The Biggest Stars Who Went Uncredited in Movies
There was a time when Matt Damon was so renowned, his very name would give away the ending of a movie.
Gary Oldman
Oldman had on so much makeup in 2001’s Hannibal that he requested to “do it anonymously” for the theatrical release. But one Nathan Murray was credited as “Mr. Oldman's assistant,” which kind of gave away the game.
Matt Damon
Christopher Nolan thought having Damon’s name attached to 2014’s Interstellar would give away much of the story, because people would have a built-in expectation of him being a “good guy.”
Gene Hackman
Hackman had a big part in 1993’s The Firm, but Tom Cruise was given humongous billing that made his name the same size as the movie title in some instances. Upon learning that, Hackman was basically like: Screw it, don’t even credit me.
David Hyde Pierce
Pierce provided the voice for the character Abe Sapien in Hellboy, but asked to remain uncredited (and also refused to do press) so as not to overshadow the efforts of mime contortionist Doug Jones, who performed the character.
Frank Langella
Langella is a successful stage actor who has largely stayed away from TV and film. But he took a three-episode role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine because his kids wanted him to. He requested to remain uncredited, so it wouldn’t seem like he was doing it for cash or acclaim.
Bing Crosby and Bob Hope
These mega-celebs appeared in a circus crowd in 1952’s The Greatest Show on Earth — cameos that would have cost a pretty penny if they were immortalized in the credits.
Who Is Frankenstein?
Boris Karloff played the titular monster in the 1931 film, but the opening credits built suspense by crediting the role to “?”.
James Cagney
He was the biggest contracted star in Warner Bros.’ stable, so they shoehorned him into everything they could. He’s prominently in the opening of 1935’s Mutiny on the Bounty, but they kept him out of the credits so they wouldn’t have to pay him more.
Walter Matthau
He appeared in 1974’s Earthquake, but agreed to do so for both no money and no credit. He chose the cheeky pseudonym “Walter Matuschanskayasky” to appear in the credits.
Glenn Close
Close was the unfortunate pirate who gets stuffed into the Boo Box in 1991’s Hook.
Bruce Willis
He had a prominent part in Quentin Tarantino’s 1995 black comedy Four Rooms, but did it for free and was therefore uncredited.
Hugh Jackman
2011’s X-Men: First Class was a prequel, so no one expected to see their favorite wolverine make an appearance. Keeping Jackman’s name out of the credits made his cameo all the more surprising.
Dan Aykroyd
Aykroyd’s cameo in 1995’s Casper — in full Ghostbusters regalia, and delivering the signature “Who you gonna call?” line — was perhaps a delicious hunk of red meat to fans at home, but feels extremely hamfisted in retrospect, and would have been an embarrassing check to write had he been credited.
David Letterman
You won’t find Letterman’s name in the credits of 1994’s Cabin Boy or 1996’s Beavis and Butt-head Do America, but you will see a man by the name of “Earl Hofert.”
