# Favorite cameos from famous people as "themselves" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2019, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905 "2019-01-17T00:51:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/1 "2019-01-17T00:51:46Z")
What are your favorite examples from movies/tv where a famous person shows up as themself? I think there are two broad categories of such cameos: (1) The famous person is playing it straight, more or less literally who they are, with the entertainment value coming from the reaction of the other characters, or the incongruity of their presence (2) The famous person is playing a heightened, fictionalized or exaggerated version of themself, sometimes making fun of one of their known characteristics, sometimes just having weird quirks added. For the first kind, I can’t think of anything I’ve enjoyed more than [Leslie Knope meeting her hero on Parks and Rec.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvbMB_GGR6s) For the second kind, my favorite two are probably: (1) [Patrick Stewart pitching a script in which he would use mental powers to be a perv on Extras](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg_cwI1Xj4M) (2) **Bojack Horseman** ’s recurring appearances from gun-toting lawbreaking “Character Actress Margo Martindale” ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/2 "2019-01-17T01:24:00Z")
Mark Hamill on “Just Shoot Me”. Not really a cameo, but he followed Star Wars fan Finch around until Finch became tired of him, just to show him how annoying it was. Mel Torme on “Night Court”. Judge Stone has to send his idol to jail. ---
**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 17, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/3 "2019-01-17T01:30:05Z")
Brett Favre in _There’s Something About Mary_. “Brett Favre? What the hell are you doing in Miami?” “We’re in town to play the Dolphins, you idiot.” ---
**Author:** ![Garak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@Garak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garak)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/4 "2019-01-17T01:42:38Z")
I like Bill Murray in Space Jam ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/5 "2019-01-17T01:45:04Z")
> [@Garak](#): > > I like Bill Murray in Space Jam [I prefer him in Zombieland.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHBmShA8P28) ---
**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 17, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/6 "2019-01-17T01:47:55Z")
Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels in the classic [Jeno’s Pizza Rolls](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5vHYpjaUko) commercial. [Ian McKellen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Juzy2YVQgw8) explaining acting in _Extras_ ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/7 "2019-01-17T01:56:12Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > (2) The famous person is playing a heightened, fictionalized or exaggerated version of themself, sometimes making fun of one of their known characteristics, sometimes just having weird quirks added. More examples of this include Neil Patrick Harris in _Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle_ and Tim Stack in _My Name Is Earl_. ---
**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 17, 2019, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/8 "2019-01-17T02:23:48Z")
Bill Buckner’s appearance (and redemption) on Curb Your Enthusiasm was both funny and heartwarming. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/9 "2019-01-17T02:33:45Z")
James Earl Jones driving Sheldon crazy with his wild night out on the Big Bang Theory was a riot. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/10 "2019-01-17T02:38:24Z")
Chuck Mangione in King of the Hill. Started off as a minor joke about has-been celebrity spokesmen, but after repeated appearances became a running joke of how much of a has-been he was. Only time I can recall where a celebrity cameo basically became a fully fleshed out character with a complete arc. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/11 "2019-01-17T02:59:00Z")
I liked when Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton and Colin Powell showed up to give Secretary McCord advice on an episode of Madam Secretary. Blake: I asked them to wait in your office. It was their office, too, after all… ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/12 "2019-01-17T03:02:08Z")
Not really a cameo, since the episode was built around it, but since larger appearances have already been introduced… Robin Williams as himself on Mork & Mindy. Him and Mork looking alike was a running gag - everybody except Mork saw it…he was insulted by the comparison, considering Robin pretty ugly, as well as finding his name obscene - and he showed up near the end of the episode, where he was on for a bit, then had a serious conversation about the nature of celebrity with Mork & Mindy. (Mork’s report to Orson was a bit depressing, on that one.) ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/13 "2019-01-17T03:18:36Z")
Condoleeza Rice on 30 Rock. Conan on 30 Rock. Bob Barker in Happy Gilmore ---
**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 17, 2019, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/14 "2019-01-17T03:19:51Z")
There’s always Dick Van Dyke’s appearance on Mary Tyler Moore’s _Mary._ Mary played the lead of a variety show, and they realized she looked a lot like the actress who played Laura Petrie, so they wrote a couple of sketch about it. The real Van Dyke was stuck and traffic and didn’t show up until the end of the show (Rob Petrie was in the sketches, played by Van Dyke). Finally, he showed up, with the great exchange. Mary: You know, I was up for a role in the _Dick Van Dyke Show_ Dick: Oh? What happened? Mary: Well, it was close, but at the last minute Rose Marie got the part. ---
**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 17, 2019, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/15 "2019-01-17T03:25:12Z")
Randy Travis and Wynonna Judd on KING OF THE HILL. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/16 "2019-01-17T03:53:59Z")
Kurt Vonnegut in, “Back to School.” Least favorite: el Prez in, “Home Alone 2.” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/17 "2019-01-17T04:28:18Z")
Carl Weathers as a cheapskate on Arrested Development. Bruce Campbell as a sleazy version in my name is Bruce. Tom Petty as nameless but it’s totally Tom Petty in the Postman. Jean-Claude van Damme as semi-unflattering in JCVD. Malkovitch. Malkovitch! Malkovitch, Malkovitch… ---
**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:** [January 17, 2019, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/18 "2019-01-17T04:32:21Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Mel Torme on “Night Court”. Judge Stone has to send his idol to jail. Mel Torme on _ **Seinfeld** _, singing to a mentally challenged (he thinks) Kramer at a charity banquet. This morning, I saw the episode of _ **MTM** _ where Ted finally wins a TEDDY Award and fawns over Walter Cronkite when he shows up to pay a visit to Lou Grant. Elvis Costello, Sean Penn, and Harry Dean Stanton as Charlie Harper’s “support group” on _ **Two and a Half Men** _. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/19 "2019-01-17T04:47:38Z")
[President Richard Nixon on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKUzxjr651s). Sock it to MEEE. No one really thought of him as a good-natured guy at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/20 "2019-01-17T04:53:24Z")
[Marshall McLuhan](https://youtu.be/sXJ8tKRlW3E?t=136) in _Annie Hall_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905.md?page=2)