Cameo appearance: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

A cameo appearance is a brief appearance in a movie or other dramatic production played by an actor of greater status than required by the role. A short appearance is also considered a cameo if played by someone better known for something other than acting, such as a director, politician or sport player.

Allegedly one of the earliest cameo appearances in film history is that of Erik Satie and his artist friends in the silent movie Entr'acte (1924, see below).

The most famous cameo appearances are probably those of Alfred Hitchcock who frequently appeared in movies he was directing.

Cameos are often uncredited, and, except for a director's appearance in his or her own film, usually involve a spoken line.

People who have had cameo movie appearances

• Frankie Avalon, Grease
• Art Bell, Close Encounters of the Third Kind
• Larry Bird, Blue Chips
• Bob Cousy, Blue Chips
• Tom Cruise, Austin Powers in Goldmember
• Oscar Goodman, Casino
• Charlton Heston, Wayne's World 2
• Paris Hilton
• Jesse Jackson, Medium Cool
• Jason Kidd, Like Mike
• Wladimir Klitschko, Ocean's Eleven
• Anna Kournikova, Me, Myself & Irene
• Carl Lewis
• Lennox Lewis, Ocean's Eleven
• Terrence Malick, Badlands (director cameo)
• Dirk Nowitzki, Like Mike
• Ruben Olivares
• Jorge Porcel
• Chris Rock, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
• Al Sharpton, Coming to America
• Martin Sheen
• Britney Spears, Austin Powers in Goldmember
• Michael Spinks, Cannonball Run 2
• John Travolta, Austin Powers in Goldmember
• Stephen King has had cameos in several of his films and TV shows.
• Peter Jackson in each of the Lord of the Rings movies