From Macs taking over campuses to comic book movies invading the cinema, geek culture is here to stay. As a result, we’ve seen the rise of dozens of geek icons over the decades – from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs to the directors, the Wachowskis – who have helped set the pace for geeks everywhere. But behind nearly every geek hero of today, lies an interesting origin story that either helped create them or challenged them to succeed despite the odds.

In honor of these great geeks and their pasts, here are 26 geek heroes and their jobs before they became famous.

1. Quentin Tarantino – Video Store Clerk to Director

Though his latest film, Inglourious Bastards, caused quite the stir this summer, not many realize the source of Quentin Tarantino’s inspiration. A former video store clerk, the famed filmmaker learned a lot by observing what people watched – including a 1978 Italian flick called Inglorious Bastard.

2. Randall Munroe – NASA to Web Comics

Randall Munroe became famous for his online stick-figure comic at xkcd.com devoted to “romance, sarcasm, math, and language,” in which he often hints at a more scientific past. In fact, the physics grad was once an independent contractor for NASA before he turned to a full-time career in comics.

3. Sam Worthington – Bricklayer to Actor

With a pivotal role in Terminator: Salvation and his lead role in sci-fi thriller Avatar, Sam Worthington is laying down a firm foundation as an icon in geek movies. But before he got started at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, he was laying down a different foundation as a bricklayer in Australia.

4.  Summer Glau – Ballerina to Actress

Star of the sci-fi TV show The Sarah Conner Chronicles and space western Firefly, Summer Glau’s characters show amazing grace when it’s time for a little action. A classically trained ballerina, Glau turned to acting as a back-up plan when a ankle injury ended her budding dancing career at age 19.

5.  Steve Jobs – Atari to Apple

The man who turned apple from a fruit into a household name, Steve Jobs got his start at none other than video game manufacturer Atari. When Atari asked him to create a more productive circuit board, Jobs turned to then-friend, and eventual co-founder of Apple, Stephen Wozniak, to get the job done.

6.  Stan Lee – Obituary Writer to Comic Book Scribe/Former Prez of Marvel Comics

A comic book writer and creator of characters like Iron Man and the X-Men, Stan Lee had a modest start writing obituaries and press releases, delivering sandwiches, and refilling inkwells for the artists at Timely Comics. His proofreading and writing skills would open the door for his comic debut.

7.  Patrick Stewart – Furniture Salesman to Actor

After dropping out of school, Star Trek star Patrick Stewart went from studying drama to working as a reporter. But Stewart wasn’t too dedicated to the job, prompting his employer to issue him an ultimatum: the newspaper or Stewart’s local theatre? The answer was obvious and Stewart worked as a furniture salesman to support himself thereafter.

8 & 9.  The Wachowskis – Carpenters to Directors/Comic Writers

Best known for creating The Matrix, the brother-sister team known as the Wachowskis broke into film by working on comics for Marvel. But before that the two had been busy building a life with their carpentry business in Chicago. During this time the pair was hard at work on the concept that would become The Matrix and its sequels.

10.  Matt Groening – Waiter/Landscaper to Cartoonist/Screenwriter

Cartoonist and writer Matt Groening, whose series “The Simpsons” and “Futurama” would become geek staples, had an unglamorous beginning as a struggling writer in Los Angeles. To get by, Groening bussed tables, washed dishes, and even did landscaping.

11. Malcolm McDowell – Coffee Salesman to Actor

There aren’t many sci-fi or fantasy films that get by without Malcolm McDowell lending his acting chops to them. But before he could star in A Clockwork Orange or the TV series Fantasy Island, McDowell, earned his daily bread by first working in his parents’ pub and then getting a job as a coffee salesman.

12. John Cleese – Science Teacher to Member of Monty Python

An actor and member of the comedy group Monty Python, John Cleese is well know for his sense of humor but he also has a keen mind. In addition to studying law at Cambridge, Cleese briefly worked as a science teacher at his former prep school.

13. Bill Nye – Boeing Engineer to Scientist/TV Host

Before becoming a household name and inspiring a generation of scientists and engineers, Bill Nye himself was a mechanical engineer working for Boeing. When he wasn’t developing the hydraulic pressure resonance suppressor (now used in 747s), he applied to be an astronaut on several occasions.

