Reciprocal Real Person Cameo

Taking the Real Person Cameo one step farther...

It's not all that uncommon for movies and television shows to be made about real people, or for characters to be named for real people. In such cases, the real people so honored will occasionally have bit parts in those works. And sometimes, the film makers decide to have a little fun, and name the bit part after the actor or actress playing the real person.

It's more common than you might think.

Contrast Autobiographical Role.

Examples of Reciprocal Real Person Cameo include:

Film

• In Erin Brockovich, Julia Roberts plays Erin. The real Erin Brockovich is in the movie, playing a waitress named Julia.
• Hallie and Annie in the 1998 version of The Parent Trap (both played by Lindsay Lohan) were named after the daughters of director Nancy Meyers and producer Charles Shyer -- Annie Meyers-Shyer and Hallie Meyers-Shyer, both of whom have bit parts in the film. Hallie Meyers-Shyer is playing a character named "Lindsay".
• In the Goosebumps movie, R.L. Stine is played by Jack Black. At the end, the real R.L. Stine appears as "Mr. Black", the new drama teacher of the school (a nod to School of Rock).

Live-Action Television

• Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye starred Deanne Bray as real FBI agent Sue Thomas. Its first and third season finales featured the real-life Sue Thomas as an actress named Deanne.