15 Celebs You Didn’t Know Were in Popular Movies

Even famous actors sometimes take on very small roles in movies – so small you might not even notice them! Here are fifteen quick cameos and hidden appearances in popular films, detailing which stars appear, where to find them, and how to spot them when you watch again.

Daniel Craig in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’

Daniel Craig makes a secret appearance as a stormtrooper in The Force Awakens. He’s the one Rey uses her mind trick on for the first time, causing him to drop his weapon and walk away. The filmmakers kept his involvement a secret, and his armor was playfully labeled “JB-007” as an inside joke. If you look closely, you can hear his voice and catch a quick view of his unique walk in a scene on the Starkiller Base corridor.

Cate Blanchett in ‘Hot Fuzz’

Cate Blanchett makes a brief appearance as Janine, the ex-partner of the main character, Nicholas Angel, working as a forensic technician. She’s completely covered in protective gear—goggles and a mask—which makes it easy for viewers to miss her. Blanchett agreed to the quick filming because she was a fan of the directors. In her scene, her character delivers a blunt, matter-of-fact autopsy report that helps establish Angel’s serious and determined personality.

Glenn Close in ‘Hook’

Glenn Close makes a surprising appearance as a bearded pirate who is playfully punished by Captain Hook – she’s put inside a special “boo box.” Clever makeup, including a thick beard, completely disguises her. A brief shot reveals her earrings, frightened eyes, and a little scream just as the box closes. Once her identity was revealed, this cameo became a popular and fun fact among those involved with the movie and its fans.

Stephen Colbert in ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’

Stephen Colbert makes a cameo appearance in the movie as a one-eyed spy near the Lake-town docks. He filmed the scene with his family, who were also dressed as townspeople. As a big fan of J.R.R. Tolkien, Colbert visited the set and was asked to play a small role. You can see him using a telescope to watch the boat arrive, carefully observing it as it passes the guards.

Brad Pitt in ‘Deadpool 2’

Brad Pitt makes a brief appearance as Vanisher, the invisible member of the X-Force team. He’s only seen for a split second when he accidentally collides with a power line during a chaotic skydive. To capture this moment, filmmakers used a quick greenscreen effect and needed Pitt to deliver a specific shocked expression. The cameo happened because Pitt and the filmmakers had a friendly relationship and he agreed to help out.

Matt Damon in ‘Thor: Ragnarok’

In a humorous scene, Matt Damon appears as an actor playing Loki in a play within the series. The play reenacts past events, and the actors, including Damon, playfully acknowledge the audience. Damon’s portrayal exaggerates Loki’s dramatic style for the Asgardian viewers. This joke was revisited later with a larger group of actors.

Michael Jackson in ‘Men in Black II’

Michael Jackson makes a surprise appearance as “Agent M,” trying to convince Zed to let him join the Men in Black. Dressed in a sharp suit, he delivers his lines directly to the camera. This cameo is typical of the series, which often features real celebrities within its world of aliens and secret agents. Jackson’s scenes were filmed separately and then added to the existing footage of the Men in Black headquarters.

Keira Knightley in ‘Star Wars: The Phantom Menace’

Keira Knightley plays Sabé, who acts as a look-alike and personal assistant to Padmé Amidala. The filmmakers used costumes, makeup, and voice techniques to make Knightley look very similar to Natalie Portman in important moments. Some scenes were carefully planned to make it difficult for viewers to tell the two actresses apart. Knightley also appears as a member of the royal court without her distinctive makeup, further blending into the background.

Hugh Jackman in ‘X-Men: First Class’

Hugh Jackman briefly appears as Logan in a scene showing Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr gathering allies. They find him at a bar, but he quickly brushes them off. The filmmakers carefully planned this cameo, filming it with minimal setup to keep it a surprise. It connects the events of the prequel movie to the larger story of the franchise.

Channing Tatum in ‘This Is the End’

Channing Tatum makes a surprise appearance late in the movie as a prisoner held by the villains. His identity is revealed during a fast-paced raid when his mask is removed. The cameo was filmed in secret, with Tatum coming in for a short and focused shoot. It’s a playful nod to the film’s theme of actors playing versions of themselves.

David Bowie in ‘Zoolander’

Okay, so as a total movie fanatic, this scene kills me. David Bowie shows up as himself – seriously, the David Bowie – to judge this ridiculous runway walk-off between Derek and Hansel. He just strolls in, lays down the rules with this perfectly dry delivery, and basically MCs the whole thing. Apparently, the directors wrote the bit specifically for him, and thankfully, he was game! It just adds this incredible layer of authenticity to the whole fashion parody, you know? It’s like, yes, it’s a joke, but David Bowie is in on it, which makes it legendary.

Kevin Costner in ‘The Big Chill’

Kevin Costner appears as the friend who dies, and whose funeral is the reason the group reunites. Though he was originally filmed more extensively as the deceased, most of those scenes were removed. Only short, almost unnoticeable images of him remain at the beginning of the film. Photos from the production and comments from the cast later confirmed he did participate in filming. This role is unusual because a major actor’s work ended up mostly unseen in the final cut.

Bryan Cranston in ‘Saving Private Ryan’

Bryan Cranston makes a brief appearance as a War Department officer who handles letters that set the rescue mission in motion. He plays the role in a small, busy office filled with clerks processing notifications of soldiers who have been hurt or killed. This scene emphasizes the complex paperwork and official processes behind the story’s key decision. Because it happened before he became famous on television, many viewers don’t notice his performance the first time they watch.

Nathan Fillion in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

Nathan Fillion provides the voice for a large, intimidating prisoner who picks on Peter Quill while they’re both in the Kyln prison. Their conversation is short-lived, as Groot quickly steps in to stop it. Fillion appeared as a voice actor for this small part, rather than being seen on screen, so he’s listed in the voice cast credits instead of with the main actors.

Carrie Fisher and George Lucas in ‘Hook’

Early in the movie, as magical fairy dust falls, a couple kisses on London Bridge before floating into the night sky. Surprisingly, that couple was Carrie Fisher and George Lucas! Their cameo was a secret at the time, but later revealed by the film’s crew. This happens right before Peter Pan and Tinker Bell begin their journey to Neverland.

Share your favorite unexpected cameo in the comments and tell us which one surprised you most!

2025-11-06 15:45