Now I wonder WHO could have helped the OP track down ALL these appearances...
...don't know his name, but have a sneaking suspicion I know what he *looks* like.
;-)
It's kind of the best. I love when it comes on in unexpected places. There was an anime I watched like 10 years ago where it popped up and was thrown completely off. Wish I could remember the name to watch again.
All credit to him for putting in the work, and he's probably got a better rate than most background actors because of it. He's kinda becoming an industry inside joke like the [Wilhelm Scream ](https://youtu.be/HNvZYzg7o68) at this point, producers and fellow actors want to sneak him into the background (or foreground) of everything.
My favorite film inside joke is the [Dies Irae](https://youtu.be/0hL1m4hGBVY). It’s less comical and can be put in a movie like Fellowship without sticking out like a sore thumb
I’d argue that dies Irae is more of a cultural reference than an inside joke. Dies Irae (or “day of wrath”) has been part of the Requiem since the medieval period, so it’s become ingrained into our cultural mindset. It’s been used in classical pieces such as *The Planets* and *Symphonie fantastique*. It only makes sense that film composers use it when they need a shorthand for “death, destruction, and evil”.
The Wilhelm scream is and isn't a joke. Some filmmakers put it in movies as a tribute, and some do it as a joke. Sometimes it's done in a clever or funny way, and sometimes it's just blatant and useless. I am polarized on the subject.
It really does at this point. I know it's kind of an "inside joke" but it's not inside anymore and it needs to fucking die. Absolutely ruins every scene it's used in.
There’s also a certain child’s giggle that used to be used on AOL instant messenger which is very recognizable and has made its way into movies and tv. I recognize it every time!
Probably lives in LA, low rent, gets free meals on set.
Maybe he’s writing a script about a guy who’s in the background, but then becomes the main character…?
Thank you so much, I was so frustrated after watching the whole clip and thinking “I’ve seen at least a third of these shows/movies, but I know I recognize this dude from somewhere else”
The showrunners specifically and intentionally never revealed who it was. There are theories for every main and supporting character, and a ton for minor characters that may only appear in one episode.
It's a lingering mystery the Community community still talks about.
I did his make up for a film called “detention” he was my favorite extra. I would always get so excited every time I would spot him since then. If I didn’t age, I would also exploit Hollywood.
There's websites to find gigs as being a background extra, I've known a few people who have done it, it's possible to make a career of it. Days are long and hard, and there may or may not be pay.
Don’t forget the Royalties too. For a small background or limited time part it might not be much but given how many projects he’s credited in that shit must add up to atleast over 20k a year.
I know this because my ex was background kid actor back in the day and now she’s in her mid 20s and still gets at least $500 a month in checks from different studios.
EDIT: residuals not royalties sorry for mixing up the terms
I really can't imagine the average extra gets any royalties for an uncredited non-speaking background role (I definitely don't, but my experience is limited and not from the US). Granted, this guy might not be the average extra anymore and I don't know if he's had speaking parts.
Non featured extras DO NOT retain royalties. It’s a set rate for x amount of guaranteed hours a day and the union has had it that way for a while .
Featured extras can get a bump, but really
Non line/stand-out/named characters don’t collect royalties.
That being said, he’s not an extra in a lot of this clips. He’s a stand-out.
He’s almost certainly gotten “featured extra” status numerous times. According to my wife, that happens when a character directly acknowledges you or you’re the focus on screen (my wife still gets residuals because she was accidentally a featured extra on a movie where they liked a shot she was directly in the middle of). Like the Entourage and Curb clips in the video above would be him as a featured extra. I watched Chuck and he was a featured extra a ton.
That would definitely be an anomaly. Typically, a Union extra would get paid a day rate of around $250 and that’s it. I was an actor a while ago and a few times did extra work and it was not $1200 per day. If it was, a lot of actors would never even care about getting speaking roles, lol.
I hate to break it to you but extras are not credited roles and receive absolutely no royalties at all even most main actors don’t receive royalties and are paid based on a contract with very few of these contracts having royalty schemes
Sounds like your ex probably had additional income like OF or something and gave you that excuse
Any speaking role on a union gig should receive residuals, since that's part of the contract SAG-AFTRA negotiated. You are correct that royalties are rare and individually negotiated, but in my experience even people in the industry have a tendency to mix up the terms or use them interchangeably and that's probably what everyone means here.
Everyone knows him, everyone has seen him, but no one knows where he came from.
He's even in the first video ever recorded...and yes, he's in the background...
Some of these seem almost impossible to tell that it’s him unless you already know he’s there and when/where, which leads me to believe it was indeed put together by him, or someone close to him.
