There's nothing like an unexpected cameo! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the movie cameos that became iconic. By the very nature of the list, we’ll be spoiling a few surprising faces showing up.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the movie cameos that
00:09became iconic.
00:10By the very nature of this list, we'll be spoiling a few surprising faces showing up.
00:2010.
00:21Keith Richards – Pirates of the Caribbean at World's End
00:24Asserting that rock stars are modern-day pirates, Johnny Depp, based on much of his now-famous
00:29persona, for Jack Sparrow on Rolling Stone's frontman Keith Richards, it made sense then
00:36that when Jack Sparrow's father was dramatically revealed, he would be played by the iconic
00:40rocker.
00:41As Captain Teague, the keeper of the pirate code, he commands immediate respect, taking
00:46his rightful place at the head of the table where the pirate lords have gathered, before
00:51plucking out some notes on guitar.
00:58The small role, which he would reprise in the fourth film, was pivotal, and a clever
01:03way to call out an inspiration for an iconic character.
01:069.
01:07Orson Welles – The Muppet Movie
01:19The Muppets have never had any shortage of celebrities that they have rubbed elbows with,
01:23and their first theatrical outing was no exception.
01:27However, the celebrity cameo that became the most iconic was at the very end of the film,
01:35finally having made their way to Hollywood, the group ready to become rich and famous,
01:39meeting with fictional mega-producer Lou Lord.
01:46When his chest rolls round, he's revealed to be played by none other than the star and
01:50director of Citizen Kane himself, Orson Welles, chomping a cigar.
01:55With a dramatic flair only Welles could manage, he stoically asks his secretary to prepare
02:00them a standard, rich and famous contract.
02:108.
02:12Wesley Snipes – Deadpool and Wolverine
02:15To many people's surprise, Deadpool and Wolverine was largely a love letter to a bygone
02:19era of superhero films that, while not always great, were pivotal to getting to the movies
02:25we have today.
02:32The film was chocked full of cameos, with actors reprising their roles as discarded
02:36superheroes of decades past.
02:38The likes of Chris Evans' Human Torch, Jennifer Garner's Elektra, and Daphne Keen's X-23
02:43all make appearances while Channing Tatum finally gets to play Gambit.
02:51However, more than anyone else, we were elated to see Wesley Snipes as Blade.
03:01The star of Marvel's first successful film, it was great to see Snipes back as the day-walking
03:06vampire hybrid, reunited cheekily with Blade Trinity co-star Ryan Reynolds.
03:127.
03:14Mike Tyson – The Hangover
03:15Waking up in Vegas with no memories of a wild night before, a bachelor party must piece
03:20together their evening, solving things like why there is a tiger in their hotel room.
03:32They eventually discover that the tiger belongs to none other than legendary boxer Mike Tyson,
03:37who appears as himself in the film.
03:39He mysteriously appears in their hotel room, rocking out and singing to Phil Collins in
03:44the air tonight, before landing a punch on one of the group.
03:53Playing off his persona of an off-the-wall eccentric with a high voice and lightning
03:57quick strikes, Tyson's appearance was one of the funniest scenes in the movie, which
04:02is saying something.
04:046.
04:06Billy Crystal and Carole Kane – The Princess Bride
04:09When the heroes of this fantasy film need a miracle, who else do they turn to but Miracle
04:13Max?
04:26Knocking on his door, Max pops his head out, revealing Billy Crystal in old-age makeup
04:31doing an over-the-top voice.
04:33Soon after, his wife, played by Carole Kane, also in heavy makeup and hilariously over-the-top,
04:38joins the fray.
04:45The pair stills the scene as they bicker in Yiddish accents, shouting out phrases that
04:49are being debated to this day.
04:51Just as quickly and iconically as they arrived, however, they bid our heroes farewell, signing
04:56off the cameo with an iconic line.
05:005.
05:02David Bowie – Zoolander
05:04Surrounded by beautiful and fashionable people, the vapid yet really good-looking male models
05:09Derek Zoolander and Hansel need to decide once and for all who is superior with a walk-off.
