[[quoteright:350:[[Film/TheGiantSpiderInvasion https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shot507.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 "Special but unknown guest star!"]][[note]][[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S08E10TheGiantSpiderInvasion "How can you have a guest star in a movie?"]][[/note]]]]

->''"Ladies and Gentlemen, Mister Music/BurtBacharach!"''
-->-- '''Austin Powers''', '''Film/AustinPowersTheSpyWhoShaggedMe''

A star brought into a series, to [[AsHimself star as himself]] or a character very similar to one he is famous for playing. In American television, this is common during UsefulNotes/{{Sweeps}}. Especially likely on a VerySpecialEpisode. The technical term is "StuntCasting." In a sitcom, always accompanied by [[LaughTrack canned cheering and applause]]. Pioneered on ''Series/ILoveLucy.''

See also: TheCameo, CelebrityStar, AsHimself, CharacterAsHimself, CelebrityEdition. GuestFighter is a special version of this that only applies to video games (especially [[FightingGame Fighting Games]]), and SesameStreetCred is for celebrities who guest star in shows aimed at children.

May lead to GushingAboutGuestStars if they play themselves in their appearance.
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!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Advertising]]
* The Advertising/AirNewZealandSafetyVideos have had such guests as Creator/BettyWhite, Richard Simmons, Bear Grylls, the New Zealand All Blacks and the ''Magazine/SportsIllustrated'' swimsuit models.
* ''Advertising/TrixRabbit'': One two part commercial had ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'' helping the rabbit try to get Trix. Unfortunately, even with Bugs' disguise, the rabbit couldn't get any.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Manga/LuckyStar'' had several voice actors who were involved in ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'' guest star as themselves. Creator/MinoruShiraishi and Creator/DaisukeOno were co-hosts on the "Lucky Channel" section of the show. Creator/AyaHirano (sort of) and Creator/YukoGoto guest starred in the show itself. Interestingly, in the English dub, they were voiced by the actors that portrayed their characters in the English ''Haruhi Suzumiya'' dub. It's kind of funny hearing Creator/JohnnyYongBosch introduce himself as Daisuke Ono on Lucky Channel.
* ''Manga/CaseClosed'' had the Detective League meet the Music-Duo Two-Mix, who sing the OpeningTheme and EndingTheme of the series, and the female member of the group is the voice actor for Conan. Naturally, all the characters did some LampshadeHanging on this similarity. The only difference between the two vocally is that Conan can't sing even if his life depended on it. This fact is especially evident when he has to fill in at a concert for her later on (Behind the scenes, of course).
* ''Anime/MarginalNumber4'' had Yokoo Lui, the series' choreographer (who is also a stage play actor known for portraying ''Music/{{Tsukiuta}}'''s Koi, and other roles), appear in episode 10 as the dance teacher at the idols' training camp.
* ''Manga/SeiyusLife'' has an in-universe example where Creator/YukariTamura takes part in a radio show. Naturally, she doesn't look a day over 17.
* ''Anime/YuriOnIce'' has two former professional figure skaters guest star as themselves in the last two episodes; Nobunari Oda appears as a commentator for the Grand Prix Finals in Episode 11, and Stéphane Lambiel appears in Episode 12 as a reporter for the same event.
* ''Anime/{{Tamagotchi}}'': The Japanese musician Music/{{Hitomi}} appears in episode 10 of ''GO-GO Tamagotchi!'' as an idol singer Tamagotchi named hitomitchi whom Lovelitchi likes. (hitomi performed the opening and ending themes for the first season of ''GO-GO Tamagotchi!''.)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* In ''[[ComicBook/AngelIDW Angel: After the Fall]]'', Gwen goes on a date with an actor named 'Nate', who bears a striking resemblance to actor (and comic book fan) Nathan Fillion -- who starred in the Joss Whedon-created TV series ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' (and the last few episodes of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'').
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'':
** Creator/KyleHebert reprised his role as the narrator for the second movie (in the Abridged Series itself, Creator/LittleKuriboh narrates).
** Chris Sabat appears in minor roles like the LemonyNarrator in the Bastion parody in the Super Android 13 movie as DJ Sexdillionare.
* Chuck Huber made an appearance in the ''WebVideo/YuYuHakushoAbridged'' movie as one of the villains (and provided an ActorAllusion -- he was Hiei in the dub).
* Kyle Hebert once more provided the voice of a narrator in an episode of ''WebVideo/RanmaOneHalfTheAbridgedChronicles'', in which he complains about his cameo being wasted and how everyone wants him to do the narrator voice.
* Austin St. John cameo'd in ''WebVideo/KampferAbridged'' by Creator/MasakoX.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/TheBlueLamp'': Comedy singer Tessie O'Shea appears performing on stage and is credited as herself. The two villains briefly visit the show in an attempt to set up an alibi for themselves.
* ''Film/CarryOnGirls'': Creator/JimmyLogan as Cecil Gaybody (a role first intended for ''Film/CarryOn'' regular Creator/CharlesHawtrey, and later other ''Carry On'' regular Creator/KennethWilliams).
* For ''Film/KaamelottPremierVolet'', Creator/AlexandreAstier wanted someone who speaks French with an English accent "a la Music/{{Sting}}" to play Horsa. He then simply decided to cast the musician himself, and the character has his swagger as a result.
* ''[[Film/OceansEleven Ocean's Twelve]]'': Tess pretends to be Creator/JuliaRoberts at one point, [[spoiler:but is found out when Creator/BruceWillis appears, and receives a call from the "real" Julia Roberts.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Tiana, host of a Website/YouTube channel called [=ToysAndMe=], guest starred in a ''Literature/RainbowMagic'' book aptly titled ''Tiana the Toy Fairy''. To date, she is the only fairy in the series whose book has a direct sequel (''Tiana the Toy Fairy: The Lands of Sweets'').
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/TheLoveBoat'': Every episode included a new set of passengers, and a new set of celebrities playing those people. A [[https://youtu.be/bPwxmrNVKKE comprehensive montage]] of their credits in the opening takes over ''45 minutes''. It probably would be easier to count the living people in early [[TheEighties 1980s]] Hollywood who did ''not'' appear in the show.
* ''Series/TheManFromUNCLE'': Especially during its heyday, the show was able to draw a lot of high-powered talent as guest stars. Among those who made guest appearances included Creator/EveArden, Creator/JoanBlondell, Creator/TedCassidy, Creator/JoanCollins, Creator/YvonneCraig, Creator/JoanCrawford, Creator/RobertCulp, Creator/IvanDixon, Creator/JamesDoohan, Creator/HaroldGould, Creator/JamesHong, Creator/AllenJenkins, Creator/PatsyKelly, Creator/RichardKiel, Creator/MartinLandau, Creator/AngelaLansbury, Creator/JanetLeigh, Creator/HerbertLom, Creator/JackLord, Creator/RicardoMontalban, Creator/LeslieNielsen, Creator/LeonardNimoy, Creator/CarrollOConnor, Creator/JackPalance, Creator/EleanorParker, Creator/VincentPrice, Creator/CesarRomero, Creator/CharlesRuggles, Creator/KurtRussell, Creator/TellySavalas, Creator/WilliamShatner, Music/NancySinatra, Music/SonnyAndCher, Creator/TerryThomas, Creator/RipTorn and Creator/FritzWeaver.
