Birthday Special - Top 25 Stan Lee Cameos

Well no point in me explaining it. Everyone else has done it and so will I. All of you know the late Stan Lee and everything he has done over the years with being a Marvel Legend. And since Marvel hit the small and big screen, he has made a cameo in almost everything to do with them. So today for my birthday post, I decided to give you my personal favourite cameos of his from films, TV shows and video games I have watched/played. Unfortunately I haven't read many comic books that he appears in apart from his comic book autobiography which doesn't count so I apologise now for that. Also just to be clear, I'm only doing physical and voice cameos as they tend to be more obvious than other cameos of his and we all struggle when its not as obvious as those types. So let's see how amazing, incredible and fantastic these cameos are:

But be prepared for some potential spoilers for some of your favourite films, video games and TV shows. Excelsior!



25 - His only cameo in a DC film (Teen Titans Go! to the Movies)

Although much more recent than most of his other cameos, Stan Lee did in fact appear in only one DC film in his time and possibly the most appropriate one for him to be in too. So earlier this month I reviewed Teen Titans Go! to the Movies which I was quite critical about, but also enjoyed elements of it none the less. As it poked fun at DC, Marvel, the superhero genre and so on, Stan Lee was in there too. In the bit where the titans are wondering around the Warner Brothers studio lot, Stan Lee appears doing his cameo where someone tells him that its not a Marvel film in which he responds by saying that he needs to get out of here. Then as the Titans are being chased by the brainwashed Justice League, he appears again where he declares that he doesn't care about it being DC, he just loves superheroes. All ending with his catchphrase "Excelsior!". The cameo is quite funny and shows how predictable some superhero films can be. Especially when it comes to having a cameo from one of the faces of that particular company (although in this scenario, Stan never made a single DC hero but did do a series where he did his own versions of DC heroes so its not completely random or just a coincidence that he is here).

24 - Honey I Shrunk Stan Lee (Ant-Man and the Wasp)

So again, this is another recent one he did but also a funny one too. At one point during this pre or post-Infinity War film depending on how you look at it, The Wasp at one point somehow accidentally shrinks a car that Stan Lee just so happens to be in and he makes a reference to drugs given that this sort of thing would only be seen if one were to do drugs. Now I don't know if Stan Lee ever took those types of drugs before, but he none the less makes the reference by saying that the 60s were fun, but he now has to pay for it. Such is the nature of the world nowadays where most things that was free or cheap is now not so much. Still a funny cameo though.

23 - Lee's Gambling Problem and the Strip Club (Black Panther and Deadpool)

So throughout this list, there will be a few double entries thrown in. So in these two cameos, we can see Stan Lee being a version of himself where he acts like a dirty old man. In Deadpool, he is a DJ at the strip club and while its not all bad there, he does admit in interviews that he wanted to stay there longer. Meanwhile in Black Panther, he notices that the newly crowned king of Wakanda just won a big win and decides to take his unclaimed winnings much to the amusement of one Everett K. Ross. So I think the lesson to learn here in both scenarios is that while Stan Lee may be one of the faces of Marvel, he can play dirty too but in a harmless and amusing way.

22 - The Rejected Wedding Guest (Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer)

Now this cameo is an interesting one. In the second Fantastic Four film, Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Girl are getting married and among the wedding guests in attendance, Stan Lee appears only to be turned away when the presumed head of security is in disbelief of him actually being who he claims to be. So the reason why I say this one is interesting is because its actually one of the few cameos that actually also occurred in the comics. So in Fantastic Four Annual #3 which was released in 1965, an almost similar wedding occurs between the two previously mentioned heroes and Stan Lee along with Jack Kirby are once again turned away. Its one of the few instances where an actual thing featured in the comic books actually translates well in the film version many years later albeit without one Jack Kirby and its these little details that comic book and superhero fans really love and just wish there was more of it. I certainly think that too.

21 - Security Guard with Lou Ferrigno (Hulk)

So when Marvel were licensing characters out to different companies, Universal picked up the rights to Hulk and made a live action TV series and some made for TV films with Lou Ferrigno in the title role. After it finished, there were a few cartoons before eventually the big company that Universal was and still is decided to make a feature film about the big green monster. It had a mixed response with critics enjoying it but fans hating it. But it did have one of Stan Lee's most significant cameos ever been seen in a film. Significant because it was his first speaking cameo and also one of the rare occasions where an actor who played the titular hero in the past, also appears in a cameo despite it being a whole new universe. So in other words, you have the creator and father of Hulk with the very first live action Hulk and although a very small cameo from both people, it does deliver double the fan service which is pretty dang good I have to say.

