32 Actors You Forgot Had Cameos In Reno 911

I’ve been a huge fan of *Reno 911!* for nearly 20 years – though it only ran for 8 seasons and a few movies! It’s amazing to think it all started with the creators – Thomas Lennon, Kerri Kenny-Silver, and Robert Ben Garant – and their time on MTV’s *The State* (Joe Lo Truglio was on that show too!). They definitely called in some favors, bringing in hilarious new comedians like Zach Galifianakis alongside big names like Kenny Rogers and Paul Reubens. It’s wild to look back and remember all the great actors who showed up on this show. Here’s a reminder of some faces you might have forgotten!

Zach Galifianakis

Before becoming famous for his hilarious performance in *The Hangover* movies, Zach Galifianakis often appeared on *Reno 911!*. He played Frisbee, a quirky survivalist with lots of children who lived near the airport and believed aliens were constantly attacking. He was a recurring character in the show’s early seasons.

Patton Oswalt

Patton Oswalt began his comedy career with minor roles in films like *Magnolia*, *Down Periscope*, and *Dodgeball*. He gained more recognition appearing on *Reno 911!* starting in its second season, playing various characters and also appearing in the *Reno 911!* movies *Miami* and *The Hunt for QAnon*.

Paul Reubens

Paul Reubens was a hugely popular comedian, best known for creating the character Pee-wee Herman, who became a cultural icon for Generation X and beyond. Reubens, who passed away in 2023, played the hilarious Rick, a quirky leader of a neighborhood watch group, much to the amusement of audiences and the slight frustration of the Reno Sheriff’s Department.

Paul Scheer

Paul Scheer has consistently appeared in some of the most hilarious TV shows of the past two decades. He’s become well-known thanks to roles in shows like *The League*, *Veep*, and *Black Monday*. He also took on several characters in Season 6 of *Reno 911!*

Natasha Leggero

Natasha Leggero started her career with a role in the 2004 reality spoof *Joe Schmo 2*, a sequel to *The Joe Schmo Show*. She then appeared on *MTV’s The 70s House*, which led to three guest spots on *Reno 911!*, where she usually played characters who were getting arrested.

Ryan Stiles

As a big comedy fan, I always think of Ryan Stiles when I remember Whose Line Is It Anyway? – he’s been killing it on that show since the 90s! But I also loved his guest spot on Reno 911! He played a police officer tasked with trying to teach those guys how to do undercover work, which was hilarious, especially in Season 5.

Jamie Lee Curtis

A truly unexpected guest appearance happened later in the series when Jamie Lee Curtis showed up as Lt. Donna Fitzgibbons. She played a tough, one-eyed officer from the Sparks Sheriff’s Department who Dangle uses to playfully trick the rest of the team. It turns out she and Dangle also have a similar sense of style!

Keegan-Michael Key

The Reno Sheriff’s Department often deals with a hilarious repeat offender – a character brilliantly played by Keegan-Michael Key. He always shows up claiming he *didn’t* commit a crime, but one that *could* be a crime, and somehow manages to avoid getting in trouble.

Paul Rudd

I always loved seeing Paul Rudd on *Friends*! He showed up in five episodes near the end, and he was brilliantly creepy as Trudy’s Lamaze coach, Guy Gerricault. It’s funny, I even forgot he was in the *Reno 991: Miami* movie as a totally separate character – he’s so versatile! It’s great to see how far he’s come.

Rachael Harris

Rachael Harris spent around ten years working steadily in Hollywood without landing a major role, until she appeared on *Reno 911!* as Dangle’s former wife. Today, she’s widely recognized for playing Linda on *Lucifer*.

Christina Applegate

Christina Applegate makes a very quick, almost unnoticeable appearance as Terry’s wife. It’s surprising to see Terry (played by Nick Swardson) married at all, let alone to someone as glamorous as Christina Applegate.

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson is arguably the biggest star in the world right now. Formerly known as ‘The Rock’ in wrestling, he consistently appears in new movies. One example is *Reno 911!: Miami*, where he hilariously portrays an over-the-top SWAT team leader – a role that really plays to his strengths.

Ron White

Ron White is a remarkably funny comedian, and his role as the drunken pilot on *Reno 911!* feels perfectly suited to his natural comedic talent. He’s genuinely hilarious.

Charlie Day and Mary Elizabeth Ellis

Before becoming famous as Charlie and The Waitress on *It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia*, Charlie Day and Mary Elizabeth Ellis actually played twin siblings with a rather unsettling relationship on *Reno 911!* during its second season. Their memorable guest appearance showcased the strong comedic chemistry they’re now known for.

Murray SawChuck

I first discovered Murray SawChuck on *Pawn Stars* – he’s the magic expert Rick Harrison calls when they have a magic item come in. But he’s way more than just a TV guest! He’s a really popular stage magician out in Las Vegas. I also loved seeing him on *Reno 911!* – he played a magician who got pulled over by the police, and naturally, started doing magic tricks for them. It was hilarious!

Nick Swardson

Everyone remembers Terry, the consistently funny character played by Nick Swardson! He’s appeared in almost every season and movie, and we definitely had to mention him as one of the show’s most memorable recurring characters.

