Talent?
That's a loose term.Hey, I'm Howard. Aside from education, freelance art and design, I have another cool side hustle.
For years, I’ve been 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 a Hollywood Extra!
The Studio - 2025
This was a mind-blowing scene to be a part of! This Apple TV+ show has a stacked cast, in this scene was: Seth Rogen, Bryan Cranston, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, Dave Franco, Chase Sui Wonders, Zoë Kravitz and Catherine O'Hara (RIP). Shot over 2 nights at The Venetian Las Vegas, this chaotic scene went viral because it’s hilarious! Zoë Kravitz unknowingly eats chocolates laced with ‘shrooms and it gets out of hand. Dave Franco is epic. Franco & Kravitz were nominated for Emmys for the scene. They presented at The Golden Globes together talking about the scene.
I’m on the couch behind Dave Franco in a blue shirt, and elsewhere in the full scene.
I had a front row seat to watch the actors improvise different takes! I actually made Catherine O'Hara laugh! She told us stories from her career on our downtime and was nice enough to take a selfie with me!
With Catherine O'Hara
I’m over Dave Franco’s shoulder
With Rogen, Hahn, Barinholtz & Wonders
Extra Work: 2001 - Present (Not in Order)
With Bryan Cranston & Kathryn Hahn
Nike/Jordan Tatum 3 - Social Media Ad - 2024
This was a social media advertisement for the Jordan Tatum 3 basketball shoe. Somehow, I was cast as NBA star, Jayson Tatum’s trainer (HAVE YOU SEEN ME?).
With a cool special effect of Tatum cracking the hardwood with his shoe, I was told to react with “amazed confusion”. Did I pull it off?
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 and left for dead. My character had a name, backstory and was Integral to the plot, plus a pretty cool twist to open the show! There’s a 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!). WARNING, it’s gross. Viewer discretion is advised.
I can use a higher sunscreen.
RIP Catherine O'Hara
The Fast & The Furious - 2001
In the first The Fast & The Furious movie, I'm in the big desert race scene. I can be seen at the 5:37 mark cheering on the fight, after Michelle Rodríguez punches out Reggie Lee. I had no idea at the time how huge this movie franchise would become.
I’m in the green, striped shirt on the right. Yes, I was bald back then too.
Scrubs - 2002
In this popular medical comedy, I was booked as a patient lying in a bed. If you watch the scene, the janitor gives me the line, "you're what we call a goner". If you look at the reaction shot, it's not me! I had filmed this scene, but the reaction shot was filmed days later when I wasn't available. They had to cast another extra who sort of looked like me (known as a "double") for the reaction shot.
Game Shows
Oh yeah, I’ve also been on a few game shows!
Let’s Make a Deal, Who Wants To Be a Millionaire & Catch 21.
Here’s me losing on Millionaire
Son of the Beach - 2002
I'm not an All-Star, but All-Star adjacent! Look for the bald dude near the front, left side.
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.
The 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.
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.
Rat Race - 2001:
I can be seen in the front row of the Smash Mouth concert at the end of the film rocking out to "All Star". 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 too. The coolest part was the actors all did stage-dives into the audience and I got to hold up Rowan Atkinson's left shoulder (A.K.A. Mr. Bean). We got additional "stunt pay" for this opportunity. This was a 2-night, very long shoot and it was cold, the actors had heated tents. 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.
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!
The Tick - 2001
What a fun show to be on! This was a superhero parody show based on a comic book. I play the doorman. Look closely in the background, I do a little acting at the hotel entrance. 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.