* Series/{{VIP}} Had Music/{{Lit}} guest star [[AsHimself as themselves]] in the episode Recap/VIP2x16HardValsNight hiring [[Creator/{{PamelaAnderson}} Val]] to protect them from jewel thieves and recover A.J.'s stolen belt buckle. This led to them asking her to star in [[Music/{{Miserable}}one of their videos,]] which happened both InUniverse and in RealLife (see below in the music videos section).
* ''Series/{{Bonanza}}'' would have the opening credits show the main four actors on screen and then the major guest star appear in a special on-screen credit.
* ''Series/HeeHaw'':
** While there were "special guests" every week, the one guest that producer/creator Sam Louvillo wanted more than anybody came during the early 1970s ... but he never got him because Col. Tom Parker found out and quashed the idea immediately. That special guest that never was, of course, was Music/ElvisPresley. Additionally, Elvis ''wanted'' to be on the show and the negotiations were underway until Parker found out.
** Incidentally, in 1978, just months after Elvis' death, a TearJerker moment came when Elvis' father, Vernon Presley, make a guest appearance on the show to talk about his son's musical influences and how ''Hee Haw'' was one of his favorite programs.
* ''Series/FullHouse'':
** Michelle's friend Denise has a famous musician-uncle who turns out to be Music/LittleRichard.
** Music/TheBeachBoys also made frequent appearances as themselves throughout the series.
* ''Series/{{Friends}}'' has more than you can shake a stick at. Particularly in later series, when it was hugely popular, though it's interesting to spot occasional guest appearances early on by actors who would later ''become'' famous.
* ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'':
** Seems to have gotten its most fame ever from having Music/BritneySpears on twice. Definitely the most infamous.
** And Music/KatyPerry.
** And [[Series/ThePriceIsRight Bob Barker]] was supposedly Barney Stinson's father for a while.
* ''Series/JustShootMe'' featured guest appearances from various supermodels (most notably Rebecca Romijn, not as herself but as Finch's wife). Also, performers such as Music/RobertGoulet and Creator/GeorgeLucas have also appeared as one of Jack's old friends. Creator/WoodyAllen appeared in an episode that featured a man who passed himself off as Woody Allen (the real Allen was only heard over the phone at the end), and Creator/RayLiotta played himself as the cousin of RecurringCharacter Kevin.
* ''Series/LasVegas'' brought Creator/JeanClaudeVanDamme on to the show playing himself -- and then killed him off! In general, it had a star/celebrity every other episode it seemed.
* ''Series/TheNanny'' did this roughly every other episode. Once resulted in Creator/FranDrescher meeting herself, this only shattered the fabric of reality a little bit.
* ''Series/NewsRadio'': Subverted this by finding obscure people as writer in-jokes: Scott Adams (creator of ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}), ''VideoGame/{{Defender}}'' creator Creator/EugeneJarvis and George "[[Series/TheAndyGriffithShow Goober]]" Lindsay (because they liked his autobiography). Then again, they did have their share of genuine guest stars (Creator/JerrySeinfeld, Creator/JamesCaan, Bob Costas etc.), most of whose appearances went pretty awkwardly. (Interestingly, Seinfeld's own sitcom usually avoided such things, although even that had a few - Creator/BetteMidler, Creator/MarisaTomei
* ''Series/NightCourt'' had crooner Mel Torme show up and spend most of the episode just barely being missed by Judge Harry, who of course is a fanatical fan. This avoids being a CelebrityStar by virtue of the fact that this fandom had been long-established from the first episode of the series. Later episodes would have Torme reappear and become subject to various mishaps and shenanigans related to the eccentric cast of characters in the courthouse orbit, so much so that he would begin to see Harry as his SitcomArchNemesis, much to Harry's dismay.
* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': In "[[{{Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E24S7E1Descent}} Descent]]", Data is playing poker with holographic depictions of Creator/StephenHawking, UsefulNotes/IsaacNewton, and UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein. Hawking portrayed his own hologram for this episode. Apparently, he was just touring the set when the writers decided to put him in an episode and a few days later they filmed him. Giving Hawking the honor of being the only person to appear AsHimself in any ''Franchise/StarTrek'' show.
* ''Series/WhosTheBoss'', "Hit The Road Chad": Ray Charles comes to the Bauers' to play a few songs.
* The 1970s Toho-produced series ''Meteor Man Zone'' (known in the United States as ''Series/ZoneFighter'') had Gigan, King Ghidorah, and even Franchise/{{Godzilla}} as guest stars.
* ''Series/{{EXTRAS}}'': Ricky Gervais plays a professional film extra and meets at least one massive star each episode, always playing themselves. {{Lampshaded}} by the fact that every episode of the series was actually named after the main guest star of that episode ("Samuel L. Jackson", "David Bowie", "Daniel Radcliffe") and the fact that one episode revolved around the protagonist's disdain for Chris Martin having a far-fetched guest appearance on his ShowWithinAShow.
* ''Series/{{Arliss}}'': Arliss is a sports agent that has many big name sports clients.
* ''Series/{{Entourage}}'': follows the posse of a budding A-list movie star, who naturally shmoozes with some real-life A-list movie stars.
* ''Series/WillAndGrace'' was quite annoying with this; it featured special guests almost every week and seemed like a vehicle for celebrities to proclaim their gay-friendly status.
** Arguably the least egregious was Taye Diggs' extended stint as Will's boyfriend, since it was a surprisingly complex story arc and gave Will his first onscreen kiss (albeit in the final season). Extra points since it was both a gay and interracial romance on primetime TV.
** One episode suggests the show is set in an AlternateUniverse, where Creator/GeorgeTakei was still in the closet until publicly outed on TV by Jack.
* ''Series/{{Moonlighting}}'':
** One episode features Creator/JuddNelson ''and'' Creator/WhoopiGoldberg as the special guest stars.
** Music/RayCharles also guested on an episode.
** As did Creator/OrsonWelles (introducing "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice," which aired after he passed away and was dedicated to him).
* ''Series/StargateSG1'' is quite popular amongst the actual USAF, and not just because it is BackedByThePentagon. Two consecutive Air Force chiefs of staff have appeared in the series, playing themselves. One episode featured O'Neill barging into General Hammond's office, loudly complaining (as usual) only to be introduced to General Michael E. Ryan, then-current Chief of Staff of the Air Force, whereupon O'Neill promptly quiets down. After filming was completed, Richard Dean Anderson asked General Ryan if he had any real Colonels as bad as Jack O'Neill, and Ryan responded that he had ''worse''. In the later episode "Lost City", the second half featured General John P. Jumper (again, the then-current Air Force Chief of Staff) as himself during the Goa'uld attack, speaking with the President and coordiating the counter-atack. Apparently, when General Jumper first became the Chief of Staff, the first question he asked ''his'' staff was "When do I get to be on Stargate?"
* ''Series/LawAndOrder'' and its spinoffs do this occasionally.
