I didn't realize he/she was in that

James Gandolfini was a father of one of the dead kids who was suing the company in A Civil Action.

 

He also played one of Christopher Walken's thugs who beats up Alabama in "True Romance." That movie had a few people like that, such as Brad Pitt as Michael Rapaport's stoner roommate, Bronson Pinchot as the guy who sets up the drug deal, and Val Kilmer as Elvis.

 

He and Viggo Mortensen were also officers in "Crimson Tide."

 

I was trying to remember who it was that was the studio's first choice for The Terminator (it was O.J. Simpson when I stumbled upon this great quote from Schwarzenegger).
"Schwarzenegger was not as excited by the film; during an interview on the set of Conan the Barbarian, an interviewer asked him about a pair of shoes he had (which were for The Terminator). Schwarzenegger responded, "Oh some shit movie I'm doing, take a couple weeks."

Did he think Conan was art?

 

The janitor from Scrubs was a blue collar Indians fan in Major League.

 

Viggo Mortensen is also the crippled buddy of Al Pacino who wears a wire in Carlito's Way.

He delves into the over-acting Hall of Fame during his big scene.

 

Rube Baker from "Major League II" was also in "Crimson Tide."

Lillo Brancato, aka Calogero from "A Bronx Tale," Steve Zahn, Ryan Phillippe and Ricky Schroeder were also among the crew in that movie. I love that flick.

 

True, but nobody knew who Gandolfini was at that point. People had started to notice Pitt by then. Pinchot and Kilmer were also already fairly well known.

 

Holy shit. That's absolutely my favorite Pacino movie, and I never put that together.

 

He was also the cop on the El in "The Fugitive," a fact that gets mentioned on Scrubs when it is hinted that Glen Matthews had an acting career before turning to the custodial arts

 

I'm not sure I understand your point. How many people realize Val Kilmer was in "True Romance" whether he was well known or not?

EDIT: Just went back and read the OP (not the OOP ) and I see you were talking about seeing something old with someone in it before they got famous.

 

It all still fits the thread. Just saying it was different for Gandolfini.