The Star Who Appears in More Tarantino Films Than Anyone Else

When discussing the frequent faces of the Tarantino-verse, Uma Thurman and Tim Roth are often the first to come to mind. Thurman achieved iconic status as the Bride in the Kill Bill duology and Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction, while Roth has appeared in four separate projects, including the director’s segment of Four Rooms.

Harvey Keitel also boasts four collaborations, but it is Samuel L. Jackson who famously leads the pack with six unforgettable performances. However, even Jackson doesn’t actually hold the title for the most appearances in a Tarantino production.

That honor belongs to the director himself, who has made it a personal tradition to step in front of the camera. While he is far more renowned for his visionary filmmaking than his acting, Tarantino clearly enjoys these brief, often jarring cameos in his own work.

This habit began with his 1992 debut Reservoir Dogs, where he played the doomed Mr. Brown. He followed this with a memorable turn as the coffee-obsessed Jimmy in Pulp Fiction, famously scolding Jules and Vincent in his bathrobe. Since then, he has appeared as a member of the Crazy 88, a Nazi soldier, and a mining company employee, among many others.

Even when he doesn’t physically appear, Tarantino usually ensures his presence is felt through voice-overs or credits. His voice can be heard on an answering machine in Jackie Brown and as a commercial director in the final moments of Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.

The only film that lacks a confirmed appearance is Kill Bill: Volume 2, though he simply views it as a continuation of the first volume. As of this year, the director-turned-actor is taking this hobby to a new level with his most substantial role in decades.

He is currently starring as John Percy in the French indie drama Only What We Carry, which features an eclectic cast including Simon Pegg and Sofia Boutella. This marks a significant departure for the filmmaker, as it is his first major acting role since 1996.

While he explores this acting resurgence, Tarantino is also preparing for the release of the $200 million Netflix film The Adventures of Cliff Booth. Although David Fincher is directing the project, Tarantino wrote the screenplay and serves as a lead producer.

The sequel to his 2019 masterpiece sees Brad Pitt return as the titular stuntman, joined by a cast including Elizabeth Debicki and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. As for his legendary tenth and final film, the landscape remains in flux following the cancellation of The Movie Critic.

Tarantino has recently suggested that he is focusing his energy on writing a stage play before he returns to the director’s chair. He has indicated that if the play becomes a smash hit, it may very well serve as the foundation for his final cinematic bow.

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