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10 Great Performances That Weren’t Even Credited

Making it as an actor is a tough business. Naturally, those who are trying to make it often want every credit they can get - in parts big or small, in movies good or bad. The only time you'll usually see an actor uncredited is when they had no decision in the matter of their billing. There are, however, some - not many, but some - actors that have actually chosen to remain off the official cast list.

10) Jack Nicholson In Broadcast News

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jack nicholson broadcast news

Who better to play a legendary and charismatic news anchor of immense reputation than Jack Nicholson? Broadcast News, made at a time when Nicholson was one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, has three (then) young stars as its leads – William Hurt, Holly Hunter and Albert Brooks – all of whom Nicholson knew he threatened to overshadow were he included in the marketing.

Nicholson, a friend of Broadcast News director James L. Brooks, made the movie for no money and went un-billed as a favor. He’s only in the film for a few minutes, mostly just reading news items, but he casts a huge shadow over the movie. We get a sense of his cold, wolfish charisma just from his few scenes, and he delivers the biggest laugh when he chooses to forego cutting his multi-million dollar salary and save co-workers from losing their jobs.