Every actor has a "blink and you'll miss it" early role in a film you watched previously unaware.
But not many actors have as many of those as Jack Black. The School of Rock star initially broke out in High Fidelity in 2000, which meant that by the age of 31, he'd racked up a fair few performances in some major movies.
If you claim you knew about all of these, you're lying and we're sick of your lies.
Mars Attacks!
Year: 1996
Character: Billy Glenn Norris
The starry cast of Tim Burton's strange alien invasion comedy even includes totally secret stars you didn't even know about. Aside from Christina Applegate and Ray J hiding underneath the A-Listers, Jack Black crops up as the redneck soldier who gets vapourised by the invaders.
Dead Man Walking
Year: 1995
Character: Craig Poncelet
It seems as if the earlier part of Black's career was spent being typecast as a redneck as he crops up in this Oscar-winning film as one of Sean Penn's brothers. Penn's other brother is played by Jon Abrahams, of Meet the Parents and Scary Movie fame.
Demolition Man
Year: 1993
Character: Wasteland Scrap
Not recommended for heavy blinkers, this extremely brief role sees Black on henchmen duty, alongside Denis Leary's resistance leader. You'll need to watch the above clip very carefully to spot him though...
Waterworld
Year: 1995
Character: Pilot
Despite history telling you otherwise, this notorious Kevin Costner flop isn't half as bad as everyone claims. It also made a decent worldwide gross. Anyway, you're probably not aware that Black turns up as a pilot on the hunt for the good guys, right?
The Neverending Story 3
Year: 1994
Character: Slip
Despite being 25 at the time, Black played the part of high school bully Slip in this second sequel to the much-loved open-ended kids classic. He's the ringleader of a group called "The Nasties", the worst gang name ever.
The Fan
Year: 1996
Character: Broadcast Technician
In the same year in which Black finally scored a role that people might be able to remember in The Cable Guy, he also had a thankless turn in Tony Scott's stalker thriller The Fan. This was also a time when Wesley Snipes was deemed a worthy leading man.
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
Year: 1998
Character: Titus Telesco
An uncredited role here for Black, probably after he begged them to remove his name, in the unnecessary sequel to the surprise slasher hit. He plays a stoner with dreads who meets a gruesome end. Not for the squeamish, this one.
(Images: All Star, YouTube)
