Buzz
Over the years, cameos have become a beloved tradition in films and TV shows, so much so that it's almost expected to see a celebrity or director make a surprise appearance in a scene. Sometimes these cameos bring a good laugh, and at other times, they serve as hidden Easter eggs to discover. This list highlights some of the most unforgettable cameos from the past 30 years of movies and TV. Spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution!
10. Tony Stank
A list like this wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Stan Lee. The legendary producer made appearances in 60 different Marvel films, with each cameo being special in its own right. From saving a woman in Spider-Man 2 to being mistaken for Hugh Hefner in Iron Man, Lee’s cameos were often moments to treasure. He even voiced Fred's father in the animated feature Big Hero Six. But one of his funniest appearances was in Captain America: Civil War, where he played a FedEx worker and humorously asked, ‘Are you Tony Stank?’
One of Stan Lee's funniest moments came in Captain America: Civil War, where he appeared as a FedEx worker delivering a package to Tony Stark and quipped, ‘Are you Tony Stank?’
Rhodey's line, "Yes, this is, this is Tony Stank," only adds to the humor of the moment.
9. The king of horror makes a call to Frasier.
Frasier, the beloved spin-off of the iconic Cheers series, ran for 11 seasons, earning its place as one of the most memorable sitcoms. After wrapping up in 2004, rumors of a reboot emerged, with whispers of it premiering in late 2020.
Frasier Crane, the psychiatrist-turned-radio host, has answered calls from numerous famous personalities, including Kevin Bacon, James Spader, John Lithgow, and Gary Sinise, who each portrayed unique characters.
In a quick blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, horror legend Stephen King also makes a brief cameo through a phone call. He portrays a character named Brian, who tells Frasier he's not content with just "30 seconds" of airtime and will hold on until the commercial break concludes.
8. Wes Craven's Cameo as the Janitor
In 1996, Scream made a huge impact, featuring stars like Drew Barrymore, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Skeet Ulrich, and more. The film, especially the Ghostface character, gained such popularity that it spawned a franchise of four films, grossing over 600 million worldwide.
Wes Craven, the director behind all four Scream movies, passed away on August 30, 2015. In the first Scream, he made an unforgettable cameo as a janitor wearing a red and green striped shirt and a cap that seemed strangely familiar. And the twist? The janitor’s name is Fred.
Another memorable Scream cameo came from Linda Blair, who portrayed a reporter in the film.
7. Candyman Arrives in Riverdale
Riverdale is a dramatic teen series inspired by the iconic Archie Comics characters. The show is known for its outlandish plotlines, where teens get involved in bizarre activities like joining illegal fight clubs, staging fake deaths, running a speakeasy, and hunting down serial killers. Riverdale also has a knack for creating its own unique slang, such as terms like The Matchelorette, Shankshaw Prison, American Excess, Vanity Flair, Glamazon.com, and ShareBNB.
The series is packed with references to pop culture, from Montgomery Clift and A Nightmare on Elm Street to Lolita, Grease, Psycho, and Carrie. In season 2, Riverdale ups the ante with a brilliant cameo from Tony Todd, also known as Candyman. He plays Farmer McGinty, who gives Jughead a ride when his car breaks down.
6. Fire Marshall Bill
Liar Liar is quintessential Jim Carrey. The film is filled with his exaggerated facial expressions, quirky movements, and awkwardly cringe-worthy moments. The plot follows Fletcher Reede, played by Carrey, a terrible father and compulsive liar, who almost loses his son due to his lies. After his son's birthday wish comes true, Fletcher can't lie for a period of time, leading to a series of comedic events.
At the end of the film, there's a subtle cameo by Jim Carrey himself, who appears as his beloved SNL character, Fire Marshall Bill, in the background of an airport scene.
