20+ Actors Who Hilariously Parodied Themselves in Films and TV
It’s always fun when an actor can come out and poke fun at themselves. Whenever they decide to do this in TV and film, it seems like they enjoy it! It’s always funny to see popular actors joke around about their image and shows us that they have a fun sense of humor. Check out our list of 20+ actors who have parodied themselves in films and TV below!
Brad Pitt - Jackass
In 2002 Brad Pitt appeared in two hilarious episodes of Jackass on MTV. It was actually pretty crazy to see Pitt show up on this show! In one segment he ran around the street of L.A. causing chaos with the gang while wearing monkey suits, and in another segment, he staged his own kidnapping, which was so funny.
"Hi. I'm Brad Pitt and I'm gonna get abducted."
Neil Patrick Harris - Harold and Kumar
Neil Patrick Harris showed up in this fun comedy and played a crazy-ass insane version of himself. He eats shrooms, seeps with prostitutes, and pretends to be gay as a way for him to get more “poon.”
“Yeah, I’ve been craving burgers, too. FURBURGERS. Come on, dudes, let’s pick up some trim at a strip club. The Doogie line always works on strippers. Laaaapdaaaance!”
Bill Murray - Zombieland
When Billy Murray all of a sudden popped up in Zombieland as himself, the theater erupted in laughter. It was so unexpected and so funny. Then the way they killed him off!? Brilliant. One of the funniest death scenes ever.
[On whether he has any regrets] “Garfield, maybe.”
John Malkovich - Being John Malkovich
Director Spike Jonze’s Being John Malkovich was such a crazy surreal movie. In it, John Cusack’s character, Craig Schwartz, comes across a portal that can take him directly into the mind of actor John Malkovich, and from there he starts controlling his mind!
“It's my head, Schwartz. It's my head! I will see you in court!”
Kareen Abdul-Jabbar - Airplane
This is one of my all-time favorite comedies and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as a co-pilot Roger Murdock in ridiculous denial of being the basketball legend that he really is is hilarious. I especially love when he gets defensive when people mention his defense weaknesses.
“The hell I don’t! LISTEN, KID! I’ve been hearing that crap ever since I was at UCLA. I’m out there busting my buns every night. Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes.”
Carl Weathers - Arrested Development
Rocky and Predator actor Carl Weathers plays the acting coach of Tobias, who is struggling as an actor. It’s funny because his more interested in the free food and drinks than… everything else that’s going on around him
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. There’s still plenty of meat on that bone. Now you take this home, throw it in a pot, add some broth, a potato… Baby, you’ve got a stew going.”
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon - Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
It was funny when Ben Affleck and Matt Damon showed up in Kevin Smith’s Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and I loved that they played ridiculous asshole versions of themselves. At that time I remember a lot of people thought these actors must’ve been assholes, so it was fun to see them play that up. Director Gus Van Sant also appeared in the film as a version of himself who was too busy counting money to direct anything.
“No, bulls--t, because I wasn’t WITH a hooker today, ha-HA!”
Michael J Fox - Curb Your Enthusiasm
When Larry David moves to New York City in Season 8 of Curb Your Enthusiasm his upstairs neighbor is Michael J. Fox and their relationship starts out with a shushing incident and Larry drawing a Hitler mustache on his father-in-law’s magazine cover. Fox gives Larry a shaken soda and starts stomping around his apartment with boots, and Larry thinks he’s using his Parkinson’s as an excuse to harass him.
“Let me get that. I’ll be back in two shakes.”
Daniel Radcliffe - Extras
Daniel Radcliffe popping up in Rickey Gervais’ Extras was a lot of fun to see. The series featured lots of celebrities playing over-the-top versions of themselves, but this was one of my favorites. In it, Radcliff was a super horny version of himself, wearing a Boy Scout uniform and harassing everyone woman on the set. At one point he even flings a condom on the head of Dame Diana Rigg.
“I’ve done it with a girl… intercourse wise.”
Liam Neeson - Life’s Too Short
In this mockumentary TV series created by Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Warwick Davis, one of the best and funniest scenes is when the group meets Liam Neeson as himself, and he tells them that he wants to do improve comedy. The way that plays out is amazing.
“I’ve contracted AIDS… from an African prostitute.”
Alice Cooper - Wayne’s World
When Wayne and Garth are given backstage passes to see Alice Cooper at his Milwaukee show, they can’t wait to meet Cooper! But, when they do meet him, he didn’t turn out to be at all what they were expecting.
“Actually, it’s pronounced mill-e-wah-que, which is Algonquin for ‘the good land.’”
Bob Barker - Happy Gilmore
Bob Barker in Happy Gilmore is one of the great cameos ever when he’s paired with Gilmore in a celebrity golf tournament. When Happy’s game starts to suffer from someone taunting him, Barker isn’t happy, and it leads to one of the great brawls on film.
“I don’t want a ‘piece’ of you, I want THE WHOLE THING!”
Mike Tyson - The Hangover
The Hangover was such a hilarious movie and it was a fun surprise when The Wolf Pack ends up at Mike Tyson’s house because of his stolen Tiger. Tyson said that he was drunk and high while shooting the movie, and he didn’t even remember he did it.
“Like you said, we all do dumb s--t when we’re f--ked up.”
Seth Green - Enturoage
It was funny to watch Seth Green play an over-the-top, exaggerated douchebag version of himself. In the series, he constantly taunts the character Eric over his relationship with Sloan. In reality, Green is a super nice guy.
“Hey, did you tell Sloan I said what up?”
Patrick Stewart - Extras
Another great appearance in Rickey Gervais’ series Extras is when Patrick Stewart shows up to play himself. In the story, Gervais’ character, Andy Millman, tried to pitch a project to Stewart, and Stewart talks about his own project that he wants to do about how he can undress with his mind, which is a fun nod to his X-Men character professor X.
“For instance, I’m walking along, and I see this beautiful girl, and I think I’d like to see her naked, and so all her clothes fall off…”
Billy Zane - Zoolander
Billy Zane popped up in this classic comedy as himself supporting male model Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller), and when he finds himself having a “walk off” with Hansel, Zane is trying to keep Zoolander’s ego in check.
“It’s a walk off! It’s a walk off…”
Julia Roberts - Ocean’s 12
Julia Roberts’ appearance in Oscan’s 12 is easily one of the most bonkers appearances from an actor who is playing themselves because Roberts was also playing a completely different character named Tess, and everyone was telling her she looked just like Julia Roberts. There’s a point where the plan involves her trying to fool Bruce Willis that she is Julie Roberts. In the credits, the character Tess is credited for her portrayal.
“She wasn't in Four Weddings and a Funeral.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger - Last Action Hero
Last Action Hero was a pretty crazy movie, and it’s a film-within-a-film. The story follows a young kid who finds himself in a fictional movie world and goes on a crazy adventure with Arnold Schwarzenegger. The movie is one epic parody of the actor’s persona.
“To be, or not to be… Not to be.”
The Entire Cast - This is The End
And here are the rest of the actors! In This is The End, James Franco throws a party with a bunch of his friends with the apocalypse hits. The movie features Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Michael Cera, Emma Watson, Craig Robinson, and more, and they all play crazy versions of themselves.
“A huge earthquake happens, who do they rescue first? Actors. They'll rescue Clooney, Sandra Bullock, me. If there's room, you guys will come.”
It’s always great when an actor can come out and parody themselves in a film or TV show. It shows that they have a sense of humor about themselves and aren’t too serious all the time. We hope you enjoyed our list of 20+ actors who have parodied themselves in films and TV! Are there any actors or actresses that we missed that you want to point out? Let us know in the comments below!