50 of the Most Surprising Celebrity Cameos of All Time
From Jon Bon Jovi's charming lothario on Sex and the City to Michelle Obama gracing the iCarly set.
Celebrities do the strangest things sometimes, like appearing in a movie for 30 seconds, totally unrecognizable, or agreeing to guest star as themselves in a raunchy comedy. But it's actually pretty common for big-name celebs to show up onscreen in tiny cameo roles, whether it's Matt Damon as a bald rock star in Eurotrip or Glenn Close as a male pirate in Hook. Here are 50 times famous people have popped up in a movie or TV show.
Matt Damon, Eurotrip
Before Matt Damon was playing Jason Bourne or heading to Mars in The Martian, he had a quick turn in the 2004 teen flick Eurotrip. He played a musician with a shaved head and piercings who sang "Scotty Doesn't Know"—and wasn't terrible.
Michelle Obama, iCarly
Nothing would be more delightful than former FLOTUS Michelle Obama showing up to confess that she and her daughters are your biggest fans. That's what happened in a 2012 episode of the Nickolodeon show—and now we know that the correct form of address for Obama is "Your Excellency."
David Bowie, Zoolander
David Bowie's appearance in Zoolander may be one of the best celebrity cameos of all time. As himself, Bowie judges a walk-off between Derek Zoolander and Hansel, playing up the ridiculous nature of the task like it's a totally normal thing to do—and he pretty much walks off with the scene all on his own.
Bill Murray, Zombieland
Bill Murray's small role in Zombieland is a bit of a spoiler (turn back now if you somehow haven't seen it yet), but watching the comedian die in the hands of the undead gave the flick a sense of bizarre realism. Murray played himself, albeit with some creative liberties, and there's no other celebrity better suited for the end of the world.
Channing Tatum, This Is the End
You can always count on celebs to show up in a Seth Rogen flick, especially one as ridiculous and silly as This Is the End. Channing Tatum played a sex slave to Danny McBride, which only amped up the movie's wild factor. Tatum in a gimp mask? Priceless.
Bob Barker, Happy Gilmore
Former host of The Price Is Right Bob Barker's appearance in Happy Gilmore is funny for all the right reasons. In the film, Adam Sandler's Happy was partnered with Barker in a golf tournament, and it's safe to say things went rather wrong on the green.
Glenn Close, Hook
Is it a cameo if you can't even tell who the actor is? That's a question for Glenn Close, who took on a small role as a bearded pirate in Steven Spielberg's Hook. Close's character got thrown in the Boo Box by Captain Hook, but blink and you'll miss her.
Mario Lopez, Golden Girls
A lot of celebrities showed up on Golden Girls over the years—some already famous, and some not so much. A very fresh-faced Mario Lopez appeared in an episode in 1987.
Neil Patrick Harris, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle
When Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle came out in 2004, Neil Patrick Harris wasn't as much of a household name as he is now: He hadn't yet starred on How I Met Your Mother or become an Instagram staple with his cute kids. Who knows if we'd have gotten to see Harris play himself—on ecstasy—even a year or two later?
Demi Lovato, Grey's Anatomy
Demi Lovato took a dark turn on Grey's Anatomy as Hayley May, a patient with a mysterious ailment that made her try to claw her eyes out. The doctors solved the case, of course, but not before Lovato got seriously distressed.
Cate Blanchett, Hot Fuzz
Cate Blanchett is a proclaimed fan of director Edgar Wright, who helmed Hot Fuzz. But you'd never know it from her tiny role in the film; her face is covered up with a mask the whole time.
Macy Gray, Spider-Man
Macy Gray performed in 2002's Spider-Man (the one starring Tobey Maguire) as herself, taking the stage in the film's World Unity Festival. She was barely there, but her song "My Nutmeg Fantasy" still got the spotlight.
Billy Idol, The Wedding Singer
The Wedding Singer embraces all that was great about the '80s: insane hair, colorful clothes and, of course, Billy Idol. The singer helped Adam Sandler's Robbie get the girl at the end of the film. It was the perfect way to ensure a white wedding (get it?).
Bruce Willis, Ocean's Twelve
We'll watch Bruce Willis in anything (remember that arc on Friends?), so we were pretty excited when he agreed to play himself in the sequel to Ocean's Eleven. Willis' part was short, but essential to the story. And it gave Julia Roberts a chance to pretend that her character Tess was pretending to be Julia Roberts. Meta, right?
Ed Sheeran, Game of Thrones
Twitter was not pleased when Ed Sheeran showed up as a soldier on Game of Thrones, mostly because the pop singer didn't quite seem to belong in the world of Westeros. Still, he gave his quick scene opposite Maisie Williams his all and, if we're being realistic given everything that's gone down since, his character is probably already dead.
Winona Ryder, Friends
The title of Winona Ryder's Friends episode says it all. In "The One With Rachel's Big Kiss," Ryder played an old friend of Rachel who was secretly—and then not so secretly—in love with her. The kiss was tame by today's TV standards, but made some shock waves at the time.
Carrie Fisher, The Big Bang Theory
Princess Leia could make any fanboy freak out—and that probably goes double for the guys on The Big Bang Theory. The late, great Carrie Fisher appeared in an episode in which James Earl Jones (who voiced Darth Vader) and Sheldon rang her doorbell and ran off. Fisher came out with a baseball bat, ready to smack them—and ready to win our hearts.
Britney Spears, How I Met Your Mother
Britney Spears cameoed twice on How I Met Your Mother, as a receptionist who's in love with Ted. Her character Abby was extremely devoted, and Spears really nailed the lovestruck vibe.
Adele, Ugly Betty
Adele's quick 2009 cameo on Ugly Betty totally showcases her anything-goes personality ("I heard I was getting a foot massage"). If she's up for any new TV adventures, we'd love to see her on Riverdale (just saying).
Prince, New Girl
According to star Zooey Deschanel, Prince only agreed to guest star on an episode of New Girl if the Kardashians did not. The singer was apparently a fan of the comedy series and held court onscreen, giving Jess and Nick love advice. Nobody else has ever been so lucky.
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