05:26This begs the question as to who could officiate this clash of titans.
05:30Seemingly out of nowhere, the only possible answer appears – David Bowie.
05:34Introduced with a riff from his classic, Let's Dance, dramatically whipping off his sunglasses.
05:49After taking notes during a montage, Bowie disqualified Derek after he failed a final
05:53challenge.
05:57Few people could manage to make these small bits so ridiculous yet effortlessly cool at
06:02the same time, but Bowie always seemed more than just a mere mortal.
06:074.
06:08Matt Damon, Luke Hemsworth and Sam Neill – Thor Ragnarok
06:12Matt Damon is no stranger to appearing in iconic cameos, cropping up in a number of
06:16them over the years.
06:30One of the earliest and most memorable was a punk rocker performing an earworm about
06:34Scotty's cheating girlfriend in the teen sex comedy Eurotrip.
06:43Even more iconic than that was his appearance as an actor playing Loki in Thor Ragnarok.
06:55The play within the film recaps the events of the prior film, with Damon hamming it up,
06:59performing the God of Mischief.
07:01Joining him was Luke Hemsworth as the actor playing Thor, the role defined by his younger
07:05brother Chris.
07:07Rounding out the thespians was Shakespearean-trained actor Sam Neill as the almighty Odin.
07:233.
07:27Bob Barker, Happy Gilmore
07:31Things start innocuously enough when pro golfer Happy Gilmore, played by Adam Sandler, is
07:36paired with game show host Bob Barker in a celebrity pro-am tournament.
07:40However, due to a rather unruly fan hired to harass Happy, things quickly begin to unravel.
07:46As Happy plays worse and worse, Bob becomes angrier and angrier, eventually leading to
07:50an all-out fistfight between the two.
08:02After throwing the first punch, things don't go the way Happy intended, with the older
08:06man beating him to a pulp.
08:07For a younger generation, the hilarious scene is perhaps what Barker is known best for.
08:12As Barker prepared to leave the Price is Right years later, Sandler appeared to pay tribute
08:17and relive the moment.
08:262.
08:30Bill Murray, Zombieland
08:31Heading to the West Coast, a group of four survivors in the zombie apocalypse makes their
08:35way to the house of Bill Murray.
08:45However, they soon discover the house isn't as empty as they anticipated.
08:49Murray, in full zombie makeup, stumbles out, quickly forming a bond with two of the group.
09:02They get up to various antics, including recreating a scene from Ghostbusters and playing
09:07a prank on their unsuspecting friend Columbus.
09:09Pretending to be a zombie, things don't go as planned, as the Lark leads to Murray's
09:14death.
09:15However, the comedy legend proves that even in the throes of death, his subtle comedic
09:18timing is impeccable.
09:30Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:33Neil Patrick Harris, Harold and Kumar go to White Castle.
09:36The duo run into a womanizing, drug-fueled madman.
09:45Keanu Reeves, always be my maybe.
09:48Reeves plays a pompous yet lovable version of himself.
10:01John Hurt, Spaceballs.
10:03Hurt runs into a chestburster, again.
10:09Brad Pitt, Deadpool 2.
10:10Blink and you might miss him.
10:16Jimmy Buffett, Jurassic World.
10:18Double-fisting margaritas as pterosaurs attack.
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10:42Unlike the others on this list, Stan Lee's film career is comprised entirely of cameos.
10:47A legendary comic book artist who created many notable characters, Lee popped up as
10:52a hot dog vendor in X-Men.
10:54After that, seeing him in the background of Marvel films became a common occurrence, primarily
10:58as an in-joke for comic fans.
11:06Over the years, his parts became more noticeable and prominent with meta-references, including
11:10a great scene talking to the Watchers in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
11:23Lee would appear in every film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe until Endgame, released
11:27not long after his death.
11:29A fitting send-off for the cameo king.
11:36What iconic cameo lives rent-free in your head?
11:39Let us know in the comments below.