role, but one my favorite early roles of Jack Black was in the movie The Jackal, where (SPOILER ALERT) his arm was blown off by Bruce Willis. I also remember Scarlett Johansson in Just Cause. I did not know her at the time but when I rewatched it about five years ago on cable, I recognize her almost instantly. It doesn't hurt that she had recently been considered the sexiest woman alive.
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Jeff Goldblum was also in Death wish as a thug. He is listed in the credits though.
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