The Top 10 Best Actor Cameos From Movies

5. Neil Patrick Harris– The Harold & Kumar Films

Up next on this list of actor cameos is one so good that it single handedly revived a career. Sure, Neil Patrick Harris had been working steadily since Dougie Houser, but he was nowhere near the star he is today. That all changed, thanks to his delightfully revolting appearance in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Up to that point, it seemed like your slightly better than average stoner comedy, but then Neil appeared. The two leads pick him up on the side of the road and soon learn that in person, NPH is a monster. Drugs, sex, alcohol, you name it and he’s absolutely hooked on it to the point that he doesn’t hesitate to steal the duo’s car for a little joy ride. He makes it right in the end, and the three have been friends ever since. Good thing too, because NPH manages to save their butts more than once in the sequels.  

4. Jean-Claude Van Damme– JCVD

Before he showed us his comedic side in the short lived, but incredible Jean-Claude Van Johnson, he gave a damn good performance in JCVD. It was absolutely flabbergasting. I honestly didn’t know the guy had it in him. In it he plays a depressing version of himself that is completely aware that the films he’s making are crap, but he has to keep doing it in order to pay the lawyers for his custody battle with his ex-wife. Just as his life can’t get any worse, he’s caught in an actual armed robbery and taken hostage. It doesn’t take long for the robbers to recognize him, and he soon finds himself the unique position to be a real life hero. The film offers unique insight into an actor who is best known for taking such one dimensional roles that only show off how high he can kick and how big his biceps are. 

3. John Malkovich– Being John Malkovich

Up next is by far and away the weirdest of the actor cameos on this list. The name of the movie probably gave it away, but John Malkovich does make a “tiny” cameo in Being John Malkovich. The film is all sorts of surreal right from the get-go as a man starts a new job on the seventh-and-a-half floor of the Mertin-Flemmer building. There he finds a tiny door that leads to a tunnel that takes you inside of John Malkovich’s mind: as in you see, hear, feel, smell, and taste everything the actor is experiencing. Amazed, he shows everyone and after a while they slowly gain the ability to control him. This, of course, freaks John Malkovich right the hell out. He starts to think he’s actually going insane. That is until he stumbles upon the operation that has grown substantially. It’s a crazy movie, and one that has to be seen to be believed.  

2. The Entire Cast- This is the End

I have to pick one specific cameo of the dozen of actor cameos in This is the End to officially put in this spot, it would be Michael Cerra as a cocaine-fueled monster, but Channing Tatum as a luchador mask-wearing gimp is a close second. The is the End is stuffed to the gills with actor cameos. It’s got everyone from Seth Rogen to Craig Robinson to Mindy Kaling, all playing over the top versions of themselves at a Hollywood party. Just as the party hits its stride, the apocalypse hits. The Earth just opens up and hell rises up to claim humanity. It’s definitely a mood killer and now these celebrities have to find some way to survive. Anyone who’s seen a post-apocalyptic film knows that it’s only a matter of time until things go from bad to worse. While it’s not a great film, it does have some truly memorable and hilarious actor cameos in it.   

1. Bill Murray– Zombieland

Is there anything more perfect than Bill Murray during the zombie apocalypse? I probably should have seen it coming since Bill Murray has a habit of popping up in horror-comedies, but I’ll never forget the first time. As our heroes finally make their way through hordes of zombies to California, they decide to camp out in the finest house they can find. It just so happens to be Mr. Bill Murray’s house and contrary to popular belief, he did not perish in the zombie apocalypse. In fact, he’s been having a pretty good time just going about his business. What’s his secret? Incredibly life-like zombie make-up. It’s so good that he’s able to fool the zombies with it. It’s also so good, he’s able to fool some people with it… His laid back demeanor and lackadaisical attitude about the whole thing made him easily the best part of the movie. Plus, he had a cameo in Space Jam too, which is pretty cool. 

Honorable Mention: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon– Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

It’s easy to picture Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as best friends after their cameo in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. The two play bickering versions of themselves forced into making Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season. It’s kind of bizarre though, because two years earlier they played a couple of angels in Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse, and Affleck also played Holden McNeil. So, because of this cameo, that means there are quite a few doppelgangers running around out there. It’s just the kind of absurdity you’d expect from Smith and his merry band of misfits.

Shout-Out: Charlie and Martin Sheen– Hotshots: Part Deux

There are very few perfect moments in cinema. But the cameo featuring Charlie and Martin Sheen in character as Topper Harley and Captain Benjamin L. Willard on passing ships, that stop their inner monologues to stand up and tell each other, “I loved you in Wall Street,” is probably as close as you can get. The levels to it! The ridiculousness! It’s just… Well, you should see it for yourself.

Dishonorable: Julia Roberts– Ocean’s Twelve

The list above might have had some strange and ridiculous actor cameos on it, but Julia Roberts playing Tess Ocean who has to impersonate Julia Roberts as a major part of the heist that the film is centered around is just… It’s dumb. It’s really dumb, and I can’t believe nobody pointed that out during filming. I’m not even sure what you would call an actor playing a character impersonating them. It makes me cringe just thinking about it, which is why it’s getting a dishonorable mention. 

Those are my favorite actor cameos of all time, but as I mentioned, there are dozens if not hundreds more out there. Be sure to let me know what some of your favorites are in the comments below. As always, I’ll be updating this list as I discover new worthy actor cameos. So, be sure to check back from time to time in order to see how the rankings might change.