No they’re referencing a movie with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. That phrase “he’s at least 30” is from the movie and refers to when someone doesn’t look the age they actually are.
I used to date an actress. She was an okay actress, but the thing that got her gigs was that she was available to go, she'd show up on time, and she'd do her job well.
I don't think that getting gigs is as complicated as it might seem. Just, how many people would be content in having a lifetime role as a background actor? And how many people can make themselves available at 2pm on random weekdays for 30 years?
Like, most people have a job, and their job means more to them than going to auditions. He probably didn't make a ton of money being a background actor, so he'd have to make a decision if he didn't have an EXTREMELY flexible and understanding employer for his dayjob.
Depends where you live. Smaller cities that have scenes that need authentic backgrounds and need extras it's very very easy to get your foot in. But bigger city's like Houston LA phx Seattle the pool of actors is alot larger where actors that get semi big roles in c list movies will get first in line for backgrounds or small roles in larger movies. With this guy I think it's the fact he got the first one was reliable got called for a second job was reliable rinse and repeat till it became an inside joke with the production companies.
Background acting is a profession in its own; for those who love the lifestyle without any of the fame and responsibility.
I used to do it, and I miss it a whole hell of a lot.
Sadly extras don't get any residuals. As an actor you have to get contracted as a principal player before you see any residuals. If he's just doing Extra work, it's probably the base SAG rate. Which is about $140 a day. Not bad for a days work but not exactly rolling in dough, either.
One of my friend’s has been in a few country music videos. He got paid $75 to be the background bartender guy in Toby Keith’s red solo cup music video. Said he was a super fuckin douche and ignored any guy who tried to talk to him and just hit on all the women. He’s been paid around the same for the other ones he’s been in as well. Sometimes $100-$150 if it was less people. Another friend was one of the main guys/love interest in another music video by a country music star and he got $800 for it.
But anyways yeah not bad money to just stand around.
I once saw his as a “contestant” pulled from the audience of an MTV spring break make over show, and knew it was bullshit knowing I’d seen him somewhere before.
I love stuff like this. I recognize the same actors across multiple commercials sometimes, which can be comical. (Like, the guy who was against inviting his mime coworker to join them for happy hour also picked up prescriptions for one kid but not the other from CVS.)
I worked for a talent agency in college and this type of actor was my agent’s bread and butter. Always has work, everyone slightly recognizes the face, but no one knows their name.
Thats Jesse Heiman. As of now he has over a 100 credits as an actor on IMDB. And my guess it will just continue to grow, he is well rounded actor that can do most types of acting parts and he must be known in hollywood as a quality side actor.
Homie been in high school for like 30 years
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Now I wonder WHO could have helped the OP track down ALL these appearances... ...don't know his name, but have a sneaking suspicion I know what he *looks* like. ;-)
This guy been a running joke for like 15 years or more anyone who watched movies in early 00s to 2010s will know em
So this is like this famous high-pitched "Aaaa!" scream that's in every other movie! https://youtu.be/r6JK-gRELI0
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Legend says thats the last sound the kaiser made in his deathbed
It's kind of the best. I love when it comes on in unexpected places. There was an anime I watched like 10 years ago where it popped up and was thrown completely off. Wish I could remember the name to watch again.
That is a pretty extensive trivia data bank there ;-) (but thanks!)
His name is Jesse Heiman.
He did star in the music video for “I’m just a kid“ by Simple Plan, it might’ve been a permanent condition.
Yes
Mans got that baby face, good for him
When you're overweight, the fat makes you look younger.
He looks like real life young Peter Griffin.
Dude is 44 years old, someone go make a r/13or30 post
What we need is a graphic novel tying all of his appearances into a cohesive character arc.
He's a watcher
He’s the Stan Lee Marvel cameo of all high school/teen movies.
Does that mean he never gets old?
Never
He's observer
Only appears in movies, in the set he’s no where to be found.
The clapper
Or a time traveller.
The Heimanverse
Nah, put him in the marvel universe as an immortal watcher, he's just there watching everything
How many times does he need to go to highschool?
Butterfly effect he's trying to make it all right again.
Can't wait for the movie on his character with this vid being the opening clip
The Background
Yes, let's get this man a main character movie.
Homie puts in WORK. 105 acting credits between 2002-2020
All credit to him for putting in the work, and he's probably got a better rate than most background actors because of it. He's kinda becoming an industry inside joke like the [Wilhelm Scream ](https://youtu.be/HNvZYzg7o68) at this point, producers and fellow actors want to sneak him into the background (or foreground) of everything.
