# Authors Who've Acted in Movies Based on their Books **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091 "2008-01-26T15:49:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/21 "2008-01-26T19:30:14Z")
Ethan Hawke - The Hottest State ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/22 "2008-01-26T19:58:21Z")
They’re made-for-TV, but Colin Dexter made a cameo appearance in (I believe) every one of the Inspector Morse mysteries based on his novels. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/23 "2008-01-26T20:18:35Z")
Didn’t Howards Stern not only star in Private Parts but also write the book? I’m not sure on this one though. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/24 "2008-01-26T20:32:19Z")
Henry Miller appears in the film version of _Tropic of Cancer_ and Paul Bowles is in _The Sheltering Sky._ ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/25 "2008-01-26T20:59:18Z")
Hal Holbrook starred in **Mark Twain Tonight** , based on an adaptation of Twain’s writings that he put together for the stage. Jacqueline Susann had small cameos in the movies of her novels **Valley of the Dolls** and **The Love Machine**. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/26 "2008-01-26T21:07:54Z")
The IMDb lists [Mark Twain](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0878494/#actor) (!) as an actor in two adaptations, but I’m not sure if it’s to be trusted. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/27 "2008-01-26T23:40:22Z")
**Jean Shepherd** narrates, and has a cameo, in **A Christmas Story**. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/28 "2008-01-27T00:32:54Z")
SE Hinton was in _The Outsiders_ (as a nurse, IIRC.) ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/29 "2008-01-27T00:39:26Z")
[QUOTE=Cubsfan] Didn’t Howards Stern not only star in Private Parts but also write the book? I’m not sure on this one though. [/QUOTE] [Yes, he did.](http://imdb.com/title/tt0119951/) ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/30 "2008-01-27T00:42:08Z")
Chaim Potok has a cameo as a Talmud scholar in **The Chosen**. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/31 "2008-01-27T00:52:00Z")
In **Everybody’s All-American** , Frank Deford has one line as the owner of a diner. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/32 "2008-01-27T02:31:08Z")
King played the title role in the [Creepshow](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083767/) segment, "_The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verril"_. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/33 "2008-01-27T02:44:19Z")
Jordy Verrill: Meteor shit! That was pretty good acting from King ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/34 "2008-01-27T03:09:26Z")
Armistead Maupin did a cameo in the wonderful made-for-TV production of **Tales of the City**. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/35 "2008-01-27T05:36:18Z")
Terry Pratchett played The Toymaker in the \*Hogfather \* movie > **[Hogfather (TV Movie 2006) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765458/fullcredits#cast)** > > Hogfather (TV Movie 2006) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. He’s also going to be in _The Colour Of Magic_ movie, in production > **[The Color of Magic (TV Mini Series 2008) ⭐ 6.9 | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1079959/)** > > 2h 17m | Not Rated Leslie Chateris was an extra in an episode of The Saint > **[The Saint and the Brave Goose (1979) ⭐ 6.7 | Mystery](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083023/)** > > 1h 40m Frank Miller was the priest in _Sin City_ > **[Sin City (2005) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401792/fullcredits#cast)** > > Sin City (2005) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. There is, by the way, a popular legend that Ian Fleming was an extra in one of the early Bond movies. This story is not true, based upon mistaken identification. An extra in a scene wore a particular type of jacket, Ian Fleming was photographed on set wearing a similar jacket. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/36 "2008-01-27T05:41:51Z")
Charles Bukowski was a barfly in the movie Barfly. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/37 "2008-01-27T05:57:51Z")
Tama Janowitz had a brief cameo in **Slaves of New York**. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/38 "2008-01-27T07:57:44Z")
Joseph Wambaugh’s _The Blue Knight_ was made into a TV movie, and he had a small role in that. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/39 "2008-01-27T09:07:45Z")
[QUOTE=Peter Morris] Frank Miller was the priest in _Sin City_ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401792/fullcredits#cast](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401792/fullcredits#cast) [/QUOTE] He also had a blink-and-you-miss-it part in _Daredevil_ as “Man with pen in head”. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091/40 "2008-01-27T18:33:46Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] The face of Douglas Adams shows up in the movie **Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy**. [/QUOTE] He was also the man running naked into the ocean in the BBC series version. /hijack - biographical movies in which title character plays another role/ Erin Brockovich plays a waitress in that movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-whove-acted-in-movies-based-on-their-books/435091.md?page=3)