Where Are They Now: TV Stars Who Now Have Big-Screen Paychecks
DONT DELETE NEW GALLER BELOW vv PLEASE
Will Smith
Blake Lively
Tom Hanks
Jennifer Aniston
Tina Fey
Jim Carrey
Will-Ferrell-shutterstock_252180622
Tim-Allen-shutterstock_98138477
George Clooney
Leonardo DiCaprio
Robin-Williams-shutterstock_210732022
Matthew-Perry-shutterstock_136604558
Chris Pratt
Ashton-Kutcher-shutterstock_425921059
Ryan Reynolds
Mila Kunis
Neil-Patrick-Harris-shutterstock_328248293
Joseph-Gordon-Levitt-shutterstock_446833513
Sarah-Michelle-Gellar-shutterstock_181487414
Jason Bateman
Michelle Williams
Katie Holmes
Seth Rogen
Jessica Alba
Jennifer Garner
Hillary-Duff-shutterstock_75073639
Johnny Depp
Michael Cera
Jennifer Lopez
Olivia Wilde
Steve Carell
Bryan Cranston
Jason Segel
James Franco
Michael J. Fox
Adam Sandler
Molly Ringwald
Bruce Willis
Shailene Woodley
Bill-Murray-shutterstock_291103331
Steve Martin
Jessica Biel
Helen Hunt
Clint Eastwood
Courtney-Cox-shutterstock_83255041
Kristen Wiig
Maya Rudolph
Ryan Gosling
Emma-Roberts-shutterstock_390253459
Andy-Samberg-shutterstock_244710796
Although the road to Hollywood superstardom can be a little different for every actor, television proved to be the launch pad to the big screen for these 50 stars.
Tom Hanks, Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney and many more A-listers are among those who appeared as TV newcomers before they became red carpet regulars and some of the top-grossing actors working today.
Will Smith
TV series: “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”
One of the richest action stars of all time, Will Smith first rose to fame on the popular television series “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” which spanned six seasons from 1990 to 1996. The actor made his film debut in the 1992 drama “Where the Day Takes You,” but his career really kicked into high gear with a series of popular films, including “Bad Boys,” “Independence Day” and “Men in Black.” The latter two earned worldwide revenues of $817.4 million and $589.3 million, respectively.
The Hollywood veteran, whose net worth totals $260 million, recently starred in the Netflix original “Bright.” Next up, he will reprise his role as Detective Mike Lowrey in “Bad Boys for Life” and “Bad Boys 4.”
Blake Lively
TV series: “Gossip Girl”
Blake Lively launched her acting career in 1998 when she played Trixie the Tooth Fairy in “Sandman,” a movie directed by her father, Ernie Lively. Her big break came in 2005 when she landed the co-starring role of Bridget in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.”
Two years later, Lively nabbed her most well-known role in the CW’s “Gossip Girl,” where she ended up banking $60,000 per episode as Serena van der Woodsen. The star’s net worth is estimated to be $16 million. She starred in “The Shallows” in 2016 and is set to appear on the big screen in Liane Moriarty’s “The Husband’s Secret,” though the date has not yet been announced.
In 2012, she married the star of “Deadpool,” Ryan Reynolds. The couple has two children.
Tom Hanks
TV series: “Bosom Buddies”
Tom Hanks launched his acting career on the sitcom “Bosom Buddies” before he became a household name. The show lasted two seasons from 1980 to 1982.
The actor transitioned to the silver screen with some minor roles before receiving major recognition for his role in the hit movie “Big” in 1988. With box office hit after hit, he made a name for himself by starring in flicks like “Sleepless in Seattle,” “Apollo 13,” “Saving Private Ryan” and “Cast Away.”
Hanks became only the second actor in history to win back-to-back Academy Awards for best actor for “Philadelphia” in 1993 and for “Forrest Gump” in 1994. More recently, the Oscar winner has appeared in “The Circle” and “The Post.” Next up, he’s set to appear in “Greyhound” and “BIOS,” and he’ll also lend his voice to “Toy Story 4.” His net worth is $350 million.
Jennifer Aniston
TV series: “Friends”
Jennifer Aniston nabbed the role of a lifetime in 1994, starring as Rachel Green in the long-running sitcom “Friends.” The actress’ character even inspired the “Rachel” haircut that was a fad in the mid- to late-’90s. Aniston was nominated for four Emmys in the early 2000s — winning one — and won a Golden Globe in 2003 for her work on the show.
