Why Noreen From A Haunted House 2 Looks So Familiar

Pyle's penchant popping up in outlandishly funny bit parts began early in her career. The 1999 sci-fi comedy "Galaxy Quest" provided one of her earliest major roles and still one of her best. In the film, Pyle plays Laliari, a member of an alien race whose culture was influenced by transmissions from Earth of a "Star Trek" style TV series. During an interview with AV Club, Pyle explained that the tiny part ended up being expanded during production. She said that she heard second-hand that Steven Spielberg, co-founder of DreamWorks studios which distributed the film, said, "'I really like what you're doing, so I made your part bigger.'"

That early notice set a precedent. After "Galaxy Quest" she went on to have small but hilarious roles in "Anchorman," "50 First Dates," and "Dodgeball," where she played unkempt dodgeball phenomenon Fran Stalinovskovichdaviddivichski. The 2001 live-action adaptation of "Josie and the Pussycats" gave her a meatier part as the sarcastic and stylish Alexandra Cabot. Then in 2005, she appeared in Tim Burton's take on "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" as the overbearing Mrs. Beauregarde.

As her career progressed, the types of parts Pyle played often remained similar, but she did find herself starring in more films with major prestige.