King-maker
Smith was first.
Before Judd Apatow took Seth Rogen from ensemble TV player to box office star and then on to cameo-worthy status, Kevin Smith had already run his good buddy Ben Affleck through the gambit. The unknown Affleck, right, seen here with Matt Damon, had a minor role in Smith’s 1995 comedy “Mallrats” and followed it up with a starring role in his next movie, “Chasing Amy.” Then, thanks to another movie called “Good Will Hunting,” Affleck achieved the star power to be a bona fide cameo-worthy star. His appearance as himself in “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and his cameo in “Clerks II” were years ahead of Seth Rogen’s post-”Knocked Up” appearances in further Apatow productions. (Mitsu Yasukawa / For The Times)
Craig Robinson
Apatow was first.
True, the producers of “The Office” discovered the skills of the actor and stand-up comedian first, but it was Apatow who brought him up to the big screen for his bit part as a tortured nightclub door man in “Knocked Up.” Smith quickly picked up on his abilities and cast him as