** For example, Creator/LewisBlack once played a Creator/HowardStern-esque radio host.
** And Creator/CandiceBergen guest starred in ''Series/LawAndOrderTrialByJury'' as Judge Amanda Anderlee.
** The show also loves to cast comedians as the criminals, usually of the highly intelligent variety, including Martin Short, Creator/RobinWilliams, and Creator/StephenColbert.
* Most Creator/USANetwork originals do it all the time. Take a look at the list of guest stars through the seasons of ''Series/{{Monk}}'', including Music/WillieNelson and Music/AliceCooper.
* Occasionally, a show will have [[CelebrityParadox a regular character's actor playing him- or herself]] (as the Special Guest) as well as the normal character. Usually this is accompanied by jokes about how similar they look.
** ''Series/MorkAndMindy'' had Mork meet Robin Williams in one episode.
** ''Sanford and Son'' had an episode where Fred Sanford enters a Redd Foxx lookalike contest; his son Lamont doesn't see the resemblance.
** Creator/LyndaCarter met Creator/LucilleBall in an episode of ''Here's Lucy''.
* ''Series/{{Bones}}'' has an episode about dog fights featuring professional FluffyTamer Cesar Millan.
* ''Series/{{Castle|2009}}'':
** Joe Torre, a baseball player and manager. [[TheCharmer Castle]] is fairly nonchalant, having met Joe before and not being overly interested in the game anyway, but Beckett can barely keep from {{Squee}}ing and immediately rushes off to call her dad to gloat.
** The tables are turned when the pair meet [[Music/{{Kiss}} Gene Simmons]] in one episode, with Beckett blase about it but Castle absolutely star struck
** Chef Rocco Dispirito appeared in "Food to Die For" during [[TheCharmer Castle's]] date with Beckett's high school BFF.
** Richard Castle's poker game features real authors such as Creator/JamesPatterson and Creator/StephenJCannell; the latter's chair was left unoccupied after his passing ("No one sits there for at least a year").
* Creator/LouFerrigno moved next door to the Heffernans in ''Series/TheKingOfQueens''.
* Every episode of ''Series/PoliceSquad'' features a special guest... who would be killed before the opening credits were over. Creator/WilliamShatner lasted the longest, dodging a hail of bullets before finally succumbing to a poisoned drink.
* One episode of ''Series/SilverSpoons'' had Menudo attending the protagonist's birthday party as the entertainment.
* ''Franchise/CSIVerse'':
** ''Series/{{CSI}}'' has quite a few over its 15-year run. For example:
*** Music/RascalFlatts appear As Themselves in an episode where one of the trio gets (non-fatally) electrocuted during a concert sound-check and the other two naturally become suspects.
*** Music/JustinBieber appears in two episodes and his character [[spoiler: gets killed off]] in the second. Viewers who weren't even fans of the show tuned in just for that scene.
*** Creator/TimConway appears as a stand-up comedian in an episode where his character is the prime suspect in the murder of his comedy-routine partner.
*** Creator/MarleeMatlin plays a professor at a school for the deaf in "The Two Mrs. Grissoms."
*** Creator/DeanneBray appears in "Sounds of Silence" which features a deaf hit-and-run victim.
*** Creator/DannyBonaduce portrays the first victim in the Miniature Killer arc.
** Subverted in one episode of ''Series/CSIMiami'': the suspect was a famous skateboarder who retired and made software games starring himself... but the Special Guest, [[VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater Tony Hawk]], instead played the BodyOfTheWeek. [[spoiler: Also invoked, since Tony Hawk's character is also the CEO's StuntDouble for doing MotionCapture in the game, so he does skateboard in a flashback.]]
** ''Series/{{CSINY}}''. To name a few:
*** Creator/MarleeMatlin appears as the mother of a deaf murder victim in "[[Recap/CSINYS03E12 Silent Night]]".
*** Creator/KimKardashian, Creator/PatMonahan from Music/{{Train}} and Creator/LaLaAnthony all appear in the series' only Christmas-themed episode, "[[Recap/CSINYS06E11 Second Chances]]".
*** Creator/EdwardJamesOlmos portrays the founder of a Puerto Rican gang who's fresh out of prison in "[[Recap/CSINYS07E04 Sangre por Sangre]]".
*** Creator/JohnLarroquette appears in three consecutive episodes in Season 7.
*** Creator/DavidJamesElliott shows up twice in Season 7 as Jo's ex-husband, Russ.
*** Creator/PeterFonda portrays Mac's training officer/first partner, "Wild Bill" Hunt, in two episodes at the end of Season 7.
*** Creator/LeeMajors appears as a retired detective who shows up to help with a current case very similar to an unsolved one of his own in "[[Recap/CSINYS08E14 Flash Pop]]".
* ''Series/{{Chuck}}'' has taken stunt-casting to a whole new level, often having more than one guest star an episode.
* ''Series/TheYoungIndianaJonesChronicles'' was built around the concept of special guest stars who were actually historical figures. There are also several real stars who show up, several before the height of their fame. One episode features ''both'' Creator/CatherineZetaJones and Creator/DanielCraig before they peaked in popularity and movie star status.
* Every episode of ''Series/Batman1966'' had at least one "Special Guest Villain." While some, like Creator/CesarRomero's Joker, Creator/BurgessMeredith's Penguin, and Creator/FrankGorshin's Riddler, appeared often enough to almost be regular cast members, a great many were one-shot stunt castings of big-name stars (e.g., Milton Berle as Louie the Lilac, Art Carney as The Archer, Rudy Vallee as Lord Ffogg.)
** Also, celebrities would pop out of the window when Batman and Robin were climbing the building to talk to them.
** In January 1967, [[IdolSinger teen pop star]] Lesley Gore (of "It's My Party" fame) would appear in two consecutive episodes ("That Darn Catwoman" and "Scat! Darn Catwoman") as Pussycat, a minion of Catwoman; she would also lip-sync one of her then-current hit singles in each episode ("California Nights" and "Maybe Now", respectively).
* ''Series/AmericanDreams'' seemed to exist solely for this trope. Many episodes had a famous current musician appear as a famous 60's musician (often having nothing to do with the plot)[[note]]and some of them better known for things other than singing, like Music/HilaryDuff (as one of The Shangri-La's), Creator/JenniferLoveHewitt (as Nancy Sinatra - the future ''Series/GhostWhisperer'' was one of the few to appear more than once) and [[Creator/TyraBanks TYRA FREAKING BANKS]] (as one of the Marvelettes)[[/note]] and NBC would often make this the focal point of the advertising. One probably wouldn't even know the show had a plot unless they watched it.
* ''Series/HannahMontana'': About one in every six episodes of features a special guest or two - Hannah's "aunt" is Music/DollyParton[[note]]Music/MileyCyrus's godmother in real life[[/note]], [[Series/MamasFamily Mama]] is Miley's Mammaw. Lilly's mother turns out to be Heather Locklear, and as for Lilly's dad... as [[Series/GilmoreGirls Lorelai Gilmore]] once put it, "And yes, that is the guy from ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen''." Their next door neighbor in season 4 is the [[AngusTJones half man]] from previous said show.