5. Princess Leia's Cameo on The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory was renowned for its star-studded guest appearances throughout its 12-season journey. The show featured a variety of renowned figures including James Earl Jones, Stan Lee, Mark Hamill, Stephen Hawking, Charlie Sheen, Octavia Spencer, Rick Fox, Buzz Aldrin, and many more.
A memorable moment from the show featured both James Earl Jones and the late Carrie Fisher. Sheldon Cooper spends an episode with Jones, and together they prank Fisher by ringing her doorbell and running off. In the brief but iconic scene, Fisher opens the door, robe-clad and wielding a baseball bat.
4. The Purple Rain Incident
New Girl ran for 7 seasons, bringing in fantastic guest stars such as Josh Gad, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lizzy Caplan, and Justin Long. However, the standout cameo came in season 3, episode 14, when the legendary Prince appeared as himself, sending the loft mates into a frenzy. The world reacted with equal enthusiasm, as the episode's audience soared from an average of 4 million to an astonishing 26 million.
It was revealed that Prince was a big fan of the show and had his manager reach out to Zooey Deschanel with a request for a guest spot. Additionally, he made a special request that the previously scheduled appearance of the Kardashians be removed from the same episode.
3. Venkman’s Cameo in Zombieland
Bill Murray is beloved for his deadpan humor and iconic roles across numerous films. Some of his most memorable characters include Peter Venkman from Ghostbusters, Phil from Groundhog Day, and John from Stripes.
Zombieland, a wild zombie comedy, features a running gag involving a list of survival rules for navigating a zombie apocalypse. A cameo was originally written for the late Patrick Swayze, but due to his battle with pancreatic cancer, the role was ultimately given to Bill Murray, who portrayed a fictionalized version of himself.
Some film enthusiasts have lauded Murray's cameo as one of the greatest in cinematic history.
007 made an appearance in one of the most infamous Star Wars films.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker features a variety of cameos, including composer John Williams as a bartender, Hayden Christensen reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker, Samuel L. Jackson returning as Jedi Master Mace Windu, and director J.J. Abrams voicing the new droid D-O.
Among the surprise celebrity Stormtroopers, Daniel Craig's cameo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens stands out, particularly given that he's better known as 007 in the James Bond films. The clip above lets you experience this shocking cameo without wasting money on the rest of the film.
2. The cameo that almost didn’t happen
Some cameo appearances are tricky to secure. Eddie Van Halen turned down an offer for a cameo but contributed the music featured on the cassette that Marty McFly uses to frighten his father in Back to the Future. The movie nearly missed out on another cameo when Huey Lewis declined a request to write a song for the soundtrack, saying he had no interest in composing a track called Back to the Future.
Director Robert Zemeckis reassured Huey Lewis that the song didn't have to be named 'Back to the Future.' As a result, Lewis reconsidered and went on to compose 'Power of Love' without ever reading the script or viewing the film. He also contributed the song 'Back In Time' for the movie.
Huey Lewis himself makes a cameo in the film, portraying a nerdy school administrator who scolds McFly and his band, saying that they are playing 'Power of Love' 'just too darn loud.'
1. Backstreet Boys in Heaven
The apocalyptic comedy 'This Is The End' became a huge hit, packed with comedic cameos. In the film's final scenes, two characters find themselves in heaven, where they are told that any and all wishes come true. One of the characters wishes for the Backstreet Boys, leading to a hilarious cameo by the band performing 'Backstreet's Back,' while everyone in heaven dances.
++ Pretty fly for a white guy
Idle Hands, a dark comedy that initially flopped at the box office, is remembered for its failure to connect with audiences. Despite a hefty budget of $25 million, it only managed to bring in about $4 million and received a barrage of negative reviews. Over time, however, it has grown a dedicated fanbase, earning it a reputation as a cult classic.
Looking back at the film today, you may be taken aback to spot the American punk rock band, The Offspring, performing a Ramones classic at a high school Halloween dance. Amid the chaos, a possessed hand causes mayhem, even going so far as to scalp lead singer Dexter Holland.
