The Best Ever Simpsons Celebrity Cameos

2 years ago

1. Ringo Starr

Image source Ultimate Classic RockRingo was the first Beatle to appear on the show. It was a no brainer for him as he was a big fan and he thoroughly enjoyed his cameo. Apparently, he found it hard to stay serious during the voice over and kept bursting out laughing. Paul (and Linda) and then George followed suit.

2. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

Image source IMDbThis is the episode where Homer goes to a music dream camp and it features the likes of Brian Setzer, Elvis Costello and Tom Petty along with this dynamic due from the Rolling Stones. Keith Richards needed to rush his cameo as he had to get home to put up some storm windows!

3. Paul and Linda McCartney

Image source Yahoo Moves UK

When Lisa becomes a vegetarian, she finds it difficult to find allies in town, especially as her family all loves meat. Luckily she find out that Apu is a vegetarian and so are Apu's friends, Paul and Linda McCartney! We get to hear Apu sing a Beatles classic which Paul and Linda appear to enjoy!

4. Mel Brooks

Image source Reddit

When Brooks’ real life wife Anne Bancroft did a voice for the show, he had tagged along to the recording and was so impressed, he pitched a future spot for himself. In his episode, we find out a terrible secret about him - that he hates Carl Reiner! What a scandal!

5. Ron Howard

Image source Reddit

Before 'Arrested Development,' Ron Howard was already skewering his nice guy image on the series. His first appearance showed Homer befriending Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger. Howard's one liners absolutely stole the show and he was invited back on several occasions on the back of it.

6. Ramones

Image source Far Out Magazine

Why did Smithers have to hire the Ramones for Mr. Burns’ birthday party? All we know is that they bad mouthed Springfield and tell Mr. Burns what they really think of him. This leads Mr. Burns to request the Rolling Stones to be killed and he won’t stand to be corrected!

7. Tom Jones

Image source FrinkiacMarge totally loves Tom Jones, making Mr. Burns jealous as he has a crush on her but he develops a fool proof plan. To show how much he adores her, he kidnaps the Welsh crooner and makes him sing for Marg, who is oblivious to the situation. This makes it difficult for Tom to free himself.

8. Mel Gibson

Image source Simpsons Wiki-FandomIn 'Beyond Blunderdome,' Homer hangs out with good guy Mel and there is a joke and dig about Robert Downey Jr’s legal troubles. How things can quickly change. We aren’t condoning Gibson's actions since this episode aired but he is a great foil for Homer in this mad Hollywood-skewering adventure!

9. Leonard Nimoy

Image source The GuardianNimoy has popped up a couple of times - once as the narrator of a story involving Homer seeing an alien and Mulder and Scully from 'The X-Files' turn up. In his initial cameo, he’s the celebrity brought in to take the first ride on Springfield’s new monorail. The trip doesn't go as planned and the episode was hilarious.

10. Martin Sheen

Image source Film FadSheen’s casting was as a long lost Vietnamese vet (to recall his role in 'Apocalypse Now'.) His turn as the 'real' Seymour Skinner came to represent what fans considered to be the series shark-jumping moment! Let’s all follow Mayor Quimby’s advice and NEVER mention that episode again.

11. Danny DeVito

Image source WikisimpsonsDanny DeVito played Homer's new-found brother and played it mainly straight as his company was brought down due to Homer's terrible decision making. . Though Herb and Homer later reconciled, DeVito’s unwillingness gave 'Oh Brother' one of the few down-note endings ever.

12. Kirk Douglas

Image source TwitterFunny how this old episode is perhaps more relevant today than ever, considering the legal scrapes that the creators of 'Superman' and 'The Avengers' are going through. Douglas was perfect as Lampwick, fighting for the rights to Itchy and Scratchy!

13. John Goodman

IMDbIt’s strange that Goodman hasn’t been on The Simpsons more regularly. He's a perfect fit for the series with his volatile demeanour and great comic timing. If appearing on the show meant he had to play the Marge-stealing leader of a biker gang, then so be it!

14. Jeff Goldblum

Image source WikisimpsonsUnlike his fellow co-star Sam Neill in 'Jurassic Park', Jeff Goldblum played the Hollywood agent of Troy McClure. Parker manages to gets McClure to star in the 'Planet of the Apes' musical and no one on earth can deny that the world was a better place for that casting!

15. Stephen Hawking

Image source The Hollywood ReporterEveryone knows how Hawking’s computerized voice sounded so it wouldn’t have been hard to just get him plugged into Springfield’s Mensa program without getting him in the studio. Incredibly, that’s what they did! It made no difference to the performance on the show.

16. Michelle Pfieffer

Image source The Hollywood ReporterThis was probably the most alluring of all of Homer’s near-misses with adultery! Mindy was pretty much a buxom female version of him which is hilarious. Obviously Homer decides to stick with Marge but some lucky guy in Springfield was going to end up with a donut-loving bombshell who sounded like Michelle Pfieffer when she drools!

17. Michael Jackson

Image source Brooklyn VeganMichael Jackson wasn’t technically credited with the voice of mental patient Leon Kompowski but there’s no doubt it is him. Not only did he provide a subversive voiceover for a character who’s mad enough to think he is THE Michael Jackson, but he also sang a sweet song for Lisa’s birthday. It was definitely him!

