CAMEO APPEARANCE

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A 'cameo role' or 'cameo appearance' (often shortened to just 'cameo') is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television. Such a role needs not be filled by an actor: short appearances by film directors, politicians, athletes, musicians, and other celebrities are common.
Cameos are often uncredited due to their brevity or because of a perceived mismatch between the celebrity’s stature and the film or TV show he or she is appearing in. Many are publicity stunts. Others are acknowledgements of an actor’s contribution to an earlier work, as in the case of many film adaptations of TV series, or of remakes of earlier films. Others honor artists or celebrities known for work in a particular field.


A cameo can establish a character as being important without having much screen time. Examples of such cameos are Sean Connery in or Ted Danson in Saving Private Ryan


Cameos are also common in novels and other literary works. “Literary cameos” usually involve an established character from another work who makes a brief appearance in order to establish a shared universe setting, to make a point, or to offer homage. Sometimes a cameo features a historical person who "drops in" on fictional characters in a period novel, as when Benjamin Franklin shares a brew with Phillipe Charboneau in The Bastard by John Jakes. A cameo appearance can also be made by the author of a work in order to put a sort of personal "signature" on a story. An example from the thriller genre includes Clive Cussler, who made appearances in his own novels as a "rough old man" who advised action hero Dirk Pitt. An example in the comic book genre is John Byrne’s resplendent use of cameos in Marvel Comics’ ''Iron Fist ''#8, which features appearances by Byrne himself, Howard the Duck (on a poster), Peter Parker and MJ Watson, Sam McCloud, Fu Manchu, and Wolverine.
At the apex of the technique stands Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. This acclaimed novel is, among many other things, a tour de force of literary cameos.

Contents

Examples of cameos

See also

Examples of cameos

Mike Todd’s film ''Around the World in Eighty Days'' (1956) was studded with cameo roles (John Gielgud as an English butler, Frank Sinatra playing piano in a saloon) and gave the term wide circulation outside the theatrical profession. Notably, the 2004 film version of the story directed by Frank Coraci also features a large number of cameos.
Directors often appear in cameo roles to add a personal "signature" on a film.
The cameo appearances of Alfred Hitchcock in 37 of his films helped popularize the term among general audiences. Often whimsical, the cameos became so well publicized that audiences began watching for them. Hitchcock began placing the cameos early in each film so audiences could then give their full attention to the story.
Other directors are also known for casting themselves in cameo roles in their films. M. Night Shyamalan appears in some of his movies, such as ''The Village'', in which he is shown in the glass reflection of the sheriff (who is only otherwise filmed from behind, hiding his face), and also as a shady fan Bruce Willis searches at a stadium in ''Unbreakable''. In ''The Sixth Sense'', he is shown to be the doctor at the hospital and has a brief appearance in a short scene with the child’s mother.
Actors Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider have appeared in cameo roles in most of each other's comedy movies (''The Water Boy'', ''Mr. Deeds'', ''The Animal'' etc.). They usually contribute one line of dialogue or just a funny expression. Schneider's famous cameo line has been the poor man saying "You can do it!" in three of Sandler's films.
Remakes and sequels occasionally feature actors from the original films. The 1998 TV movie ''Moby Dick'', which stars Patrick Stewart as Captain Ahab, features a cameo by Gregory Peck, who had memorably portrayed Ahab in John Huston's 1956 film version of the same story. The 2004 version of ''Dawn of the Dead'' features cameos by Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger and Tom Savini, stars of the original ''Dawn of the Dead''. Vin Diesel made a short appearance at the end of '' where he challenges to race Shawn, Lucas Black, the then Drift king.
Films based on actual events occasionally include cameo roles of the people portrayed in them. In the 2006 film ''The Pursuit of Happyness'', Chris Gardner makes a cameo in the end. 24 Hour Party People, a film about Tony Wilson has a cameo by the real Tony Wilson. In the film ''Apollo 13'', James Lovell (the real commander of that flight) appeared at the end, shaking hands with Tom Hanks (the actor who was portraying Lovell).
In a similar vein, cameos sometimes feature persons noted for accomplishments outside the film industry, usually in ways related to the subject or setting of the film. ''October Sky'' (1999), set in 1950s Appalachia, featured photographer O. Winston Link in a brief appearance portraying a steam locomotive engineer. Link became famous in the 1950s for chronicling the last days of regular steam locomotives service in the region. ''O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' (2000), set in Depression-era rural South, featured cameos by country "roots" music notables such as Alison Krauss, Robert Stanley, Gillian Welch, The Whites and the Fairfield Four. Stan Lee, founder of Marvel Comics, often makes cameo appearances in films and television shows based on Marvel characters.
Other cameos simply spotlight celebrities. In the 2003 film Kill Bill, Samuel L. Jackson (who starred in director Quentin Tarentino's ''Pulp Fiction'') appears as Rufus, who plays the piano at the bride's wedding. Ben Stiller made an appearance in Tenacious D's video for their song "Tribute". In the 2006 film ''Casino Royale'', Richard Branson made a cameo appearance as a passenger being searched by security guards. In the 2007 film '', Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards made a cameo as the father of Johnny Depp's character, Jack Sparrow. Richards was one of Depp's inspirations for the character.
Miley Cyrus had a cameo in ''High School Musical 2'', credited as "Girl At Pool" who dances along with the main characters to the closing song, All for One.
Spider-Man appeared for a second in the movie The Italian Job. When a segment of the street was detonated, we can see him among panicing crowd.

See also

★ Bit part

★ Extra

★ Self-insertion

★ List of Hitchcock cameo appearances

★ List of directors who appear in their own films