# Not a Cameo **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [October 5, 2024, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464 "2024-10-05T03:56:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/41 "2024-10-10T22:51:15Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > I see all kinds of people these days, actors even, missing the word “cameo.” My understanding of a cameo is a brief uncredited appearance by someone famous for a few seconds in a movie or TV show I guess uncredited would be a big part of it. These days though, someone might be credited online IMDB) but maybe not in the official scrolling cast text. But I don’t know since it’s hard to watch the credits without watching the movie. Was Dwight Yoakum listed in the screen credits of Red Rock West? I guess a bright-line case would be Tom Cruise in Young Guns. And can you play a cameo part in a movie you are already in? In Miller’s Crossing, when Tom barges into the ladies room, one of the women is actually Albert Finney in drag. Uncredited, as he was primarily the crime boss. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2024, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/42 "2024-10-10T23:23:14Z")
I’ve rewatched that scene multiple times looking for Albert Finney but couldn’t easily spot him. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/43 "2024-10-10T23:36:06Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > If that’s a cameo, how about a trick-or-treater costumed as Yoda showing up in _E.T._, much to the surprise of E.T. Sure seems like a cameo to me! ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2024, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/44 "2024-10-10T23:37:56Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I guess uncredited would be a big part of it. I would agree. The appearance should be a surprise, though with all the spoilers these days, even in the trailers, sometimes it’s hard to be surprised anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/45 "2024-10-11T16:05:33Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’ve rewatched that scene multiple times looking for Albert Finney but couldn’t easily spot him. [Here ya go!](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/ab262680-2e31-445b-a4d5-f89b735b0d90_l.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/46 "2024-10-12T22:54:54Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > A group of “E.T. The Extraterrestrial” aliens appear in the background in _Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace_. Would THAT count as a cameo? I’m leaning toward Easter Egg. It’s just something spotted in the background for eagle-eyed viewers. Just like spotting the Discovery pod from 2001: a Space Odyssey in Watto’s junkyard or R2D2 and C3P0 in Raiders of the Lost Ark. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/47 "2024-10-12T23:53:50Z")
They were in Raiders? ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/48 "2024-10-13T00:56:26Z")
[![](https://i.redd.it/e2emt2z4hvuz.jpg) ](https://i.redd.it/e2emt2z4hvuz.jpg) They even included it in the Lego set. [![](https://i.imgur.com/vAd3LBz.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/vAd3LBz.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/49 "2024-10-13T03:19:13Z")
Coolio! Did not know that. Nice Easter egg. I like the red and green snakes too. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/50 "2024-10-13T14:27:24Z")
What about the scene in Deadpool 2, where the X-Men are hiding from Deadpool? I’ve seen that listed as a cameo. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/51 "2024-10-13T16:00:16Z")
And that would be my beef with the overuse of the word cameo. Many guest appearances are referred to as cameos when they’re really not. To my mind, a cameo is notable for its brevity, like Donald Trump giving directions in Home Alone 2. The X-Men had significant roles in DP&W if memory serves. Henry Cavill’s blink and you miss it appearance as one of the versions of Wolverine would qualify as a cameo. Unless I’m way out to lunch on what my understanding of a cameo is. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/52 "2024-10-13T17:08:30Z")
I think ‘brief’ is the key to a cameo. Doesn’t matter to me if it’s credited or not. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/53 "2024-10-13T19:40:15Z")
I think “Surprise appearance” is often confused with “Cameo”. A cameo has to almost be incidental to the plot; literally there for its own sake. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/54 "2024-10-13T21:52:39Z")
But he was referring the the X-Men in _Deadpool 2_, which is just Beast closing a door while the other X-Men are in that room, hoping that Deadpool doesn’t see them. I think you’re conflating _Deadpool 2_ and _Deadpool & Wolverine_. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/55 "2024-10-14T10:41:57Z")
Hmmm. Could be. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/56 "2024-10-14T10:54:19Z")
To me, the platonic ideal of a cameo is [Sean Connery](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRDwlR4zbEM)’s appearence in _Robin Hood Prince of Thieves_. “I will not allow thish wedding to prosheed!” It’s very brief, it’s a complete surprise, and it’s both awesome and completely inconsequential to the film’s plot. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/57 "2024-10-14T10:56:13Z")
I moustache you a question—but I’m shaving it for later. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/58 "2024-10-14T13:04:01Z")
How would people label these three appearances In **Mary Poppins Returns** : - Dick Van Dyke (Mr Dawes Jr) - Angela Lansbury (Balloon Lady) - Karen Dotrice (Elegant Lady) She played Jane Banks in the original movie I think you could make the case for all three being Cameos, but the first one is really a surprise casting. DVD plays a critical role in the plot. The role played by Karen Dotrice is closer to an Easter Egg and spoke a line she sang in the original movie. Angela Lansbury IMO is a legit Cameo. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2024, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/59 "2024-10-14T13:12:14Z")
I think the categories of cameo, Easter Egg, and various other special performances can overlap a great deal. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464/60 "2024-10-14T22:42:46Z")
Is that the Marry Poppins that came out a couple years ago with an Emily Blunt? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-cameo/1008464.md?page=4)