5 Actors Who Got Their Start on ‘Punk’d’ [PHOTOS, VIDEOS]

At its core, 'Punk'd,' which MTV will reboot with celebrity hosts on March 19th, may have simply been a hidden camera show that delighted in torturing celebrities. But the Ashton Kutcher-created series also jump-started the careers of a few actors who are well-known today. They might have been anonymous "field agents" on the show, but you'll definitely recognize them now. Check out five actors who got their start on 'Punk'd' below. 

Dax Shepard

Shepard was a complete unknown when he first appeared as Kutcher's prankster-in-arms on 'Punk'd.' Since then, he's starred in a wide range of movies and is currently a regular on the NBC dramedy 'Parenthood.' But he'll always have a special place in our hearts as the guy who made Justin Timberlake cry in the 'Punk'd' premiere episode. Watch the famous "punking" below.

Whitney Cummings

Cummings had a banner year in 2011 when two of her sitcoms -- 'Whitney' and '2 Broke Girls' -- made it to primetime. But the raunchy comedienne got her start as a 'Punk'd' cast member and assisted in pranking such celebs as Chris Klein, Julia Stiles, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Vivica A. Fox. Back in 2004, she talked about how "smitten" Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher were with each other on set. Oh, how times change...

B.J. Novak

To fans of 'The Office,' Novak is the arrogant, but utterly incapable, Ryan Howard. But Novak got his start in Hollywood back in 2003, when he was Kutcher's lead accomplice in the second season of 'Punk'd.' In one memorable segment, Novak plays a hot-tempered, baseball bat-wielding driving instructor during a prank on Hilary Duff. Check it out below.

Kaitlin Olson

Although she's best known for her role as Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds on 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,' Olson had humble beginnings as a cast member on 'Punk'd,' where she brought Amber Tamblyn to tears and earned the wrath of Beyonce. According to an interview Olson gave in 2005, Beyonce "hated her guts" after a Christmas tree lighting prank. "They make it look on TV like people are all into it," she said. "But nobody likes to be tricked like that." Watch Olson prank Beyonce below and see if you can spot hints of the pop diva's anger.

Ryan Pinkston

During the first season of 'Punk'd,' then 15-year-old Pinkston often posed as a reporter from a children's television network and openly insulted celebrities on the red carpet. Since then, he's appeared in 'Hannah Montana' as well as several movies. Currently, he stars in Cartoon Network's live-action series 'Tower Prep.'