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Celebrities' Secret Disney Past
21 Jul
Summary
- Many stars worked at Disney Parks before achieving fame.
- Jobs ranged from character acting to ticket sales.
- Some faced funny or challenging experiences before stardom.
Many beloved celebrities have surprising early careers working at Disney Parks before their rise to fame. These former 'cast members' gained valuable experience in various roles, from entertaining guests as characters to operational duties.
Stars like Will Ferrell, Kevin Costner, and Michelle Pfeiffer all spent time at Disneyland. Ferrell humorously recalled quitting after one day due to a perceived unglamorous assignment and fabricating a Dallas Cowboys tryout. Costner worked as a Jungle Cruise skipper and met his first wife there.
Other notable figures include Steve Martin, who sold guidebooks and worked in a magic shop from ages 10 to 18. Wayne Brady's time at Disney World involved playing characters and famously fainting due to the heat while in costume.
Jennifer Hudson lent her voice to Disney Cruise Line passengers, while Taye Diggs performed in a show at Tokyo Disneyland. Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys hosted tours and played characters at Disney-MGM Studios.
Rapper Taboo worked as a custodian at Disneyland, emptying trash and collecting manure for the Electrical Parade, prioritizing his son's future. Richard Carpenter and his songwriting partner were dismissed from singing on Main Street for playing contemporary music.
