A man who has been recognised by thousands of people has left members of the public trying to figure out where they remember him from, and his job may surprise you
10:14, 30 Jul 2025
An ordinary-looking man has been recognised by thousands of people, and many are only just realising why. The familiar face has left members of the public scratching their heads as they try and figure out where the man is from. A post to the r/TodayILearned Reddit page has since shed some light on the sighting.
It is likely you may have seen the man when watching a film or television programme from the last 25 years. Jesse Heiman, the man pictured above, may seem like an everyday face but his work has landed him roles in everything from Hollywood hits like Transformers: Dark of the Moon to comedy shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Heiman, an American actor and comedian, is best known not for his line delivery or performances, but for his background additions. His work as an extra means he features in all-time classics without uttering a word.
Film and TV show fans are only just realising how many major epics the star has appeared in. A post to Reddit reads: "He has 108 credits including Spider-Man, The Social Network, Transformers, Monk, How I Met Your Mother and many more. It’s believed he is the most recognisable extra in film history."
Heiman's work as an extra is legendary, though some may remember him for his recurring role in Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.
He also had frequent features in The Big Bang Theory, playing the role of Wil Wheaton's friend. Heiman's recognisable face and dependable extra work makes him one of the most familiar faces on screen.
One person who has worked with extra legend Heiman shared: "I did extra work for many years and would see Jesse on set pretty regularly.
"There's plenty of career extras with similar or more extensive credits but they don't have Jesse's unique look, which is what makes him so easy to spot."
Others who have spotted Heiman on screen have cited everything from American Pie to a Super Bowl XLVII GoDaddy Commercial as some of his very best appearances.
Some viewers have found it surprising Heiman has never been offered a role beyond extras work, despite being a recognisable on-screen presence without having many, if any, lines.
One thread comment reads: "It's pretty astonishing that a person can work in TV and film for that long without ever having a real role..."
Another added: "Dude has a very distinctive look, and visually fits a 'type'. This is often what they're looking for in featured extras, someone who's character is immediately apparent and conventional, and easily fits a personality trope."
A documentary on Heiman's notoriety as an extra is also in the works. Jesse Heiman: World's Greatest Extra does not have a release date at the time of writing, but is in production.