Some completely missed the mark
Alfred Hitchcock made cameo appearances in 36 of his 52 surviving major films over a 50-year period, most of which appeared early in the movie. He's pictured in 'I Confess’'(1953), which stars Montgomery Clift.
In 1971, Clint Eastwood directed his first film, 'Play Misty for Me,' in which he also starred. The movie is noted for including Don Siegel in the cast. Siegel, who had directed Eastwood in three previous pictures, took part in the project as an actor playing a barman (pictured, left) and a behind-the-scenes helping hand.
Movie director Oliver Stone has made cameo appearances in several of his own films, including 1986's 'Platoon' (pictured), 'Wall Street' (1987), and 'Born on the Fourth of July' (1989).
Martin Scorsese makes cameo appearances in nearly every movie he makes, pictures that include 'Mean Streets' (1973), 'Raging Bull' (1980), and 'The Age of Innocence' (1993). However, it's in 1976's 'Taxi Driver' (pictured) that the director has a significant speaking part as a creepy passenger in Robert De Niro's cab. In fact, he makes two appearances in this film, the other one being a blink and you'll miss it scene.
A significant appearance in 'Reservoir Dogs' (1992) led Quentin Tarantino to cast himself in other high-profile roles in 'Pulp Fiction' (1994), and 'Django Unchained' (2012). The director is also seen briefly in several of his other movies. He's pictured here with Harvey Keitel in 'Reservoir Dogs.'
It was way back in 1970 that Mel Brooks began appearing in his films, with a minor role in 'The Twelve Chairs.' Since then the director has enjoyed screen time in some of his greatest cinema successes, including 1974's 'Blazing Saddles' (pictured), 'Young Frankenstein' (1974), and 'Silent Movie' (1976).
After directing and starring in 'Do the Right Thing' (1989), Spike Lee appeared numerous times in his own movies, notably 'Mo' Better Blues' (1990) and 1992's 'Malcolm X' (pictured, with Denzel Washington).
Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore directs, narrates, and presents his own productions, non-fictional motion pictures that include the 2002 documentary 'Bowling for Columbine' (pictured, with Moore seated) and 'Fahrenheit 9/11' (2004).
Sources: (IndieWire) (CecilBDeMille.com) (Filmsite) (SciHi)
The Polish-French film director has appeared in many of his own productions, beginning in 1967 with 'The Fearless Vampire Killers.' He made a sinister impression as the man with the knife (pictured, back to camera) who slices Jack Nicholson’s nose in 'Chinatown' (1974), and made a brief cameo as a cab driver in 'Frantic' (1988), which stars Harrison Ford.
Austrian-German filmmaker Fritz Lang is said to have appeared in a supporting role in 'Der Herr der Liebe,' a silent film he made in 1919 and which translates as 'The Master of Love.' The film is now considered lost. In 1963, the director appeared as himself in 'Le Mépris' ('Contempt') opposite Brigitte Bardot. The film was directed by Jean-Luc Godard. Lang (right) is pictured in the film with actor Michel Piccoli (1925–2020).
French film director Jean Renoir appeared in two of his films, 'La Bête Humaine' (1938), known in English as 'The Human Beast,' and, pictured, 'La Règie du Jeu' (1939), or 'The Rules of the Game.' Renoir is seen on the left.
The director, known for his violent and controversially bloody horror films, has acted in them on a number of occasions, notably 'Cabin Fever' (2002) and 2003's 'Hostel' (pictured).
'Praying with Anger' (1992) was M. Night Shyamalan's directorial debut, in which he also starred. Since then, the Indian-American filmmaker's acting credits include 'The Sixth Sense' (1999), 'Signs' (2002) and, pictured, 'Lady in the Water' (2006).
A visionary filmmaker of the silent era, Stroheim's 'Greed' (1924) counts as one of the most outstanding works in cinema history. He made a brief appearance in this and other pictures, but his eccentric production methods and demonstrative attitude eventually led to him being banned as a director by studio bosses. He later embarked on a full-time acting career, with his role as Rauffenstein in 1937's 'La Grande Illusion' (pictured) regarded as his finest performance.