Aniston and her female co-stars, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow, each earned $1 million per episode during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, making them the highest-paid TV actresses at that time. And, the “Friends” cast still reportedly earns royalties for their reruns.
Aniston later landed lead roles in several movies, including “Bruce Almighty,” “Along Came Polly,” “The Break-Up” and “The Good Girl.” The leading lady, whose net worth is estimated at $220 million, is next set to appear in “Dumplin'” and a currently untitled project with writer and director Sophie Goodhart.
Tina Fey
TV series: “Saturday Night Live,” “30 Rock”
Tina Fey launched her career on “Saturday Night Live,” where she wrote and performed comedy sketches from 1997 through 2018. She went on to star in the critically acclaimed NBC comedy series “30 Rock” from 2006 to 2013, raking in $500,000 per episode.
Fey later wrote and starred in a series of popular big-screen comedies including “Mean Girls,” “Baby Mama,” “Date Night” and “Admission.” Most recently, she created and wrote all episodes of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and she’s the executive producer on “Great News.” The actress’ net worth is estimated at $65 million.
Jim Carrey
TV series: “In Living Color”
Jim Carrey’s first taste of stardom came in 1990 on the Wayans brothers’ sketch comedy show “In Living Color,” where he was best-known for his role as Fire Marshall Bill.
The actor made his film debut in “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” in 1994, following up with starring roles in “The Mask” and “Dumb and Dumber” — both made big splashes at the box office. He earned $20 million for his 1996 release, “The Cable Guy,” which was the highest salary among comedic actors at that time.
Carrey later continued his reign as the king of comedy with a series of hit movies, including “Me, Myself and Irene,” “Bruce Almighty” and “Yes Man.” The actor, whose net worth is $150 million, recently appeared in “The Bad Batch” and “Dark Crimes,” as well as reprising his role as Lloyd Christmas in “Dumb and Dumber To.” Although no immediate major film projects are in the works, Carrey has taken on the role of executive producer on the 2018 television series “Kidding.”
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Will Ferrell
TV series: “Saturday Night Live”
Will Ferrell launched his career on “Saturday Night Live” in 1995. He later transitioned to the big screen, stealing the spotlight in movies such as “Old School,” “Zoolander” and “Elf.”
The actor later nabbed Golden Globe nominations for his performances in the movies “The Producers” and “Stranger Than Fiction.” He is next set to appear in “Zeroville” and “Holmes and Watson.”
Ferrell has a net worth of $100 million. And thanks to his comedy website Funny or Die, he’s considered one of today’s most successful celebrity entrepreneurs.
Taraji P. Henson
TV series: “The Division,” “Empire”
Taraji P. Henson had already made guest appearances on big television series such as “ER,” “Sister Sister” and “Smart Guy” before she landed the role as Inspector Raina Washington on “The Division” in 2002.
Shortly after “The Division” wrapped in 2004, Henson scored the role of Shug in the Academy Award-winning “Hustle & Flow.” Henson followed that performance with roles in “Something New,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” opposite Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, “Date Night,” “The Karate Kid” and “Think Like a Man.”
In 2015, Henson landed one of her most popular roles as Cookie on the hit show “Empire.” Although Henson had a lucrative career before that, “Empire” arguably made the actress a household name.
In 2016, Henson nabbed a leading role in the Oscar-nominated film “Hidden Figures,” which grossed more than $235 million at the box office. The actress is set to lend her voice to the sequel to “Wreck-It Ralph” and star in “What Men Want.” Henson is worth $16 million.
George Clooney
TV series: “ER”
George Clooney nabbed his first major television role on “The Facts of Life” in 1985, but it was the NBC drama “ER” that put him on the map. During Clooney’s rise to fame and fortune, the actor appeared in a number of films as well, including “The Thin Red Line,” “One Fine Day” and “Batman & Robin.”
One of his most popular movies was “Ocean’s Eleven,” which raked in over $450 million at the box office. Clooney followed up that performance with the film “Syriana,” for which he won an Oscar for best supporting actor.
More recently, the famed heartthrob starred in “Hail, Caesar” and “Money Monster,” and he was the director and producer of “Suburbicon.” Clooney reportedly has a net worth of $500 million.
Leonardo DiCaprio
TV series: “Growing Pains”
Leonardo DiCaprio first stole the hearts of teenage girls everywhere with his role on “Growing Pains.” Later, in 1993, he earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.”
In 1996, the actor starred in the box office hit “Romeo + Juliet,” which grossed $147.5 million worldwide. Following the success of that movie, the star nabbed the lead role in James Cameron’s “Titanic” — and struck gold.
