Conversation so far:
What was Tom Pettys's first acting project?
Tom Petty's first appearance in the film FM.
What year was Tom Petty's acting debut?
Tom Petty's acting debut was in 1978.
What project followed after Tom Petty's acting debut was in 1978?
Tom Petty later had a small part in 1987's Made in Heaven.
Did Tom Petty work on any movies?
Tom Petty appeared in the 1997 film The Postman.

Question: What role did he play in that film?
Self-contained rewrite: What role did Tom Petty play in the film The Postman?