15 Celebs You Didn’t Know Were in Popular Movies
Sometimes the biggest stars slip into tiny roles that breeze by in a flash, and unless you’re watching closely, you’d never know they were there; here are fifteen blink-and-you’ll-miss-them appearances and stealth roles in well-known films, with the who, where, and how of each cameo so you can spot them on your next rewatch.
Daniel Craig in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’
Daniel Craig appears uncredited as the stormtrooper guarding Rey during her escape on Starkiller Base. He’s the trooper who falls for Rey’s first on-screen mind trick and drops his weapon before walking away. The production kept his identity quiet, and his armor bears the internal in-joke designation “JB-007.” You can catch his voice and a brief glimpse of his distinctive gait in the corridor shot.
Cate Blanchett in ‘Hot Fuzz’
Cate Blanchett plays Janine, Nicholas Angel’s forensic-tech ex, in a scene set inside a forensics tent. She’s fully suited up with goggles and a mask, which is why most viewers don’t clock her. The cameo came together because Blanchett admired the filmmakers and said yes to the quick shoot. Her character offers a dry, to-the-point post-mortem that sets up Angel’s relentless persona.
Glenn Close in ‘Hook’
Glenn Close is the bearded pirate who gets stuffed in the “boo box” as punishment by Captain Hook. Heavy makeup and a bushy beard make her effectively unrecognizable. The quick cut shows earrings, expressive eyes, and a terrified yelp as the lid slams shut. The cameo became a favorite piece of trivia among the film’s crew and fans once it was revealed.
Stephen Colbert in ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’
Stephen Colbert pops up in Lake-town as a one-eyed spy posted near the docks. He appears alongside members of his family, all outfitted as townsfolk. Colbert, a well-known Tolkien enthusiast, visited the set and was invited to suit up for the brief shot. You can spot him training a telescope on the arriving boat as it slips past the guards.
Brad Pitt in ‘Deadpool 2’
Brad Pitt plays Vanisher, the invisible member of X-Force. He becomes visible for a split second when he hits a power line during the team’s disastrous skydive. The shot required a quick greenscreen element and a specific facial expression to sell the shock. The cameo was coordinated as a quiet favor between the star and the filmmakers.
Matt Damon in ‘Thor: Ragnarok’
Matt Damon appears on Asgard as the stage actor portraying Loki in a play dramatizing past events. The comic scene also features other recognizable faces in the troupe, all winking at the audience. Damon’s character mimics Loki’s melodramatic mannerisms while the Asgardian crowd watches. The gag returned later in the series with an expanded theater troupe joke.
Michael Jackson in ‘Men in Black II’
Michael Jackson shows up via viewscreen as “Agent M,” lobbying for a position with the Men in Black. He delivers lines in a crisp suit, speaking directly to Zed. The cameo fits the franchise’s habit of placing real-world celebrities inside its alien-adjacent universe. The production shot his bit separately and composited it into headquarters footage.
Keira Knightley in ‘Star Wars: The Phantom Menace’
Keira Knightley portrays Sabé, Padmé Amidala’s chief handmaiden and decoy. Wardrobe, makeup, and voice work were designed to make her closely resemble Natalie Portman during key scenes. Several sequences use deliberate staging so the audience can’t easily distinguish the two. Knightley also appears in courtly scenes without the face paint, blending into the entourage.
Hugh Jackman in ‘X-Men: First Class’
Hugh Jackman makes a brisk appearance as Logan during Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr’s recruitment montage. The pair approaches him in a bar, and he dismisses them with a very short, very sharp line. The production built the cameo around a single setup to preserve the surprise. It ties the prequel’s storyline to the established franchise timeline.
Channing Tatum in ‘This Is the End’
Channing Tatum appears in a late sequence as a masked captive in a villain’s camp. The reveal happens during a chaotic raid when the mask comes off. The cameo was coordinated in secrecy, with Tatum arriving for a quick, contained shoot. It plays into the film’s meta approach to celebrity versions of real actors.
David Bowie in ‘Zoolander’
David Bowie turns up as himself to judge the impromptu runway “walk-off” between Derek and Hansel. He steps forward, announces the rules, and officiates the duel with deadpan authority. The filmmakers wrote the beat with him in mind, and he agreed to the stylish drop-in. His presence elevates the fashion-world spoof with an authentic stamp.
Kevin Costner in ‘The Big Chill’
Kevin Costner plays the deceased friend whose funeral brings the group together. His scenes as the body were largely cut, leaving only brief, easily overlooked imagery in the opening. Production stills and cast accounts later confirmed his involvement. The role is a rare instance of a major star’s work existing mostly off the theatrical screen.
Bryan Cranston in ‘Saving Private Ryan’
Bryan Cranston appears as a War Department officer involved in the letter-review scene that triggers the rescue mission. He delivers orders in a cramped office as clerks process casualty notifications. The role highlights the bureaucracy behind the story’s central decision. It occurs before his breakout on television, which is why many viewers miss it on first pass.
Nathan Fillion in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’
Nathan Fillion voices the hulking inmate who taunts Peter Quill in the Kyln prison. The character’s brief exchange ends abruptly when Groot intervenes. Fillion recorded the lines as a voice cameo rather than an on-camera role. The filmmakers slipped his credit into the voice cast instead of the main roster.
Carrie Fisher and George Lucas in ‘Hook’
Carrie Fisher and George Lucas make a fleeting appearance as the kissing couple on the London bridge. As fairy dust falls, the pair lifts into the air during a nighttime flyover. The shot occurs early, just before Peter and Tinker Bell head to Neverland. Their involvement was kept quiet and later confirmed by members of the crew.
Share your favorite unexpected cameo in the comments and tell us which one surprised you most!