Leo later raked in $352 million worldwide at the box office with “Catch Me If You Can” before bringing in just below $214 million for “The Aviator” and nearly $292 million for “The Departed.” His most recent films include “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “The Revenant,” for which he won an Oscar for best performance by an actor in a leading role.
His upcoming schedule includes starring roles in “Killers of the Flower Moon” and “The Black Hand.” His net worth is $245 million.
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Halle Berry
TV series: “Living Dolls,” “Knots Landing”
A former Miss USA beauty pageant contestant, Halle Berry appeared on the show “Living Dolls” in 1989. Shortly after the show ended, Berry landed roles on the television series “Knots Landing” and the mini-series “Queen.”
But it seems that Berry was meant to be on the big screen. Throughout the ’90s and into the early ’00s, the actress scored leading roles in films such as “The Flintstones,” “B*A*P*S,” “Father Hood,” “X-Men,” “Catwoman,” “Gothika” and “Swordfish,” among others. And although it was a television movie, “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge” that earned Berry a Daytime Emmy for her performance as Dorothy Dandridge, Berry also became the first black actress to win the Academy Award for best actress for her role in “Monster’s Ball” opposite Billy Bob Thornton.
Most recently, Berry returned back to the small screen for the short-lived TV series “The Extant” and appeared in the films “Kings” and “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” in 2017. Berry is worth $80 million.
Chris Pratt
TV series: “Everwood,” “Parks and Recreation”
Chris Pratt launched to fame after his starring roles in “Everwood” and “Parks and Recreation.” He later appeared in the films “Bride Wars,” “Jennifer’s Body,” “Moneyball” and “Zero Dark Thirty.” Pratt became a bona fide superhero thanks to “Guardians of the Galaxy” in 2014. The movie earned a whopping $773.3 million worldwide at the box office, making it one of the biggest summer blockbuster hits of all time.
More recently, the actor starred in “Passengers,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” Next up, Pratt will appear in “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.” Pratt’s net worth is said to be $40 million.
Mila Kunis
TV series: “That ’70s Show,” “Family Guy”
Mila Kunis got her start on television as Jackie Burkhart on the hit sitcom “That ’70s Show,” which ran from 1998 through 2006. The actress also continues to provide the voice of Meg Griffin on the animated series “Family Guy.”
Kunis has appeared in dozens of popular movies, including “Black Swan,” “Ted,” “Friends with Benefits” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” since her career-launching stint on television.
Most recently, the leading lady appeared in the sequel to “Bad Moms,” titled “A Bad Moms Christmas,” which brought in more than $130 million worldwide at the box office, and she’s next set to appear in “The Spy Who Dumped Me.” Her net worth is $55 million.
Michelle Williams
TV series: “Dawson’s Creek”
Michelle Williams landed the coveted role of Jen Lindley on “Dawson’s Creek” in 1998. When she made a foray into film, she earned an Oscar nomination for her role in 2005’s “Brokeback Mountain” beside Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger.
Williams received another Oscar nod for her role in 2010’s “Blue Valentine” and her third nomination for “My Week with Marilyn” in 2011. She most recently appeared in “Wonderstruck,” “The Greatest Showman” and “All the Money In the World.”
The leading lady, who has a net worth of $16 million, will next play Janis Joplin in “Janis,” as well as starring in several other films, including “I Feel Pretty” and “Venom.”
Ryan Reynolds
TV series: “Fifteen,” “Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place”
Ryan Reynolds got his TV start when he nabbed the role of Billy on the Nickelodeon show “Fifteen” in 1991 before receiving more TV fame with his role on “Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place” from 1998 to 2001. Shortly after, the actor took his skills to the big screen on the heels of his television success, starring in National Lampoon’s “Van Wilder: Party Liaison,” “Waiting…” “Just Friends” and “Definitely, Maybe.”
More recently, Reynolds, who has a net worth of $75 million, starred in the space action flick “Life” and “The Hitman’s Bodyguard.” Audiences can catch Reynolds reprising his role as Wade Wilson in the highly anticipated May 2018 release of “Deadpool 2.”
Kenan Thompson
TV series: “All That,” “Kenan & Kel”
Kenan Thompson got his first taste of fame when he appeared on Nickelodeon’s teen sketch comedy show “All That” in 1994. During that time, he also starred in his own spin-off show, “Kenan & Kel,” which lasted four seasons.
Thompson landed roles on the big screen as well, including playing the lead role in “Fat Albert,” “Barbershop 2: Back in Business,” “The Master of Disguise” and “Snakes on a Plane,” among others.
