All the celebrities who went on ‘The Dating Game’ before they were famous as shocking Netflix film tells story of killer contestant

It might seem odd now to think that famous faces might have ever turned to TV dating programmes to look for love, but there have been many.

Not every now-famous contestant from The Dating Game is known for good reasons, as some like serial killer Rodney Alcala were then later exposed for violence and crime against women.

Rodney Alcala got his nickname because he had once appeared on The Dating Game (ABC)

Now that we know his crimes, it makes the footage of him trying to be the perfect date on the TV show even more chilling.

Yet, looking back at those that didn't end up as serial killers, there's been plenty of famous faces from Hollywood and TV that have ended up on 'The Dating Game'...

Tom Selleck

Famous for many roles, including playing Richard Burke in Friends and sparking the older man fantasy, Tom once turned to TV dating to find love.

Now, we say love, but often, agents would put aspiring actors and actresses onto programmes like The Dating Game to try and raise their profile and get their faces out there.

Tom Selleck appeared twice on The Dating Game before his career took off. (ABC)

Before Tom hit the big time with roles in Magnum PI and Three Men and a Baby, he too was pushed into the limelight under the pretence of looking for love.

In fact, Tom appeared twice on the show, and failed to be picked for the dates both times.

Farrah Fawcett

The 70s actress was also on The Dating Game in 1969, just seven years before she would go on to become famous in the TV series Charlie's Angels.

In Farrah's episode, the two contestants who lost became iconic after taking their losses 'badly' on air.

In fact, when contestant number two was picked to be Farrah's date, it sparked a faked fight scene between the men, as they appeared frustrated at their rejection.

The fake fight scene was actually part of an April Fool's special and featured stunt men.

Farah Fawcett appeared seven years before her Charlie's Angels debut (ABC)

Burt Reynolds

Hollywood icon Burt Reynolds has also appeared on the TV show, sitting in the line-up to see if he would be picked as a potential date.

Reynold's cameo in 1967 happened before he hit the big time, with the actor picking up small roles in TV series, but still years away from his famous film roles.

As part of his questions on The Dating Show, Burt was asked to propose to his future date, but his answer didn't hit the spot and he lost out to one of his fellow contestants.

Burt Reynolds was also a contestant on the show (ABC)

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Muscle man actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is also no stranger to looking for a date via The Dating Game, and he became one of the lucky ones on the show, as he and his date won a trip to Hawaii.

Arnie also appeared on the show, winning a trip to Hawaii (ABC)

Groucho Marx

This time the celebrity in the dating hot seat wasn't looking for himself, but instead for potential dates for his daughter Melinda.

In 1967 for a Father's Day special, Groucho vetted men to date his daughter, which was more of a ploy to get his daughter seen on screen and help build her career as a future actress.

77-year-old Groucho was actually a comedy hit at the time, questioning whether the men had good intentions towards his daughter and how they'd behave on a potential date.

Groucho Marx went on the show to find a date for his daughter (ABC/ Youtube/ArchyL)