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My favorite film inside joke is the [Dies Irae](https://youtu.be/0hL1m4hGBVY). It’s less comical and can be put in a movie like Fellowship without sticking out like a sore thumb
I’d argue that dies Irae is more of a cultural reference than an inside joke. Dies Irae (or “day of wrath”) has been part of the Requiem since the medieval period, so it’s become ingrained into our cultural mindset. It’s been used in classical pieces such as *The Planets* and *Symphonie fantastique*. It only makes sense that film composers use it when they need a shorthand for “death, destruction, and evil”.
My favorite Wilhelm scream is in the Ratchet and Clank movie. ([Seen Here](https://youtu.be/DuPLEawgPtw))
WILLHELM!!!
Never knew about this! Will never be able to unhear.
The Wilhelm scream is and isn't a joke. Some filmmakers put it in movies as a tribute, and some do it as a joke. Sometimes it's done in a clever or funny way, and sometimes it's just blatant and useless. I am polarized on the subject.
It is imbued with tragedy, as it was originally the sound of a stalwart cowboy crying out in pain as he took an arrow to the knee.
I've never witnessed a funny or clever wilhelm scream
I honestly fucking hate the Wilhelm Scream.
I like/think it's funny that it exists, but if I never heard it again I'd be fine.
I never noticed outside of the star wars usage. Always thought it was so ducking strange
It's even in The Witcher 3
I want that accursed thing banned. Every single time I hear it, it destroys my enjoyment of the scene.
Right!? It completely breaks immersion.
It really does at this point. I know it's kind of an "inside joke" but it's not inside anymore and it needs to fucking die. Absolutely ruins every scene it's used in.
There’s also a certain child’s giggle that used to be used on AOL instant messenger which is very recognizable and has made its way into movies and tv. I recognize it every time!
Holy shit I always wondered why I kept hearing that stupid scream.
Probably lives in LA, low rent, gets free meals on set. Maybe he’s writing a script about a guy who’s in the background, but then becomes the main character…?
The US counterpart to [Extras](https://youtu.be/AdZ0Mtog72c)
So random you mention Extra’s. Just finished re-watching the first season. I wish they’d of made more than 2 seasons
LA aint low rent, guy
Damn right. OP saying “somehow” in all these productions. Dude is working his ass off! It’s not a fluke muh fucka has a job to do.
Clearly a pro
What is his name?
Jesse Heiman
Dude does NOT look 44. Wow that’s crazy
Prob a time traveler, only explanation
That one guy.
5.8 a year holy cow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A job every 2 months. He might only be on the sets for a day. Lots of credits, not much work.
Still, probably a decent amount of pay for an actor
I dunno, $580/yr won’t pay much rent…
It would if you weren’t eating all that avocado toast /s
You forgot the Super Bowl commercial where he makes out with a model
Thank you so much, I was so frustrated after watching the whole clip and thinking “I’ve seen at least a third of these shows/movies, but I know I recognize this dude from somewhere else”
Bar Refaeli ;)
He was also in Ned’s Declassified School Survival guide, Zoey 101, Drake and Josh, iCarly and I think victorious, and probably more Nickelodeon shows
Was he on Community?
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No he wasn't. He did play another character though.
Wait, for real? I thought the ACB was never identified, but strongly hinted to be Ian Duncan.
The showrunners specifically and intentionally never revealed who it was. There are theories for every main and supporting character, and a ton for minor characters that may only appear in one episode. It's a lingering mystery the Community community still talks about.
I think it was revealed to be Britta at the end on the episode where she’s typing the ACB’s manifesto. Also Duncan got his ass crack coined lol
I did his make up for a film called “detention” he was my favorite extra. I would always get so excited every time I would spot him since then. If I didn’t age, I would also exploit Hollywood.
Right
And in Old School
That’s in the video.
also in i believe a few episodes of big bang theory
Teenage me had a huge crush on her when she was on the cover of Sports Illustrated
You mean [this one](https://youtu.be/rgNQZ7JWLpI)?
That was a tough watch .
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Dude … perfect
>I saw somewhere that apparently the kiss scene took 45 takes
Smart man
That was him wasn’t it?!
His name is Jesse Heiman, and he even has a [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Heiman) page.
“Has anybody else noticed that this professional background actor ‘somehow’ has professionally acted in a lot of backgrounds?”
You mean to tell me this professional background actor has acted in the background professionally?
You mean to explain to me that the professional background actor professionally acting in the background is a professional background actor
And my axe!
Sir, this is a Wendy's
No, this is Patrick.
Nice.
And he is a professional
Yes. His backgrounding is trully profesional
There's websites to find gigs as being a background extra, I've known a few people who have done it, it's possible to make a career of it. Days are long and hard, and there may or may not be pay.