He currently is the longest-serving cast member to star on “Saturday Night Live”, a show he joined in 2008. The comedic actor is in the midst of filming a short film, “Master Maggie,” and an animated film, “Wonder Park.” Thompson is currently worth $9 million.
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Melissa McCarthy
TV series: “Gilmore Girls”
Comedic actress Melissa McCarthy arguably got her first big break as Sookie St. James in the hit show “Gilmore Girls” in 2000. The show lasted for seven seasons and became an instant fan-favorite.
After that, McCarthy scored roles on two more series: “Samantha Who?” and “Rita Rocks.” Although those series were short-lived, McCarthy began to attract big-screen roles in films like “This is 40,” “The Hangover Part III,” “The Heat,” “Identity Theft,” “Ghostbusters” and “Bridesmaids,” a film that earned McCarthy an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
In 2010, McCarthy landed her own television series, “Mike and Molly.” The popular show lasted for six seasons and helped increase the actress’ star power.
Most recently, McCarthy is starring in the newly released “Life of the Party” and is set to star in “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” and “The Happytime Murders.” McCarthy has a net worth of $60 million.
Bill Murray
TV series: “Saturday Night Live”
Bill Murray got his start on “Saturday Night Live” in 1977. The comedian’s career skyrocketed with his debut film role in the comedy “Meatballs,” followed by hilarious hits such as “Caddyshack” and “Ghostbusters,” which grossed more $295 million worldwide.
Murray continued his success with movies such as “Scrooged” and “Groundhog Day,” and he earned a Golden Globe and his first Oscar nod for 2003’s “Lost in Translation.” Murray also lent his voice to “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “The Jungle Book.”
The Hollywood veteran has a net worth of $140 million, and he also made an appearance in 2016’s “Ghostbusters” reboot. Murray recently lent his voice to the 2018 film “Isle of Dogs.” You can see him in the TV series “Extra Innings,” and the upcoming “B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations.”
Jennifer Lopez
TV series: “In Living Color”
Before Jennifer Lopez became an A-list actress, she landed a spot as a Fly Girl on the ’90s television show “In Living Color.” Later, she put her acting skills on display in 1997 when she won the title role in the biopic “Selena.”
Next, Lopez went on to appear in movies including “Anaconda,” “Out of Sight” and “The Wedding Planner.” Lopez then kicked off her musical career with her debut album “On the 6” in 1999.
More recently, the actress and singer lent her voice to the character Shira in “Ice Age: Collision Course.” See how the superstar grew her staggering net worth. She currently stars on the television show “Shades of Blue.”
Steve Martin
TV series: “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,” “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour”
Steve Martin got his start as a writer on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour” and “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.” Then the actor co-wrote and starred in the movie “The Jerk” in 1979, which grossed over $73 million at the box office.
Martin became a household name on the heels of that flick when he starred alongside Chevy Chase in “Three Amigos” and “Planes, Trains & Automobiles.”
His other box office hits include the “Father of the Bride” series, “Out-of-Towners” and “Cheaper by the Dozen,” which earned over $190 million in theaters. Next, this comedian with a net worth of $130 million is set to appear in the television movie “Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life.”
Jessica Biel
TV series: “7th Heaven”
Jessica Biel launched her television career playing Mary Camden on the WB television show “7th Heaven.” She went on to land roles in movies like “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Blade: Trinity” and “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.”
More recently, Biel appeared in the TV series “The Sinner” and had a lead role in the big-screen flick “Shock and Awe.” Biel’s net worth is reportedly $18 million.
Helen Hunt
TV series: “The Swiss Family Robinson,” “Mad About You”
Helen Hunt began her long-running acting career on “The Swiss Family Robinson,” where she played Helga Wagner for 20 episodes beginning in 1975. The actress later starred with Sarah Jessica Parker in the 1985 film “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”
But Hunt’s career really skyrocketed with her role on the popular sitcom “Mad About You,” for which she won four Emmy awards. Her success translated to the big screen as well. She earned an Oscar in 1998 for her role in “As Good As It Gets.”
More recently, the actress starred in “I Love You, Daddy” and the TV series “Shots Fired,” and she’s set to appear next in “I See You” and “Delfino’s Journey.” Hunt has a reported net worth of $55 million.
Brandy Norwood
TV series: “Moesha”
Although Brandy Norwood has had success as a singer, she also rose to fame through her acting career. She made her mark on the industry as an actress in 1996 when she scored her own television show “Moesha.” The show lasted six seasons and was one of the most beloved television series in the ’90s.