** Funny enough that Music/MileyCyrus and Creator/EmilyOsment later guest starred on ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen'' another show set in a Malibu Beach House.
* ''Series/DoctorWho'' has done this a few times, with the likes of Sharon Osbourne and Creator/RichardDawkins appearing in cameos as themselves, and even including stock footage of UsefulNotes/BarackObama in one episode, then bringing in a body double to make him part of the story ("[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E17E18TheEndOfTime The End of Time]]"). Several attempts at having members of the Royal Family appear as themselves have been unsuccessful. Back in 1965, the episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS2E8TheChase The Chase]]" featured a guest appearance by Music/TheBeatles (via stock footage), as well.
* On ''Series/HomeImprovement'', several sports stars appeared as themselves as guests on the ShowWithinAShow ''Tool Time'', including George Foreman, Evander Holyfield, and Michael and Mario Andretti. Real life home improvement pioneer Bob Vila showed up several times. In one episode after Creator/PennAndTeller guest on ''Tool Time'', Tim is called out on this in-show, being told by fans that his show is relying too much on StuntCasting. Also, a few celebrities appeared as themselves outside of ''Tool Time'', including Music/TheBeachBoys (they're Wilson's cousins) and Creator/RodneyDangerfield.
* ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'': The ill-fated talk show called "It's" with singer Lulu ("To Sir With Love") and Music/RingoStarr as guests with the tattered and bedraggled "It's" man as host. (Neither guest said anything.)
* ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' had a guest star in every episode. Justified, as the show is set in a theatre and revolves around a weekly presentation.
* Typically at least one per episode on the ''Series/ColgateComedyHour''.
* Martha Stewart in the first-season finale of ''Series/TwoBrokeGirls''.
* ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'': Subverted in "The Gang Gets Invincible," where Donovan [=McNabb=] is promised to appear at the the Eagles football tryouts, but instead an obvious impostor played by Geoffrey Owens arrives and delivers a sales pitch for UsefulNotes/McDonalds. The gang realizes the fraud and vaguely recognizes the impostor as that guy from ''Series/TheCosbyShow''.
* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' often has guest stars playing themselves, which are either actors from shows popular amongst nerds (e.g. Creator/WilWheaton, Creator/LeVarBurton and Creator/BrentSpiner from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''; Creator/KateeSackhoff from ''Series/BattlestarGalactica2003'', or Creator/SummerGlau from ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' and ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles''), or popular RealLife scientists (e.g. UsefulNotes/NeilDeGrasseTyson, Creator/StephenHawking or [[Series/BillNyeTheScienceGuy Bill Nye]]). In most cases, though, it doesn't amount to more than TheCameo, while Wil Wheaton is more or less a RecurringCharacter.
* ''Series/KingOfTheNerds'' often has nerdy-fandom-related celebrity guests, usually to judge a competition. These have included Creator/GeorgeTakei, Creator/TaraStrong, and Series/BillNyeTheScienceGuy.
* {{Series/QI}} usually draws from a rather shallow pool of British comedians, but will also on occasion have a special guest who is somehow related to the topic of that episode. For example, Creator/DanielRadcliffe was a guest on "Magic" and Dr. Brian Cox appeared in "Incomprehensible".
* ''Series/MissionImpossible'' did this from time to time, such as in the third-season episode "The Contender" with former middleweight boxing champion Sugar Ray Robinson.
* ''Series/MimpiMetropolitan'': Yayan Ruhian guest stars as himself in episode 50. In the middle of the episode, he shows up and uses his martial arts skill to save Pipin from premans. Then it turns out he is also an in-universe example, as he later films a scene for ''[[ShowWithinAShow Ada Azab Dalam Cerita]]'' where he shows up and uses his martial arts skill to save an ustad from premans.
* The ''Series/CheckItOutWithDrSteveBrule'' special "Bagboy", a pilot created by Dr. Steve Brule, features Mickey Dolenz from Music/TheMonkees. He shows up for one scene near the beginning of the episode and never shows up again.
-->'''Mickey Dolenz:''' Excuse me, can you tell me where the bananas are?\\
'''Steve Brule:''' Who are you, some kinda monkey?\\
'''Mickey Dolenz:''' Actually, I am. ''[{{laugh track}}]''\\
'''Steve Brule:''' I know. [[DontExplainTheJoke He's, uh, one of the Monkees]]. From the show, ''[[Series/TheMonkees Monkees]]''. Hnhn. But the bananas are over there.\\
'''Mickey Dolenz:''' Ah, thanks. ''[leaves]''\\
'''Steve Brule:''' That's it. That's the scene with Mickey Dolenz... Next scene.
* ''Series/That70sShow'' has many guest stars who used to act in 1970s sitcoms, such as Marion Ross and Tom Bosley (from ''Series/HappyDays''), Creator/BettyWhite, Valerie Harper, Gavin [=MacLeod=] and Creator/MaryTylerMoore from ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'', Creator/DonKnotts and Richard Kline from ''Series/ThreesCompany'', Tom Poston and Jack Riley from ''Series/TheBobNewhartShow'' and Eve Plumb, Barry Williams and Christopher Knight from ''Series/TheBradyBunch''.
* The ''Series/{{Shoestring}}'' episode "Find the Lady" has Toyah Willcox as [[NewWaveMusic New Wave]] singer Toola.
* ''Series/MidnightCaller'': [[Music/TheWho Roger Daltrey]] guest stars in "Can't Say N-N-No" as a drug-addicted rock singer who used to be in a relationship with Nicky.
* ''Series/StarskyAndHutch'': Lynn Anderson, best known for her 1970 hit "Rose Garden," plays country singer Sue Ann Grainer in "A Long Walk Down a Short Dirt Road."
* ''Series/GreatNews'': Creator/RayLiotta appears as himself in the final episode of the show for a brief gag.
* In the ''Series/BroadCity'' episode "Twaining Day," Music/ShaniaTwain finally shows up at Soulstice after years of Abbi claiming she's training there.
* ''Series/SchittsCreek'' has Paul Schaeffer playing himself as the entertainment at the Roses' lavish Christmas Party.
* ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'' would occasionally bring out a special guest, but the CW revival has a special guest (usually from one of the CW's other shows) nearly every week and participating in multiple games.
* American TV seemed to go through a phase that suggested Congress had enacted a law decreeing it was mandatory for every sitcom to have Creator/JohnCleese as a guest star. ''Series/{{Cheers}}'', ''Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun'', ''Series/WillAndGrace''....
* The number of guest stars on ''Series/SesameStreet'' is practically incalculable, but Wikipedia has [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_guest_stars_on_Sesame_Street tried.]]
* Andy Gibb, boxer Marvin Hagler, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Marilyn [=McCoo=] and pop/rap group [=DeBarge=] have all guest starred on ''Series/PunkyBrewster''.
* On ''Series/ResidentAlien'', Creator/LindaHamilton receives this credit for her role as General [=McCallister=]. Later, Creator/TerryOQuinn gets a special guest billing for his role as Peter Bach.
* ''Series/WouldILieToYou'' is a low-budget PanelGame whose guests are largely comedians, television presenters and personalities. Just occasionally, there will be an unexpectedly very famous celebrity, usually an actor (who will often admit to appearing because they're a big fan of the show). Examples include Samantha Morton, John Simm, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, Charles Dance and Jim Carter.
* ''Series/{{Dave}}'', being about the music industry, has a musician guest star almost every episode including Music/JustinBieber, Music/{{Macklemore}}, YG, Marshmello, Benny Blanco, Kourtney Kardashian and more.
* On ''Series/TheOrville'', Dolly Parton is credited as a special guest star in "[[Recap/TheOrvilleSeason3E08MidnightBlue Midnight Blue]]" for her appearance as her holographic self.
* ''Series/TheCosbyShow'' had many of these. The most famous example was an episode where Denise has a minor car accident and the driver of the other car is ''Music/StevieWonder'', who invites the family to visit his studio. Lena Horne, Miriam Makeba, Music/BBKing, Music/DizzyGillespie, Creator/SammyDavisJr, Placido Domingo and tap dancer Howard Simms also either played themselves or thinly disguised versions of themselves in various other episodes.
* ''Series/BattlestarGalactica1978'' had a fair few special guest stars in various episodes. Hollywood legends Ray Milland and Lew Ayres guested in the pilot (Ayres as the ill-fated Colonial President, and Milland as a smarmy member of the Council of 12 who was an ObstructiveBureaucrat intended to oppose Adama), as did Rick Springfield (as Adama's youngest son, Zac, who gets killed off in the first ten minutes). Other episodes had Creator/JamieLeeCurtis, fresh from her StarMakingRole in ''Film/{{Halloween|1978}}'', and Creator/FredAstaire playing Starbuck's real father.
* ''Series/TheTroubleWithYouLilian'' had Creator/FreddieJones guest star as Jack in "The Long Wash".
* Elizabeth Larner got special billing when she played Mrs. Stone in the ''Series/NoAppointmentNecessary1977'' episode, "Publish and be Damned".
* Gwen Watford got special billing above Hugh Walters in ''Series/TheTrainNowStanding'' when she played Celia Braithwaite in "Brief Encounter".
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* Carlos Music/{{Santana}} resurrected his career through liberal use of this trope on the ''Supernatural'' and ''Shaman'' albums.
%%* Music/{{Soulfly}}'s first few albums were built around this. ZERO CONTEXT EXAMPLE
* Music/{{Nelly}}'s album ''Brass Knuckles'' had a guest star on every song. Fans who had waited four years for a worthy follow-up to ''Sweat/Suit'' weren't pleased.
%%* Music/{{The Rolling Stones|Band}} regularly have special guests join them onstage. PARTIAL CONTEXT EXAMPLE
* Steve Miller regularly has his opening act join him onstage during his concerts.
* Music/CaptainBeefheart was the special guest on Music/FrankZappa's ''Music/HotRats'' where he sang the only track with lyrics, "Willie the Pimp."
* Radio entertainer Stanley Unwin narrates the tale of Happiness Stan in his own brand of idiosyncratic English on Music/TheSmallFaces' ''[[Music/OgdensNutGoneFlake Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake]]''.
* Almost every DJ ever uses a guest vocalist on a song-to-song basis.
* New Orleans' Trombone Shorty often features as one, as many acts these days don't have a horn player at all. His first two albums, ''Music/{{Backatown}}'' and ''For True'', relied fairly heavily on guest spots.
* Music/{{Sabaton}} vocalist Joakim Brodén has made a number of guest appearances with other metal bands, including a CoverVersion of his own song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agWwSsCP6KI "Primo Victoria"]] by Music/VanCanto, and the Sabaton AffectionateParody [[https://youtu.be/39CyUAnKUso "Pasadena 1994"]] by Music/NanowarOfSteel.
* Music/AetherRealm: Christopher Bowes of Music/{{Alestorm}} does guest vocals on "King of Cups".
* ''Music/ChristmasWithTheTabernacleChoir'' has this as a feature, a new guest, often two, each year, from famous actors and celebrities, Broadway singers and even the cast from ''Series/SesameStreet'':
* Music/JohnLeeHooker's 1989 album, ''The Healer'', featured several guest stars. These included Music/CarlosSantana and [[Music/{{Santana}} his band at the time]], Music/BonnieRaitt, Robert Cray, Los Lobos, Canned Heat, George Thorogood and Charlie Musselwhite.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music Videos]]
* Music/AetherRealm: Logan Lawson of South Carolina-based DeathMetal band Music/AsOceans plays the title character in the music video for "The Magician". The band often gets him onstage with him for that song when they play live in the Carolinas.
* After Music/{{Lit}} guest starred in [[Series/{{VIP}} her show]] Creator/PamelaAnderson followed it up by guest starring in their video for Music/{{Miserable}}, which premiered at the end of the [[Recap/VIP2x16HardValsNight episode Lit appeared in]], as she had been asked to guest star in it both in the shows universe and in real life. Pamela Anderson was even credited with: "And starring Pamela Anderson as Vallery Irons." Behind the scenes Lit had said they would only do the video if they could get Pam herself to star in it, since they had enjoyed working with her so much. The video features Pamela Anderson/Vallery Irons as a giantess, with the band using various areas of her body as a stage while they perform [[Music/{{Miserable}} their song.]]
* The video for Music/JeffBeck's "Ambitious" features several celebrities auditioning for him, some singers, and some not. These included: Music/HerbAlpert, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Al Kooper, [[Creator/CheechAndChong Cheech Marin]], [[Music/TheFifthDimension Marilyn [=McCoo=]]], Donny Osmond, and Creator/HerveVillechaize
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pinballs]]
* One of the passengers in Creator/WilliamsElectronics' ''Pinball/{{Taxi}}'' is Pinball/PinBot, the star of Williams' top-selling game.
* ''VideoGame/{{Necronomicon}}'' features John Petrucci, guitarist for Music/DreamTheater, who contributed the music for the game's prologue and epilogue videos.
* Creator/SternPinball's ''[[Pinball/MustangStern Mustang]]'' has voice callouts from professional racing driver Tanner Foust.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Podcasts]]
* ''Podcast/MuggleCast'' has had several with people from the ''Film/HarryPotter'' film franchise. Oh, and Rubeus Hagrid. Not Robbie Coltrane, but Rubeus Hagrid. The other ''Literature/HarryPotter'' podcast, ''[=PotterCast=]'', has also had plenty. Including Creator/JKRowling herself.
* ''Podcast/TopDownPerspective'': More are promised to be in the podcast, but so far the following people have been a guest, in order:
** Paul aka Exfauxure, before he become a permanent host, after Nathan decided to bow out from the podcast for various reasons.
** The guy who directs the HotPepperGameReviews channel.
** Nathan aka Kraznor when he decided to pop in once after stepping down as a co-host.
** Hank, a speedrunner, who regularly co-hosts with Paul on thier own podcast, Burning Barrel, when Sean was away in Europe.
* In-universe in ''Podcast/TheOrbitingHumanCircusOfTheAir'' the eponymous fictional radio VarietyShow has "Guest vocalist Romica, the extraordinary singing saw!" Romica appears to be the Circus' blatant in-show [[ProductPlacement promotion]] of its sponsor, Samuel Saws, who are reaping the benefits of the Circus' popularity.
* ''Podcast/CanceledTooSoon'':
** Rebekah [=McKendry=] from Blumhouse appeared on the episode reviewing ''Darknet''
** Film critic Alonso Duralde appeared on the episodes reviewing ''Series/TheMuppets2015'' and ''Series/MyMotherTheCar'', as well as the crossovers with his own podcast LKTV.
** Drew [=McWeeney=], host of the podcast ''80s All Over'', appeared on the episode reviewing ''Series/PoliceSquad''.
** Scott Mantz of ''Access Hollywood'' appeared on the episode reviewing ''Battlestar Galactica''.
** Jenna Busch, founder of the website Legion of Leia, appears on the ''Wonder Woman'' episode.
** Brianne Drouhard, who created the series ''WesternAnimation/AmethystPrincessOfGemworld'', appeared on the episode reviewing that series.
** ''Film/Deadpool2016'' screenwriter Rhett Reese guest stars on the Monthly Movie episode reviewing ''Series/LonesomeDove''.
** Actor Samm Levine, who appeared in the shows ''Series/{{Selfie}}'' and ''Series/FreaksAndGeeks'', appeared on the episodes covering them.
* ''Podcast/LifeInTheWorldToCome'' has had the Youtuber Andy King join for a special filmed episode.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* ''Radio/ThatGoshDarnHippieShow'': Vince Martell of Music/VanillaFudge and Music/WeirdAlYankovic have both been interviewed on the show.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]
* The 1973 Broadway musical ''Seesaw'' brought on Mayor John Lindsay of UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity during the "My City" number for one performance in its first week.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''Film/FightClub: The Video Game'': Fred Durst of Music/LimpBizkit is a bonus character.
* Music/MichaelJackson in ''VideoGame/SpaceChannel5''.
* The third-person shooter, ''Infected'' for the [[Platform/PlayStationPortable PSP]] has Mark Hunter, lead singer of ''Chimaira'', and the members of Music/{{Slipknot}}.
* ''VideoGame/DeusExInvisibleWar'' has the lead singer of Kidneythieves as a 2070s popstar.
* Denise Crosby as ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' security chief Lt. Natasha Yar in ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'''s 3rd Aniversary mission: ''Temporal Ambassador''
* ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' gives the player's profile name a Special Guest credit at the end of the opening credits.
* ''VideoGame/SaintsRowIV'' gives players the option to use Creator/NolanNorth 's voice. The option for his voice is even listed as "[[AsHimself Nolan North]]".
** ''Saints Row IV'' also features appearances by Creator/KeithDavid AsHimself [[spoiler:and Wrestling/RoddyPiper]].
* ''VideoGame/PAYDAY2'' has the Alesso Heist, set during a concert by the artist of the same name.
* The opening credits for ''VideoGame/KingdomComeDeliverance'' has a special guest credit for Creator/BrianBlessed.
* ''VideoGame/KickMan'' has VideoGame/PacMan appear in the game to eat balloons. Justified as both Pacman and Kick Man were made by Creator/MidwayGames.
* ''VideoGame/StarGagnant'' features Creator/TakahashiMeijin (also known as Master Takahashi), a former Creator/HudsonSoft executive as the PlayerCharacter's commander. The real-life Takahashi supervised development of this game, which itself is a CreatorDrivenSuccessor to Hudson's ''VideoGame/StarSoldier'' series (as well as Creator/{{Terarin}}'s (the lead developer) previous game ''VideoGame/RagingBlasters'', another game inspired by ''Star Soldier'').
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* In ''WebAnimation/TacoMan: The Game Master'', video game characters make appearences, This includes Dirk form ''Dragon's Lair''.
* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'':
** Parodied by the rapper Peacey P, who guest stars on ''his own albums''.
** Played straight in the ''WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail'' "email thunder", where the Poopsmith breaks his vow of silence to perform an email song for [[MilestoneCelebration the 200th episode]], and is voiced by John Linnell of Music/TheyMightBeGiants.
* ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'': "Grey vs. Gray" stars (and was partially written by) the ''WebVideo/GameGrumps''. Arin Hanson, Suzy Hanson, Ross O'Donovan, and Barry Kramer provide the voices for Cobb, Reg, Deuce, and Squatch, while Barry and Brain Wecht helped write.
* In ''WebAnimation/TheGrosseryGang'' webseries' 2016 Christmas episode, special voice appearances by various toy reviewers that have reviewed the toyline are featured, including [=CookieSwirlC=], [=DisneyCarToys=], [=PSToyReviews=] and Chad Alan. [=CookieSwirlC=] returned in the 2017 Christmas special as a guest role, voicing [=PukieHurlC=], a parody of her mascot.
* ''WebAnimation/{{asdfmovie}}'': [[SpecialGuest/ASDFMovie Has its own page.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* The band of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_%28band%29 Infinite]] appearing in ''Webcomic/WelcomeToTheConvenienceStore''.
* ''Webcomic/MenageA3'': It’s a throwaway gag and surely not in any way authorized, but one flashback in a bonus strip shows Zii and Yuki’s old band guesting with the Music/RedHotChiliPeppers — who were probably chosen mostly because of their well-known penchant for playing naked. The psychotic and phallophobic Yuki gets to kick at least one of them in the junk.
* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', an InUniverse celebrity special guest [[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/2016-05-06-milking-it shows up]] during the "Detective Block" storyline.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Videos]]
* ''WebVideo/KateModern'': A number of celebrities (of varying degrees of fame) cameo as themselves, including actor Creator/JamieBell; bands The Days and Scouting For Girls; film director Creator/MikeFiggis; presenters Tim Westwood, Nick Grimshaw, DJ Dre and Michael Underwood; journalist Gordon Smart; and Joanna Shields, the CEO of Bebo. None of them has significant impact on the plot.
* ''WebVideo/LostInGoogle'': A handful of these throughout the series, including Music/{{Caparezza}} and WebVideo/{{Yotobi}}.
* The boys from ''WebVideo/{{Unskippable}}'' tapped [[WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation Ben "Yahtzee" Crosshaw]] for their ''VideoGame/StarOcean'' episode. And one of them appeared on ''WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation'' to return the favor.
* ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic'':
** The Critic actually got Creator/ChristopherLloyd to say, "I was frozen today."
** Hell, Creator/MaraWilson showed up in one of his reviews, and she then later went on to co-review ''Film/{{Matilda}}'' with WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick.
** Creator/DonBluth guest starred in his 6th Commercials episode and his ''VideoGame/DragonsLair'' review.
** [[Music/{{Slipknot}} Corey Taylor]], his son Griff, and the "cast" of [[spoiler:WebVideo/SatelliteCity]] all contribute to the review of Music/TheWall.
* ''WebVideo/{{Heartcore}}'' features characters created by the author's close friends. Said characters include Ryodalyn Knight (created by the author's best friend), Emerald Jaegar (created by [[http://sprite37.deviantart.com Cory Homles]], and Syranon Glaed (created by the author's husband).
* In ''WebVideo/EpicMealTime'':
** With Freddie "[[https://www.youtube.com/user/freddiew freddiew]]" Wong in "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtWPW8yJtgM Epic VFX Time]]" and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ayi_FUlsqX0 West Coast Burger Pile]]" (alongside [[https://www.youtube.com/user/CorridorDigital Corridor Digital]]).
** With DJ/producer Music/{{deadmau5}} in "Cheesy Grilled Cheese Tower" and "Meat Cthulhu".
** With synthpop singer/songwriter Music/{{Lights}} in "Fast Food Meatloaf".
** With [=FPSRussia=] in "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMyPD1VKk60 Russian Meal Time]]" and "Meat Shield".
** With professional skateboarder Tony Hawk in "Fast Food Pizza Cake".
** With the Music/{{SMOSH}} duo in "Super Pastry Cake".
** With as many as they could get in "Turbaconepicentipede", both old and new.
* The guys from The Gentleman's Rant are fond to bringing porn stars to the show. On the episode about homophobia, Brazzers stars Breanne Benson and Tasha Reign gave a shot at ranting and [[GirlOnGirlIsHot kissing]]. They also brought WebVideo/EpicMealTime's Harley for another episode.
* The ''WebVideo/{{React}}'' series:
** ''Kids React'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crHfzQULoIE Lauren and Dani]] from Music/{{Cimorelli}}. Also, their younger brothers Joey and Christian participated in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQrU_Omn1ZM "Kids React to 'It's Thanksgiving' (Nicole Westbrook)"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc1YWExO2dM "One Pound Fish"]] respectively.
** ''Teens React'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAVmF-dYv4U Lisa and Amy Cimorelli]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A39cuQDl1GI and their brother Alex]], [[WebVideo/{{Fred}} Lucas Cruikshank]], Creator/JakeShort (twice), and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlYM2UfiR4k Alex Steele]] from ''Series/{{Degrassi|TheNextGeneration}}''.
** ''[=YouTubers=] React'' is virtually, "Special Guest: TheSeries".
* ''WebVideo/MovieFights'' occasionally brings in fan-requested Youtubers (such as Creator/DougWalker and WebVideo/ChrisStuckmann) as their "gladiators". The show has even brought in celebrities such as Creator/ElijahWood, Creator/MaxLandis and Creator/KevinSmith (the latter have actually appeared ''twice'' to fight in the shows).
* ''WebVideo/OnCinema'' has people involved in film having guest appearances as themselves during the series such as Creator/JoeEstevez, Creator/JohnAprea and Creator/PeytonReed. Gregg is often billed as a guest despite appearing in just about as many episodes as Tim and serves more as a co-host.
* ''WebVideo/QueerKidStuff'': Lindsay has occasionally invited people onto the show to help her explain certain topics.
* ''WebVideo/{{Chubbyemu}}'':
** Justin Whang, host of ''WebVideo/TalesFromTheInternet'', has had two starring roles in the series, appearing in the reconstructions for the episodes "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfrdKXEdPFU A Dad Drank 50 Beers Everyday For 6 Weeks. This Is What Happened To His Brain.]] and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKIobyk6Isc A TikToker Drank 1 Liter Cough Syrup. This Is What Happened To His Brain.]]" as Patient JW and BW, respectively.
** Fellow [=YouTuber=] East Bound stars as Patient CE to discuss his own medical case on the horrifying side effects of the chemical 2,4-Dinitrophenol in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChPeG19qKUo A Man Had An Accident With A Weight Loss Chemical. This Is What Happened To His Organs.]]
* ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd'':
** He got Creator/LloydKaufman on board to help him slam all the various ''Film/TheToxicAvenger'' games.
** Nathan Barnatt shows up in one episode to help him mock the Sega Activator.
** Creator/MacaulayCulkin dressed up as a pizza boy forces him to play a bunch of ''Film/HomeAlone'' games, desperate to get at least one good review for one of the games that star him.
** He actually got Mike Butters (yes, [[Franchise/{{Saw}} that Mike Butters]]) to reprise his role as the TV Game Guy from ''VideoGame/PepsiMan.
** Creator/GilbertGottfried plays the notorious game developer [[ArchNemesis Fred Fucks]] during the review of ''Life Of Black Tiger''.
** When reviewing ''VideoGame/JurassicParkTrespasser'' [[invoked]] he invites Seamus Blackley onto his show to basically explain [[TroubledProduction what]] [[ChristmasRushed went]] [[ObviousBeta wrong]] with the game in development.
** Mr. Lobo of '' Cinema Insomnia'' narrates his episode about ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask''.
** ''Film/AngryVideoGameNerdTheMovie'' guest-stars Howard Scott Warshaw, the man who actually programmed the ''VideoGame/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'' game the movie is lampooning.
* Creator/JoelHaver's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpQ_xDMJJ04 Sand Planet]]" features Creator/JustinRoiland as a disgruntled Uncle Owen and a suicidal droid.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' often uses this trope; celebrities include Daniel Radcliffe, Wallace Shawn, Jessica Biel, Margo Martindale, Naomi Watts, Henry Winkler, Sir Paul [=McCartney=], Wiz Khalifa, and Sir Mix-a-Lot. Other celebrities voiced by other actors have appeared as well, such as Beyonce, Andrew Garfield, and J.D Salinger.
* Both ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' use this all the time, with "stars" as diverse as Creator/WilliamShatner, Creator/StephenHawking, Music/StephenSondheim, the Music/BackstreetBoys, and Creator/GaryGygax. As well as Al Gore and UsefulNotes/TonyBlair. ''The Simpsons'' even got ReclusiveArtist Creator/ThomasPynchon, which was the only time his voice has been broadcasted in the media.
** This has resulted in some bizarre incongruities when the guest stars have been celebrities with big lips, as the [[RubberForeheadAliens yellow-skinned humanoids]] on the show are famously lipless. Creator/KimBasinger kept hers, but [[Music/{{Aerosmith}} Steven Tyler]] voiced a version of himself with his conspicuously missing, resulting in [[UncannyValley what looked disturbingly like Steven Tyler as a reanimated corpse]].
** Invoked in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E24TheSimpsonsSpinOffShowcase The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase]]", where the Simpsons had a variety show similar to the one done by Series/TheBradyBunch in the late 1970s. Homer hides on one side of the stage, prompting this exchange:
--->'''Homer:''' I'm hi-i-iding from the gho-o-ost!\\
'''Marge:''' What ghost?\\
'''Homer:''' You said we were having a special ghost this evening!\\
'''Marge:''' I said we were having a special ''guest'' this evening -- Mr. [[Series/TheCarolBurnettShow Tim Conway]]!
* The practice is mocked by ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark''. As the opening disclaimer notes, "All celebrity voices are impersonated... poorly." Parker and Stone are generally unwilling to allow celebrities to do guest spots on the show, and have avoided them since the very early seasons.
