It’s always a joy to see our favorite actors years later, especially if they return to the movies we all love. And it seems that movie directors like these appearances no less than we do since actors from the original cast definitely add something really special to remakes — especially when there’s a really cool correlation with the original version.
Here at Bright Side, we’ve collected some cameo appearances of original cast members in remakes.
Ricki Lake (Hairspray), 1988 — 2007
Ricki Lake, who played the main character Tracy in 1988’s Hairspray, appeared at the end of the 2007 remake, watching the final show. And while she may have changed, her hair was still the same.
Jerry Stiller (Hairspray), 1988 — 2007
Jerry Stiller played Tracy’s father in the 1988 movie and returned back in 2007 as Mr. Pinky, the owner of a women’s clothing boutique who wanted Tracy to be his spokesperson. And it looks like he’s the only one who hasn’t changed at all over those 19 years!
Bill Murray (Ghostbusters), 1984 — 2016
Murray played one of the main characters, Dr. Peter Venkman, in the original Ghostbusters movie (1984). While he fought ghosts in 1984, in the 2016 female-driven version, he appears as a supernatural skeptic trying to debunk the new Ghostbusters.
Dan Aykroyd (Ghostbusters), 1984 — 2016
Another actor from the original Ghostbusters cast who appeared in the remake is Dan Aykroyd. From Dr. Raymond Stantz he was transformed into a cab driver, and although his cameo is quite brief, it’s still funny. In his scene, he refuses to give one of the Ghostbusters a ride, and what he says comes from the original movie’s theme song: “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts.”
Believe it or not, in 2016, Ghostbusters featured 3 more cameos and here they are:
Annie Potts (Janine) as a receptionist
Annie Potts, who was the Ghostbusters’ secretary, returned to the 2016 version as a hotel desk receptionist, answering phones with all the charm of the first film and even repeated her line, “Wadda ya want?” from the original movie.
You probably know of Steven Spielberg’s movie, War of the Worlds (2005). But you may not know that it’s a remake of The War of the Worlds that originally aired back in 1953. Rachel and Robbie’s grandparents, who appear in the 2005 version, are played by Gene Barry and Ann Robinson, the 2 main characters, Dr. Forrester and Sylvia, in the original 1953 version.
Charlton Heston (Planet of the Apes), 1968 — 2001
Charlton Heston played the leading role of George Taylor in the 1968 original movie, Planet of the Apes. In the 2001 remake, he appeared as Zaius.
Linda Harrison (Planet of the Apes), 1968 — 2001
Another cameo role in the 2001 Planet of the Apes belongs to Linda Harrison who played Nova in the original movie. She played a brief role in the beginning as one of the captured people who was carried to Ape City in a wagon cage. The woman says nothing, which is a reference to the fact that Nova was mute.
Angie Dickinson and Henry Silva (Ocean’s Eleven), 1960 — 2001
In case you didn’t know, Ocean’s Eleven, which starred George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and more back in 2001, is not the original movie but a remake of the 1960s film of the same name. Unfortunately, not many actors from the original cast were alive when the 2001 version came out, so Angie Dickinson and Henry Silva were the only ones who got to appear in the famous remake we all know. Angie played Danny Ocean’s wife, Beatrice, in the original Ocean’s Eleven, and Henry was Roger Corneal. Both of the actors very briefly appeared in the remake as boxing spectators during the robbery.
James Le Gros and Bojesse Christopher (Point Break), 1991 — 2015
James Le Gros and Bojesse Christopher played robbers Roach and Grommet in the original 1991 version and briefly appeared in the 2015 movie on the other side of the action — as FBI agents.
Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek), 1979 — 2009
Leonard Nimoy played Spock in the original Star Trek movies and surprisingly came back in its 2009 remake as...Spock! And although the remake has its Spock played by Zachary Quinto, Nimoy became Spock Prime — Spock from the future.
Marc McClure (Freaky Friday), 1976 — 2003
Another surprising cameo was made by Marc McClure in Freaky Friday, who played Annabel’s neighbor, Boris, whom she liked. In the remake, he played the small role of a postman named...Boris! We’re not sure if he is the same Boris, but it’s definitely very intriguing.
Patty McCormack (The Bad Seed), 1956 — 2018
Patty McCormack played an 8-year-old killer, Rhoda, in 1956’s The Bad Seed. In 2018, in Rob Lowe’s remake, she also got a role — and a very surprising one at that! She played Emma’s psychiatrist (Emma is the killer this time) and told her, “I did the exact same things as you at your age,” which was a really cool reference to the original movie.
Are there any cameos you didn’t know about? Do you know any other actors who appeared in a remake of their movie? Tell us in the comment section below.
Please note: This article was updated in July 2022 to correct source material and factual inaccuracies.
