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7 films you didn't know Jack Black was in

By Marc Chacksfield

14 August 2013

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)