As a famous model for Ralph Lauren in the nineties, Tyson Beckford had his beautiful mug all over the place. He’s become one of the most successful male models ever, and it wasn’t long before Hollywood came knocking.
His first film appearance was as himself in “Zoolander,” and then he got to do a little bit more fiction in films such as “Biker Boyz” and “Into the Blue.” He grew his brand with spots on reality TV, such as on “America’s Next Top Model.” He also hosted Bravo’s “Make Me a Supermodel” for a pair of seasons.
Mehcad Brooks
The number of actors and actresses who got their start modeling underwear for Calvin Klein is unbelievable. Add Mehcad Brooks to that list. Brooks made the jump to acting when he appeared on “Desperate Housewives” in 2005.
His character lasted for a few seasons, and then Brooks was on to bigger and better things. These things included “True Blood” for a few seasons, “Glory Road” in 2006, “Necessary Roughness” from 2011 to 2013, and then as Jimmy Olsen in “Supergirl” from 2015 to 2019. He's also playing Jax in the latest installment of the Mortal Kombat franchise.
Boyd Holbrook
Walking major runways and landing huge campaigns before the movie-going public even knows your name: the Boyd Holbrook story. This model-turned-actor was discovered by a modeling scout while working as a carpenter at a theater.
He was working with designers like Gucci, Jean Paul Gaultier, Moschino, and Marc Jacobs before he decided to turn his charms toward the camera. His first acting role was in the 2008 movie “Milk,” but he didn't become anything close to a household name until his role in the Netflix series “Narcos” in 2015. He's also been in “Logan,” “The Predator,” “The Host,” and “The Sandman.”
Antonio Sabato Jr.
Early in his career, Antonio Sabato Jr. landed one of the most sought-after jobs in the modeling industry — underwear model for Calvin Klein. Once he had grown his brand and gotten people to know his name, he pushed into a low rung of the television industry, appearing as Jagger Cates on the daytime soap opera “General Hospital.”
He made his next move up the ladder on “Melrose Place” during the nineties as Jack Perezi. He's continued to find success on TV and on soap operas. His most notable other role was as Dante Damiano on “The Bold and the Beautiful” in the first decade of the new millennium.
Tom Welling
Famous people are discovered anywhere and everywhere, and Tom Welling is the proof. He was working a menial construction job when a modeling scout happened upon him back in the nineties. He wanted to pursue acting from the get-go, but in the meantime, he landed gigs for Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch, and everyone's favorite, Calvin Klein.
He got his breakout role in 2001 as none other than the hero himself, Superman (though when he was just Clark Kent) on “Smallville.” He reprised the role in a 2019 episode of “Batwoman.” He later for recurring character roles on “Lucifer,” and “Professionals.”