Many of the stars we know and love today had very different game plans for their career. We may feel like they’ve been around for ages, but these stars didn’t catch their big break until they were already in, or past, their 30s. Some of the stars on this list will definitely surprise you!
Alan Rickman
Fans worldwide will forever know the late Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, the tough but soft-hearted potions professor of the Harry Potter series. But many don’t realize that he got his first big role as Hans Gruber in Die Hard at the age of 42! Needless to say, he certainly left his mark before his untimely passing in 2016.
Kristen Wiig
Kristen Wiig first made us laugh when she was cast as a feature player on Saturday Night Live at 32 years old. It’s hard now to imagine the cinematic universe without her, as she’s gone on to star in films like the side-splitting Bridesmaids and Anchorman 2!
Ty Burrell
Ty Burrell had a handful of small roles in various shows before being cast as Steve in the 2004 Dawn of the Dead. But that wasn’t his big break. It was another five years before he made a name for himself as Phil Dunphy on Modern Family at the age of 41. It was worth the wait, as the show has now won 22 Emmys since it’s debut.
Melissa McCarthy
The hilarious Melissa McCarthy had just turned 30 when she was cast as returning character Sookie St. James in Gilmore Girls. Since her lead role, McCarthy has gone on to have her own primetime TV show Mike & Molly, and starred in multiple films like The Boss, Tammy, and Ghostbusters. She even co-starred with the aforementioned Kristen Wiig in the hit movie Bridesmaids.
Bryan Cranston
It’s hard to imagine Bryan Cranston hasn’t always been a star. He’s long been a beloved funny-man, with guest appearances in shows like The Simpsons, 30 Rock and How I Met Your Mother. Oh, and he was the star in a show you might know as Breaking Bad! However, he was already 44 years old when he became a household name as Hal, the father on Malcolm in the Middle. How crazy!
