The majority of authors who are lucky enough to have their books adapted into movies or television shows are normally content with simply signing over the rights to the production house and getting their check. A few others often itch to do more, so there are cases of either authorswriting the adaptation’s screenplayor making a cameo appearance. The latter is less common because many prefer not to do something they aren’t good at (acting).
Such cameos serve as a stamp of quality, confirming that the original story’s creator approves of the work that has been done by the film or show’s entire production team, and is happy enough to be a part of the project. Other such cameos are merely Easter eggs and can be hard to spot if viewers don’t look closely enough. Such cases happen when an extra is needed, and there is no one better to fill the role than the person who came up with the idea.
Here are 10 book authors who made cameos in adaptations of their books.
10Stephenie Meyer — Twilight (2008) and Breaking Dawn: Part One (2011)
The Twilight Sagais a series of films that centers around the romance between Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and her vampire lover Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). The scripts are based on books byStephenie Meyerand the author appears in two of the movies. InTwilight,she is seen at a coffee shop as Bella is meeting her father,and inBreaking Dawn: Part One,she is one of the guests at Bella and Edward’s wedding.
Why They Are Great Cameos
Meyer’s coffee shop cameo inTwilightis a wink to fans of her books. While the waiter is serving her, the waitress even whispers, “Here you go, Stephenie,” a sentence that connects the real world with the author’s fictional one.
The wedding cameo inBreaking Dawnis also iconic because it puts her right at the center of one of the most important events in the fictional universe she created. In the books, Bella and Edward’s wedding is remembered fondly by fans, and by showing Meyer as one of the guests, the movie acknowledges the work she put into creating these amazing characters and their captivating arcs.Stream on Starz
9William Peter Blatty — The Exorcist (1973)
The Exorcist
William Friedkin changed the horror genrewhen he madeThe Exorcist, but more credit goes toWilliam Peter Blattyfor not only writing the book that the story was based on, but also for penning the screenplay. The events revolve around actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), who gets a priest to perform an exorcism on her daughter after she develops weird mannerisms. In one of the film’s early scenes, Chris is shown on a movie set and one of the unnamed producers is played by none other than Petr Blatty.
Why It’s a Great Cameo
In that particular scene, Blatty’s character asks the fictional director a very important question: “Is this scene really necessary?” The quote alone makes the cameo interesting because Blatty and Friedkin had a disagreement about which scenes to include inThe Exorcist. Though the two came to an understanding, the press never let the story go, and neither did the public. Consequently, a newer cut, dubbed “The Version You’ve Never Seen,” was released in 1999 as part of the film’s 25th Anniversary.Rent on AppleTV
8Michael Morpugo in War Horse (2011)
Based onMichael Morpurgo’s 1982 bestselling novel of the same name,War Horseis one ofSteven Spielberg’s least successful movies, having made a loss at the box office, but it’s quite engrossing. The story centers around an Irish Hunter horse as it searches for its previous owner in war-torn regions. Morpurgo appears during a horse auction at the beginning of the film.
Morpurgo’s cameo isn’t made too obvious. Audiences only spot him when the auctioneer calls out his name. Better yet, he cameos with his wife, showing the great lengths Spielberg went to keep everyone happy. Several other notable figures make appearances in the movie, including the granddaughter of World War I hero, Captain Budgett. The veteran is one of the people who inspired Morpurgo to pen the novel. In total, close to 6000 extras were used in the film.Rent on AppleTV
7John le Carré — Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy (2011)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spyis the second adaptation ofJohn le Carré’s best-selling spy novel. Like the first adaptation — a ‘70s miniseries starring the legendary Sir Alec Guinness — it follows veteran spy George Smiley (Gary Oldman), as he tries to flash out a mole within MI6 after being recalled from retirement. Le Carré’ appears briefly as a guest in an MI6 party scene.
Before becoming a bestselling author, John le Carré was an MI6 spy, so having him appear at one of the agency’s parties is very appropriate — the novelist must have felt right at home. Even better is the fact that he appears next to a man dressed as Lenin. During le Carré’s days as an agent, Lenin was one of Britain and America’s biggest headaches, and the author mentions him a few times in his books.
Most importantly,Tinker Tailor Soldier Spyis widely regarded asthe most realistic spy movie, and the decision to include a former spy in the cast gives even more credence to this consensus.Rent on AppleTV
6Stephen King — It: Chapter Two, Creepshow, and Others
Many critically acclaimedStephen Kingmovies have a cameo appearance from the author. In the same way that Stan Lee enjoyed being a part of Marvel movies, King never rejects an offer to play a small part. Some of his roles include that of an unnamed shopkeeper inIt Chapter Twoand as a yokel inCreepshow.
