History Main / StarMakingRole

* Howard Cosell on ''Series/MondayNightFootball''.

* Tim [=McCarver=] at the 1985 World Series, when he was tabbed by Creator/{{ABC}} to serve as a last minute replacement for Howard Cosell, who was on the outs with the network due to his controversial book ''I Never Played the Game''.
* Jim [=McKay=] on ''Series/WideWorldOfSports''.

* John Motson started out on [[Creator/TheBBC BBC radio]] before becoming a TV football commentator for ''Series/MatchOfTheDay'' on a one-season contract at the start of the 1971-72 [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball football]] season. His big break came in February 1972 when he was assigned to cover an [[UsefulNotes/TheFACup FA Cup]] third-round replay between Newcastle United (then of the First Division) and non-league Hereford United. Newcastle were expected to win easily, but in the event Hereford caused [[DavidVersusGoliath one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition]]. The game was therefore the first featured match, and led to Motson getting assigned more high-profile matches -- ultimately becoming one of the best-regarded commentators in the game.

* Creator/Lizzie Freeman (in regards to WebAnimation) in WebAnimation/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers.

* Bob Costas on the ''Major League Baseball Game of the Week'' on Creator/{{NBC}}, in particular, the "Ryne Sandberg Game" between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals on June 23, 1984.

* Creator/BrianMichaelBendis and Creator/MarkMillar, who were obscure and unknown authors at the time, created the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel line. By the time they were done, Bendis was [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel]]'s most important author, and Millar started his own imprint and turned many of his own comics into notable films.

Every A-List star starts somewhere. They do bit parts and [[SpearCarrier walk-on roles]]. They may be a lesser part of an EnsembleCast who becomes an EnsembleDarkHorse. They may even wind up doing [[OldShame something they may not be proud of later]]. Either way, when their memoirs are written or they sit down with [[Series/InsideTheActorsStudio James Lipton]], ''this'' is the role they point to and say "that's where it ''really'' started for me" -- the rise from obscurity to main player. The role may have been written for the specific purpose of making this specific person a star by showcasing their talents. More often than not, it's a case of taking the right part and running with it. This is the role they earn their name with.

** [[Creator/MuppetPerformers KevinClash]]'s [[Franchise/TheMuppets Muppet]] career was launched on ''Sesame Street'' when Richard Hunt tossed him a red Muppet named Elmo and told him "Give it a voice, Clash." The rest is history.

Every A-List star starts somewhere. They do bit parts and [[SpearCarrier walk-on roles]]. They may be a lesser part of an EnsembleCast who becomes an EnsembleDarkhorse. They may even wind up doing [[OldShame something they may not be proud of later]]. Either way, when their memoirs are written or they sit down with [[Series/InsideTheActorsStudio James Lipton]], ''this'' is the role they point to and say "that's where it ''really'' started for me" -- the rise from obscurity to main player. The role may have been written for the specific purpose of making this specific person a star by showcasing their talents. More often than not, it's a case of taking the right part and running with it. This is the role they earn their name with.

Sometimes an actor can have a star making role in one country (usually their homeland) and a different star making role on a more global basis. For example, Creator/ChristophWaltz was known for years in Germany and Austria before ''Film/IngloriousBasterds'' made him a household name to international audiences. And Creator/MarionCotillard became a star with the ''Film/{{Taxi}}'' films and ''Film/AVeryLongEngagement'' in France before ''Film/LaVieEnRose'' and her Oscar win made her a star abroad.

* Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Millar, who were obscure and unknown authors at the time, created the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel line. By the time they were done, Bendis was [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel]]'s most important author, and Millar started his own imprint and turned many of his own comics into notable films.
* Writer Creator/TomKing got some early buzz in the early new tens through indie work, and some fringe buzz with ''ComicBook/{{Grayson}}'', ''[[ComicBook/OmegaMen The Omega Men]]'', and ''The Sheriff of Babylon'', but it was ''ComicBook/TheVision2015'' that solidified his acclaim (and notoriety) as a writer rooted in [[DarkerAndEdgier psychologically deconstructing famous superheroes]], launching his role in bigger material such as ''ComicBook/BatmanTomKing'' and ''ComicBook/MisterMiracle2017''.