14. Buzz Aldrin – Air Force Pilot to Astronaut

The second man on the moon, Buzz Aldrin has built a name amongst geeks, even recording a rap song and appearing alongside Snoop Dogg in a FunnyorDie segment. Though he has a gentle image, Aldrin got his start in the U.S. Air Force where he flew 66 combat missions during the Korean War. His non-combat assignment as an aerial gunnery instructor would eventually lead to his life as an astronaut.

15. Joss Whedon – Roseanne Staff Writer to Writer/director

A geek icon of the highest order, Joss Whedon is well-known for the sci-fi and fantasy series he has created such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dollhouse. Before he could earn the cred he would need to create his own series, Whedon got his start writing for Roseanne and script doctoring for several years.

16. Felicia Day – Violinist to Actress/Writer

This geek actress has been in everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to the web series The Guild, which she writes and produces. Though she’s now known for her singing, acting, and comedy, Day spent years studying ballet at a professional level and became a talented violinist performing concerts and competitions nationwide before her acting career took off.

17. Jonathan Coulton – Computer Programmer to Singer/Songwriter

Before hitting it big in geek rock and folk music, Jonathan Coulton was a computer programmer expecting his first child. When his daughter was born, he quit his job and devoted his time to composing. His reward? More time at home and a song feature in hit video game Portal.

18. Terry Pratchett – Journalist to Writer

With nearly 60 books under his belt, Terry Pratchett has created a name for himself in the fantasy genre. His books, which tend toward parody, deal with everything from the creation of cinema to the founding of journalism – very appropriate considering he was first a journalist and then a press officer.

19. Guillermo del Toro – Special Effects Make-up Designer to Director/Screenwriter

This writer/director of fantasy and comic films has an eye for design when it comes to cinematography, which comes as no surprise when you realize he got his start in film as a special effects make-up designer. Del Toro stayed in this profession for eight years until his directing career got off the ground.

20. J. K. Rowling – ESL Instructor to Writer

The creator of the most famous boy-wizard there ever was, J.K. Rowling’s own career began as a bilingual secretary for Amnesty International. She continued to put these skills to good use when she moved to Portugal to teach English to students there, and was studying to be a teacher Scotland when she finished her first Harry Potter book.

21. Neil Gaiman – Journalist to Writer

An author of books (Coraline) and comics (The Sandman series) alike, Neil Gaiman’s writing career began with him as a journalist in the 80s. His interviews and book reviews would open the doors he needed to get his first short story published at the age of 23.

22. Alan Moore – Office Drone to Writer/Cartoonist

One of the greatest comic books in existence, Watchmen (now a movie), was written by Alan Moore, a man who turned to menial work as an office drone and cartooning after being expelled from school. It was only once he was unable to live on an artist’s wages, that Moore turned to writing scripts for comics.

23. Stephen King – High School Janitor to Writer

Devoted fans of sci-fi/fantasy writer Stephen King already know that the pivotal gym locker scene in Carrie, has its roots in one of the author’s former jobs as a high school janitor. Though King would eventually teach high school, it was his time cleaning the girl’s locker room that inspired part of Carrie.

24. Jackson Publick – Comic Writer to Writer/Director

Creator and co-writer of the beloved action-comedy cartoon The Venture Bros., Jackson Publick had humble beginnings as a comic writer attempting to get noticed at conventions. After the creator of The Tick hired him as a comic writer, Publick would be promoted to staff writer and storyboard artist.

25. Russell T. Davies – Production Assistant to Writer/Director

Credited with reviving the British sci-fi/fantasy series Doctor Who where he served as producer and writer for five years, Russell T. Davies was only a floor manager and production assistant at the BBC when he began. He combined his work with a director’s course offered by the BBC that would later help him move to producing children’s television.

26. Bill Hader – Assistant Editor on Iron Chef to Actor/Writer

Comic fan and comedian Bill Hader, who wrote a Spider-Man comic with SNL head writer Seth Meyers, was dabbling in comedy in his spare time when SNL hired him. Of course, that meant Hader had to leave his job as an assistant editor on Iron Chef but that was probably fine as Hader admits he was “a pretty lousy assistant editor.”

- Genevieve Blaber