Everyone’s Favorite 80’s Time Travel Trilogy Back to the Future best remembered for starring such well-known names as Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Leah Thompson. But along with these Hill Valley icons, there are plenty of other famous names in the movies that you might never have known about.
From famous rock stars to impersonators of pop stars and surprise Western cameos. Back to the Future The films have become classics not only because they are home to some beloved characters played by fan-favorite actors, but also because the three films compile unrivaled celebrity cameos.
Billy Zane
Actor Billy Zane best remembered for his role as Caledon Hockley in 1997 Titanic, but many may not know that his acting debut took place in Back to the Future as one of Biff’s gang members. Along with the one who wore the 3D glasses and the one with the short hair was rightfully called Skinhead, there was Zayn as Match.
Zane’s character was apparently nicknamed for always having a match in his mouth, and appeared in the first two films in the trilogy, which launched a decades-long career as an actor.
E’Casanova
With Michael J. Fox playing the dual role of Marty McFly and his future son Marty Jr., and Biff and Griff scatter in the futuristic Hill Valley in back to the future 2, there’s a special cameo from the pop culture legend that you may have missed.
While in a cafe, a waiter digitally appears on screen and reveals himself to be an 80s pop star. Michael Jackson. Although the real king of pop did not appear in the film, his role was played by E’Kassanova, also known as The World’s Greatest Michael Jackson Tribute Artist.
Dub Taylor, Pat Buttram and Harry Carey Jr.
If you happen to be a fan of old westerns, then you might recognize names like Dumb Taylor, Pat Buttram and Harry Carey Jr. But you may have missed these actors’ special cameos in Back to the Future III.
Dub Taylor was known as Cannonball in Wild Westerns by Bill Elliott 1940s while Pat Buttram was the western actor best remembered for starting the Golden Boot awards and Harry Carey Jr. starred in the 1940s. John Ford Westerns. All three actors appeared in the third film as old-timers in a saloon.
Eddie Van Halen
Best known as the leading rock band Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen played a memorable and often overlooked role in Back to the Future. This is when Marty shows up in George’s bedroom in the middle of the night, dressed as an alien being, and puts a tape labeled “Edward Van Halen” into his father-to-be’s ears.
What many may not know is that these loud, roaring guitar riffs were provided by the rocker himself, who wrote and performed a piece for the film for free, according to the Futurepedia star’s page at fandom.com.
Elijah Wood
From Lord of the Rings to hobbit, Portraying Frodo had a long and distinguished career, but it all started for Elijah Wood when he debuted as an actor at just 8 years old in Back to the future 2.
Wood’s very first role was in one scene in back to the future 2, named “Video Game Boy #2” during the scene where Marty tries to impress two little boys with his gaming skills with the arcade game Wild Gunman, for which Wood’s character criticizes Marty’s performance.
flea
Bassist for red hot chili peppers known as Bloch, appeared unexpectedly in both back to the future 2 and Back to the Future 3 as a character named Douglas J. Needles, commonly referred to as “The Needles”.
In the second film, the musician-turned-actor played Marty’s future boss, disguised for the audience with multiple prosthetics on his face to make him look older. Flea returned for the third film as the same character who changes the course of Marty’s future when he challenges him to a drag race.
Huey Lewis
It is well known that Huey Lewis & News were responsible for BTTF catchy soundtrack with songs like “The Power of Love” and “Back in Time”. But some may have forgotten that the lead singer of the group starred in the film in a cameo role.
When Marty and his band The Pinheads audition for the school’s “Battle of the Bands” competition with a rock version of “The Power of Love”, they are very rudely rejected by the judge, played by Huey Lewis, during an uncredited cameo by the singer. Robert Zemeckis added to the film as an inside joke.
Jason Scott Lee
In front of a martial artist and an actor Jason Scott Lee memorably portrayed Bruce Lee in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story and long after he voiced his beloved Lilo and Stitch character David, he had a minor role in back to the future 2 as a member of Griff’s gang.
Lee played Chester Noguera, nicknamed “Whitey” by the gang, who, unlike his 3D glasses-wearing grandfather, doesn’t wear anything special to earn such a nickname, but is said to have earned it as Leave it to Beaver a reference to the sitcom’s bully character Hubert “Whitey” Whitney.
Mary Ellen Trainor
From Forrest Gump to Goonies to tenacious, late character actress Mary Ellen Trainor did it all in her 30-year acting career, including an uncredited cameo in back to the future 2 for a very special reason.
1989 was a year of sequels for Traynor, appearing not only in Ghostbusters 2and lethal weapon 2, but also in BTTF sequel due to a 20-year marriage to film director Robert Zemeckis. Trainor played Officer Reese, one of the Hill Valley cops who arrest Flea Needles after he crashes a truck.
ZZ Top
Known for their top hats and long beards, the rock band ZZ Top spent over 50 years performing on stages around the world, and in back to the future III, the three original band members rocked the old west.
The group later made several film and television appearances, but in their first roles, ZZ Top made a cameo appearance during an urban dance scene where they performed a country version of their song “Doubleback” after being credited by director Robert Zemeckis. perform the song for the final film of the franchise.
Source: Collider
