15 Celebrity Cameos in Movies That You Might Have Missed

1. Glenn Close in "Hook" (1991)

Yes, you read that right. The elegant Glenn Close was unrecognizable as the bearded, pirate gutbucket, Gutless, in Steven Spielberg 's "Hook." Her scene? Well, Captain Hook punishes her for doubting him by locking her in a chest with a scorpion. How's that for a close call, Glenn? One wonders if she drew upon this traumatizing pirate punishment when she portrayed the cruel Cruella de Vil.

2. David Bowie in "Zoolander" (2001)

In a movie that's already more absurd than a catwalk model in a sumo wrestling match, you might have missed David Bowie's hilarious cameo as a walk-off judge. Bowie simply appeared, introduced himself (because, of course, it's David freaking Bowie), and laid down the rules of the walk-off.

3. Cate Blanchett in "Hot Fuzz" (2007)

For a woman known for her breathtaking portrayals in films like "Elizabeth" and "Carol," Blanchett went incognito in "Hot Fuzz." She played Janine, the ex-girlfriend of Simon Pegg's character, Nicholas Angel. But don't feel bad if you didn't spot her; she spent her entire scene in a forensic suit, goggles, and a mask.

4. Dan Aykroyd in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" (1984)

Aykroyd, a comedy legend in his own right, graced us with a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in the second Indiana Jones installment. He appeared as Weber, a British official, and helped Indy and Willie escape Shanghai. Who knew Dr. Raymond Stantz from "Ghostbusters " had a side hustle in the colonial administration?

5. Bill Murray in "Zombieland" (2009)

One of the best cameos in cinema history. Bill Murray, playing himself, in a post-apocalyptic world, pretending to be a zombie to go about his daily life. From his dry humor to his tragic, hilarious death, Murray's cameo is the epitome of absurd humor. Did we just spoil it? Oh, well. Bill Murray or not, always double-tap!

6. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in "Airplane!" (1980)

Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar pops up in one of the funniest movies of all time, "Airplane!". He's hilariously cast as the co-pilot Roger Murdock, but a kid passenger recognizes him as the famous basketball player. It's a meta-joke that adds to the movie's zany humor.

7. Tom Cruise in "Tropic Thunder" (2008)

Remember Tom Cruise' unrecognizable turn as the crass, obnoxious studio exec Les Grossman? With the paunch, the hairy chest, and the balding head, Cruise was unrecognizable but unforgettable. Cruise's dancing alone deserves an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and maybe even a Nobel Peace Prize because, honestly, who could fight while watching those moves?

8. Keith Richards in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (2007)

You might know Keith Richards as the indestructible guitarist of the Rolling Stones, but did you notice his cameo in the "Pirates" franchise? Richards played Captain Teague, Jack Sparrow's father. The best part? The running joke that Sparrow's persona was based on Richards, making this meta-casting perfection.

9. Elon Musk in "Iron Man 2" (2010)

When you're a billionaire tech mogul, what do you do for fun? Cameos, of course! Elon Musk, the real-life Tony Stark minus the Iron Man suit (as far as we know), made a brief appearance in "Iron Man 2." Musk and Stark chat about electric jets in a fancy restaurant because, apparently, that's what billionaires talk about over dinner.

10. Phil Collins in "Hook" (1991)

Yes, another cameo from "Hook"! In this Spielberg classic, musician Phil Collins plays a police inspector. He's the one who takes the report when Peter Banning's (Robin Williams) children are kidnapped by Captain Hook. This appearance is an easy one to miss unless you have an ear for Collins's distinctive voice.

11. Conan O'Brien in "Now You See Me" (2013)

That's right, late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien made a quick cameo in the magician-heist film "Now You See Me." In a short TV clip, Conan appears as himself, joking about the film's bank robbery scene. So quick, so random, so Conan.

12. Chris Martin in "Shaun of the Dead " (2004)

Coldplay's frontman Chris Martin appeared briefly in this cult-favorite zombie comedy. He pops up towards the end, playing himself in a charity appeal on the television, raising funds for 'ZombAid'. A blink-and-you-miss-it moment, for sure.

13. Danny Pudi in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014)

Here's one that you might not have caught if you're not a fan of "Community. " Danny Pudi, best known as Abed on the cult TV show, appears as a SHIELD employee who helps evacuate the Triskelion. The Russo brothers, directors of "The Winter Soldier," were executive producers on "Community," hence the sneaky cross-pollination.

14. Nathan Fillion in "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014)

James Gunn, the director of "Guardians of the Galaxy," and Nathan Fillion have a long-standing friendship, with Fillion appearing in many of Gunn's films. In "Guardians," Fillion voices the monstrous inmate who threatens Peter Quill (Chris Pratt ) when he first arrives at the Kyln, only to get taken down by Groot. It's a brief voice cameo, but a fun one for fans of the actor.

15. Jimmy Buffet in "Jurassic World" (2015)

In a film where dinosaurs run rampant in a theme park, it's easy to overlook the humans. But, during the pterodactyl attack scene, there's a man double-fisting margaritas while fleeing. That man? None other than Margaritaville's own Jimmy Buffet. Because when dinosaurs are attacking, you save the essentials.