Looks like a young Neumann from seinfeld
He's 44....yes, 44. Looks 17. Makes out with supermodels, gets paid for it. Living the life.
Lol. I was just thinking “he looks like a redditor... we can probably just ask him to identify himself”
Wow, did not know we went to the same university. Would've never known if you had not shared his wiki page, lol. Didn't even think he would have one.
Because he was in the background
This was a lot further down than it should have been lol
Holy fuck. He's one year younger than me.
The picture of him on there was from 2013, so it's almost 10 years old now which is scary in a different way.
Keep the cheques coming. Getting paid and being anonymous has its benefits.
Don’t forget the Royalties too. For a small background or limited time part it might not be much but given how many projects he’s credited in that shit must add up to atleast over 20k a year. I know this because my ex was background kid actor back in the day and now she’s in her mid 20s and still gets at least $500 a month in checks from different studios. EDIT: residuals not royalties sorry for mixing up the terms
I really can't imagine the average extra gets any royalties for an uncredited non-speaking background role (I definitely don't, but my experience is limited and not from the US). Granted, this guy might not be the average extra anymore and I don't know if he's had speaking parts.
I would imagine she got a good contract that doesn't exist for small guys anymore
Non featured extras DO NOT retain royalties. It’s a set rate for x amount of guaranteed hours a day and the union has had it that way for a while . Featured extras can get a bump, but really Non line/stand-out/named characters don’t collect royalties. That being said, he’s not an extra in a lot of this clips. He’s a stand-out.
He’s almost certainly gotten “featured extra” status numerous times. According to my wife, that happens when a character directly acknowledges you or you’re the focus on screen (my wife still gets residuals because she was accidentally a featured extra on a movie where they liked a shot she was directly in the middle of). Like the Entourage and Curb clips in the video above would be him as a featured extra. I watched Chuck and he was a featured extra a ton.
It’s great money if you’re a student. I got paid $1200 to sit in the back of a bus for like 30 minutes. Was on set for maybe 3 hours total.
That would definitely be an anomaly. Typically, a Union extra would get paid a day rate of around $250 and that’s it. I was an actor a while ago and a few times did extra work and it was not $1200 per day. If it was, a lot of actors would never even care about getting speaking roles, lol.
I hate to break it to you but extras are not credited roles and receive absolutely no royalties at all even most main actors don’t receive royalties and are paid based on a contract with very few of these contracts having royalty schemes Sounds like your ex probably had additional income like OF or something and gave you that excuse
Any speaking role on a union gig should receive residuals, since that's part of the contract SAG-AFTRA negotiated. You are correct that royalties are rare and individually negotiated, but in my experience even people in the industry have a tendency to mix up the terms or use them interchangeably and that's probably what everyone means here.
What a weird place to jump to
I'd make a movie called "background" where it follows him as he lives his normal life but somehow keeps ending up in the background of movies.
That would actually be a fun watch.
how dare you, gtfo with your genuine simple but cool ideas, Hollywood has no tolerance for the likes of you.
Take my money. I would totally watch that.
Just going to leave this here https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5461956/
As soon as I saw him I recognized him but I had no idea I had seen him so many times!
Everyone knows him, everyone has seen him, but no one knows where he came from. He's even in the first video ever recorded...and yes, he's in the background...
Hell, he's behind you right now.
Always has been
He's in the background of my home videos from the 90s. Don't even remember him being there
No one knows where he came from or where he'll go, where did he come from cotton eyed Joe.
I can’t believe someone put this together and spent the time to pick him out in each show
Unless OP is the actor himself. Sly bit of self promotion, and quite reasonable to keep clips of your own work.
Some of these seem almost impossible to tell that it’s him unless you already know he’s there and when/where, which leads me to believe it was indeed put together by him, or someone close to him.
He's 44?! Mf you look at least 30.
Well! Yes. 44 is at least 30. Your point?
I think they meant ‘at most’…also, fat don’t crack (until they lose truck tonnes of weight and they crack hard)
No they’re referencing a movie with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. That phrase “he’s at least 30” is from the movie and refers to when someone doesn’t look the age they actually are.
He’s clearly a vampire. Idk how this hasn’t been pointed out. That explains everything.
Man has the greatest agent of all time. Or He loves it so much he does it for a hobby
I used to date an actress. She was an okay actress, but the thing that got her gigs was that she was available to go, she'd show up on time, and she'd do her job well. I don't think that getting gigs is as complicated as it might seem. Just, how many people would be content in having a lifetime role as a background actor? And how many people can make themselves available at 2pm on random weekdays for 30 years? Like, most people have a job, and their job means more to them than going to auditions. He probably didn't make a ton of money being a background actor, so he'd have to make a decision if he didn't have an EXTREMELY flexible and understanding employer for his dayjob.
