TheLord of the Ringsfilm trilogynot only broke records , shattered box office outlook and tapdanced all over the Oscars , but it also put a number of highly talented actors and actresses on the world stagecoach , some for the first time . Relative unknowns became overnight ace , and even the smallest bit part is recognize for give to Peter Jackson ’s amazing visual sense .

Many cast member had been process in the acting business for quite some time , while others only had a few bit parts to their name . Regardless , LOTRfans might be surprised to learn about sure actors who starred in other incredible purpose over the age . Here are just a handful .

Ian Holm - Alien (1979)

While it ’s wanton to spot the late Ian Holm as the face of Bilbo Baggins , many fans forget that he was actually one of the principal stars of theoriginalAlienway back in 1979 . Holm play the sinister Ash , a science policeman with too keen an involvement in the lethal xenomorph species the Nostromo crew encountered on LV-426 .

Holm played Ash with a intermixture of sliminess and sociopathic tendencies . His simulated concern for his crew was obvious in his mannerism and facial expression as he set about to keep up appearance while hiding what he really was . Audiences acquire the shocking truth in the latter one-half of the celluloid .

Karl Urban - Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995)

These days , Karl Urban is busy churning out a revolting carrying out as William Butcher , the cheating - mouthed hater of superheroes on Amazon ’s TV adaptation ofThe Boys . He catch his big break in the originalLord of the Ringstrilogy as the horsemaster Eomer of Rohan which localise his Hollywood calling on track .

Before any of this success amount his means , Urban come along as the honey God Cupid inHercules : The Legendary Journeys . He would reprise the persona several time on bothHerculesand its twist - offXena : The Warrior Princess .

Bruce Allpress - The Piano (1993)

ManyLord of the Ringsfans may not recognize Bruce Allpress ’s name , but they certainly remember him as the archer who by chance give up his pointer from the top of Helm ’s Deep and kills an Uruk - hai warrior below . It remain one of the funniest comic relief scenes ofThe Two pillar , and a welcome one given the benighted setting .

Allpress had star in a number of prominent production over the years , but he ’s well experience for his role as the blind pianissimo tuner in the 1993 filmThe Piano , starring Holly Hunter , Harvey Keitel and Sam Neill .

Sean Astin - Toy Soldiers (1991)

Frodo ’s best buddy Samwise Gamgee is well known toLord of the Ringsfans , and thespian Sean Astin is instantly recognisable because of it . However , beforeLord of the Ringsbecame such a worldwide phenomenon , Astin starred in a serial of film such asEncino Man , Courage Under FireandRudy .

audience lead off to take note of Astin after he starred in the 1991 filmToy SoldiersalongsideStar Trek : The Next Generationactor Wil Wheaton . Astin played remiss wiseguy Billy Tepper , a schoolkid who leads his fellow students in a severe revolt against a group of terrorists who sequester control of their rich embarkment school .

Lawrence Makoare - Xena: The Warrior Princess (1995)

Actor Lawrence Makoare has been heavily involved with severalLord of the Ringsprojects includingThe Hobbit : The Desolation of Smaug . He is well remember for act the direful and terrorise Uruk - hai drawing card Lurtz who personally precede a campaign against theFellowshipin the first motion-picture show .

Makoare is another in a farsighted tune ofLOTRactors who cut their teeth star inHercules : The Legendary Journeysand its spin - off dimension . Makoare asterisk inXena : The Warrior Princessas Maecenus , as well as a Barbarian Leader . His bring down physical height no doubt had a set to do with it .

Bernard Hill - Titanic (1997)

Actor Bernard Hill gave the role of Theoden a kinglike bearing that will be remembered for the age . His carrying out was multifaceted and evolutionary , and help set the leg for the final climatical battle that would by and by place inReturn of the King .

Hill had starred in a number of high profile projects before his debut inThe Two tug , includingThe Ghost in the Darkness , First Knight(for which he was uncredited ) andA Midsummer Night ’s Dream . However , he ’s best remembered for playing Captain Smith inJames Cameron ’s 1997 uber - epicTitanic .

Marton Csokas - xXx (2002)

His first rightfully expectant role was as the chief villain Yorgi in the Vin Diesel action vehiclexXx . Comparing the graphic symbol of Yorgi and Celeborn is lurid , to say the least .

Sarah McLeod - A Twist In The Tale (1999)

Samwise Gamgee ’s love interestingness Rosie Cotton was played by the lovely Sarah McLeod , and even though she did n’t get much screen time , it gave Sam ’s quality something to hold onto when the Fellowship ’s quest became too much to bear . The actress has n’t starred in a wealthiness of role before or since , but she did land one in a peculiar spot .

McLeod star in William Shatner’sA Twist in the Tale , a 1999 television serial featuring kids as the fictitious character of each new fib . She portrayed Nicky in the episode " A Crack In Time . "

John Noble - The Lost World (1999)

These day , John Noble is a placeable face thanks to his visual aspect in theLord of the Ringstrilogy , and he ’s since gone on to star in a masses of projects including thesci - fi TV hitFringe . Most recently he reunited with hisLOTRco - star Karl Urban in a cameo show as William Butcher ’s father onAmazon’sThe Boys .

Noble had participated in a series of small projects leading up toThe Lord of the Rings , and his penultimate visual aspect up until that tip was an coming into court as Inspector Anderson on the fantasy boob tube seriesThe lose World . He soon made his way into the expectant league only two year later .

Viggo Mortenson - Miami Vice (1984)

thespian Viggo Mortenson is a highly versatile performer who takes on all the characteristic of his role no matter what they call for . He ’s play a sturdy - as - nail Master Chief inG.I. Jane , unbalance psychopath Tex Sawyer inThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre III , and a protective father in the post - apocalyptic hitThe Road .

However , most fans probably are n’t aware that one of Mortenson ’s earliest roles was a stint on the classic eighties television set seriesMiami Vice , where he make for Detective Eddie Trumbull in the installment " Red Tape . " It seems Hollywood is a small world after all .

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LOTR Stars - Featured

LOTR Stars - Ian

LOTR Stars - Karl

LOTR Stars - Bruce

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