America's A-List Extra
Start writing a post
Entertainment

America's A-List Extra

Hollywood's most famous star you don't know that you know.

25
America's A-List Extra
Celebuzz

What does it take to be one of Hollywood's leading stars? Is it crawling through the freezing wilderness only to get mauled by a CGI bear? Or dangling yourself from a plane or the world's tallest skyscraper for an action sequence? How about whatever Nicholas Cage does? After all, acting is a cut-throat industry that demands the finest of skill sets combined with the most attractive of faces. As an audience, we demand more and more out of what our A-listers can provide for our viewing pleasure! "Oh, so here's two hours of Shia LaBeouf teaming up with Optimus Prime? Let's make three more of those, throw Mark Wahlberg in the mix, and then have them ride dinosaurs. Dinosaurs aren't enough? OK, let's make them robot dinosaurs!"

As our visual appetites develop, one thing can stand the test of time: our leading actors. From Humphrey Bogart to Bill Murray, we are compelled by those who ground our films with their presence. So the question still stands: who is the most reputable? I have a definite answer. Here's a hint, he is 5 feet 8 inches tall, portly, and sports a ginger 'fro (no, not Jonah Hill, he's not even a redhead). Still don't know? You've seen him in the original "Spider-Man," "The Social Network," and "American Pie."

He's worked with the likes of Will Farrell, Zac Efron, and Leonardo DiCaprio. He's been in "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," "NCIS," "Entourage," "Arrested Development," "Heroes," "Parks and Recreation," and "Glee." This magnificent vessel of pure method acting talent, with an onscreen presence so strong he has never been required to speak a single word, is found in one man. This Man:


This is Jesse Heiman and he is the world's greatest extra. He has been in more movies than Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, or Tom Cruise. He has worked with the likes of David Fincher and Stephen Spielberg. His rosy complexion and modest demeanor has been enticing audiences for over a decade and they don't even know it. A quick search on IMDb.com will give you a list of the 85+ productions he has worked on.

Heiman was born in Boston and moved to Austin, TX. After graduating from Texas State University, he moved to Los Angeles to stake a career in the acting world. He took upon his first role in the year 2000, in "American Pie 2," and since then has led an illustrious career full of gracing the backgrounds of our favorite films with his existence. When asked about his fame in an interview with MTV, he humbly said, "It feels amazing. It feels really cool to finally get some kind of recognition. Everybody comes to LA to try to be a successful actor. I never thought my career would be as a background extra, leading to people recognizing me as much as they did. It turned out great." Jesse's work has developed a strong cult following of fans who watch certain films just for him. You may even remember seeing him as the "nerd" in the famous GoDaddy.com Super Bowl commercial alongside supermodel Bar Rafaeli.

Next time you watch a movie or TV show, keep an eye out for this man. America's greatest extra is bound to show up just about anywhere, and Jesse Heiman's talent for grandiose subtlety is a high-wire act too astonishing to pass up!

Seriously though, this is just a cool thing to know. Isn't it?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71213
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

133280
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments