18 Actors Who Appeared In Their Movie Remakes Years Later

Since the invention of film recording technology, filmmakers have been prone to reproducing existing works. While the remake is intended to modernize a cinematic story for modern audiences, it also serves another important purpose: it brings back fans’ nostalgic memories of a beloved production.

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And it’s always a pleasure to see our favorite actors years later, especially when they return to films that we all love. And it appears that movie filmmakers enjoy these cameos just as much as we do because actors from the original cast really offer something special to remakes – especially when there’s an actually fascinating parallel with the original version.

Today, we’ve compiled a list of cameo appearances by original cast members in remakes. Vote for your favorite instances and let us know if you know of any additional amazing cameos like the ones listed below.

#1 Angie Dickinson and Henry Silva (Ocean’s Eleven), 1960 — 2001

Source: © Ocean’s Eleven / Warner Bros, © Ocean’s Eleven / Warner Bros

If you didn’t know, the 2001 film Ocean’s Eleven, which starred George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and others, is a remake of the same-named 1960s classic. Angie Dickinson and Henry Silva were the only actors from the original cast to appear in the well-known remake that we are all familiar with because, regrettably, not many of them were still alive when the 2001 version was released. In the first Ocean’s Eleven, Angie played Beatrice, Danny Ocean’s wife, and Henry, Roger Corneal. In the adaptation, both actors made a fleeting cameo as spectators watched boxing as the theft was taking place.

#2 Annie Potts (Janine) as a receptionist (Ghostbusters), 1984 — 2016

Source: © Ghost Busters / Columbia Pictures Industries, © Ghostbusters / Columbia Pictures Industries

The Ghostbusters‘ secretary, Annie Potts, had a cameo appearance in the 2016 version as a hotel desk receptionist. She answered phones with the same charm as in the original movie and even used the same line, “Wadda ya want?”

#3 Bill Murray (Ghostbusters), 1984 — 2016

Source: © Ghost Busters / Columbia Pictures Industries, © Ghostbusters / Columbia Pictures Industries

In the original Ghostbusters film, Murray played Dr. Peter Venkman, one of the main protagonists (1984). In the 2016 female-centric remake, he plays a supernatural skeptic attempting to disprove the new Ghostbusters while in the 1984 movie, he battled spirits.

#4 Charlton Heston (Planet of the Apes), 1968 — 2001

Source: © Planet of the Apes / Twentieth Century Fox, © Planet of the Apes / Twentieth Century Fox

In the 1968 original Planet of the Apes film, Charlton Heston portrayed George Taylor, the film’s main character. He played Zaius in the 2001 version of the film.

#5 Dan Aykroyd (Ghostbusters), 1984 — 2016

Source: © Ghost Busters / Columbia Pictures Industries, © Ghostbusters / Columbia Pictures Industries

Dan Aykroyd, another member of the original Ghostbusters cast, also starred in the sequel. He was changed from Dr. Raymond Stantz into a cab driver, and although his cameo is only a few seconds long, it’s still entertaining. He declares in his scene when he refuses to drive one of the Ghostbusters, “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts,” a line from the original film’s theme song.

#6 Ernie Hudson (Winston) as Patty’s Uncle Bill (Ghostbusters), 1984 — 2016

Source: © Ghost Busters / Columbia Pictures Industries, © Ghostbusters / Columbia Pictures Industries

For the 1989 Ghostbusters sequel, Hudson returned in the same role. Then, by showing up in that series’ remake, he granted 2016’s all-female ghostbusting crew a special cameo. This time, he took on the role of Bill Jenkins, Pattie Tolan’s uncle, who was played by Leslie Jones.

#7 Gene Barry and Ann Robinson (War of the Worlds), 1953 — 2005

Source: © The War of the Worlds / Paramount Pictures, © War of the Worlds / Paramount Pictures

You’ve probably seen the film War of the Worlds by Steven Spielberg (2005). However, you might not know that it is a remake of The War of the Worlds, a 1953 television movie. Gene Barry and Ann Robinson, who portrayed Dr. Forrester and Sylvia in the original 1953 production, respectively, are portrayed as Rachel and Robbie’s grandparents in the 2005 remake.

#8 James Le Gros and Bojesse Christopher (Point Break), 1991 — 2015

Source: © Point Break / Twentieth Century Fox, © Point Break / Alcon Entertainment

James Le Gros and Bojesse Christopher, who played the thieves Roach and Grommet in the 1991 original, also made a brief cameo appearance as FBI agents in the 2015 sequel.

#9 Jerry Stiller (Hairspray), 1988 — 2007

Source: © Hairspray / New Line Cinema, © Hairspray / New Line Cinema

In the 1988 film, Jerry Stiller played Tracy’s father; in 2007, he made a second appearance as Mr. Pinky, the proprietor of a women’s apparel store who wanted Tracy to serve as his spokeswoman. And it appears that he is the only person who has remained completely unchanged in those 19 years!

#10 Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek), 1979 — 2009

Source: © Star Trek: The Motion Picture / Paramount Pictures, © Star Trek / Paramount Pictures

In the 2009 remake of Star Trek, Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock in the original films, returned as Spock. Although Zachary Quinto plays Spock in the reboot, Nimoy took on the role of Spock Prime, a Spock from the future.

#11 Linda Harrison (Planet of the Apes), 1968 — 2001

Linda Harrison, who played Nova in the first Planet of the Apes film, also makes a brief appearance in the remake version. As one of the prisoners who was transported to Ape City in a caged wagon, she had a small role in the beginning. The fact that the woman remains silent alludes to Nova’s silence.

#12 Marc McClure (Freaky Friday), 1976 — 2003

Marc McClure also made a surprising cameo in Freaky Friday as Annabel’s neighbor, Boris, who she liked. He has a brief part as Boris, a postman in the remake. If he is the same Boris, we’re not sure, but either way, it’s really intriguing.

#13 Patty McCormack (The Bad Seed), 1956 — 2018

In 1956’s The Bad Seed, Patty McCormack played 8-year-old killer Rhoda. She also received a role in the 2018 Rob Lowe adaptation, and it was a rather unexpected one at that! She was Emma’s psychiatrist (Emma is the murderer this time), and she made a really cool connection to the first movie when she said, “I did the exact same things as you at your age.”

#14 Ricki Lake (Hairspray), 1988 — 2007

Ricki Lake, who originated the role of Tracy in the 1988 film Hairspray, made an appearance at the end of the 2007 remake as she watched the curtain call. Her hair remained the same, even though she had altered.