# Celebrities who played a fictionalized version of themselves **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 27, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911 "2009-08-27T14:54:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/101 "2013-01-09T08:08:00Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Nitpick: Jeff Conaway. Yeah, I mangled him up with his character Bobby Wheeler. And I also gave the name of the movie as “Man in the Moon” instead of “Man on the Moon.” On “Sanford and Son,” Redd Foxx appeared as himself in the episode called “Fred Meets Redd.” And Mork met Robin Williams in an episode of “Mork & Mindy” called “Mork Meets Robin Williams.” ---
**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 9, 2013, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/102 "2013-01-09T08:31:50Z")
Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons in **The French Lieutenant’s Woman** Jerry Seinfeld in **Seinfeld** Tom Mix in any of his movies Stan Lee in **Mallrats** and **Iron Man** Larry King and Jay Leno on the TV screens of dozens of movies I can’t remember right now Elton John in **Will and Grace** ; Melissa Etheridge on **Friends** Randy Travis, Wynonna Judd, Harry Winkler and Gov. Ann Richards on **King of the Hill** Jack Kirby and Sergio Aragones on **Bob** Cesar Romero has apparently been on lots of sitcoms and variety shows as himself ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/103 "2013-01-09T08:32:09Z")
James Woods in Family Guy is possibly my favorite in this category. I love the episodes he has been in. I think it’s particularly hilarious because he’s a rather obscure actor. Also, a bunch of the cast from Star Trek TNG played fictionalized versions of themselves and fictionalized versions of their fictional characters as well! Meta. ---
**Author:** ![Bakhesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Bakhesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bakhesh)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/104 "2013-01-09T09:29:18Z")
In the TV pilot [Heat Vision and Jack](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363668/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1), Jack Black plays an astronaut fugitive who is pursued by bounty hunter Ron Silver. Not a bounty hunter played by Ron Silver, but Ron Silver, who explains how he does bounty hunting as a hobby when he’s between roles. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/105 "2013-01-09T09:50:23Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Mark Hamill, Ben Afleck, Matt Damon, Gus Van Sant, Shannon Doherty, James Van Der Beek and Jason Biggs in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. In the years since this post, Van Der Beek has of course moved on to working this schtick on _Don’t Trust The B---- in Apartment 23_; one episode had him struggling to stage a _Dawson’s Creek_ reunion with Busy Philipps (and even Frankie Muniz) until Mark-Paul Gosselaar showed up to talk some sense into the guy. ---
**Author:** ![LupusYonderboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9d8465/32.png) [@LupusYonderboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LupusYonderboy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/106 "2013-01-09T10:07:22Z")
Bill Murray plays Bill Murray in Zombieland Everyone, including Bill Murray, plays themselves in Jim Jarmusch’s Coffee and Cigarettes And Jim Jarmusch plays himself in an episode of Bored to Death ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/107 "2013-01-09T10:22:08Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > James Woods in Family Guy is possibly my favorite in this category. I love the episodes he has been in. I think it’s particularly hilarious because he’s a rather obscure actor. > > Also, a bunch of the cast from Star Trek TNG played fictionalized versions of themselves and fictionalized versions of their fictional characters as well! Meta. James Woods ain’t exactly obscure. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/108 "2013-01-09T10:30:47Z")
In an episode of “Charlie’s Angels” Sammy Davis Jr played himself and the winner of a look alike contest who hired the Angels to protect him from being kidnapped, no doubt by someone whose mind snapped listening to “Candy Man”. Davis also played himself on “All in the Family”. Al Jolson wanted to play himself in “The Al Jolson Story” and was filmed in blackface for the “Swanee” number that used long shots. Sophia Loren played herself and her mother in a 1980 movie. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/109 "2013-01-09T10:40:08Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > James Woods ain’t exactly obscure. He is to the average audience member of Family Guy. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/110 "2013-01-09T13:13:28Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > James Woods in Family Guy is possibly my favorite in this category. I love the episodes he has been in. I think it’s particularly hilarious because he’s a rather obscure actor. Let’s not forget Mayor Adam West, voiced by Adam West. Of course, he’s not really playing himself. James Van Der Beek plays himself on Don’t Trust the B---- in Apt 23. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/111 "2013-01-09T18:41:22Z")
Wayne Newton in Vegas Vacation. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/112 "2013-01-09T20:03:17Z")
Wil Wheaton has a recurring role as “Wil Wheaton,” Sheldon’s arch-nemesis and later buddy, in _The Big Bang Theory_. There’ve been several other celebrity cameos on the series, including Wil’s _TNG_ castmates Levar Burton and Brent Spiner. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/113 "2013-01-09T21:01:05Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Arnold in _The Last Action Hero_? Also Maria Shriver. This one was pretty awesome, since it involved Arnold-as-Arnold attempting to convince his double (also played by Arnold), who is a character from a fictional world who is played by Arnold in the movies and therefore resembles Arnold, to go to work for him as a body double. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/114 "2013-01-09T21:11:26Z")
In “The Al Jolson Story”, as I mentioned earlier, Jolson plays himself in one scene. In the sequel “Jolson Sings Again”. at one point Larry Parks (who played Jolson in both films), in makeup as an older Jolson, is introduced to “the young actor, Larry Parks, who will play you”. Parks is seen in a split screen shot with no aging makeup ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/115 "2013-01-10T02:28:18Z")
Billy Dee Williams played himself on an episode of Modern Family. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/116 "2013-01-10T03:01:19Z")
Billy Ray Cyrus pretends to be Billy Ray Cyrus in an episode of _Hannah Montana_. And since his character is the father of his daughter Miley’s character, he’s essentially playing himself the whole time anyway. > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > It’s strongly suggested that Tom Petty is portraying himself in _The Postman_. Thanks - I’d managed to forget that gawdawful clunker of a movie. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/117 "2013-01-10T03:23:06Z")
_Zoolander_ had several celebrities playing themselves: Tyson Beckford, David Bowie, Cuba Gooding, Tommy Hilfiger, Paris Hilton, Lenny Kravitz, Natalie Portman, Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Donald Trump, Billy Zane, and others. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/118 "2016-11-26T06:27:00Z")
And how could I have forgotten Warwick Davis in [Life’s Too Short](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1641247/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1)? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/119 "2016-11-26T08:42:06Z")
Huh! The first example I thought of immediately was Carl Reiner playing Alan Brady on _ **The Dick van Dyke Show** _. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911/120 "2016-11-26T09:17:36Z")
In _Space Jam_, Michael Jordan, Bill Murray, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Shawn Bradley, Larry Johnson, Muggsy Bogues, Ahmad Rashad, Vlade Divac, and Jim Rome all play themselves. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-who-played-a-fictionalized-version-of-themselves/507911.md?page=7)