Movie Cameos That Could've Only Happened In The '90s

Because Vanilla Ice’s musical success was so short-lived, it may be difficult to remember what a major pop cultural moment he had in 1990 and 1991. “Ice Ice Baby” was a huge No. 1 smash and his debut album went platinum seven times. He even dated Madonna and appeared in her Sex book. 

Taking advantage of the momentum, Ice booked a role in the sequel to the super successful Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. Ice certainly appreciated the opportunity and later called it “one of the coolest experiences” of his career.

Robert Patrick made a name for himself playing the T-1000 in 1991’s blockbuster Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Usually when celebrities make movie cameos, they’re either playing themselves or a new original character. But in Wayne’s World, Patrick actually reprised his role from T2 with a comic twist.

When Wayne realizes he’s been pulled over by a shape-shifting Terminator, he turns to the camera and screams. 

The plot of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is centered around the fish-napping of the Miami Dolphins mascot just weeks before the team is set to play in the Super Bowl. The culprit turns out to be a deranged former player who also kidnaps real-life Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino. Marino appears as himself in the film and ends up playing a key role in exposing the culprit.

When the film was released in 1994, Marino was one of the most recognizable quarterbacks in the NFL and was named the Comeback Player of the Year by the Associated Press.

The original American Pie film is usually remembered for the oft-quoted, “One time at band camp” line, introducing the term "MILF" to audiences, and of course, the infamous pie scene. But the movie also contains a cameo from rock band Blink-182 that happened to fall during a time when the band was beginning to score major mainstream success. American Pie hit theaters in July 1999, just one month after the band released their breakthrough Enema of the State album, which featured their biggest hit to date, “All the Small Things.”

The record went on to become Blink-182’s biggest-selling album, while American Pie grossed over $235 million worldwide at the box office, and both projects were hailed as major victories that same summer.

Alanis Morissette achieved massive commercial success in the '90s with the mega-selling album Jagged Little Pill, and as a result, her music is often considered an essential part to the decade. When the Kevin Smith film Dogma was released in 1999, it seemed like a bold yet somehow fitting decision to have Morissette play the role of God.

Of course, there was all kinds of controversy and outrage surrounding the casting and the film itself. But as Smith explained, “There’s a Zen Buddhist serenity to Alanis that calls to mind something otherworldly.”  

In 1992’s Encino Man, Brendan Fraser stars as a caveman who was accidentally frozen in a block of ice until he is discovered by nerdy Los Angeles Valley-area teenagers, played by Pauly Shore and Sean Astin. The critics were unimpressed, but the film still managed to become a commercial success and developed a cult following.

The audience appreciation for the film led Fraser to reprise the role the next year in Son in Law, starring his pal Shore.