Some of the greatest movies and TV shows have come from books, whether they be adult fiction, historical fiction, romance, fantasy or young adult. Without their authors, these adaptations — and whole worlds — would certainly not exist, so it only makes sense that they should get a chance to appear on screen in their stories, even for a moment.
Netflix has featured many authors of young adult adaptations in films or shows — from Soman Chainani in "The School for Good and Evil" to Leigh Bardugo in the first season of "Shadow and Bone." Jenny Han has appeared in her "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" films, as well as the first season of "The Summer I Turned Pretty" on Prime Video. Judy Blume makes an iconic appearance in the theatrical release of "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret."
Here are many more author cameos that may have flown under your radar:
Judy Blume in “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret”
The widely renowned author of books that helped all readers come of age makes a brief appearance in the film adaptation of one of her earlier books “Are you There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” Keep your eyes peeled, because it happens early on in the film when Margaret’s family moves to their new home in New Jersey, and Blume and her partner George walk a dog around the neighborhood.
Celeste Ng in “Little Fires Everywhere”
The “Everything I Never Told You” and most recently “Our Missing Hearts” author guest stars in the book club scene in the second episode of “Little Fires Everywhere” adapted from her third novel. She discusses “The Vagina Monologues” with Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington’s characters Elena and Mia.
Soman Chainani in “The School for Good and Evil”
Creator of the whole universe in which the School for Good and Evil operates, Soman Chainani appears at an emergency faculty meeting between The Schoolmaster (Laurence Fishburne), Professor Anemone (Michelle Yeoh), Lady Lesso (Charlize Theron) and Professor Dovey (Kerry Washington) when the schools are on the brink of war with each other.
Jenny Han in “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” Films, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” Series, AND "XO, Kitty"
The queen of teen romance Jenny Han has had cameos in all three of her “To All the Boys” book to film adaptations on Netflix as well as the first season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” which is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. She appears in her newest series "XO, Kitty," too.
Leigh Bardugo in Season 1 of “Shadow and Bone”
Leigh Bardugo appears as a purple-robed Grisha in the first season of “Shadow and Bone.” Her character, donning the kefta of a Fabrikator, gives Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) a hug to welcome her to The Little Palace.
Sarah Dessen in "Along for the Ride"
Dessen’s cameo in “Along for the Ride” happens in the blink of an eye. As she exits Clementine’s, Auden’s stepmother’s store in Colby, where the film is set, Maggie, one of Auden's later friends, says "Bye, Sarah."
Veronica Roth in "Divergent"
Roth briefly appears as one of the Dauntless initiates in “Divergent” when Tris (Shailene Woodley) braves the zipline high above the abandoned city of Chicago.
James Dashner in "The Maze Runner"
Dashner cameos as one of Ava Paige’s (Patricia Clarkson’s) henchmen in the end of the first film, as well as in "The Death Cure" (2018).
Becky Albertali in "Love, Simon"
The "Simon vs. The Homosapiens Agenda" author revealed that she appeared in the Halloween party wearing a mask, but she also shows up in the back of a scene from the trailer.
Margaret Atwood in "The Handmaid's Tale"
The creator of Gilead makes her cameo in the first episode of Hulu’s television adaptation of her novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale.” She plays an evil Aunt at the red center who interacts with Offred (Elizabeth Moss).
Kathryn Stockett in “The Help”
Stockett makes a cameo in church scene from “The Help” (2011), based on her novel.
Stephanie Meyer in “Twilight”
The “Twilight” author shows up at the Forks diner in 2008 for the first film of the franchise based on her books.
Kathy Reichs in “Bones”
Reichs portrays Constance Wright, a forensic anthropology professor, in the show, but she also happens to be a forensic anthropologist in real life.
Lee Child in “Jack Reacher” and “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back”
Child appears as a police officer clocking Tom Cruise’s character’s behavior in the 2012 and 2016 films.
Diana Gabaldon in “Outlander”
Gabaldon appears as Iona MacTavish in the first season of the television adaptation of her “Outlander” series.
Dennis Lehane in “Mystic River”
Lehane drove by in a convertible in the big parade scene in the 2003 film adaptation, directed by Clint Eastwood. Lehane has a slate of shows coming under his deal with Apple.