Brandy made the leap to the big screen when she was cast alongside Jennifer Love-Hewitt in “I Still Know Want You Did Last Summer” and as the voice of Leah in “Osmosis Jones.” In 1997, she landed the role opposite Whitney Houston in “Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.” Years later, Brandy scored a leading role in BET’s successful TV series “The Game.” Brandy recently made a guest appearance on the FOX show “Star” and is rumored to be in the upcoming movie “Signs of Love.”
Currently, the actress and singer is worth $14 million.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
TV series: “3rd Rock from the Sun”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt rocketed to TV stardom when he nabbed the lead role on the NBC sitcom “3rd Rock from the Sun” in 1996. His television success led to a series of big-screen roles, including “Inception” and “The Dark Knight Rises.”
Gordon-Levitt made his directorial debut with the film “Don Jon” in 2013. It brought in less than $25 million at the domestic box office. He most recently became the voice of Slowen Lo in the hit movie “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and played Iosif Baciu in the TV series “Comrade Detective.”
The “Inception” star has a net worth of $35 million and is rumored to be playing Major Lewis Merrill in “K Troop” and starring in “7500.”
Katie Holmes
TV series: “Dawson’s Creek”
Katie Holmes became our favorite girl next door, Joey Potter, on “Dawson’s Creek” in 1998. The actress then nabbed film roles in “Disturbing Behavior,” “Go,” “Teaching Mrs. Tingle,” “Batman Begins” and “Thank You for Smoking.”
More recently, Holmes — who enjoys a net worth of $25 million — had a recurring role on “Ray Donovan” in 2015. She can next be seen when she appears in the summer release of “Ocean’s 8.”
Seth Rogen
TV series: “Freaks and Geeks”
Seth Rogen launched his career playing Ken Miller on the NBC high school comedy “Freaks and Geeks.” He later took his talents to the big screen, appearing in Judd Apatow’s smash hits “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up.”
Rogen has since appeared in a number of other popular films, including “You, Me and Dupree,” “This Is the End,” “Neighbors” and “The Green Hornet.” More recently, the actor starred with James Franco in “The Disaster Artist.”
Next up, Rogen is set to star in “Zeroville,” “Like Father” and several other films. His net worth is $55 million.
Jennifer Garner
TV series: “Alias”
Jennifer Garner first struck it big with the role of CIA officer Sydney Bristow on ABC’s “Alias.” She later jumped to the big screen in “Pearl Harbor” and “Catch Me If You Can.”
Her other movie roles include “Daredevil” opposite Ben Affleck, “Mother’s Day” and “Dallas Buyers Club.” More recently, Garner appeared in “The Tribes of Palos Verdes” and “A Happening of Monumental Proportions.”
The actress — who has a net worth of $60 million — is set to star in “Peppermint.”
Steve Carell
TV series: “The Dana Carvey Show,” “The Office”
Steve Carell got his start on “The Dana Carvey Show” in 1996 before he got his big break on “The Office” playing lead character Michael Scott.
Following the show’s end in 2013, Carell had several major movie successes, including roles in “Foxcatcher” and “The Big Short.” He also lent his voice to the character of Gru in the “Despicable Me” franchise, which has raked in over $1 billion worldwide.
The actor recently starred in “Battle of the Sexes” and “Last Flag Flying,” and his next big-screen appearances will be in “Beautiful Boy” and “Backseat.” Carell has a net worth of $50 million.
Jaleel White
TV series: “Family Matters”
Jaleel White became widely known for his character Steve Urkel on the beloved ’90s sitcom “Family Matters.” For his performance as the quintessential nerd, White earned three NAACP Image Awards. The show lasted nine seasons and was White’s breakout role.
Since then White has made guest appearances on numerous television shows including “Boston Legal,” “NCIS,” “Psych,” and more recently, FX’s hit show “Atlanta.”
However, it looks like White is now making a transition to the big screen as he had a role in “The 15:17 to Paris” and is set to star in the comedy “5th of July.”
White’s net worth is $10 million.
Adam Sandler
TV series: “Saturday Night Live”
Adam Sandler first rose to fame as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” before making the jump to movies.
His hilarious performance in the 1996 movie “Happy Gilmore” added to his notoriety. Sandler gained even more popularity with his roles in “The Waterboy,” “The Wedding Singer” and “Big Daddy,” and went on to star in several romantic comedies including “50 First Dates,” “Just Go With It” and “Blended.” In April 2018, Sandler starred alongside actor and comedian Chris Rock in the Netflix original comedy “The Week Of.”