** Creator/GeorgeClooney provided the dog noises for Stan's gay dog in the episode "[[Recap/SouthParkS1E4BigGayAlsBigGayBoatRide Big Gay Al’s Big Gay Boat Ride]]", and Creator/JayLeno supplied the cat noises for Cartman's cat in "[[Recap/SouthParkS1E13CartmansMomIsADirtySlut Cartman’s Mom is a Dirty Slut]]". Creator/JerrySeinfeld contacted the show offering to do a guest spot, but his agent rejected the offer of performing as a turkey in "[[Recap/SouthParkS4E13HelenKellerTheMusical Helen Keller: The Musical]]".
** Parker and Stone have gone on record saying that they have only ever requested two celebrities to perform on their show: [[Music/{{The Cure|Band}} Robert Smith]] and Natasha Henstridge. In contrast to the other guest spots, their roles actually come with a few lines, though Henstridge is billed as "That Chick from ''Film/{{Species}}''."
* Several episodes of ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' include a special guest, typically voicing a one-off character. Examples include Corky Carroll voicing a Goo Lagoon surfer that's on-screen for about 10 seconds, Mark Hamill voicing a supervillain moth, Bobby Cannavale voicing a sea turtle with a Brooklyn accent, and Jeff Garlin voicing a giant imaginary hamster... it's as weird as it sounds.
** Exception: Ernest Borgnine and Tim Conway were recurring special guests playing the roles of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, respectively, in a large number of episodes. After Borgnine's death in 2012, the characters became retired and have since shown up with very minor, non-speaking cameo appearances.
** Exception: Creator/PatMorita played the villain in one episode. This was one of his last performances before his death, and the episode was dedicated to him.
* The late Dan Wheldon, two-time winner of the Indy 500, voiced himself on the ''WesternAnimation/HotWheelsBattleForce5'' episode "Full Throttle".
* ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'' had a number of these in the third season.
* This was basically the whole idea behind ''WesternAnimation/TheNewScoobyDooMovies''. Some of the guests, like Creator/DickVanDyke, Creator/SandyDuncan, and Music/SonnyAndCher, played themselves; others, like Laurel and Hardy, didn't. The most recent edition, ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndGuessWho,'' continues with that premise.
* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' had quite a few as well, such as Music/WeirdAlYankovic in the episode that introduced Wreck-Gar (a ShoutOut to the movie).
** Also George Takei as the cyberninja Master Yoketron.
* Speaking of Music/WeirdAlYankovic, he was in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'' in an episode where Batman and Robin team up with Franchise/ScoobyDoo and Shaggy to fight against a couple of Batman rogues.
* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' has [[Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood Mr. Fred Rogers]] make an animated appearance. Another episode had an appearance by Creator/NeilGaiman, who played a famous writer in-universe.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'', strangely, has Stone Age versions of Darrin and Samantha Stephens (voiced by guest stars Creator/DickYork and Creator/ElizabethMontgomery) moving in next door to Fred and Wilma.[[note]]Both ''The Flintstones'' and ''Series/{{Bewitched}}'' aired on ABC, and the former was distributed at the time by Screen Gems, which produced the latter.[[/note]] So... Samantha really ''is'' immortal, having lived from at least the Stone Age into the early 1970s.
** Another episode had them befriending famous actress "Ann-Margrock," voiced by movie star Ann-Margret.
* In the 1980s version of ''WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunks'', the episode "Urban Chipmunk" has the guest voice of Music/DollyParton.
** Creator/MrT also appeared on an episode, voicing himself.
* The ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' episode "No Pain, No Gain" features Creator/RichardSimmons [[InksuitActor as an aerobics instructor]] at the high-end health club Rocko and Heffer are trying to join.
* In the "My Punky Valentine" episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheWeekenders'', one of the gambits Tino's friends use to get him to forget about a punky girl involves introducing him to Creator/JenniferLoveHewitt. It doesn't work, but it does result in being one of the few episodes which ''doesn't'' end with Tino saying, "Later days!" - the Series/GhostWhisperer does it instead ("Hahaha!!! I feel like such a dork...").
* While ''WesternAnimation/CloneHigh'' had a couple of ActorAllusion characters, like Luke Perry; the most emphasized is Tom Green, who shows up ''as'' Tom Green to speak about [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny ADHD]].
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Music/WeirdAlYankovic guest-stars as Cheese Sandwich (who's basically a ponified version of Al himself), a friendly rival of Pinkie Pie who became a traveling party pony after she inspired him when they were both younger, in season 4.
** Creator/JohnDeLancie guest stars in the series whenever his character, Discord, is needed.
* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'': The season 3 episode "Lab on the Run" had Fred Willard and Martin Mull from ''Series/FernwoodTonight'' as a pair of slacker robots, F.R.E.D. and MAR-10.
* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': So, so many. It would be easier to list of the number of celebrities who didn't appear. The list of those that did appear include Clay Aiken, Chaka Khan (in the same episode), Music/{{Slash|Musician}} (who called up Dan and Swampy and ''asked'' to be part of the show), Music/ParryGripp, Creator/DonLaFontaine ([[TearJerker in his last role ever]]), Creator/KevinSmith and numerous others.
** A full list can be found [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Phineas_and_Ferb_guest_stars here.]]
* WesternAnimation/HeckleAndJeckle guest star in the Filmation ''WesternAnimation/MightyMouse'' episode "Around the World in Eighty Ways." They're hosting a ceremony highlighting Oil Can Harry's failures.
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePatrickStarShow'' has a few guest stars.
** "[[Recap/ThePatrickStarShowS1E5SquidinasLittleHelperISmellAPat Squidina's Little Helper]]" has Fentin Finkle, a young crab voiced by Creator/GracenNewton who becomes Squidina's production assistant. Fentin, [[RoleReprise with the same voice actor]], comes back for revenge on Squidina in "[[Recap/ThePatrickStarShowS2E9BestServedColdTattooHullabaloo Best Served Cold]]".
** "[[Recap/ThePatrickStarShowS1E13NitwitNeighborhoodNewsMidSeasonFinale Mid-Season Finale]]" ends with an appearance by Music/BootsyCollins.
** "[[Recap/ThePatrickStarShowS1E14ShrinkingStarsFitzPatrick FitzPatrick]]" has Music/HenryRollins voicing the titular character, who's Patrick's EvilTwin.
** In "[[Recap/ThePatrickStarShowS1E22DadsStacheStashARootGaloot A Root Galoot]]", Creator/BobcatGoldthwait plays a mandrake root who bosses the Star family around and overstays his welcome.
** In "[[Recap/ThePatrickStarShowS1E25WhichWitchIsWhichGetOffMyLawnie Which Witch is Which?]]", Creator/AndreaMartin voices Agnes Steelhead, Patrick and Squidina's witch grandmother.
** "[[Recap/ThePatrickStarShowS1E26BubbleBassReviewsPatricksPrisonPals Patrick's Prison Pals]]" revolves around a muscular prisoner voiced by Creator/DannyTrejo, who quickly realizes that [[PreferJailToTheProtagonist being with Patrick's family is]] ''worse'' than being in prison. There's also a small RoleReprise by Creator/JoePantoliano, who voiced prisoner Stickyfins in the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "[[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS10E9TheGetawayLostAndFound The Getaway]]".
[[/folder]]
----