# Strange actor cameos **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411 "2010-12-16T20:01:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/81 "2010-12-25T01:24:21Z")
> [@Tess](#): > > Alex Trebek showed up in The X-Files as (I think) a MIB with one line. Seemed kinda out of nowhere. That’s right! With Jesse Ventura. The two played pre-Will Smith Men in Black. ---
**Author:** ![GTPhD1996](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/97f17d/32.png) [@GTPhD1996](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GTPhD1996)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/82 "2010-12-25T03:51:38Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > That’s right! With Jesse Ventura. The two played pre-Will Smith Men in Black. Jesse Ventura was also one of the prison guards in Arkham in the Batman movie with the Governator as Mr Freeze and Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/83 "2010-12-27T02:41:20Z")
The X-Files used a lot of people that later would go on to become famous; I’m halfway through the third season, and I’ve seen Seth Green, Jack Black, [Giovanni Ribisi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Ribisi), and [Jewel Staite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_Staite) before they were close to famous, and I’m probably forgetting a few. But they didn’t use established actors until Peter Boyle as Clyde Bruckman. And then a few episodes later the camera opens on R. Lee Ermey. His character is a priest. What? And dies before the opening credits. What the hell? Ok, he’s the central focus and has almost all the dialog and so it’s more of an extended cameo, but really? Maybe he’s just far more well known now compared to 1995 even though his most famous role was in 1987, but it was quite shocking. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/84 "2010-12-27T02:48:31Z")
> [@glowacks](#): > > The X-Files used a lot of people that later would go on to become famous; I’m halfway through the third season, and I’ve seen Seth Green, Jack Black, [Giovanni Ribisi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Ribisi), and [Jewel Staite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_Staite) before they were close to famous, and I’m probably forgetting a few. But they didn’t use established actors until Peter Boyle as Clyde Bruckman. And then a few episodes later the camera opens on R. Lee Ermey. Ryan Reynolds appears as a jock who gets killed before the credits roll in an episode right around where you are in the series. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/85 "2010-12-27T04:36:24Z")
Remind me, please, of the roles of Seth Green, Jack Black and Giovanni Ribisi in their particular _X-Files_ episodes? I don’t remember seeing any of them. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/86 "2010-12-27T04:47:59Z")
This is an unintended cameo (I assume), but in the 1978 movie “_ **On The Yard** _”, **Dominic Chianese** (better remembered now as Uncle Junior on the _ **Sopranos** _) is a prisoner in the movie by the name of Mendoza. The funny thing is, when I watched the movie again, **Dominic Chianese** is in the guard room taking role with the rest of the guards. He even answers when his name is called. I never would have put it together unless I happened to catch the beginning of the movie a second time. Does this count as a cameo? I wonder if IMDB notes this. I’m off to check. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/87 "2010-12-27T04:55:45Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > I wonder if IMDB notes this. I’m off to check. Checked. Not noted in IMDB. I am now trying to decide if it’s worth creating a user name to send it in. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/88 "2010-12-27T05:33:07Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Remind me, please, of the roles of Seth Green, Jack Black and Giovanni Ribisi in their particular _X-Files_ episodes? I don’t remember seeing any of them. Thanks! Can’t remember the episode, but Seth Green helps Mulder break into some air force base where he meets Max Fenig, I believe. Jack Black and Giovanni Ribisi were both in the episode about the kid who controls lightning. ---
**Author:** ![Goofus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7feea3/32.png) [@Goofus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goofus)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/89 "2010-12-27T05:44:58Z")
Ted Danson in Saving Private Ryan. I hadn’t seen him in anything since Cheers ended about five years earlier, and it was surprising to see how much his appearance had changed. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/90 "2010-12-27T06:00:46Z")
John Travolta at the beginning of The Thin Red Line. Seems like there’s something about WWII movies and cameos. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/91 "2010-12-27T06:24:42Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Kurt Vonnegut had a non-speaking “Old man on the street” cameo in the very good film of _Mother Night_ and as a director in the absolutely unwatchable film of _Breakfast of Champions_… Speak for yourself…I thought _Breakfast of Champions_ was hilarious and many other Vonnegut fans I know also like it. It’s about as good an adaptation as could be made of such a rambling book. Albert Finney is perfect as Kilgore Trout. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/92 "2010-12-27T15:19:59Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Checked. Not noted in IMDB. I am now trying to decide if it’s worth creating a user name to send it in. If you haven’t already, I can add it. ETA: Actually, even if you have, I’ll do it, too. They are somewhat nitpicky about first-time users submitting early uncredited roles, and they might not accept it. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/93 "2010-12-27T15:26:32Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > George Clooney voicing Sparky the Gay Dog in an early episode of South Park. All he did was pant, growl, and bark. I believe he received an award for his role as Sparky from some group for his contributions to tolerance. ETA - and as for non-cameos in the “before they were stars” sense, I cracked up laughing watching _The Gilmore Girls_ last night (shut up, don’t tell anybody) and there was a little baby Jon Hamm. ---
**Author:** ![justrob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/94 "2010-12-27T17:55:30Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > \*\*Kevin Bacon \*\*has a cameo in _ **Planes, Trains, and Automob** _iles as the guy racing \*\*Steve Martin \*\*for a cab at the beginning of the movie. He was already pretty well-known at that point (\*\*\*Footloose \*\*\*was 3 years earlier). I was always under the impression that scene was based off a race in _Quicksilver_ from the year before ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/95 "2010-12-27T18:05:25Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > The only two that come to mind are Christian Slater in a small scene in **Star Trek VI** , . It gets less strange if you know that his mom is Mary Jo Slater, who was the casting director for Star Trek. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/96 "2010-12-28T02:19:58Z")
> [@TV\_time](#): > > Charlie Chaplin in his final directorial effort “The Countess from Shanghi” briefly plays a steward on a ship who gets seasick. (I could be a touch off on that title - I’m doing this from memory). You were fairly close – the correct title is [_A Countess from Hong Kong_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Countess_from_Hong_Kong). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/97 "2010-12-28T02:42:05Z")
> [@kidneyfailure](#): > > Can’t remember the episode, but Seth Green helps Mulder break into some air force base where he meets Max Fenig, I believe. Jack Black and Giovanni Ribisi were both in the episode about the kid who controls lightning. Thank you! Paul Giamatti also has a pretty small role in _Saving Private Ryan_ as the Airborne sergeant who inadvertently knocks down a wall, revealing German troops on the other side. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/98 "2010-12-28T04:19:12Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Remind me, please, of the roles of Seth Green, Jack Black and Giovanni Ribisi in their particular _X-Files_ episodes? I don’t remember seeing any of them. Thanks! Seth Green was in “Deep Throat”, the second episode aired. Giovanni Ribisi was the lead guest star in “D.P.O.”, near beginning of the third season; Jack Black was a friend of his. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/99 "2010-12-28T05:03:17Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > John Travolta at the beginning of The Thin Red Line. Seems like there’s something about WWII movies and cameos. George Clooney towards the end. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2010, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411/100 "2010-12-28T05:17:37Z")
Sarah Silverman was in an Episode of ST: voyager. It was a time travel episode where for some reason they were on earth in the '90’s. Also, Cristopher Loyd played a Klingon in TWOK. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-actor-cameos/564411.md?page=6)