Just a little over two years ago, I had posted this article about a mysterious extra who had appeared time and time andtime again in various film and television shows for the last decade. A phantomof entertainment media, Jesse Heiman has been seen in the films Spiderman, Old School, The Social Network andshows Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm,Glee, and Chuck, to name a few. Afterposting the aforementioned article, it was met by generally positive reactions,but did not exactly meet the approval of the extra of all extras.
In the two yearssince, much has happened for the ‘Where’s Waldo’ of Hollywood. A YouTube videocompiling his sightings has garnered nearly 3 million views. Tack on a widevariety of roles in film, commercial, and television shows, including a guestappearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Jesse is slowly but surelymaking his transition from the background to the foreground.
Could it be acoincidence that, since the posting of my initial article, Mr. Heiman’s careerhas exploded? Probably. But the coincidences didn’t stop there. When the newyear came around, the folks here at EnterBRAINment decided it was high time tostart writing new material again for your reading pleasure. It was around thattime that Mr. Heiman himself posted the original article on his Facebook page.That, in turn, inspired me to write a follow up article, this time with hisside of the story.
Yes, dear readers, Ihave uncovered the myth, the legend, the man behind the men in front of thecamera. Below is an exclusive EnterBRAINment Q&A with Mr. Jesse Heiman, theworld’s most famous extra. Enjoy.
When did you first get the acting bug?
At age 5 when I watched ET and it scared me and then later in life when I watched it and itmade me laugh. I wanted to do that to make people happy or sad or scared, Iwanted to entertain.
What madeyou decide to take your acting aspirations to Hollywood?
Actually, I first came out wanting to become awriter or producer. But, it turns out you need a good income to live in LosAngeles. So I signed up for extra work and had no idea it would become mycareer. Since then, I've appeared in over 50 films and 30 TV shows andcommercials, music videos and even a print ad.
Describeyour feelings on the first day on your first major set. What movie was it?
I worked the first day I signed up that night onthe movie Rat Race. It was an all-nightshoot outside at a Los Angeles ranch and I remember feeling nervous and unsureof what to do. But I learned quickly, and time passed and before you know itthe sun was up and we were done. The feeling came to me then if I could survivea cold night in Hollywood I can tackle anything.
How doesit feel to be dubbed ‘the world’s most famous extra’?
It's really amazing to be called the world’sgreatest extra. I know there are people out there who have been doing extrawork all their lives and they don't get the credit they deserve. I am humbledby the fans I've accumulated since the video was posted on YouTube. They arevery cool and I enjoy answering fan mail.
You’vecertainly earned that title with a very impressive list of credits in film andtelevision. One could even say you are the ‘Where’s Waldo’ of Hollywood. Canyou describe the first time you were recognized in public?
I can't really pinpoint a specific moment ofrecognition. It happens so often, it's just great to have people take the timeto tell you they've seen you on TV or in movies. The first time was probablyafter Old School came out or maybenot until Spider-Man in 2004. My fansstarted a cult following as the few who knew who I was, but as my credits grew,so did my fan base. Now I have over 3,000 followers on Twitter and Facebookfriends and countless more offline.
A YouTubevideo compiling clips featuring you in major films and television shows wasreleased about a year ago, garnering nearly 3 million views since then. And nowyou are making that transition from the background to the foreground with thefilm The Jerk Theory. Are you gettingany bigger offers lately?
Yes I've been working on more movies andcommercials and TV shows as guest star. Since The Jerk Theory I have been on TV shows like Warren the Ape, Awkward, Monk, and have an upcoming appearance onThe Mindy Project. You can alsosee me in a commercial for Prego pasta sauce and a commercial during the firstquarter of the Super Bowl; but I can't tell you what for - I'm under contract.
Wherewould you like your career to go in the near future?
Of course I’d like to book a sitcom where I havea chance to be the same character for five years or more. I would also like toget in a Judd Apatow directed movie or something in that kind of comedy.
What isyour professional philosophy? What advice can you give aspiring actors outthere?
Just to follow your dreams and believe you cando it because no one is going to help you more than yourself.