20 - That One Guy who wanted his shoe back (Thor: The Dark World)

So while many of us like to forget that The Dark World ever existed, the only reason why its has some importance in the MCU if any is because it introduces one of the Infinity Stones. But we are not here to talk about that. So later on in the film, we come to a mental patient ward where one Erik Selvig who was recently admitted there, tries to demonstrate what the Convergence is from his delusions and borrows Stan Lee's shoe for the demonstration. But with no one listening, Stan the man then asks for his shoe back. The funny thing about this cameo is that no one really knows why Stan is in this environment. But asking for his shoe back does show that in this moment, he hasn't gone completely insane which is good for the face of Marvel.

19 - Mistaken for being Hugh Hefner and Larry King (Iron Man and Iron Man 2)

In both the first and second Iron Man films, Stan Lee comes as a guest to some kind of reveal or party gig and in both instances, Tony Stark mistakes him for being someone else. But it can be quite confusing especially as Stan is dressed up looking like both Hugh Hefner and Larry King. In the first instance, it was revealed that there was a version where Stark realises his mistake and apologises to Stan who responds by telling him that he gets that all the time. But you know when you are dressed as that guy who lives in the Playboy mansion and that famous chat show host, its kind of hard not to make that mistake. Coincidentally, Stan said that his appearance in the first Iron Man was his favourite one. Still quite amusing though.

18 - Meeting Sheldon (The Big Bang Theory)

Over the course of the series, The Big Bang Theory has had almost every single person from pop culture appearing and Stan Lee was among those people. So in the episode "The Excelsior Acquisition", Sheldon finds and goes to Stan's house where a Fantastic Four Pyjamas wearing Stan Lee appears and instantly tells his wife Joan to call the police and puts a straining order on Sheldon. Of course this was caused by Sheldon missing a chance to meet him at the local comic book store. But none the less, this is just one of those many celebrity appearances where Sheldon p**ses off another famous person and naturally would add him to his list of many enemies. Still its quite a funny cameo and one that fans of the show won't be forgetting any time soon.

17 - Conflicts with Comic Book Guy (The Simpsons)

Over the course of The Simpsons, they have had many celebrity voices in there and of course Stan Lee is one of them. In his many appearances on the show, he's often in conflict with Comic Book Guy having appeared on his "Banned for Life" list and once persuading Bart who just so happened to be in the Android's Dungeon at the time to find his voice after declaring that he admits that some of his comics suck. Finally in "Married to the Blob" an imaginary Stan Lee persuades a depressed Comic Book Guy to find love and not waste any opportunity in doing so. All ultimately ending with Comic Book Guy getting married with Stan Lee presiding. So in a way Comic Book Guy ultimately makes amends with Stan Lee and its done in quite possibly the best way possible which is great.

16 - Seeing that Crazy Stupid Fine woman (Ant-Man)

So this one is a pretty short but interesting one. Towards the end of Ant-Man, his friend Luis tells a story of actual events but in an exaggerate way to be funny. The story is about Wilson (aka the Falcon) looking for him and going from one character to the next, one person in the story just so happens to be Stan Lee who describes this woman that got Wilson's information as "Crazy Stupid Fine" which coming from Stan Lee be it exaggerated or not, is actually pretty funny I must admit. But it is really one of those cameos that is a blink and you miss it moment. So its just as well that we have so many YouTubers who spot these little details because some of us may not pick that up straight away.

15 - Saving those Innocent People (Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2)

In the earlier Spider-Man films, there are two instances where Stan Lee is saving some innocent bystanders while Spider-Man is either kicking ass or getting his ass kicked. I think this one shows that Stan Lee is the true hero because he actually saved people while Spider-Man was just being thrown about like he does and only saved certain people all for the sake of the plot. He doesn't speak in either films, but we can safely say that Stan Lee is one guy who always looks out for those who are in trouble whether it be intentional or not.

14 - Willie Lumpkin (Fantastic Four)

One of the rare things that happens in many Marvel films is having the creator play a character he himself created or in this case co-created. In the first Fantastic Four film, Stan Lee greets the team as their mail carrier Willie Lumpkin who is just one of the many characters Stan Lee either created or help create. At least now he gets that chance to play one of his characters over being just a random character like most of his cameos. But at least its a cameo that has some significance to him if nothing else.