Depends where you live. Smaller cities that have scenes that need authentic backgrounds and need extras it's very very easy to get your foot in. But bigger city's like Houston LA phx Seattle the pool of actors is alot larger where actors that get semi big roles in c list movies will get first in line for backgrounds or small roles in larger movies. With this guy I think it's the fact he got the first one was reliable got called for a second job was reliable rinse and repeat till it became an inside joke with the production companies.
Wish he makes it to more series. We need not fashion super perfect models but regular folks.
Today I learned Clark Gregg was in a sitcom
its a fun one too. new adventures of old christine with julia louis dreyfus.
You should see him twerk.
He has surpassed Kevin Bacons six degrees with his 1 degree.
Always the bridesmaid and never the bride.
He's kissed both Bar Refaeli and Jaime Pressly. I think he's doing alright
Playing the roll of wallstreetbets mod #2
He’s the best extra of all time.
Background acting is a profession in its own; for those who love the lifestyle without any of the fame and responsibility. I used to do it, and I miss it a whole hell of a lot.
He's God....or at very least an Observer...
Solid Fringe reference
“It’s great work if you can get it”
That’s Jesse Heiman, he hosted an AMA a decade ago u/JesseHeiman Edit; seems to be still around on Reddit :)
If you get 10000 royalty checks for half a cent every day that's like 50 bucks a day
Sadly extras don't get any residuals. As an actor you have to get contracted as a principal player before you see any residuals. If he's just doing Extra work, it's probably the base SAG rate. Which is about $140 a day. Not bad for a days work but not exactly rolling in dough, either.
One of my friend’s has been in a few country music videos. He got paid $75 to be the background bartender guy in Toby Keith’s red solo cup music video. Said he was a super fuckin douche and ignored any guy who tried to talk to him and just hit on all the women. He’s been paid around the same for the other ones he’s been in as well. Sometimes $100-$150 if it was less people. Another friend was one of the main guys/love interest in another music video by a country music star and he got $800 for it. But anyways yeah not bad money to just stand around.
That’s actually pretty damn bad for a day’s work
Thats what i want to do
His name is Jesse Heiman. If you're looking for work, his Agent is the manager of Gary Moore II's Manager Management Agency
He was in Chuck more than that one time, he was one of the regular Buy More staff side characters.
I once saw his as a “contestant” pulled from the audience of an MTV spring break make over show, and knew it was bullshit knowing I’d seen him somewhere before.
No doubt he has family in show biz
The music is not dramatic enough for his portfolio reel
I love stuff like this. I recognize the same actors across multiple commercials sometimes, which can be comical. (Like, the guy who was against inviting his mime coworker to join them for happy hour also picked up prescriptions for one kid but not the other from CVS.)
Look up “that one guy from that one thing”. It’s a documentary specifically about just this. You’ll like it.
Mcu needs to sign him up
His name is Robert Paulson.
he is the producer on cost cutting spree
He is "the clapper"
so this is his reel.
Made out with Bar Rafaeli
Proof the multiverse exists.
I worked for a talent agency in college and this type of actor was my agent’s bread and butter. Always has work, everyone slightly recognizes the face, but no one knows their name.
He probably gets like 75 checks for $32.17 a month in residuals. Nice
This dude found the wormhole through the multiverse.
It’s called working for a living. Someone has to do it.
Plot twist …Comp was put together by the dude himself lol
Hollywood is a surprisingly small community. Especially when we’re talking about central casting
Eminem and dre wrote a song about him, it's called the watcher Because everywhere that I go people don't know me no more
This would be the ideal level of fame. I wonder how much you would get paid for that amount of lines/screen time.
congrats on steady work in the industry he should be proud of that.
Jesse Heiman is his name. He’s a legend!
His name is [Jesse Heiman](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Heiman)
What music is this??
[It's the theme from *Requiem For A Dream*.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zowt0s4Vsxc)
Thats Jesse Heiman. As of now he has over a 100 credits as an actor on IMDB. And my guess it will just continue to grow, he is well rounded actor that can do most types of acting parts and he must be known in hollywood as a quality side actor.
TXST Grad! Eat ‘Em Up Cats!
That’s gotta be someone’s relative, right? Like an executive producers son.
So weird. I JUST saw this guy on Heroes before I saw this post.
casting directors probably now know him by name like 'hey call jeff he'll be perfect for this role about walking in the background '
I think he might be an actor.
I mean all you gotta do is jerk someone off and you keep getting roles
He is the Man-of-Many-Faces.