cameos
Brief celebrity appearances
Cameos are brief appearances by notable people in performances where they wouldn't normally be expected—a famous director in a walk-on role, a celebrity playing themselves for a few seconds.
The word comes from cameo, originally a carved gemstone with a raised figure against a contrasting background.
That sense of a small, distinct image set against a larger field carries into the theatrical meaning: The film featured cameos from several rock legends.
Outward visible form
- walk-onSmall nonspeaking role
- uncreditedNot formally recognized
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- directorOne who leads
celebrity · Stan Lee · Hitchcock · credits · scene · recognizable · fleeting · tongue-in-cheek
Outward visible form
- celebrityWidely recognized public figure
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- guest spotLimited engagement for outsider
- walk-onSmall nonspeaking role
special guest · episode · sitcom · talk show · variety show · SNL · brief · memorable
appearance
Outward visible form
- walk-onSmall nonspeaking role
- uncreditedNot formally recognized
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
director · celebrity · Stan Lee · Hitchcock · credits · scene · recognizable · fleeting · tongue-in-cheek · self-referential
appearance
Outward visible form
- celebrityWidely recognized public figure
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- guest spotLimited engagement for outsider
walk-on · special guest · episode · sitcom · talk show · variety show · SNL · brief · memorable · star
bas-relief
Sculpture projecting slightly
lapidary · shell · coral · agate · sardonyx · onyx · chisel · etching · carver · stonecutting
brooch
Decorative fastening ornament
locket · choker · bezel · setting · heirloom · ornament · filigree · gemstone · Victorian · Edwardian
- artifactspottery shards, knives, masks, pottery, antiquity
- showbizHollywood, Bollywood, Tinseltown, backstage, behind the scenes
- ancient artifactsjade mask, Viking sword, bronze sculptures, antiquities, Roman coin
- pop culturememe, celebrities, memes, trending, fandoms
- royal treasurescrown jewels, imperial crown, royal regalia, imperial regalia, regalia
- treasuresjewels, gems, gold coins, crown jewel, artifacts
cameostitle roles
Characters a work names
protagonists · main characters · recurring roles · supporting roles · leads
cameosintaglios
Carvings recessed into stone
murals · monuments · frescoes · bas-reliefs
- cameo roleBrief celebrity appearance
- cameo appearanceBrief celebrity role
- celebrity cameoFamous person's brief role
- Hollywood cameoCelebrity's tiny film role
- director cameoFilmmaker's brief appearance onscreen
- cameo actorBrief role, notable person