Cameo appearance

A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief and uncredited appearance in a play, or by extension, to works in other performing arts such as films and television. Such a role need not be played by an actor: short appearances by film directors, politicians, athletes, and other celebrities are not unusual.

Related Topics:
Play - Performing arts - Film - Television - Film director - Politician - Athlete

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cameos are uncredited due to their brevity or a perceived mismatch between the celebrity's stature and the film or TV show he or she is appearing in. Many are publicity stunts. Others are acknowledgements of an actor's contribution to an earlier work, as in the case of many film adaptations of TV series, or of remakes of earlier films.

Related Topics:
Publicity stunt - Film adaptation - Remake

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mike Todd's film Around the World in Eighty Days (1956) was studded with cameo roles and gave the term wide circulation outside the theatrical profession. The frequest cameo appearances of Alfred Hitchcock in his films also helped popularize the term.

Related Topics:
Mike Todd - Around the World in Eighty Days - Alfred Hitchcock

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~