Sara Shepard in “Pretty Little Liars”
Shepard appeared twice in “PLL,” first as a substitute English teacher in “The Homecoming Hangover” episode and a journalist in “I’m a Good Girl, I Am.”
Cheryl Strayed in “Wild”
Strayed, whose book “Tiny Beautiful Things” has been adapted into a Hulu television show, drives the pickup truck that gives Reese Witherspoon (who portrays Strayed) a ride at the start of her hiking the Pacific Coast Trail.
Stephen King in “Under the Dome,” “Pet Sematary”
King has appeared in the first episode of the television adaptation of “Under the Dome” in 2014 as well as “Pet Sematary” (1989) in which he played the minister at Missy’s funeral.
S.E. Hinton in “Tex” and “The Outsiders”
Hinton appeared in the 1982 “Tex” adaptation of her 1979 novel, and she had a cameo as a nurse in the 1983 movie adaptation of her book.
Stan Lee in Every Marvel Movie from "Iron Man" to “Endgame”
The beloved comic author has a cameo in most of the Marvel Cinematic Universe installments until “Avengers: Endgame,” where a posthumous de-aged version of him appeared after Lee passed in November 12, 2018.
Terry Pratchett in "Hogfather"
Pratchett appeared in the two-part TV film adaptation of his novel in 2006. He plays a toymaker.
Charlaine Harris in “True Blood”
“True Blood,” which was adapted from Harris’ “The Southern Vampire Mysteries” series, featured the author at Merlotte’s.
Ken Follett in “Pillars of the Earth”
Follett makes a cameo as a merchant who shares the story of Jack’s father in the “New Beginnings” episode of the 2010 television miniseries.
Greg Behrendt in “He’s Just Not That Into You”
Behrendt appears as a priest in the 2009 feature film adaptation of his book.
David Levithan and Rachel Cohn in “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist”
The co-authors of the novel eat dinner behind Nick and Norah in the 2008 film adaptation of their book.
Nicola Yoon in “Everything, Everything”
Nicola Yoon and husband/fellow novelist David Yoon appear on the beach in Hawaii in the 2017 adaptation of her novel “Everything, Everything” starring Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson.
John le Carre in “The Night Manager” and “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”
Le Carre appeared in both the 2016 adaptation of “The Night Manager” on the BBC as well as 2011’s “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.”
John Irving in “The World According to Garp"
Irving appears as an official in one of Garp’s high school wrestling matches in the 1982 film.
Emily Giffin in “Something Borrowed”
Giffin sits next to Steve Howey and Ginnifer Goodwin — the starring couple of her 2011 film adaptation of “Something Borrowed” — holding her follow-up book, “Something Blue” on a bench.
Fannie Flagg in “Fried Green Tomatoes”
Fannie Flagg leads a self-help group in the 1991 movie based on her novel, “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.”
Sapphire in “Precious”
Ramona “Sapphire” Lofton’s cameo is worth the wait toward the end of the 2009 film based on her book. She appears as a woman at a daycare center.
Jennifer Weiner in “In Her Shoes”
Author Jennifer Weiner and her agent appear walking behind Rose (Toni Collette) and her friend at the Italian market in the 2005 film adaptation of “In Her Shoes.”
Jacqueline Susann in “Valley of the Dolls”
Susann appeared as a news reporter in the 1967 adaptation of her book.
Jonathan Safran Foer in “Everything is Illuminated”
Foer wields a leaf-blower as groundskeeper of the graveyard where Elijah Wood’s character’s grandfather was buried.
Amy Tan in “The Joy Luck Club”
Tan appears at the beginning of the 1993 adaptation of her book in the party scene.
Irvine Welsh in “Trainspotting”
Welsh plays Mikey Forrester, Renton’s heroin dealer, in the 1996 adaptation of “Trainspotting.”
Chuck Palahniuk in “Choke”
Palahniuk plays an airplane traveler in the 2008 adaptation of his book.
Bryan Lee O’Malley in “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”
O’Malley and his wife, cartoonist Hope Larson, hang out at Lee’s Palace in the 2010 film.
