Discuss: When Famous People Play Themselves
Filed under: Casting, Newsstand
One of the best things Neil Patrick Harris ever did was star as "Neil Patrick Harris" in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. I say NPH, and not "himself," because it's not like this is really NPH -- at least, he'd like us to believe that he's not stealing cars and having risque adventures with the ladies. While his stint as a version of himself is one of the most popular, he's not alone. Entertainment Weekly has thrown up a list of 23 famous names who have played themselves, so to speak, on the big and small screens.
There's a bunch on there you should remember, whether it's talk of superhero sex with Stan Lee in Mallrats, or Marcel Marceau getting to speak in Silent Movie. It's a pretty solid list, and has some great cinematic cameos in the mix, like two of my absolute favorites -- Marshall McLuhan in Annie Hall and Kurt Vonnegut in Back to School. Although really, I don't agree with David Bowie being the best real-life cameo in Zoolander. For me, it will always be Billy "Put a Cork in It!" Zane.
But what about you? Check out the EW list, search your memory, and weigh in below about your favorite cinematic cameos.
Related Headlines
Add your comments
Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.
When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-28-2008 @ 11:02PM
ZooeyGlass said...
It's a bit obscure, but I thought it was hilarious when Ray Liotta played appeared on "Just Shoot Me." He was dating Maya when she discovered that he was obsessed with Christmas and among other things his apartment was filled with fake snow, a rideable train and little people he'd hired to work as elves.
Reply
4-29-2008 @ 12:24AM
Michael said...
Can't beat Chuck Norris in "Dodgeball."
"Thank you, Chuck Norris!"
Reply
4-29-2008 @ 12:51AM
Pippykk said...
I laughed when Julia Roberts played Danny Ocean's wife pretending to be Julia Roberts in Oceans 12!
Reply
4-29-2008 @ 1:25AM
ZooeyGlass said...
I almost forgot about Family Guy's Mayor Adam West. Hilarious.
Reply
4-29-2008 @ 2:08AM
Mr. R said...
I hear Van Damme is playing himself as a washed up actor, looking forward to that one.
Reply
4-29-2008 @ 3:49AM
Gerry Alanguilan said...
William Shatner in Free Enterprise was hilarious!
Reply
4-29-2008 @ 7:47AM
Scott said...
Well, I can guarantee that he's not having "risque adventures with the ladies."
Reply
5-02-2008 @ 12:43AM
Eric said...
How could they leave out Wayne Brady on Chappelle Show? Sheesh.
Reply