The 20 Most Awesome Movie Cameos Ever

Cameos in movies are always a bit of a double-edged sword.

On one hand they can provide audiences with a reaction of genuine delight when they find a big-name star who was not listed in the opening credits has suddenly turned up on screen to enliven and enrich the film in progress.

The more negative reaction however can see fans of a particular actor howling in anger as some wannabe gate-crashes some other big-name star's party - usually with a scene of such gravitas that it completely overshadows the main star's performance.

After all don't actors get enough work of their own without having to swan around in movies which were meant for the people who's names are up outside the multiplex?

Even worse are the fame-hungry fly-by-nights who, not content with already being famous in fields such as sport or politics, have to go and show up in the world of showbusiness too.

Like them or hate them it seems cameos will always be a part of the great world of cinema and just for your viewing pleasure we have listed the best 20 we could think of.

Any we've forgotten...well they're probably off appearing in some other list somewhere.

20 – Jarvis Cocker - Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire

After his unwelcome, but undoubtedly amusing, cameo in Michael Jackson's Earth Song performance the former Pulp frontman decided to stick with what he knows best.

19 – William Hootkins - Star Wars

He was master of the cameo in his day and thanks to the net his untimely death in this scene is being blamed on a Mexican food-fuelled fart.

18 – Bruce Willis - Loaded Weapon

John McClane would have kicked their asses - sadly this was not his movie.

17 – Bruce Springsteen - High Fidelity

We've tried hard to make Britney Spears materialise in our bedrooms but apparently it only works for lucky gits like John Cusack.

16 – Martin Sheen - Hot Shots Part 2

I loved you in Wall Street - brilliant.

15 – Keith Richards - At World's End

Clearly influenced by the fans and the media this cameo showed some people really will do anything for money.

14 – Lance Armstrong - Dodgeball

If ever you feel like quitting - just imagine a pep-talk from a man who doesn't know the meaning of the word.

13 – Mike Tyson - The Hangover

Even once hated and universally shunned boxers seem able to make us say 'all is forgiven' by doing stuff like this.

12 – Sean Connery in Robin Hood

Historians agree Richard the Lionheart was born in England and raised French - so why does he sound here like he hails from Kilmarnock?

11 – Matt Damon - Eurotrip

If you go to school with the right mega-stars they too may one day agree to cameo in one of your films.

10 – Chris Rock - You Don't Mess With The Zohan

Man loses entire family - consoles himself with Chinese food.

9 – Samuel L Jackson - Iron Man

A special kind of cool cameo - one which hints at the next blockbusting film to come.

8 – David Hasslehoff - Spongebob the Movie

Also appeared in Dodgeball - but this saw him back in Baywatch mode. Couldn't he have bought Pammy and the girls with him, though?

7 – Stan Lee - Marvel series

OK to play old man on street or postman to the Fantastic Four - but who told him he could pull off Hugh Hefner?

6 – Animator - Aladdin

Not strictly a cameo but rumour has it this was a piece of sabotage created by a pissed-off animator who told Aladdin to take Princess Jasmine's clothes off. Fair play to him.

5 – Richard Burton - Zulu

Could have got any jobbing actor to read out the opening and closing narration but thankfully decided to go with a legend who's voice sends shivers up your spine.

4 – Alfred Hitchcock - Everything!

The cameo master - no contest.

3 – Tom Cruise - Tropic Thunder

You got us back on side with this one Tom - but not for long.

2 – Chuck Norris - Dodgeball

If Chuck Norris says you play Dodgeball. YOU. PLAY. DODGEBALL!

1 – Alec Baldwin - Glengarry Glenn Ross

Better in these seven or so minutes than he was in any of the films in which he was the star. There you have the true definition of a cameo.

[story by Chris Longhurst]

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