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35 Cameos You’d Need a Microscope, an Incredible Memory or a Convenient Listicle to Notice

This is basically your cheat sheet

35 Cameos You’d Need a Microscope, an Incredible Memory or a Convenient Listicle to Notice

March 10, 2024 Add Cracked to Google

Most celebrities seem constitutionally unable to appear in a movie, lend their voice to a cartoon or even just pick up Dunkin' Donuts without announcing to the world what their process was in approaching the role. And yet, these 35 appearances tend to fly under the radar…

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Nathan Fillion

Nathan Fillion played a big blue creep in Guardians of the Galaxy. When Peter Quill and the gang arrive at the Kyln, they're threatened by a big alien (who gets lifted in the air by his nostrils by Groot). The voice of that alien? Fillion, who did it as a favor for James Gunn. Не did so well that he got to appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, in a scene that was ultimately deleted. CRACKED COM — Source

33

There was a Beatle in Monty Python's Life of Brian. George Harrison not only donated $3 million to get this movie made, but also founded a company to produce it. And what did he get in return? 15 seconds of screen time as a random dude who breaks the fourth wall with a Liverpudlian allo, then disappears. If only they had given him a bigger role; just imagine how famous he might have been. CRACKED COM — Source

32

The stabby Santa in Hot Fuzz is a famous director. You might remember Simon Pegg getting knifed by an angry Kris Kringle at the beginning of Hot Fuzz. What you might not realize is that the assailant also directed The Lord of the Rings. Peter Jackson took no credit for his brief but memorable appearance. And the blade was forged in the fires of Mt. Doom! Probably. CRACKED COM — Source

31

Kingdom of Heaven

An Oscar-nominated actor went undercover in Kingdom of Heaven. King Baldwin IV was the most famous king to have leprosy. In this 2005 Ridley Scott movie, he's played by Edward Norton in a mask. During shooting, that mask never came off, so nobody knew it was him. None of the cast knew they were working with the guy who had just been in Death to Smoochy. CRACKED.COM — Source

30

Kurt Russell

One of Kurt Russell's most successful movies was one nobody knows he was in. R.J. MacReady was in Forrest Gump? Yup! Even though you didn't see him, you definitely heard him. When things didn't work out with the original Elvis impersonator, Russell was brought in to do the voice of The King as a favor to director Robert Zemeckis. Which surely was the less questionable solution than if they had brought in Nicolas Cage. CRACKED.COM — Source

29

The Blues Brothers featured a whole lot of cameos from musicians... .. and Steven Spielberg. The legendary director shows up as the county tax assessor Jake and Elwood must pay to keep the orphanage from being shut down. Which was pretty much the only payment he received for his contribution. 2 It was probably either that or more aliens/dinosaurs/sharks. CRACKED.COM — Source

28

Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah was the voice of Griot in Black Panther. If that talking A.I. sounded familiar, it's almost certainly because you've seen an episode of The Daily Show. Considering a griot is an African storyteller, Noah (who grew up in Apartheid-era South Africa) was an appropriate choice. And he was able to understand Xhosa without subtitles, too. CRACKED.COM — Source

27

Judd Apatow went full frontal in Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. The Lonely Island's second movie crams in a bunch of different celebrity guest stars, but only one showed us their junk instead of their face: Judd Apatow. You'll know the scene when you see it, believe us. Perhaps it was a special treat for anyone who's complained about having to look at his face. CRACKED.COM — Source

26

George Romero was an FBI agent in Silence of the Lambs. After the conversation in which Clarice tells Hannibal Lecter about the lambs screaming in her nightmares, she's hauled away by a group of FBI agents. The agent with the beard is legendary zombie movie director George Romero. Fortunately, he resisted the temptation to reanimate Buffalo Bill's bathtub buddy. CRACKED.COM — Source

25

The voice of Beavis and Butt-Head was in the South Park movie. One of the most memorable moments in Bigger, Longer & Uncut is when Kenny shows his face and speaks without the muffle for the first time. And it just so happens that it was Mike Judge who voiced him. For three whole lines that were sped up to hide his identity. T KE EPRICA T Unfortunately, the rumors of an upcoming Boomhauer movie with puppets are unfounded. CRACKED COM — Source

24

You probably missed Bill Murray in Dumb and Dumber To. His character is hard not to notice, but since he never removes the mask, few have realized he's Harry's meth-cooking roommate, Ice Pick. Which turned out to be the least dumb decision in that film, in retrospect. CRACKED.COM — Source

23

David Beckham is hiding in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The famous soccer player took a break from retirement for an easy-to-miss cameo as a projectionist in Guy Ritchie's adaptation of the '60s spy series. Apparently, a funny mustache and glasses were all that was needed to make him pretty much invisible. Props to the wardrobe department for covering up his dopey-looking (and highly recognizable) tattoos. CRACKED.COM — Source

