Aside from creating some of the most well-known comic book heroes in the world, Stan Lee was renowned for making cameo appearances in most of Marvel’s live-action and animated films. Whether he was just in the background or playing an actual character in the film, eagle-eyed fans were always on the lookout for a Stan Lee appearance. However, Lee’s cameos were not limited to Marvel films, as there were many times when he surprised viewers by popping up in films and TV shows unrelated to his comic creations. Here are some of Stan Lee’s most iconic cameos outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Mallrats Features Stan Lee Signing Comics
In Kevin Smith’s cult classic film Mallrats, Stan Lee happens to be signing comics at the same mall that Brodie (Jason Lee) and T.S. (Jeremy London) decide to visit. While Brodie gazes through a store window deep in thought, Lee approaches him and begins talking about a couple that reminds him of Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy. Stan shares a story about a girl he fell in love with when he was young, telling Brodie that he would give up his fame and fortune for a chance to be with the one who got away. Brodie is inspired by this and runs off to reunite with his ex-girlfriend. Little does he know that T.S. had asked Lee to talk to him, and Lee reveals that his entire speech had been ripped off from a Spider-Man comic. This iconic appearance was even referenced in Captain Marvel when Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) sees Stan reading a Mallrats script on the bus.
The Big Bang Theory Puts Stan Lee in Fantastic Four Pajamas
In The Big Bang Theory‘s Season 3 episode “The Excelsior Acquisition,” Stan Lee is booked for a comic book signing at the local comic store. While the guys go through their comic books to prepare for the signing, Howard (Simon Helberg) finds an envelope addressed to Sheldon (Jim Parsons) containing a summons for him to appear in court for jumping a red light while driving Penny (Kaley Cuoco) to the hospital. Sheldon is dismayed when he discovers that his court appointment is at the same time as the comic signing, so Penny makes it up to him by taking him to Stan Lee’s house at night. Lee opens the door sporting a flashy set of Fantastic Four pajamas and unintentionally invites Sheldon to come into his house to watch a basketball game.
The Simpsons Sees Stan Lee Encouraging Bart’s Comic Book Career
In the episode “I Am Furious (Yellow),” Bart creates a comic called Danger Dude and tries to sell it to Comic Book Guy, who calls it “lame and derivative.” Stan Lee barges into the store and has a look at the comic, encouraging Bart to keep writing until he finds his voice. Later on in the episode, Lee tries to convince a young boy to buy Marvel action figures instead of DC ones and runs into the street, ripping his clothes off after declaring that he is The Hulk. The comic creator made another appearance in the couch gag for “The Caper Chase,” where the Simpsons appear as X-Men characters. Lee walks into the house and says, “There’s nothing too short that I can’t cameo,” right before the credits pop up.
Chuck Makes Stan Lee Into a CIA Spy
This NBC sitcom might be known for putting Zachary Levi on the map, but it also stars Lee in his flirtiest role yet. In “Chuck Versus the Santa Suit,” the titular character attends a holiday party at the CIA headquarters with General Beckman (Bonita Friedericy). As she complains about her colleagues making drunken fools of themselves, the pair are approached by a cheery Stan Lee holding mistletoe above his head. He invites Diane to join him for a drink but storms off when she rejects him, leaving Chuck bewildered at the realization that the comic creator is a spy for the CIA.
Fresh Off the Boat Gets Stan Lee On Board With Its Comic
Stan makes a brief cameo in the family sitcom Fresh Off the Boat. In the Season 3 episode “Pie vs. Cake,” Emery (Forrest Wheeler) decides to join a comic contest, and Eddie (Hudson Yang) sees this as an opportunity to make some money. They struggle to come up with an idea that works for both of them, but after seeing their mother interact with their younger brother, they decide to base their characters on their family. Stan Lee receives a copy of their comic at the end of the episode and declares that this type of comic is exactly what he’s been looking for.
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies Proves Stan Lee Isn’t Above a DC Cameo
Even Stan the Man is willing to poke fun at himself for the dozens of film and TV cameos he’s made over his career. In the 2018 film Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, the Teen Titans visit Warner Bros. Studios to get a movie made about them. As they marvel at the iconic landmarks in the studio lot, an animated Stan Lee sweeps the ground in the background. He jumps around and raises his eyebrows to get attention and eventually grabs the camera to announce that he is doing a “subtle cameo.” Stan strikes a few poses before discovering that he’s in a DC movie, then runs offscreen. His love for cameos proves too strong as he returns later in the film, declaring that he doesn’t care if he’s in a DC movie.
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