13 - Tony Stank (Captain America: Civil War)

Now I think its fair to say that everyone knows this cameo well. In the awesome but almost sinless film Captain America: Civil War, everyone is dealing with the aftermath of Cap and Stark's fight and Tony gets a package from FedEx delivered by his co-creator. In a sort of bittersweet way, the package is addressed to Tony Stank which shows that Cap still has issues with Stark, but none the less will be there whenever the Avengers need to and of course all of this foreshadows events seen in Infinity War. But going back to the cameo, its a funny and memorable one that shows that even at the age he was at the time, he can still crack a joke or two.

12 - The Oblivious Man (The Amazing Spider-Man and Doctor Strange)

You know sometimes when it comes to doing a cameo, its best just to ignore everything that goes on in the background. This was certainly the case in two instances where Stan is just being Stan without knowing or caring about what's going on around him. In The Amazing Spider-Man, he is in a library listening to classical music and just not being aware of the battle behind him. Then in Doctor Strange during the shenanigans of the London dimension, our two heroes get smacked onto a bus which Stan Lee just so happens to be on and is enjoying a book. So yeah both very funny cameos and just shows that Stan Lee's creations are doing OK on the big screen and just does his own thing and leaves them to it.

11 - The Security Guard who probably got fired (Captain America: The Winter Solider)

In the second Captain America film, Stan Lee is a security guard who stumbles upon a dummy which seems to be without its costume to which he thinks he will probably get fired for missing this detail. The dummy in question is of course the one that has Cap's former costume from back when he was fighting Red Skull. I guess maybe Stan Lee does care a bit about his heroes, but clearly not enough to overlook a dummy without its costume. Still a funny cameo though.

10 - Pulling the Mjolnir out of the ground (Thor)

If there is one thing that every character in the MCU wants to try, its pulling the Mjolnir (aka Thor's hammer and former weapon of choice) just for the sake of seeing if they can hold it and be worthy of doing so. As time goes on, Stan Lee eventually gives it a try, but fails when the back of his pickup truck gets pulled away. But surely one of the fathers of Thor can be worthy of his hammer. He did make him and it after all. Oh well I guess even royalty like Stan Lee cannot wield a powerful item like that.

9 - Fred's Dad (Big Hero 6)

So when Disney were going through what Marvel things they could make into a non-MCU film and call it there own, they ended up with Big Hero 6 which like with Captain America and Deadpool, Stan Lee did not create. Nevertheless he in animated form appeared twice in the film. He first appeared on a picture in Fred's house and then in a post-credits scene he appeared right in front of his character's son Fred saying that they have a lot to talk about. And since this appearance, Big Hero 6 got itself an animated series on Disney Channel of which Stan Lee reprises his role in a few episodes. I guess even if Stan Lee didn't make a thing to do with Marvel, he will still find a way to be in it anyway.

8 - The Best Playable Character (TT's LEGO Marvel series)

This one is a no brainier. In all the LEGO Marvel video games, Stan Lee makes an appearance as the character in distress in all levels and upon unlocking him in each game, he basically has the powers of some of his creations. He can turn into the Hulk, the Hulkbuster, a version of Iron Man and can use the powers of Thor, Galactus and Spider-Man. So yeah for all you 100% completionists out there, Stan Lee is a very ideal character to play as. Nuff said.

7 - The Drunk War Veteran (Avengers: Age of Ultron)

So at this point, Stan Lee has already managed to get through a lot. So as a war veteran, he gets invited to a party the Avengers are hosting where he claims he can handle Asguardian liquor. This however proves to be false as his drunken self is carried out from the Avengers tower. But not before saying his catchphrase "Excelsior!". So if that is anything to come by, that basically means that he can only handle certain drinks. Speak of which...

6 - Drinking Green Stuff (The Incredible Hulk)

In the MCU's Hulk film, Stan Lee is the one that drinks the drink that has Bruce Banners blood in it where he then goes on the claim that its got a kick and probably eventually was discovered to be ill from gamma radiation sickness. To date, this is one of his few cameos where his role is actually quite a big deal to plot. Had it not been discovered, Bruce Banner probably would still be found out to be immune to it and therefore become the Incredible Hulk. But the fact that its his own co-creator that discovers this shows just how much of an impact Stan Lee has over his own characters even if his character isn't even aware of the existence of super beings.

5 - Telling stories to the Watchers (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2)

So during Rocket, Groot and Yondu's space travels in Vol. 2, They enter one universe or dimension or whatever where Stan Lee in an astronaut suit is telling the Watchers the time where he was a delivery man in Civil War. Some people may believe that this could prove one theory that Stan Lee could be a watcher himself before the film's director James Gunn confirmed him to be a Watcher Informant whose job is to inform the Watchers of the endeavours on Earth. But eventually the Watchers grow tired of listening to him and leave. Both funny, but also significant as it confirms that Stan's role in the MCU is just being an informant to creatures who want nature to take its course and have things be as they are. Makes me wonder what they thought of the snap if they even survived it. Additionally the Watchers are among Stan's many co-creations.