18. Meryl Streep

Image source The GuardianMeryl Streep is great in everything, including the time she lied to a stranger about not having jump cables in her car! It’s no surprise then that she was stellar and unrecognizable as Reverend Lovejoy’s deceitful daughter. Like a dark mirror of Sara Gilbert’s character, Bart is infatuated with Jessica, but she manipulates him in a way that only she can.

19. Kelsey Grammer

Image source NMESome might consider this to be cheating but Sideshow Bob is too big a character to settle for anything less than the top spot. Grammer strips every shred of scenery in each scene he’s in, especially in 'Cape Feare,' where he doesn't miss a note in his quest to finally destroy Bart Simpson.

20. Mark Hamill

Image source The Hollywood ReporterWhen Hamill said that he was going to act out a scene from Star Wars, he needed a volunteer to play Obi-Wan Kenobi. Everyone rushed towards him and he twisted his ankle. Homer comes to the rescue and becomes motivated to be a professional bodyguard. Of course, nothing goes smoothly!

21. Peter Frampton

Image source Consequence Of SoundThe episode “Homerpalooza” features quite a few musician cameos, but Frampton’s stands out as the best of the bunch. He may not have been as big of a name as Smashing Pumpkins in the ‘90s, but he certainly got some good lines and delivered them to perfection!

22. Barry White

Image source IMDb

White was known for his deeper than deep voice. Who knew it could help save snakes? White is in Springfield for Whacking Day, dedicated to beating snakes to death. Lisa and Bart want to save them, as does Barry White. They need to create vibrations in the ground to attract the snakes to save them.so Mr White’s booming vocals turns out to be the perfect tool!

23. Betty White

Image source Tumblr

Who didn't love Betty White? She did the perfect turn in this cameo, going from being sweet and friendly to calling PBS’ goons to take down Homer as he was trying to avoid paying his donation. Betty was always playing up her image and she did a great job in this episode.

24. Mickey Rooney

Image source Pinterest

Mickey Rooney was the biggest box office draw. He’s brought in to give Milhouse a pep talk when he gets nervous about playing Fallout Boy in the Radioactive Man movie. When Rooney fails to change Milhouse’s mind, he tries to step into the role himself. It's safe to say, it doesn't end well.

25. Ernest Borgnine

Image source Reddit

Ernest Borgnine is brought in to be a celebrity chaperone for the scout troop's rafting trip. You are sure to remember the episode entitled 'From Here To Eternity', with Borgnine playing Sergeant Fatso Jetson! The kids were so excited, because, unbelievably, they remembered him from the Best Picture winner in 1953!

26. Dustin Hoffman

Image source IMDbAnother not-so-secret guest star that was uncredited was Dustin Hoffman won lorry loads of praise as Lisa’s compassionate substitute teacher, Mr. Bergstrom. The episode sees Lisa develop a schoolgirl crush on him and some of the lines that were delivered were just too good!

27. Patrick Stewart

Image source TIMEThere was no mistaking Patrick Stewart's voice when he made his much awaited cameo. Stewart’s stern persona took the episode to another level especially with the beer jokes! The story goes that Homer joined the Secret Society of the Stonecutters and ended up becoming their leader.

28. James Woods

Image source The Guardian

James Woods is hired as a replacement for Apu at the Kwik-E-Mart. He wants the job so he can research a role for his next movie. Things, of course, don't go to plan and he leaves, but not before getting Apu his job back as a thank you for saving his life from a robber at the store. His cameo was hailed as a great success.

29. Johnny Cash

Image source WhatCulture.com'El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer)' sees Johnny Cash as a mysterious spirit guide. The episode follows Homer on a spiritual journey after eating hot chilli peppers and he experiences strange hallucinations that transport him to another realm.

30. Mike Scioscia

Image source YouTube

Several baseball stars appeared in 'Homer at the Bat.' Scioscia is credited with doing the best job as a voice actor even though he doesn’t have the funniest arc. He wanted to do his job at the power plant and not be known as just a softball ringer but gets sick from radiation poisoning! He also appeared in a second cameo as himself when he was the manager of the Angels and got a big thumbs up as reference was made to his time at the power plant.

The Best Ever Simpsons Celebrity Cameos

1. Ringo Starr

2. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

3. Paul and Linda McCartney

4. Mel Brooks

5. Ron Howard

6. Ramones

7. Tom Jones

8. Mel Gibson

9. Leonard Nimoy

10. Martin Sheen

11. Danny DeVito

12. Kirk Douglas

13. John Goodman

14. Jeff Goldblum

15. Stephen Hawking

16. Michelle Pfieffer

17. Michael Jackson

18. Meryl Streep

19. Kelsey Grammer

20. Mark Hamill

21. Peter Frampton

22. Barry White

23. Betty White

24. Mickey Rooney

25. Ernest Borgnine

26. Dustin Hoffman

27. Patrick Stewart

28. James Woods

29. Johnny Cash

30. Mike Scioscia

What To Read Next

Signs You Were Meant To Be A Pilot

Royal Kids From Around The World

30 Reasons The Royal Family Is Nothing Without The Queen

Signs Someone Relies On Their Pet To Make Them Happy