Cameo appearance
Since its first use in 1851, a "cameo role" or "cameo appearance" has been a brief appearance in a play (or later, a movie) that stands out against the general context for its éclat or dramatic punch. A cameo role is often played by an actor of greater status than required by the role. A short appearance is also considered a cameo if played by someone better known for something other than acting, such as a director, politician or sport player. Cameo roles in opera include The Tenor in Der Rosenkavalier Act I, and The Forest Bird in Siegfried. Allegedly one of the earliest cameo appearances in film history is that of Erik Satie and his artist friends in the silent movie Entr'acte (1924, see below). Mike Todd's film Around the World in Eighty Days (1956) was studded with cameo roles and gave the term wide circulation outside the theatrical profession. The most famous cameo appearances are probably those of Alfred Hitchcock who frequently appeared in movies he was directing. Cameos are often uncredited, and, except for a director's appearance in his or her own film, usually involve a spoken line.
Cameo appearances in moviesDan Aykroyd, Indiana Jones and the Temple of DoomFrankie Avalon, GreaseLarry Bird, Blue ChipsBob Cousy, Blue ChipsTom Cruise, Austin Powers in GoldmemberHarrison Ford, E.T. - 2002 verOscar Goodman, CasinoCharlton Heston, Wayne's World 2Jesse Jackson, Medium CoolPeter Jackson, in each of the Lord of the Rings moviesSamuel L. Jackson, Kill Bill Volume 2Jason Kidd, Like MikeStephen King has had cameos in several of his films and TV shows.Wladimir Klitschko, Ocean's ElevenAnna Kournikova, Me, Myself & IreneStan Lee, in many Marvel Comics adaptations (Hulk, Spider-Man, X-Men) and MallratsLennox Lewis, Ocean's ElevenTerrence Malick, Badlands (director cameo) Dirk Nowitzki, Like MikeJason Robards, Enemy of the StateArnold Schwarzenegger, The RundownAl Sharpton, Coming to AmericaPhil Spector, Easy RiderM. Night Shyamalan, in each of his films (except Wide Awake).Britney Spears, Austin Powers in GoldmemberMichael Spinks, Cannonball Run 2Stephen Spielberg, The Blues BrothersJohn Travolta, Austin Powers in GoldmemberJerry Lewis, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldJack Benny, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldJim Backus, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldSterling Holloway, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldBuster Keaton, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldDon Knotts, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldThree Stooges, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldDustin Hoffman, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate EventsJon Stewart, Barenaked in AmericaVal Kilmer, The Missing
Cameo appearances in television
cDeForest Kelley appeared briefly as the 137-year-old Admiral Leonard "Bones" McCoy in Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Encounter at Farpoint (although some fans have argued it was not actually McCoy, since it is not stated explicitly).Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert) appeared on the Babylon 5 episode Moments of Transition as a man who asked Michael Garibaldi to find his cat and dog, and also in NewsRadio.J. Michael Straczynski appeared on the Babylon 5 series finale Sleeping in Light as the crew member who shuts down the station.The Simpsons is well known for featuring hundreads of cameos.
External linksEntr'acte in RealPlayer format (size: 2MB approx.)
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