Netflix's interstellar farce Space Force has a variety of comedic talent in it, from Steve Carell to the unexpectedly hilarious John Malkovich. They play General Naird and Dr. Mallory respectively, two unlikely teammates assigned to give Space Force liftoff, the sixth newly created division of the U.S. Armed Forces. Helping them is a great ensemble cast brought together by The Office showrunner Greg Daniels, who gives them all a chance to shine in helping Space Force become the next aeronautical power.
Aside from dependable supporting characters like Ben Schwartz and Lisa Kudrow, the Netflix series has rounded out the characters with cameos from a variety of jocular heavyweights. Viewers may recognize them from a slew of other comedies, but never in the officious roles they choose to adopt for Space Force.
FRED WILLARD - FRED NAIRD
Veteran character actor and funnyman Fred Willard appeared in Space Force as the last of a handful of projects before his untimely passing, but his contribution to the series could not have been more hilarious or more poignant.
Portraying Fred Naird, he appears in the first episode as General Mark Naird's dementia-addled father. Ringing up his son during an important lunch, he delivers some of the most clever lines of dialogue in the series with his usual impeccable timing. Some highlights of his career include Austin Powers, Everybody Loves Raymond and Anchorman.
JANE LYNCH - CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
The striking exactitude with which Jane Lynch delivers a one-liner is both debilitating and exhilarating, and the victim might even thank her for choosing them as her target. She brings her patented sass and vivacity as the straight-shooting Chief of Naval Operations.
The character is in a handful of scenes involving the Joint Chiefs of Staff that General Naird is brought into, and is reminiscent of her best moments as Sue Sylvester on Glee, just wearing a different uniform. Watch her now in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, or revisit her career highlights in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
PATRICK WARBURTON - COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS
Patrick Warburton appeared in Space Force with the sort of commanding presence and affable charm that have made him memorable as both a superhero in The Tick and lovable everymen in Seinfeld and Rules of Engagement.
As General Dabney Stramm, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, he had a strong-armed approach to most of General Naird's suggestions but knew when he was out of his depth discussing anything to do with space.
DIEDRICH BADER - GENERAL RONGLEY
Known primarily for being goofballs in series like The Drew Carey Show or movies like Office Space, Diedrich Bader got to bring some of the swagger he's recently acquired from voicing Batman on DC Universe's Harley Quinn to the role of General Rongley.
A member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he's one of General Naird's rivals, and he does the Army proud with plenty of bluster and steely-eyed squinting. Currently, Bader can be seen in the series American Housewife and most recently in Kevin Smith's Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.
ROY WOOD JR - LIAISON BERT MELLOWS
Roy Wood Jr.'s role falls into the "walking and talking" shuffle of the workplace comedy, and so some fans might not catch him on their first watch of the Netflix series, but as Liaison Bert Mellows he attempts to smooth over ruffled uniforms between General Naird, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and various scientists involved in the project.
Fans of The Daily Show will know him as a correspondent, whereas other viewers may recognize him from his comedy special, which usually airs on Comedy Central.
LARRY JOE CAMPBELL - BILLFOONT, COMMANDANT OF THE COAST GUARD
One of the most derided and maligned members of the Armed Forces, the Coast Guard is the subject of some good-natured satire at Larry Joe Campbell's expense, who portrays Billfoont the Commandant at the Joint Chiefs of Staff meetings.
Campbell brings his usual zest for physical comedy to the part, which fans will recognize from his roles in The Orville, According to Jim, and Euphoria's first season.
KAITLIN OLSON - EDISON JAYMES
Part Sara Blakely and part Elon Musk, Edison Jaymes, as portrayed by Kaitlin Olson for one episode, brings the best of style, aesthetic, and entrepreneurial gusto to the part of a grind guru trying to hustle Space Force with her rocket fuel.
Most viewers will recognize her from movies like The Heat and The Mick, as well as series like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, where she played Sweet Dee.
APARNA NANCHERLA - PELLA BHAT
When the mission is in a jam, and there aren't enough seasoned astronauts to go the extra distance, it's up to the custodial staff of Space Force to jump in and help get the mission to launch. One worker's name is Pella Bhat, played by comedian Aparna Nancherla.
Viewers may recognize her voice more than her physical appearance, as she voiced Hollyhock on the popular animated series Bojack Horseman, but fans of Master of None as well as A Simple Favor may also spot her.
JANINA GAVANKAR - HANNAH HOWARD
Accompanying Edison Jaymes to her rocket fuel demonstration at Space Force is Hannah Howard, her trusted PR and social media strategist, and former flame of F. Tony's. Howard is played by Janina Gavankar, and responsible for Edison's brand "Skinny Fuel".
Gavankar has been seen recently on The Morning Show but has appeared in everything from True Blood to The Mysteries of Laura and The Vampire Diaries.
GINGER GONZAGA - AYC
If the fast-talking and youthful AYC seems conspicuously like a certain progressive congresswoman in DC, that's because Ginger Gonzaga is doing her best AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) for Space Force, and she doesn't hold back.
Viewers might have spotted her starring in the recent series I'm Dying Up Here, or in smaller parts in Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ and the critically acclaimed Grace and Frankie.