The comedian has a net worth of $400 million. His upcoming projects include lending his voice to the Dracula character in “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.”
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Shailene Woodley
TV series: “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”
Shailene Woodley made her TV debut on “The O.C.” and “Crossing Jordan.” Woodley later became nationally known as Amy Juergens in 2008’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” on ABC Family.
Her first major film role came in 2011’s “The Descendants” with George Clooney, and she received a Golden Globe nod for her performance. More recently, she nabbed the role of Beatrice “Tris” Prior in the film “Divergent”, which earned close to $300 million at the box office, and a stint in the TV series “Big Little Lies.”
Next up, the actress will appear in “Arkie” and “Adrift.” She has a net worth of $9 million.
Jason Bateman
TV series: “Little House on the Prairie,” “Silver Spoons,” “Valerie,” “Arrested Development”
Jason Bateman started his television career playing James Cooper Ingalls on “Little House on the Prairie” before continuing his TV career with roles on “Silver Spoons” and “Valerie.” He eventually nabbed his career-changing role of Michael Bluth on “Arrested Development.”
He’s taken his comedic chops to the big screen since then, starring in movies like “The Kingdom,” “Juno,” “Horrible Bosses” and “Identity Thief.” The actor appeared in several 2016 films, including “Office Christmas Party” and “Zootopia.”
Bateman’s latest film, “Game Night,” was released in February 2018, making over $115 million worldwide. The “Arrested Development” actor, whose net worth is $30 million, is currently starring in the Netflix crime drama “Ozark.”
James Franco
TV series: “Freaks and Geeks”
James Franco launched his career when he landed a role in the short-lived television sitcom “Freaks and Geeks.”
He later made a splash on the big screen playing James Dean in “James Dean,” earning a Golden Globe award for best actor in a TV miniseries or TV film. Franco received another Golden Globe nod in 2009 for his performance in the movie “Pineapple Express” and was nominated for an Oscar for his work in the film “127 Hours.”
The talented star, who has a net worth of $30 million, recently appeared in “The Disaster Artist.”
Maya Rudolph
TV series: “Saturday Night Live”
Maya Rudolph also launched her career on “Saturday Night Live,” where she was a player from 2000 through 2007. She later starred in films such as “Away We Go,” “Grown Ups” and “Bridesmaids” before nabbing the role of Ava Alexander in the NBC sitcom “Up All Night.”
More recently, the actress appeared in the TV series “Big Mouth” and played Mother Parker in “A Christmas Story Live!” Rudolph has a net worth of $10 million and is set to appear in “Wine Country” and “The Willoughbys.”
Johnny Depp
TV series: “21 Jump Street”
Johnny Depp launched his television career with a starring role on “21 Jump Street” in 1987. Then he jumped to the big screen in 1990 with the title role in “Edward Scissorhands.”
Depp appeared in the first of five “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies in 2003, playing Captain Jack Sparrow. His performance earned him a hefty paycheck as well as an Oscar nomination, which he followed up with more award-worthy performances in 2004’s “Finding Neverland” and 2007’s “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”
The actor has a net worth of $200 million and recently reprised his role of Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” as well as starring in “Murder On the Orient Express.” Depp’s next moves include starring roles in “Richard Says Goodbye” and “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.”
Courteney Cox
TV series: “Family Ties,” “Friends”
Courteney Cox got a big career boost when she joined the cast of the successful sitcom “Family Ties,” playing Michael J. Fox’s on-screen girlfriend. But Cox’s most iconic role came in 1994, when she landed the role of Monica Gellar on “Friends.”
Cox also nabbed a role in the “Scream” series, playing reporter Gale Weathers. More recently, Cox starred in the TV series “Cougar Town” and played the lead in the TV movie “Charity Case.” She also made an appearance in the big-screen flick “Mothers and Daughters.” Her net worth is $120 million.
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Jessica Alba
TV series: “Flipper,” “Dark Angel”
Jessica Alba got her start on television playing Maya Graham in “Flipper” from 1995 to 1997 before landing the lead role in the Fox action show “Dark Angel” in 2000. Since then, Alba’s big-screen resume includes movies like “Honey,” “Sin City,” “Fantastic Four” and “Good Luck Chuck.”
Outside of acting, Alba is also the co-founder of The Honest Company, which manufactures eco-friendly products. The company had an estimated value of less than $1 billion in 2017. The entrepreneur, who has a net worth of $350 million, recently returned to film in “El Camino Christmas.”
