Randolph Scott was one of Hollywood’s defining Western heroes, but the actor’s life was far more complex than the plot of a shoot-em-up cowboy movie.

Talent matters in Hollywood, but so does someone opening the right door. Some future stars were discovered in restaurants; others benefited from a timely call, recommendation, or unexpected kindness. These 26 stories reveal famous faces who made other careers possible.

Robin Williams gave Disney one of its most unforgettable characters when he voiced the Genie in Aladdin. But behind the laughter was a bitter dispute that left the comedian feeling betrayed by the very studio he'd helped make a fortune. Disney even gave him a Picasso painting worth a reported $1 million, but the extravagant gift couldn't make things right. Years later, after Williams' passing, the studio honored him with a touching tribute that brought their complicated history full circle.