Take A Ride In My Cameo..

A cameo is when a well-known person makes a brief and often un-promoted appearance in a performance movie or television show. With the emergence of ‘acting troups’ (for lack of a better term) the cameo has re-defined itself. Whenever a Vince Vaughn film is released, you know Jon Favreau, Ben Stiller or an Owen brother is bound to show up. When you watch an Adam Sandler film, you know Rob Schneider will inevitably make an appearance. For me, the best cameos are unexpected and often have comedic overtones. Below are some of my favorite cameos of all time. What are yours?

Danny Glover – Maverick / Martin Sheen – Hot Shots Part Deux
When executed properly it can be very funny when characters/actors reference other works they have starred in together. In Maverick, Danny Glover (cameo) and star Mel Gibson cross paths and after a fleeting ‘I know you, don’t I’ moment, Danny delivers his trademark “I’m too old for this sh*t” which is best known from the Lethal Weapon movies in which the two actors starred together. In Hot Shots Part Deux, Martin Sheen (cameo) and Charlie Sheen, both parodying other movies make a not so-subtle reference to the movie Wall Street in which the father/son duo both starred.

Bob Saget – Half Baked
This one isn’t safe for work and you won’t see it in the television-censored version, but trust me, Bob Saget’s appearance is hilarious.

Lance Armstrong – Dodgeball
Coming off several Tour De France wins Lance Armstrong (playing himself) delivered a smart and funny ‘pep-talk’ to would-be quitter Peter, which alters the course of the movie and directly leads to the dramatic conclusion.

Billy Crystal – The Princess Bride
Playing Miracle Max, a bitter and aged miracle worker Crystal is no throw-away character. Though it’s only a brief appearance, he plays a vital role in the movie, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else in this role. The witty banter between he and has wife is intelligent, funny and expertly delivered.

Lawrence Taylor – The Waterboy
There is no funnier or more well place cameo than that of legendary football player and ‘accussed’ drug addict, Lawrence Taylor in The Waterboy. While the movie itself is average, the one-liner delivered by LT (playing himself) will forever be ingrained in my memory. “Gentlemen, which brings me to my next point: Don’t smoke crack.” The humor, sadly, was only enhanced because two weeks prior to the release of this movie LT was arrested for trying to buy $100 of crack from an undercover agent.

 
So there you have a few of my favorite cameos (off the top of my head).  Tell me yours.