Literary powerhouse Neil Gaiman is no stranger to a bit of acting; here’s every cameo from the prolific author across movies and TV explained. The writer behind such hits as The Sandman, Coraline, Good Omens, and American Gods, Gaiman’s lengthy career has seen him tackle various modes and mediums over the years - from comic books to short stories, novels, poems, TV, films, and even song-writing on occasion.
Acting can also be added to his ever-long résumé, with Neil Gaiman appearing in more films and TV shows than is typical of an average writer. Then again, Gaiman is anything but average - beloved by his fanbase and critics alike, with his wide-reaching work winning almost every award imaginable.
His cameo roles include appearances in such mainstream hits as The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory, but he can also be found in a number of smaller works - largely resulting from friendships formed with other creators, and the impact that his writing has had on a whole generation of artists. Without further ado, here’s every Neil Gaiman cameo in movies and TV, explained in chronological order.
Nightbreed
Neil Gaiman’s first cameo was, fittingly, in a horror movie - Clive Barker’s Nightbreed from 1990. Gaiman appears in the film as an uncredited extra, milling around during a club sequence that was ultimately cut from the theatrical release. That said, the sequence was restored in the Nightbreed Director’s Cut and later released on home video - so the cameo counts! Barker, a writer turned director, had been interviewed by Gaiman during the latter’s stint as a journalist and the two became friends. (Image via Peter Atkins on Twitter).
Archangel Thunderbird
Gaiman’s first TV cameo occurred in 1998’s Archangel Thunderbird - a bizarre short film that originally aired on the Sci-Fi Channel. Blending live-action and stop-motion animation, Archangel Thunderbird tells the story of Dr. Churchill - a scientist - who believes that demons are real and hell-bent on reclaiming the Earth. The leader of these demons, Baal, was voiced by Gaiman - a fitting role, given the pantheon of demons that appear in his Sandman comic-series-turned-Netflix-show.
Arthur
In what might be the strangest cameo of Gaiman’s career, he voiced a furry version of himself in the animated kids show Arthur. In the episode “Falafelosophy” from 2010, Gaiman encourages one of the show’s characters, Sue Ellen, to write her own graphic novel at a book signing. In a highly meme-able scene, an imaginary version of the author “appears” in her falafel and offers her writing advice. Later, he dives into her smoothie dressed in full scuba gear, only to surface and tell her not to give up. It’s odd, sure, but rather charming - and provides kids with a great primer for Neil Gaiman’s writing MasterClass.
The Guild
While technically a web series, Felicia Day’s The Guild was made available for streaming on Netflix and features a memorable Gaiman cameo in the 2011 episode “Downturn.” In the show, Gaiman is speaking at a sci-fi/fantasy convention but - with his run on The Sandman having ended in 1996 - is unsure whether he’ll be able to sell enough tickets to avoid embarrassment. Desperate, he tries to enlist the help of a “seat saving network” - begging them to help him avoid losing face, and eventually going so far as to offer their geeky leader a cameo in his next comic book work.
The Simpsons (First Appearance)
In 2011, Gaiman made his first appearance on The Simpsons, though to call his presence a “cameo” would really be doing the episode - “The Book Job” - a disservice. Gaiman plays a crucial role when he joins Homer’s ghostwriting team in order to engineer a best-selling YA novel, despite Lisa’s objections to what she considers to be artistic fraud. Playing with the tropes of a heist movie, the episode contains numerous twists and turns - culminating with a comedic reveal wherein Gaiman admits that he can’t actually read.
Jay and Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie
In 2013, Gaiman appeared in Jay and Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie as Albert the Manservant - an upper-crust British butler who serves the titular characters after they win the lottery and become superheroes (Bluntman and Chronic). As the Alfred to Jay and Silent Bob’s stoner Batman and Robin, Gaiman couldn’t be better suited - having influenced creator Kevin Smith’s 1999 movie Dogma and received a “thank you” credit in return.
The Making of a Superhero Musical
In 2015, Gaiman appeared in The Making of a Superhero Musical - a mockumentary that follows the crew of "Clockmen: The Musical," adapted from a graphic novel whose author is rumored to have cursed the production, and the difficulties they face along the way. Gaiman plays Melvin Morel - the aforementioned author and a thinly-veiled parody of acclaimed comic book writer Alan Moore, who Gaiman is also friends with.
Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories
In 2016, Gaiman made an uncredited appearance as a radio announcer in “Foreign Parts,” an episode of his own anthology series Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories. In addition, Gaiman hosted the show - not unlike Rod Serling on The Twilight Zone - with each episode adapted from one of his numerous short stories.
The Simpsons (Second Appearance)
Gaiman’s second appearance on The Simpsons occurred during one of the show’s infamous Halloween specials, “Treehouse of Horror XXVIII” (2017), which features a full-on parody of his Coraline novel. Just like in the book, Lisa clambers through a secret tunnel, only to discover a warped version of her own family staring back at her. This includes her cat, Snowball V, who - again, like the novel - is now able to speak. Gaiman voices said cat, his refined English accent clashing with the animal’s erratic behavior, and provides some of the best laughs of the episode.
The Big Bang Theory
In 2018, Gaiman appeared in an episode of The Big Bang Theory - “The Comet Polarization” - wherein he makes a visit to a comic book store and is promptly demeaned by the show’s protagonists during an argument surrounding which fictional metal is the most powerful in all of comics. When he suggests that Thor’s hammer, made of Uru, might fit the bill, the gang argues that the hammer’s enchantment, rather than the metal it’s made out of, is what gives the weapon its power. Throughout this encounter, the gang don’t even look up - later kicking themselves when they realize that Gaiman was in the store. The author pops up later in the episode, trying to encourage Sheldon to try his Marvel 1602 comic book miniseries, but is swatted away once more - sulking like a child in one of the episode’s most amusing moments.
Lucifer
In 2018, Gaiman narrated an episode of Lucifer - “Once Upon a Time” - as God, which is fitting given that the show owes its existence to Gaiman’s Sandman comic book series. In the comic, Lucifer presided over Hell before handing the keys to Dream, the series protagonist, who is left to deal with the fallout as numerous deities petition to rule the fiery domain. Lucifer later became the protagonist of his own comic book series, though Gaiman had little involvement, and the TV show largely followed its own path - settling into a procedural format with supernatural elements.
Good Omens
In 2019, Gaiman adapted Good Omens - co-written with the late Terry Pratchett - into a live-action miniseries. It’s clear that Gaiman was very busy, showrunning the entire project, but he managed to find time to appear on multiple occasions in the finished series - voicing a frog, numerous cartoon rabbits, and playing a passed-out drunk in a cinema scene alongside David Tennant. Additionally, Pratchett’s trademark hat and scarf can be seen in the series - a lovely tribute to the much-missed author and Gaiman’s dear friend.
The Grave of St. Oran
Finally, in 2019, Gaiman narrated (and contributed a poem for) an animated short film, The Grave of St. Oran, which tells the story of two saints who attempt to build a chapel on the Irish island of Iona. One of the characters is clearly modeled after the author himself.
Additionally, Neil Gaiman will likely cameo in the upcoming Sandman TV series - due to debut on Netflix in 2021 - which ought to answer the prayers of many a fan, given the project’s lengthy stint in development hell.