Long before they were household names, these stars took their chances on TV game shows like everyone else. These 30 famous faces, from Joyce Brothers to Aaron Paul, competed for prizes, cash and dates before Hollywood came calling.
Joyce Brothers – The $64,000 Question
In 1955, psychologist Joyce Brothers won the top prize on "The $64,000 Question" by answering questions about boxing. The win made her a national name, and she went on to a long career as TV's best-known advice expert.
Barbara Feldon – The $64,000 Question
Barbara Feldon won the grand prize on "The $64,000 Question" in 1957, choosing William Shakespeare as her category. Eight years later, she became famous as Agent 99 on "Get Smart."
Phyllis Diller – You Bet Your Life
Phyllis Diller's first national TV appearance was as a contestant on Groucho Marx's quiz show "You Bet Your Life" in 1958. She became one of the first female comics to become a household name in America.
William Peter Blatty – You Bet Your Life
In 1961, writer William Peter Blatty won $10,000 on "You Bet Your Life," enough to quit his day job and write full time. A decade later, he wrote the bestselling novel "The Exorcist."
Tom Selleck – The Dating Game
Tom Selleck's first TV appearance came as a college senior on "The Dating Game" in 1965, and he returned for another episode in 1967. He was not picked either time, but he later won over viewers as the star of "Magnum, P.I."
Burt Reynolds – The Dating Game
Burt Reynolds appeared on "The Dating Game" during its early years, before he became one of Hollywood's biggest box office stars in the 1970s. He later co-produced his own game show, "Win, Lose or Draw."
Jo Anne Worley – The Dating Game
Jo Anne Worley was a contestant on "The Dating Game" in 1967. The next year, she joined the cast of "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," where her booming laugh made her a star.
Steve Martin – The Dating Game
While he was in college, Steve Martin appeared on "The Dating Game" in 1968 and won a date with Deana Martin, Dean Martin's daughter. Within a decade, his stand-up act with a banjo, seen here, was filling theaters.
Michael Richards – The Dating Game
Michael Richards was a contestant on "The Dating Game" in 1968 but was not chosen for a date. Years later, he became famous as Kramer on "Seinfeld" and won three Emmys for the role.
Lindsay Wagner – The Dating Game
Early in her career, Lindsay Wagner worked as a model and was a contestant on "The Dating Game." She went on to star as Jaime Sommers in "The Bionic Woman" and won an Emmy for the role.
Farrah Fawcett – The Dating Game
Farrah Fawcett appeared on "The Dating Game" during her early days in Hollywood. A few years later, she became a pop culture sensation on "Charlie's Angels" and with her famous swimsuit poster.
John Ritter – The Dating Game
John Ritter was one of the up-and-comers who appeared as a bachelor on "The Dating Game." He found fame as Jack Tripper on "Three's Company," which premiered in 1977.
Suzanne Somers – The Dating Game
Suzanne Somers appeared on "The Dating Game" and also worked as a prize model on a San Francisco game show called "Anniversary Game." She became a star as Chrissy Snow on "Three's Company."
Arnold Schwarzenegger – The Dating Game
In 1973, Arnold Schwarzenegger was a champion bodybuilder with only one film credit when he appeared on "The Dating Game." About a decade later, "The Terminator" made him a movie star.
Cheryl Lynn – The Gong Show
Cheryl Lynn sang a ballad on "The Gong Show" in 1976, and the performance helped land her a record deal. Her 1978 debut single, "Got to Be Real," became a disco favorite.
Mare Winningham – The Gong Show
Mare Winningham got her big break singing the Beatles song "Here, There and Everywhere" on "The Gong Show" in the late 1970s. She went on to an Emmy-winning acting career and starred in "St. Elmo's Fire" (1985).
Andy Kaufman – The Dating Game
Andy Kaufman appeared on "The Dating Game" in 1978 as his character Foreign Man and cried when the bachelorette picked someone else. That same character became Latka Gravas on the sitcom "Taxi."
Paul Reubens – The Gong Show
Beginning in 1977, Paul Reubens made 14 guest appearances on "The Gong Show," and in 1979 he brought his new character Pee-wee Herman to "The Dating Game." Pee-wee soon had his own movie and TV show.
Phil Hartman – The Dating Game
Phil Hartman's first TV appearance was on "The Dating Game" in the late 1970s, and he won. He later became a star on "Saturday Night Live" and "NewsRadio."
Kirstie Alley – Match Game
In 1979, Kirstie Alley won both of her games as a contestant on "Match Game" and took home thousands of dollars. In 1987, she joined "Cheers" as Rebecca Howe.
David Graf – The $20,000 Pyramid
David Graf's first TV appearance was as a contestant on "The $20,000 Pyramid" in December 1979, teamed with actress Patty Duke. He became best known as Tackleberry in the "Police Academy" movies.
Cynthia Nixon – To Tell the Truth
Cynthia Nixon was 8 years old when she first appeared on TV as an impostor on "To Tell the Truth," where her mother worked. She grew up to win Emmy and Tony awards and to play Miranda Hobbes on HBO.
Vanna White – The Price Is Right
Vanna White was a 23-year-old contestant on "The Price Is Right" on June 20, 1980, and she did not win. Two years later, she became the co-host of "Wheel of Fortune," a job she has held for decades.
Paul Walker – I'm Telling!
In 1988, a young Paul Walker and his sister Ashlie were contestants on the children's game show "I'm Telling!" He later became a movie star in the "Fast & Furious" series.
Simon Cowell – Sale of the Century
Before he became famous as the blunt judge on "American Idol," Simon Cowell was a contestant on the British quiz show "Sale of the Century" in 1990.
AJ McLean – Nickelodeon Guts
In 1992, AJ McLean was a contestant on the kids' sports game show "Nickelodeon Guts." A year later, he joined the Backstreet Boys, who became one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.
Joey Fatone – Nick Arcade
Joey Fatone appeared as a contestant on the children's game show "Nick Arcade" before he became famous with *NSYNC. He later hosted game shows of his own, including "Common Knowledge."
Linda Cardellini – The Price Is Right
Linda Cardellini was a contestant on "The Price Is Right" in 1994 and won a fireplace. A few years later, she starred in the cult TV series "Freaks and Geeks."
Jon Hamm – The Big Date
In 1996, a young Jon Hamm competed on "The Big Date," a dating game show, and was not chosen. More than a decade later, he became famous as the star of "Mad Men."
Aaron Paul – The Price Is Right
Soon after moving to Los Angeles, Aaron Paul appeared on "The Price Is Right" in an episode that aired on January 3, 2000. He made it to the Showcase but overbid, and he later won three Emmys for "Breaking Bad."
