# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/141 "2021-08-20T03:34:16Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [Ian McKellen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Juzy2YVQgw8) explaining acting in _Extras_ “You’re confused.” “I don’t think I am.” ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/142 "2021-08-20T03:55:01Z")
_Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back_ is chock full of people as caricatures of themselves, including: James Van der Beek Shannon Doherty Jason Biggs Wes Craven Mark Hamill Ben Affleck Matt Damon ---
**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:** [August 20, 2021, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/143 "2021-08-20T04:52:08Z")
That was a smooth move, that cameo Howard Jarvis made in _Airplane!_ Long after his name is forgotten, which it already is, people will still be seeing him since no one will ever tire of that movie. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/144 "2021-08-20T05:15:13Z")
Stephen Hawking on _The Simpsons._ “Don’t worry, Lisa. Sometimes the smartest of us can be the most childish.” “Even you?” “No, not me. Never.” ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/145 "2021-08-20T05:20:28Z")
I would do a thread about “Actors who were famous in your head for only one thing for decades, then you discovered they were actually famous as fuck” But I can’t think of a better example then Jonathan Banks in Airplane! Didnt even know the guys name. He was just the dude who said, “He’s all over the place! What an asshole” Decades later I find out that guy is fucking Jonathan Banks. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/146 "2021-08-20T12:42:53Z")
> [@BigDfromLA](#): > > Wasn’t Chris Cornell in the movie Singles as well? It’s been years since I’ve seen it, but I’m pretty sure he only appears onstage with Soundgarden and not in a speaking role (I may be wrong…I just looked up the wiki page for **Singles** and Cornell is credited separately from the band). A few other Seattle musicians get lines, like Eddie Vedder who I mentioned above, as well as Tad lead singer Tad Doyle. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/147 "2021-08-20T13:27:26Z")
Cornell has a little scene as someone who lives in the apartment building that Bridget Fonda and Matt Dillon live in. When Dillon installs the super powerful speakers in Fonda’s car, and it blows out her windows, Cornell is standing there with them. [Here’s](https://youtu.be/7J5H8YzfARE) the scene ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/148 "2021-08-20T13:29:11Z")
Jonathan Banks is also the “muscle” in _Beverly Hills Cop_ that kills Eddie Murphy’s friend, setting the plot in motion. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/149 "2021-08-20T13:47:44Z")
Thanks @Superdude. Now I remember seeing the scene. It must be twenty years since I’ve watched the movie, which was an absolute favorite when I was in university. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/150 "2021-08-20T13:50:17Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Elvis Costello, Sean Penn, and Harry Dean Stanton as Charlie Harper’s “support group” on _ **Two and a Half Men** _ . [Mr. T and Richard Kiel in the henchmen support group at the end of the _Inspector Gadget_ movie.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-tv-henchmen/942506/53) ---
**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:** [August 20, 2021, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/151 "2021-08-20T16:33:28Z")
I think I’ve mentioned this elsewhere, but Banks was also a cold-blooded psycho killer on _ **Hill Street Blues** _. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/152 "2021-08-20T19:16:52Z")
Matt Damon had a number of very funny cameos on Entourage playing an intense version of himself: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VJQZXnVrtpM/hqdefault.jpg "Matt Damon Entourage") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJQZXnVrtpM) Similarly Damon’s ongoing feud with Jimmy Kimmel. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2021, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/153 "2021-08-21T18:17:33Z")
Buster Keaton in Sunset Boulevard. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Nn4pMI2q_PM/maxresdefault.jpg "Sunset Blvd. (4/8) Movie CLIP - The "Waxworks" Play Bridge (1950) HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn4pMI2q_PM) ---
**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:** [August 21, 2021, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/154 "2021-08-21T20:59:39Z")
Toward the end of _Parks and Recreation_’s run, Leslie Knope goes to Washington and meets with several real-life politicians who have cameos. My favorite is Joe and Jill Biden. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/155 "2021-08-22T03:21:19Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Toward the end of _Parks and Recreation_’s run, Leslie Knope goes to Washington and meets with several real-life politicians who have cameos. My favorite is Joe and Jill Biden. - You mean the one mentioned in the OP? ---
**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:** [August 22, 2021, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/156 "2021-08-22T04:13:14Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > You mean the one mentioned in the OP? Um, yeah. Now that you mention it. 😊 ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/157 "2021-08-22T14:27:45Z")
Bert Parks in The Freshman (1990) ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/158 "2021-08-22T15:57:37Z")
Carrie Fisher in Maps to the Stars. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/159 "2021-08-22T16:49:51Z")
Did anyone mention [Bob Hope in _Spies Like Us_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqBPOWpOg0o&t=50s)? ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905/160 "2021-08-22T17:39:44Z")
It’s probably obvious to all of you that **Big Bang Theory** deserves special mention in a thread like this. I say this because there were so many more cameos than those mentioned upthread. Without knowing for sure (or really caring, either), I’d say no other show has had so many. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-cameos-from-famous-people-as-themselves/827905.md?page=9)