* ''Series/SesameStreet'' and ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' for many of the first generation of [=Muppeteers=], the former also launched the careers of several of the newer [=Muppeteers=].
** Kevin Clash's Muppet career was launched on ''Sesame Street'' when Richard Hunt tossed him a red Muppet named Elmo and told him "Give it a voice, Clash." The rest is history.

* ''Music/UnknownP'' going viral after his appearance on "Fire In The Booth" (as of 2022 it has racked up over 13 million views) and becoming a meme was the catalyst for his creator Munya Chawawa's rise from a relatively unknown internet funnyman to a rising star in UK comedy, going on to win several major awards.

* ''Music/Unknown P'' going viral after his appearance on "Fire In The Booth" (as of 2022 it has racked up over 13 million views) and becoming a meme was the catalyst for his creator Munya Chawawa's rise from a relatively unknown internet funnyman to a rising star in UK comedy, going on to win several major awards.

* Joe Buck at the 1996 World Series. At just 27 years of age, Buck became the youngest person to ever call all nine innings for a World Series television broadcast while a full-time network employee. Buck would eventually call the World Series consecutively from 2000-2021 until his departure from Creator/{{Fox}} at the end of the 2021 season.

* Sean [=McDonough=] on Creator/{{CBS}}' Major League Baseball coverage, when he was tapped to replace Jack Buck as their lead play-by-play announcer beginning in 1992.

* Writer Creator/TomKing got some early buzz in the early new tens through indie work, and some fringe buzz with ''ComicBook/{{Grayson}}'', ''[[ComicBook/OmegaMen The Omega Men]]'', and ''The Sheriff of Babylon'', it was ''ComicBook/TheVision2015'' that solidified his acclaim (and notoriety) as a writer rooted in [[DarkerAndEdgier psychologically deconstructing famous superheroes]], launching his role in bigger material such as ''ComicBook/BatmanTomKing'' and ''ComicBook/MisterMiracle2017''.

* Writer Creator/TomKing got some early buzz in the early new tens through indie work, and some fringe buzz with ''ComicBook/{{Grayson}}'', ''[[ComicBook/OmegaMen The Omega Men]]'', and ''The Sheriff of Babylon'', it was ''ComicBook/TheVision2015'' that solidified his acclaim (and notoriety) as a writer rooted in [[DarkerAndEdgier psychologically deconstructing famous superheroes]], launching his role in bigger material such as ''ComicBook/BatmanRebirth'' and ''ComicBook/MisterMiracle2017''.

!Other examples:
!!Comic Books

!!Puppet Shows

!!Web Original

!!Misc

!!Sports broadcasting

** KendraWilkinson

* Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Millar, who were obscure and unknown authors at the time, created the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel line. By the time they were done, Bendis was Marvel's most important author, and Millar started his own imprint and turned many of his own comics into notable films.

** Kendra Wilkinson

** Carmen Electra

* Creator/AshleyClements, Creator/MaryKateWiles, Creator/LauraSpencer, Creator/JuliaCho, Creator/JessicaJadeAndres, Creator/ChristopherSean, Creator/AllisonPaige, Creator/BrianaCuoco, and Creator/DanielVincentGordh in ''WebVideo/TheLizzieBennetDiaries''.

* Creator/AshleyClements, Creator/MaryKateWiles, Creator/LauraSpencer, Creator/JuliaCho, Creator/JessicaJadeAndres, Creator/ChristopherSean, Creator/AllisonPaige, Creator/BrianaCuoco, and Creator/DanielVincentGordh in ''WebVideo/TheLizzieBennetDiaries''.

* Creator/JessicaRose in ''WebVideo/{{Lonelygirl 15}}''.