16 Celebs Who Did Cringey Commercials Before They Were Famous
These celebrities all started somewhere, and sometimes, that meant awkward commercials that now live on the internet forever.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
Before they became household names, these 16 celebrities had to endure cringey and sometimes downright embarrassing commercial gigs. From Brad Pitt in a Pringles ad to Aaron Paul losing it over Corn Pops, each commercial shows a star in the making trying their best with questionable material. These ads are a funny reminder that even the biggest names had to start small — and awkward.
1. Brad Pitt – Pringles (1989)
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Before he became Hollywood’s golden boy, Brad Pitt crunched into stardom in a Pringles commercial. The ad showed him shirtless in a van full of friends, popping chips and flashing smiles. It was more beach boy charm than Oscar-worthy performance.
2. Leonardo DiCaprio – Bubble Yum (1988)
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A young DiCaprio once chomped on Bubble Yum gum with over-the-top energy. He delivered lines with exaggerated enthusiasm, trying hard to sell a sugary snack. It was a far cry from his later, brooding roles in Titanic or The Revenant.
3. Ben Affleck – Burger King (1989)
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Ben Affleck played a charming teen in a Burger King ad, calling a girl to deliver her food personally. It was awkwardly flirty and a little stiff, with Affleck still learning how to hold the screen. Decades later, he’d trade fast food deliveries for Batman’s cape.
4. Courteney Cox – Tampax (1985)
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Courteney Cox made history as the first person to say “period” on American TV in a Tampax ad. While groundbreaking, the commercial was painfully stiff and formal. It’s jarring to watch now, knowing she’d later become Monica Geller on Friends.
5. Keanu Reeves – Coca-Cola (1983)
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Keanu Reeves played a bike-racing teenager in a Coca-Cola ad, chugging soda like it was his only fuel. He showed early glimpses of his intensity, despite the cheesy storyline. It’s bizarre seeing the future Neo give it his all over a bottle of Coke.
6. Sarah Michelle Gellar – Burger King (1981)
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At just four years old, Gellar starred in a Burger King commercial that actually got her sued by McDonald’s. The ad criticized the rival chain, and Gellar was caught in the crossfire. It was an early taste of drama before her Buffy days.
7. Bryan Cranston – Preparation H (1980s)
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Long before Breaking Bad, Cranston was soothing uncomfortable moments in a Preparation H commercial. The ad was dry and clinical, featuring him as a concerned patient. It’s almost surreal to watch Heisenberg shill for hemorrhoid cream.
8. Lindsay Lohan – Jell-O (1990s)
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A tiny, red-haired Lindsay Lohan giggled her way through a Jell-O ad, trying to out-cute the wobbly dessert. Her voice was high-pitched and her expressions exaggerated. It’s a sugary start for someone who’d later headline serious tabloid scandals.
9. Joseph Gordon-Levitt – Pop-Tarts (1990s)
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Before indie films and action thrillers, Gordon-Levitt hawked Pop-Tarts in a hyperactive commercial. He played a bratty kid, amazed by the sugary toaster snack. The overacting is intense, but it shows how early he was honing his performance chops.
10. Mila Kunis – Lisa Frank (1990s)
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Mila Kunis once sparkled in a Lisa Frank commercial filled with rainbows, unicorns, and school supplies. It was a visual explosion of glitter and color. The innocence is charming, but the pastel chaos is now painfully retro.
11. Paul Rudd – Super Nintendo (1991)
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Rudd appeared in a moody Super Nintendo ad, where he dramatically played video games under a warehouse spotlight. It was trying too hard to be cool and futuristic. Now known for his humor, Rudd’s serious gamer face looks hilariously out of place.
12. Matt LeBlanc – Heinz Ketchup (1987)
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In this oddly seductive Heinz commercial, Matt LeBlanc let a ketchup bottle fall from the roof just to impress a girl. He catches it just in time, of course, with full 80s hair and cheeseball confidence. It was so much effort for a condiment.
13. Kristen Stewart – Porsche (1999)
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A very young Kristen Stewart appeared in a Porsche ad as a little girl riding in a convertible with her dad. The acting was minimal, but the vibe was ultra-dramatic and high-end. It’s an early glimpse of the cool, detached energy she’d bring to Twilight.
14. Naomi Watts – Tampax (1990s)
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Before her Oscar-nominated roles, Naomi Watts appeared in an awkward Tampax commercial set at the beach. She tries to look carefree while delivering lines about “confidence and comfort.” It’s textbook early-career cringe.
15. Aaron Paul – Corn Pops (1999)
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Aaron Paul gave an over-the-top performance in a Corn Pops commercial, freaking out over not having his cereal. His dramatic flair was already on display, even over something as trivial as breakfast. Jesse Pinkman was born in a sugar rush.
16. Elijah Wood – Cheese (1990s)
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Young Elijah Wood starred in a government PSA about cheese, energetically dancing and singing about its benefits. It was as corny as it gets, but his smile was magnetic even then. It’s a hilarious peek into how child actors paid their dues.