King normally gets cameos that suit his appearance and personality. Never at any given point has he been cast as a playboy or an alpha. He is always the everyday lad going about his business or up to something sinister. Normally, King speaks two or three sentences at most, but inCreepshow, he proved that he could truly act. The author was allocated several minutes as a man who becomes suicidal after coming into contact with alien vegetation.
Related:10 Book Authors Who Directed Movies
5Kathryn Stockett — The Help (2011)
Set during the Civil Rights era,The Helpfollows budding journalist Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan (played by Emma Stone), who decides to write about the harsh working environments of Black domestic workers in ‘60s America after befriending two house helps. During a Junior League meeting, authorKathryn Stockett, who wrote the original story, appears as one of the attendees.
Performance-wise, there is nothing to take from Stocket’s cameo, but her appearance in the movie proved that she wasn’t shying away from critics. When the book first came out, Stocket was called out for narrating the events from the perspective of a Black woman, yet she was white. Many argued that she knew nothing about the Black experience, but she has defended herself multiple times. By appearing as a woman cheering during a Junior League meeting, she indirectly reminds everyone that her intentions are pure.Stream on Tubi
4Lee Child — Jack Reacher (2012)
Despite having Tom Cruise as the lead, the film version ofJack Reacher(based onLee Child’sOne Shot) is hardly as entertaining as the Prime Video series. Still, it has an intriguing plot about an ex-military policeman investigating the killings of a mysterious sniper. Child portrays a desk sergeant who gives Reacher back his belongings after he is released, having initially been charged with assault.
Child’s cameo is more meaningful than the one he makes in the Season 1 finale of Prime Video’sReacher. Here, he helps drive Reacher’s storyline forward, while in the original, he is simply a diner customer who brushes shoulders with the protagonist as he is on his way out. Child’s decision to share a scene with Cruise also sums up his perspective on the author’s casting.
The majority of fans had criticized the casting because Reacher is a tall muscular man in the books, but Child came to the actor’s defense, stating, “With another actor you might get 100% of the height but only 90% of Reacher. With Tom, you’ll get 100% of Reacher with 90% of the height.“Stream on Paramount+
3Jonathan Safran — Everything Is Illuminated (2005)
Everything is Illuminated
InEverything Is Illuminated,Jonathan Safran Foer (Elijah Wood), a young Jewish-American man heads to Ukraine to locate the man who saved his grandfather during the Holocaust. Soon, he meets an old man with a passion for American rap music, who agrees to guide him on his long and tedious journey in exchange for cash. Book author,Jonathan Safran Foer, appears towards the end of the film. As the protagonist is standing over his grandfather’s grave, Foer is seen blowing leaves in the cemetery from a distance.
BecauseEverything Is Illuminatedis a biographical movie, the cameo undoubtedly means more to Foer than it does to audiences. Filming next to his grandfather’s grave was presumably emotional for him. Most importantly, it’s the kind of cameo that’s meant to satisfy an author’s hardcore fans and appreciate the unwavering support that they offer. Many viewers might not know of the cameo, hence they probably didn’t even look at the cemetery’s groundskeeper twice.Stream on Roku
Related:15 Movie Adaptations the Author of the Book Said They Loved
2Peter Benchley — Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg’sJawscreated the template thatmany shark moviesuse to this day. In it, several coastal officials work together to capture a killer shark to prevent the inevitable loss of revenue stemming from a high number of scared tourists.Peter Benchley— who penned the book that birthed the movie — briefly appears as a reporter narrating what’s happening on the beach.
Why It’s a Perfect Cameo
The minor role fit Benchley perfectly because he was a Washington Post reporter before writingJaws.And he sure does look like a ‘70s journalist in the scene, thanks to the thick glasses and reassuring voice. So good was Benchley that he went on to appear in several other movies over the years in a minor capacity. In total, he appeared in 12 films and shows before his death.Stream on Netflix
1Louis Sachar — Holes (2003)
InHoles,young Stanley Yelnats IV (Shia Lebouf) is sent to a remote juvenile detention facility after he is wrongfully convicted of stealing sneakers donated to charity by a popular baseball player. In the camp, the children are forced to dig holes all day as punishment, and it soon emerges that they are up to something sinister. Book authorLouis Sacharappears in a flashback scene where he plays an elderly balding man who is convinced to buy a mysterious hair tonic.
Sachar’s scene is an essential one because it not only adds extra hilarity to the comedy-drama, but also creates a proper context for the events that are occurring. Through the flashback scenes, audiences get a better understanding of how the juvenile detention facility was built and what exactly the facility’s management is looking for beneath the ground.Stream on Disney+