4 - Watching across the diner (Insominac's Spider-Man)

In one of his final cameos before his passing, Stan Lee appears in a video game all about his most famous and well known co-creation Spider-Man. At some point in the main campaign for the game, he watches Mary-Jane Watson and Peter Parker reconciling their relationship and out loud says that he likes it when they are together showing some humbleness to fans as well as his own creations. Its possibly the most heartwarming cameo he has ever done as he shows how happy he is to see his fan favourite creations together and its just a great subtle cameo without anything going on in the background. Its right to the point and for a cameo like that, that could be just all that matters.

3 - In Disbelief of Superheroes in New York (Avengers Assemble)

So at this point, Stan Lee would have made his mark in the MCU having appeared in every film before and after Avengers Assemble as well as being in this film too. In this one, news reports are shown of people reacting to the efforts the Avengers went into saving the Earth from Loki and his army. Stan meanwhile is playing chess with some other old guy and rather than chat about superheroes, he decides to go right back to his game being in disbelief that superheroes are real. Of course at this point the MCU is still in its baby steps and this cameo kind of implies that there is more to come and sure enough, Stan Lee's character will come to realise that there are indeed real superheroes saving the world or avenging it. Believe it or not, there was actually another cameo filmed for this film which would've seen Stan telling Cap to get the number of a person who is madly in love with him which would be just as funny as this one I would say.

2 - Thor's Hair Dresser (Thor: Ragnarok)

This one is just too funny to ignore. So as the co-creator of many different characters, Stan is allowed the right to change said characters any way he wants. Sure Marvel themselves may have some reservations about that, but he still gets the right. So in Thor: Ragnarok, the film makers wanted this cameo to show how mean Stan can be to his creations so he became Thor's hairdresser on Sakaar. But while in the film Thor is against having his hair cut, his actor meanwhile Chris Hemsworth wanted there to be change to this film having been tired playing the same old character and wanted a bit more fun in this film. One element of that leads to his hair being cut to look more modern and with what people on Earth have. In addition to this, this cameo also references Stan Lee not being as willingly able to do things as he used to be which may have been an indication of him passing away at least a year after this film came out. Still a very good cameo though.

Honorable Mentions:

• "Who's That Guy?" from Venom. His final cameo before his passing in which he persuades Eddie Brock to keep his relationship with Anne Weying leaving a confused Venom wondering who he was. Little bit funny, but shows that Stan Lee is around almost ever corner in any Marvel universe out there (before he passed away that is).
• His silent cameos in the X-Men films. Although his cameos in the three films he did were silent, these cameos show that despite him being a comic book writer he was able to also act with the right expressions to events happening in the ever changing world that the X-Men films are set in.
• Paying a complement to Deadpool in No Good Deed. Although seen as a teaser for Deadpool 2, this short film had a Stan Lee cameo where he complements the Merc with a Mouth only for him to order him to zip it in the most Deadpool of ways. Interesting fact, this cameo was originally scrapped when it made it to theatres but was since restored when Ryan Reynolds uploaded it to YouTube which Stan Lee thanked him for later on.

1 - Man in Times Square (Spider-Man 3)

So what makes this my all time favourite cameo. Well for a start its subtle and doesn't see him do much other than talking. But its what he says that makes this cameo the best one of them all. So at this point in Spider-Man 3, Peter Parker is wondering around New York in which he reads a news bulletin beside Stan Lee. After reading it, Stan Lee then says to him about how one person can make a difference in the world. Ending with his catchphrase "Nuff said" before leaving Parker to contemplate on that thought. What strikes me about what Stan says is that its a reference to himself because had he not saved Marvel and given them all these different characters, the world would be a pretty dark place. Everyone wants to be heroes just like these heroes we read about and see on the small and big screen. They are inspiring, keep us motivated and they bring joy to our lives. Most of that is thanks to Stan Lee. But what he says can also reflect on us because we can also make a difference in the world and on ourselves. Its one of the many reasons why I have a blog to share my opinions on things. But anyway, this is my all time favourite Stan Lee cameo and it likley will not be beaten by any other cameo he has done and we are yet to see.

Stan Lee was a great guy who's work inspired and changed a lot of us for the better. His work will always have something fantastic, amazing and incredible about it and with the MCU soon entering its fourth phase we know that Marvel has a bright future ahead of itself. Even if its face is no longer with us.

But please do share your favourite cameos in the comments below. Nuff said.