22

Family Ties

FAMILY TIES Tom Hanks CRACKED.COM Не has a 3-episode drunk uncle arc in which he ultimately horks down enough vanilla extract to slap Michael J. Fox in his Michael J. Face. — Source

21

BARNEY AND FRIENDS Selena Gomez CRACKED.COM Selena and Demi Lovato were both on the show at the same time, and both went on to have wholesome, family-friendly careers. — Source

20

THE SIMPSONS Michael Jackson MUSNI CRACKED COM Jackson voiced this character (a pop star named Michael Jackson) under the condition that an impersonator do all the singing. — Source

19

CSI Kevin Federline CRACKED.COM к Fed played a gang boss (and guy wearing a hat for the first time) named Pig, in an episode called Fannysmackin'. — Source

18

90210 Kim and Khloe Kardashian CRACKED.COM The sisters clumsily clip-clopped their high heels across the screen in a thinly-veiled commercial for their clothing line. It sucked. — Source

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17

NEW GIRL Prince CRACKED.COM Prince agreed to the part under the condition that the Kardashians not make an appearance. A PA had to burn all evidence that they had been invited. — Source

16

MONK Jennifer Lawrence OCGA 2001 200L MENS WRESTLING 2002 WOMENS VOLLEYBALL GOVERS VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONS R CHAMPIONS R CHAMPIONS SH GIRL'S HOOPS HE CRACKED.COM This overeager mascot would go on to win an Academy Award (several years later, for something completely different). — Source

15

Tarantino on The Golden Girls

GOLDEN GIRLS Quentin Tarantino CRACKED.COM Tarantino says the residuals from his role as an Elvis impersonator helped him make Reservoir Dogs. — Source

14

Carrie Fisher

THE BIG BANG THEORY Carrie Fisher CRACKED.COM This appearance was, bizarrely, the first time she ever met Star Wars co-star James Earl Jones. — Source

13

Van Damme

MONACO FOREVER Jean-Claude Van Damme CAST Michael CHARLES PITT Trollop One NANCY BROCK Troilop Two DANIELLE ROMÉ Gay Karata Man JEAN CLAUDE VANDAM Italian Daughter ANGELINI BANDINI Italian Mother MRS. NARDINI Hobo BILL WHITE Medi (Fräulein) NANCY ZINZELL Linda MARTHA FERRIS American Tourist SYDNEY LASSICK Fisherwemen GISELLE TSOBANIAN CRACKED.COM JC was credited as Gay Karate Man in his first film role. — Source

12

HOOK Glenn 2 Close CRACKED.COM She plays the nervous pirate who was forced into the Boo Box and introduced a generation to claustrophobia. — Source

11

Elijah Wood

BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II Elijah Wood CRACKED COM Wood absolutely crushed the role of Video Game Boy. — Source

10

BAYWATCH Mila Kunis CRACKED.COM As a kid, Kunis played two different precocious kids on the show. — Source

9

THE LITTLE MERMAID Alyssa Milano CRACKED.COM Milano didn't even know she made this cameo. She only found out that she was the model for Ariel when asked to do DVD commentary. — Source

8

TITANIC James Cameron CRACKED.COM Those are Cameron's paws smudging up Kate Winslet's delicate hairline. If you break Rose's heart, you will get these hands, my friend. — Source

7

STAR TREK: VOYAGER Sarah Silverman CRACKED.COM The Voyager travels back to 1996 and meets Silverman's quirky astronomer character. We can parse this from the constant 90's references, and how she says I'm a scientist! — Source

6

ALIEN Ridley 2 Scott CRACKED.COM Scott (specifically, his hands) played the part of Putrid, Pulsating Egg Sac just before John Hurt gets facehugged. — Source

5

Law & Order: SVU

LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT Robin Williams GRACKED.COM Williams plays an audio engineer who does voices to scam people over the phone, and later give himself an alibi. — Source

4

Mel Gibson

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST Mel Gibson CRACKED.COM Those are Gibson's greasy mits, no doubt fresh off a floorburger, driving spikes into Jesus' palms. — Source

3

HOT FUZZ Cate Blanchett CRACKED.COM Edgar Wright thought it would be funny to get an Oscar winner in there but not see her face. And it was! — Source

2

SMALLVILLE Amy Adams CRACKED.COM If you look closely, you can see Adams hiding behind a fat suit, CGI, and a bonkers storyline about binge-eating kryptonite and humans. — Source

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Julian Assange

THE SIMPSONS Julian Assange CRACKED.COM Possibly the :00 most top-secret cameo of all time, since even the producers didn't know where Assange was recording his lines. — Source

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