Cult movie director John Waters has appeared in cameo roles in most of his films, but has also enjoyed more significant roles in pictures such as 'Hairspray' (1988), Woody Allen's 'Sweet and Lowdown' (1999), and 2004's 'Seeds of Chucky' (pictured), directed by Don Mancini.
Orson Welles remains one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers in cinema history. He began his directorial career in theater, but it was in film that Welles came to prominence, directing and starring in 'Citizen Kane' (1941) and 'A Touch of Evil' (1958), among a host of other celebrated productions.
Tim Burton’s feature film directing debut, 'Pee-wee’s Big Adventure' (1985), includes an uncredited cameo by the filmmaker. He also appears briefly in his 2016 fantasy, 'Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children' (pictured).
Legendary film director Cecil B. DeMille popularized the practice of the cameo appearance long before Alfred Hitchcock, with a small role in his 1914 silent Western 'The Squaw Man' (pictured). Thereafter he frequently made cameos as himself or as an uncredited actor in several other productions.
Responsible for a string of Hollywood classics, movie maker John Huston made an uncredited appearance in his Western adventure drama 'The Treasure of the Sierra Nevada' (1948), one of many films he can be seen in. In 1963, he gave a standout performance in Otto Preminger's 'The Cardinal' (pictured).
In an uncredited cameo, Stanley Kubrick is sitting in a booth at the Sonata Cafe in a scene from 'Eyes Wide Shut' (1999) that also features Tom Cruise. This was Kubrick's final film. It was still in post-production when the director died on March 7, 1999.
'The Slender Thread' (1965) marked Sydney Pollack's directorial debut, and he went on to direct more than 20 movies and 10 television shows. Pollack was also a successful actor (he made his acting debut in 1962's 'War Hunt'—Robert Redford’s first major role). Pollack's first cameo in one of his own films was as a cab driver in 'Three Days of the Condor' (1975), which, incidentally, stars Robert Redford. Pollack is pictured with Dustin Hoffman in a scene from 'Tootsie' (1982), which he also directed.
Arguably the most commercially successful movie director in cinema history, Steven Spielberg has turned up in a number of his own films, including 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' (1984), 'Schindler’s List' (1993) and 'The Lost Word: Jurassic Park' (1997). He's also appeared in other people's films, notably 'The Blues Brothers' (1980). He's pictured with George Lucas: both men have cameos in 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.'
An uncredited appearance by the famously reclusive Terrence Malick as the man at the Rich Man's door lent further kudos to the director's seminal film 'Badlands' (1973). Malick is pictured in character between takes with Martin Sheen, who stars as Kit Carruthers.
There's a scene in his film 'Apocalypse Now' where director Francis Ford Coppola plays a TV news director (pictured, left) filming mock news footage of the combat. Incidentally, the cameraman by his side is celebrated Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro.
Danish film director Lars von Trier has appeared in a number of his own films, for instance 'The Element of Crime' (1984), 'Europa' (1991), and his 2003 experimental documentary 'The Five Obstructions' (pictured).
Regarded as one of the founders of the French New Wave art film movement, François Truffaut made numerous uncredited cameos in his films, including in his directorial debut 'The 400 Blows' (1959). He's especially remembered, however, for his role as Claude Lacombe in 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (1977)—his only acting role in a film he did not direct, as well as his only role in an English language film.
As a member of the Monty Python comedy troupe, American-born Terry Gilliam co-directed and appeared in 1975's 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' (pictured with Graham Chapman) before embarking on a highly successful full-time career behind the camera. He turned up memorably in his film 'Brazil' (1985), and had a significant role in 2015's 'Jupiter Ascending' (pictured), directed by the Wachowskis.
A director traditionally works behind the cameras. But since the early days of cinema, dozens of filmmakers have opted to appear in their own productions or in other people's, either in an uncredited cameo or as an actor in a more significant role.
Click through and take a look at directors in front of the cameras.
Movie directors who've appeared in films
Filmmakers who turned up in front of the cameras
MOVIES Filmmakers
A director traditionally works behind the cameras. But since the early days of cinema, dozens of filmmakers have opted to appear in their own productions or in other people's, either in an uncredited cameo or as an actor in a more significant role.
Click through and take a look at directors in front of the cameras.