Ryan Gosling
TV series: “Mickey Mouse Club,” “Goosebumps,” “Breaker High”
Ryan Gosling got his start on the “Mickey Mouse Club” along with Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. He later appeared on “Goosebumps,” “Breaker High,” “Young Hercules” and “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” before transitioning to more mature roles in “Remember the Titans” and “Murder by Numbers.”
Gosling’s big break came with his performance in “The Notebook” in 2004. He later earned his second Golden Globe nomination for the 2010 film “Blue Valentine” before appearing in “Drive,” “The Ides of March,” “Gangster Squad,” “Crazy, Stupid, Love” and most recently, the musical film production “La La Land” and sci-fi flick “Blade Runner 2049.”
Gosling has a net worth of $60 million and will next star in the movie “First Man.”
Kristen Wiig
TV series: “Saturday Night Live”
Kristen Wiig launched her career on “Saturday Night Live,” appearing from 2005 through 2014. She later took her talents to the big screen, making a splash in movies such as “Knocked Up,” “Girl Most Likely” and “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” “Bridesmaids” earned her an Oscar nod for best original screenplay in 2012.
Wiig also lent her voice to the character of Lucy in “Despicable Me 2,” which brought in $970 million at the box office worldwide, and “Despicable Me 3,” which surpassed the $1 billion milestone.
The actress has a net worth of $20 million and is set to appear on “Where’d You Go, Bernadette.” She will also lend her voice to the animated flick “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.”
Tia and Tamera Mowry
TV series: “Sister Sister”
They might not yet be known for big-screen success, but twin sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry are making big money.
They got their big break on the hit series “Sister Sister” in 1994. Although the sisters scored guest appearances on television shows before that, they became household names shortly after their show aired.
They didn’t immediately transition to the big screen, but they began starring in several television movies together including the Disney channel’s “Twitches” and its sequel “Twitches Too.”
The sisters have also found success independently. Currently, Tamera is a co-host on the Emmy-winning pop culture talk show, “The Real,” which began airing in 2013. In 2006, her sister, Tia, scored big when she landed a leading role on BET’s “The Game,” which lasted for nine seasons.
Tia also made an appearance on the comedic series “Me, Myself and I” and is now taking on the big screen as she’s set to star in the upcoming film “Indivisible.” Tia and Tamera Mowry have a combined net worth of $8 million.
Michael Cera
TV series: “Arrested Development”
Michael Cera got his start in the role of George-Michael Bluth on the award-winning television series “Arrested Development.”
Following his TV success, Cera made a splash on the big screen in “Superbad,” “Juno,” “Paper Heart” and “This Is the End.” He also has lent his voice to several projects, including “Braceface,” “The LEGO Batman Movie” and “Blazing Samurai.”
The star is next set to appear in “Tyrel” and “Gloria.” Cera has a net worth of $20 million.
Bruce Willis
TV series: “Moonlighting”
Bruce Willis got his first big break on the TV show “Moonlighting,” co-starring with Cybill Shepherd. His role earned him an Emmy and a Golden Globe award.
Willis went on to star in five “Die Hard” movies, which earned over $1 billion worldwide. Willis, who has a net worth of $180 million, is set to appear next in “The Bombing” and “Reprisal.”
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Mario Lopez
TV series: “Saved by the Bell”
Mario Lopez rose to fame as A.C. Slater on the iconic television series “Saved by the Bell.” But unlike other young television stars, Lopez’s career didn’t stop there.
The actor starred in a string of television movies and series including “Pacific Blue,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Nip/Tuck,” “The Chica Show,” and most recently, the actor made a guest appearance on the hit show “Jane the Virgin.”
In 2007, Lopez became the co-host on the entertainment show “Extra” where he won Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Entertainment News Program. But he’s also spent some time working on movie roles in films such as “The Smurfs 2,” “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping” and “Flock of Dudes.”
Lopez is currently worth $16 million and takes home a $3.5 million annual salary.
Olivia Wilde
TV series: “The O.C.,” “House”
Olivia Wilde first made a splash playing a rebellious bartender on the Fox teen drama “The O.C.,” which she appeared on in 2004 and 2005. She then landed a major role on the Fox drama “House.”
Wilde later transitioned to the big screen, landing roles in movies such as “Alpha Dog,” “Tron: Legacy,” “Cowboys & Aliens,” “The Change-Up” and “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.” More recently, the actress starred in HBO’s short-lived original series “Vinyl.”
Wilde has a net worth of $20 million and is set to appear next in the films “A Vigilante” and “Life Itself.”
