The dream of stardom isn’t a new one, but the effort to get into that limeligh can be a tricky game to play. The popularity of social media has kick-started new ways to get a face and name out there, highlighting new kinds of celebrity status, however, for some that dream of being on the big screen still remains. While YouTube provides an accessible way to be featured online, it’s not always easy to break away from one form of media into another. That said, these YouTube stars not only found their following online, but used it to break into the business and find their way into film and TV.
8 Grace Helbig Delivered On The Daily
In the early days of YouTube, the world watched on as individuals brought comedy and chaos to everyday life through their vlogs. To combat boredom, Grace Helbig set up her own channel to document her everyday life as she housesat. Her name and content picked up until she set out with DailyGrace, amassing over 2.4 million subscribers by the end of 2013. It was no surprise then that success in other opportunities started kicking up including roles in Trolls, Smosh: The Movie, and The Wedding Year. Filming hasn’t slowed down her content creation as she still actively works on several podcasts and updates her channel.
7 Jimmy Tatro Took Up Comedy
Not everyone started on YouTube by documenting their daily lives. Many in the first few years used the platform to express their creativity, including the writing, acting, and producing of comedy skits. Jimmy Tatro joined the crowd in 2011, working alongside his friend Christian Pierce to produce skits that found an audience of over 3.4 million. Tatro took a step away from YouTube in 2013 when he earned a small role in Grown Ups 2 starring Adam Sandler. Since that first appearance, he’s made his way into a number of big screen appearances such as 22 Jump Street, American Vandal, Modern Family, and Smallfoot.
6 Jon Lajoie Joined The League
Standing out from the Canadian crowd, Jon Lajoie made his way in the online world from early days. The Québécois comedian began his routines as early as 2003, but it wasn’t until he began posting rap parodies on YouTube in 2007 that his career began to pick up. Becoming popular for hits like “Everyday Normal Guy”, Lajoie found his way to a bigger audience when he was cast in The League. Starring for seven seasons, Lajoie has since found his way to other hit titles including LOL: Last One Laughing and Let’s Be Cops.
5 Anna Akana Started Small
Franchise work seems to be the dream of most wannabe actors, so it stunned and shocked Anna Akana to land a role in the hit movie Ant-Man. Starting out in 2014 as one half of a comedy music duo, it didn’t take long for Akana’s work to pick up traction and help her be seen. Within one year she landed her role in Ant-Man and hasn't stopped since. Appearing in Hello, My Name is Doris, Dirty 30, Let It Snow, and a variety of other shows and movies, her passions for the world of content creation are keeping her constantly booked and busy.
4 Lilly Singh Signed On As A Star
When it comes to successful YouTubers who have crafted careers from a single channel, there are few quite so popular as Canadian sensation Lilly Singh. One of the highest paid YouTubers worldwide, the actress has over 14 million subscribers, garnering billions of views across her two channels : llSuperwomanll and SuperwomanVlogs. While she continues to focus her work on YouTube, the star has branched outward to now include writing and acting in her list of credits. Making appearances in Bad Moms, F the Prom, The Bad Guys, and Dollface, this star YouTuber has managed to find the sweet spot of online celebrity.
3 Flula Borg Brought Laughter
Entering the world of film can be difficult for any online star, but coming into Hollywood from another continent is a whole other realm of challenges. German YouTuber Flula Borg brought music, passion, and utter comedy when he stepped into the light as Pieter in Pitch Perfect 2. Borg’s thick German accent paired with perfect comedic timing made him a fan favorite in an instant. In fact, Borg is set to resume his role in Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, a series that is set to release on Peacock in late 2022. Of course, Borg hasn’t struggled to secure other roles, featuring in The Good Place, Ralph Breaks The Internet, Aquaman: King of Atlantis, The Suicide Squad, and dozens of other films.
2 Todrick Hall Took To The Stage
Breaking through the realm of the World Wide Web, Todrick Hall secured more than just success in the entertainment industry – he found friends and connections in high places. Starting in 2006 by uploading songs and creative content, Hall’s goals for a bigger stage took him to American Idol to see how his voice would fare against some bigger names in the industry. Making to the Top 16, Hall’s fame rose and his video views shot up making YouTube his full-time career by 2011. Hall garnered a reputation for being out and proud, which, combined with his skills, led to spots on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Bob’s Burgers, Dear White People, Queer Eye, and many more – though his passion still leans towards theater, building up his impressive net worth.
1 The Try Guys Tried Their Best
One of the best known Buzzfeed breakouts, the Try Guys amassed a large following at a quick pace. The group containing Keith Habersberger, Ned Fulmer, Zach Kornfeld, and Eugene Lee Yang appealed to audiences for their openness regarding sexuality, friendship, and the utter lack of toxic masculinity between them. While the group built up a large following while employed by Buzzfeed, their real break came after separating to launch their own company in 2018. Their hit personalities have resulted in several spin-off series, a book, and a show with Food Network, however, it’s Eugene Lee Yang who has jumped into the world of film and TV alone. Appearing in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, the actor is set to share the screen with Chloë Grace Moretz in 2023’s Nimona.
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