Hey, I'm Howard. For years I've had the pleasure of being an "Extra" or "Background" actor in movies, television shows and commercials. These are the people walking in the park, sitting in restaurants, driving in cars...just blending in. They add "atmosphere" to scenes. I've had some amazing experiences as an extra such as hanging with famous actors, directors and crew people while witnessing how films are made from the inside. I've been in a lot of stuff, some more prominent than others. I wrangled up a handful of my extra work, whatever I could find. Here are some videos, images and first-hand recollections from my years as an Hollywood Extra!
Rat Race - 2001:
In this film, I was considered a "glorified extra" along with a handful of other select extras. All others in the audience were high school students bussed in from local schools. I can be seen in the front row of the Smash Mouth concert at the end of the film rocking out to "All Star". This was a 2-night shoot and it was very cold, the actors had heated tents. I got to hang with the band and several of the actors (I had a half-hour conversation with Seth Green!). Smash Mouth did a private concert for all of us as well. The coolest part was the actors all did stage-dives into the audience and the "glorified extras" got to hold up the actors as they crowd-surfed while the credits rolled. We got additional "stunt pay" for this opportunity. I held up Rowan Atkinson's left shoulder (A.K.A. Mr. Bean)! I wrote a short parody about the experience to the tune of "All-Star" while waiting to go home after 2 all-nighters: Hey now, you're an extra. Time to go home, it's late. Hey now, you're an extra. Get the scene done, check gate*. And all that shivers is cold. Only the real stars keep real warm. * The director will call out "Check the gate" when the scene is done.
The Fast & The Furious - 2001
In the first F&TF movie, I'm in the big drag race - turned fight scene. I can be seen clearly excited for the fight, after Michelle Rodríguez punches out Reggie Lee at the 5:38 mark.
Scrubs - 2002
In this popular medical comedy, I was booked as a patient lying in a bed. The interesting thing is when I filmed the scene, they established my face in profile before the line, "you're a goner" was given to me. If you look close the reaction shot, it's not me! I had filmed this scene, but the reaction shot was filmed several days later when I wasn't available. The production had to hire another extra (known as a "double") who "sort of" looked like me for the reaction shot.
The Shield - 2002
This was one of my most amazing experiences as an extra. In this popular cop drama, I was a burn victim thrown in a trunk to be buried in the desert left for dead. My character had a name, backstory and was Integral to the plot, plus a pretty cool twist to open the show! Character description in this wiki link. The fake skin and makeup applied to my face and body to show the 3rd degree burns took several hours to apply and they had to shave off my eye lashes for authenticity (and for my close-up!). Go to 2:41 for the scene.
Warning, this is gross! Viewer Discretion in Advised.
Gross. But cool.
West Wing - 2002
West Wing was a top-rated show while on the air. I did 2 episodes, but this is the one I found. I'm in the military choir lip-synching to "Battle Hymn of the Republic" at an air force base. The best thing about being on a top-rated show with a big budget is the food they serve you. We had a clambake with all-you-can-eat lobster, crab, scallops, etc. With my appetite, I may have used up most of their budget.
The Tick - 2001
What a fun show to be on! This was a superhero parody show based on a comic book. I do a little acting as the doorman at the hotel. Start at 16:34, the car pulls up and I'm reacting to the action. At 17:40 I do a little spin and tip-of-the-hat. Watch the whole scene until Arthur (in white) jumps out of the car.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer - 2002
In this scene, I was a bar patron at the Bronze bar. The clip is fuzzy, but I'm in there somewhere. This was very cool to be a part of as I'm a big fan of the show! There is a big vampire fight which required Spike to be punched so hard, he flies backwards, this was achieved with a harness which was removed in post production.
Grosse Pointe - 2000
This was a show-within-a-show on the old WB network. I was on 2 episodes where I can be seen pretty clearly. The first was a WB beach party where I am dancing...shirtless...COVER YOUR EYES!!!! The next episode, I am at a party where there is a wedding proposal from Dweezil Zappa! I can be seen reacting to Dweezil popping the question. Dweezil was cool and down-to-earth. He and I had a long conversation about music which was surreal!
Go to 14:40 to see me dancing at the WB beach party behind the frog.
Go to 10:18 to see me reacting to the big proposal.
Mini Lotto Commercial - Japan - 2002
One of my stranger extra gigs. Only airing in Japan is this commercial for Mini Lotto Tuesday. With blonde girls wearing mouse ears and unexplained dancing, this is undeniably Japanese! I am one of the dancers in the background about 7 seconds in, blink and you'll miss me.
Son of the Beach - 2002
This show was a parody of Baywatch produced by Howard Stern. Go to 20:22 to see a long scene where I actually get to act (and bunnyhop)! This episode guest stars Harry Anderson (from Night Court) and ...SPOILER ALERT...Gary Coleman (from Diff'rent Strokes)! Watch this until the end of the scene, you won't be disappointed. This was a blast to be a part of!
Busted - Know the Code Commercial ---2012
This commercial is a "What Happens In Vegas Stays in Vegas" ad. As you can see from the screenshot, I'm a bartender in a really cool MATRIX style special effects scene. Fun fact: The olive being tossed into the mouth of the dude in front was digitally added. The director told me to "look where you think the olive would be" and they placed the olive based on my field of view.
NBA 2K Commercial Ft. Donovan Mitchell - 2018
This Chinese commercial for the video game, NBA2k features NBA star Donovan Mitchell! At the :35 mark, Donovan asks the principle actor, "Are you ready to be the next superstar?" You'll see me next to the actor cheering for a couple seconds. Really fun to shoot!
Seven Days - 2019
This popular Chinese drama series was filmed in Las Vegas. Skip to 6:56 to see me as an EMT, but a few seconds earlier, it's another bald actor. Looks like they cast me as a double (a reverse Scrubs!)
I continue to do extra work to this day. I have recently done extra work on an upcoming movie starring Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan called The Family Plan. In this film, I am a craps dealer at Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan's table. Michelle Monaghan is rolling the dice. Will I be seen in this scene? Wait and see...
I guess only my left arm got in the shot. Hey, that's my wedding ring!
Coming Soon! I will be in the movie "Easy's Waltz" with Al Pacino & Vince Vaughn, AppleTV+ show, "The Studio" and the movie "F1" with Brad Pitt.
Jordan/Tatum 3 Ad
Short ad promoting the JORDAN/TATUM3. Screenshot shows myself and another reacting to Jayson Taum breaking the court floor with his new shoe.
Credits:
Created with an image by Collective Offset - "film frame with a transparent background"