Entertainment

The 11 Celeb Cameos In Amy Schumer's 'Trainwreck'

by Katherine Cusumano

Today's movie landscape is a sort of people-watching menagerie. Whether it's athletes moonlighting as actors, television hosts tackling film, or the big names of yesteryear making a minor comeback, the recent crop of films is rife with celebrity cameos. Amy Schumer's movie Trainwreck is no exception — she rubs shoulders with a host of faces one might not expect in a rom-com, though when they appear, they seem such obvious choices. Whether playing themselves or entirely new characters, these actors add an element of surprise, a "gotcha" moment for the audience, as well as a dose of realism in something fictional. But which actors make up the 11 celebrity cameos in Trainwreck ?

A few unexpected names take on pretty hefty roles in Trainwreck — LeBron James, Ezra Miller, and Tilda Swinton are nearly unrecognizable, they're so far from their usual contexts. It's not a surprise that Schumer would want to feature such a large mix of actors; despite only airing two seasons so far, her television series Inside Amy Schumer has gotten actors from Paul Giamatti to Tina Fey to Trainwreck co-star Bill Hader to make appearances. Schumer uses her lengthy and hard-earned roster of celebrity contacts to populate Trainwreck, and I've rounded up the best of them here (some spoilers ahead).

1. John Cena

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WWE wrestler and poster child John Cena plays Schumer's sorta-kinda-boyfriend at the outset of the film. He told ComingSoon.net that he had to audition like any other actor for the role, though — a role that pokes fun at the machismo WWE is known for.

2/3. Daniel Radcliffe and Marisa Tomei

This unlikely pair appears in The Dogwalker, the arthouse short that Cena and Schumer see in a theater. Though Schumer had envisioned Joaquin Phoenix in the role of the titular dog walker, she concurred when producers proposed Daniel Radcliffe, instead.

4. Leslie Jones

The breakout Saturday Night Live star shouts at Schumer on the subway. IMDb calls her "Angry Subway Patron," which is certainly a polite reference for the comedic rage Jones channels.

5. Tony Romo

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Though he's not credited on IMDb, sports fans will recognize Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in the movie. He gives a speech at an event honoring Bill Hader's character, sports medicine doctor Aaron Conners.

6. Amar'e Stoudemire

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While audiences might be surprised by LeBron James's substantial role (as himself) in Trainwreck, he has too much of a part to rightly be called a cameo. But his peer, NBA star Amar'e Stoudemire as a patient of Hader's, definitely fits the bill. About to go under anesthesia for knee surgery, Stoudemire is nearly the victim of pretty substantial medical malpractice when an overtired Hader is called out for almost operating on the wrong knee.

7/8/9. Matthew Broderick, Marv Albert, and Chris Evert

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James calls in Broderick, Albert, and Evert, each of whom also plays him- or herself (Broderick an actor, Albert is a sportscaster, and Evert is a tennis player), to stage an intervention for Hader's character. They give him a rousing pep-talk in one of the more impactful scenes in the movie.

10. Tim Meadows

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Mean Girls Principal Duvall, alias Tim Meadows, plays a man (conveniently named Tim) who attends the baby shower for Kim (Brie Larson), Amy's sister.

11. Method Man

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Even after seeing the film, you might not remember Method Man as Temembe, so brief is his cameo.

The numerous cameos in Trainwreck frequently transform stars of one medium into brilliant flashes in another. Stoudemire, Broderick, Evert, Albert, and Romo all play themselves, while the other characters are often inspired by their true-life counterparts. It's a collision of realism and fiction, and one that elevates the cameos out of mere celebrity watch. Though I don't want to philosophize the fun out of it — Trainwreck is still a thrill of a ride.

Images: Universal Pictures; Getty Images (6)