Bryan Cranston
TV series: “Malcolm in the Middle,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Breaking Bad”
Bryan Cranston got his start with a series of guest-starring roles on shows such as “CHiPs” and “Seinfeld.”
His career got a big boost when he was cast as Hal on “Malcolm in the Middle,” which ran from 2000 to 2006. His role as Hammond Druthers in “How I Met Your Mother” followed, running from 2006 through 2013. But the actor received rave reviews for his role as Walter White on the AMC show “Breaking Bad.”
Cranston has a net worth of $30 million. He recently starred in the “Last Flag Flying” and is a voice actor in “Isle of Dogs.” He’s set to star in “The One and Only Ivan” alongside Angelina Jolie and Sam Rockwell.
Jason Segel
TV series: “Freaks and Geeks,” “How I Met Your Mother”
Jason Segel started out alongside James Franco and Seth Rogen in “Freaks and Geeks,” but it wasn’t until his role as Marshall Eriksen in the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” that he became a household name.
Segel took his talents to the big screen on the heels of his television success, appearing in a series of hilarious comedies such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Sex Tape,” “Knocked Up” and “The Five-Year Engagement.” He also lent his voice to the character of Vector in “Despicable Me,” which brought in over $543 million at the box office.
Segel has a net worth of $30 million. His most recent appearance was in “The Discovery,” which he followed up in 2018 with the role of Henry in “Come Sunday.”
Michael J. Fox
TV series: “Family Ties,” “Spin City”
Michael J. Fox rose to television stardom as Alex P. Keaton on the show “Family Ties.” In the middle of its seven-year run, Fox starred as Marty McFly in the highly popular “Back to the Future.” He would later go on to star in parts two and three in 1989 and 1990 before returning to TV as Mike Flaherty on “Spin City,” which earned him an Emmy, three Golden Globes and two Screen Actors Guild awards.
The actor revealed his battle with early-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1998. In addition to acting, Fox is dedicated to finding a cure for this disease and has launched The Michael J. Fox Foundation. More recently, the Hollywood veteran, who starred on “The Good Wife,” lent his voice to “A.R.C.H.I.E. 2.” Fox has a net worth of $65 million.
Molly Ringwald
TV series: “Diff’rent Strokes,” “The Facts of Life”
Molly Ringwald launched her TV career with roles on “Diff’rent Strokes” and “The Facts of Life.” In 1984, the actress rocketed to fame with her role in the John Hughes film “Sixteen Candles.”
She went on to star in “The Breakfast Club,” “Pretty in Pink,” “The Pickup Artist” and “For Keeps?” More recently, Ringwald returned to television in the hit series “Riverdale.”
The actress has a net worth of $11 million. She’s got several upcoming films on her calendar, including “Kingfish” and “Siberia.”
Clint Eastwood
TV series: “Rawhide”
Clint Eastwood landed his first big role in the TV series “Rawhide” in 1959. The actor was then cast in his first iconic role in 1964 as Joe in “A Fistful of Dollars.” He went on to star in other westerns, including “Hang ‘Em High,” “Paint Your Wagon” and “Two Mules for Sister Sara” before taking on his most memorable role as Dirty Harry in the film of the same name.
Eastwood has amassed a net worth of $375 million — making him one of the richest directors in Hollywood. He made his directorial debut with “Play Misty for Me” and later won two Oscars for directing “Unforgiven” and “Million Dollar Baby.”
The star’s latest movie as a lead actor, “Trouble With the Curve,” was released in 2012. It earned almost $49 million worldwide at the box office. He continues work as a director and producer on movies, including “American Sniper,” “Sully” and “Indian Horse.”
Stacey Dash
TV series: “St. Elsewhere,” “TV 101,” “Clueless”
Stacey Dash is best known for her role as Dionne “Dee” Davenport in the ’90s hit movie “Clueless.” But before that, she was working in TV on shows like “St. Elsewhere” and “TV 101,” and with guest appearances on “The Cosby Show” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
After “Clueless” also became a TV show starring Dash, she made her mark on other television series including “The Game” and “Single Ladies.” Dash has continued to appear in various movies like “Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens.” In 2014, Dash decided to try her hand at cable news when she signed on to be a contributor for Fox News.
Although she might not be considered a movie star anymore, Dash is worth $8 million.
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Net worth figures are indicative of assets versus liabilities. All net worth figures are according to Celebrity Net Worth unless otherwise noted. Box office earnings are according to Box Office Mojo.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Where Are They Now: TV Stars Who Now Have Big-Screen Paychecks