Danny DeVito

Fun fact: Danny DeVito, the famous actor, was actually a producer on *Reno 911!* He even played a version of himself *within* the show – a producer of the fictional show that *Reno 911!* pretends to document. It’s a really clever, self-aware bit of comedy!

Jim Rash

Jim Rash is famous for his role as the lovable but clumsy Dean Pelton on the TV show *Community*. But he’s more than just an actor – he’s a talented writer too, and even received an Oscar nomination for co-writing the film *The Descendants*, which starred George Clooney and Shailene Woodley. Early in the show’s run, he also played a recurring character named Andrew, who often found himself in trouble with the law and getting arrested in funny situations. He appeared as Andrew a total of 15 times.

Michael Ian Black

Michael Ian Black wasn’t a series regular on *Reno 911!*, but as a member of the comedy troupe *The State*, he’s close friends with many of the show’s cast. He made several appearances on *Reno 911!*, playing different characters in both the series and the movie, *Reno 911!: Miami*.

Ian Roberts

Although Ian Roberts wasn’t on *The State*, he was a founding member of the equally famous improv group, *Upright Citizens Brigade*, alongside Amy Poehler, Adam McKay, and Matt Walsh. He later became a regular cast member on *Reno 911!* during its final season in 2009.

Oscar Nunez

I’m a huge fan of Oscar Nunez, especially from *The Office*! It’s so cool how his character, Oscar, actually connects *The Office* to its short-lived spin-off, *The Paper* – he’s the only character to appear in both! But did you know he was *also* in *Reno 911!*? He played Jose Jose Jose in the movie, and even popped up a couple of times in the first season of *Reno 911!* as Captain Dwayne Hernandez, and later as ‘Spanish Mike’! He’s been in a lot of funny things!

Diedrich Bader

While *Reno 911!* was popular on Comedy Central in the mid-2000s, *Dog the Bounty Hunter* was gaining a lot of attention on A&E. It wasn’t long before the comedic police show parodied the bounty hunter. Actor Diedrich Bader, known from *Office Space* and *The Drew Carey Show*, took on the role of “Tommy Hawk,” a character clearly inspired by Dog (Dwyane Chapman), even sporting a similar blonde mullet.

George Lopez

Police departments always have to work with their city’s mayor. When a mayor is difficult, like the character George Lopez plays in Reno 911!, it can frustrate officers, but it’s often very funny for viewers.

“Weird Al” Yankovic

Okay, so “Weird Al” Yankovic did something truly unique on *Reno 911!*. He’s the only one who played a real person – and not just any person, but Ted Nugent! Now, it’s a hilariously exaggerated take on the “Motor City Madman,” but Al absolutely *nailed* the look. It’s a spot-on parody, and honestly, a really clever bit of casting.

Seth Green

Seth Green seemed to be in everything, particularly during the 2000s. He was fantastic and funny in shows like *Robot Chicken* (which he co-created), *Entourage*, and *Family Guy*, as well as films like the *Austin Powers* series and *The Italian Job*. He also delivered a hilarious cameo in *Reno 911!* playing the incredibly harsh boss of two undercover sheriff deputies working at a fast food restaurant.

Rainn Wilson

Let’s be real, Rainn Wilson’s role on *Reno 911!*-a murderer leading the sheriffs on a chaotic chase-feels a lot like a relative of his character Dwight from *The Office*. It’s genuinely one of the funniest episodes of the entire show.

Debra Wilson

Debra Wilson is most famous for being on MadTV for eight seasons – longer than any other cast member. She’s also done a lot of voice acting for films and television, and many people remember her hilarious impersonation of Oprah Winfrey in the Scary Movie films. Plus, she played the character Dominatrix on three episodes of Reno 911! back in 2008.

Brian Posehn

Brian Posehn, a comedian known for his dry humor, also made a memorable impact on the show. He played Stevie the Coroner in several episodes during the original Comedy Central run. It was a brilliant role for him – who wouldn’t love a coroner who’s both hilariously funny and completely serious?

Nick Krull

Nick Krull is perfectly cast in his role as a shock jock. He plays a character who gains popularity by making outrageous statements, and his humorous, yet controversial, take on Cinco de Mayo is a highlight.

Scott Thompson

Scott Thompson, similar to other performers here, was a member of the famous comedy group The Kids In The Hall. He appeared in two episodes during the show’s sixth season.

Masi Oka

Masi Oka is best known for his role as Hiro Nakamura, the central hero in the TV show *Heroes*. This performance earned him an Emmy nomination. He also played Dr. Max Bergman, a medical examiner, in the remake of the classic series *Hawaii Five-0*. Oka demonstrated his comedic talent by appearing as a Japanese translator in a few episodes of *Reno 911!*

Jeff Foxworthy

Even dedicated fans of *Reno 911!* might not have noticed this quick appearance. Comedian Jeff Foxworthy made a cameo in a season three episode, but he wasn’t actually *seen* on screen. He played the character Fast Eddie McClintock, described as Reno’s fastest criminal, and we only hear his voice briefly over his CB radio as he drives away in his black Trans Am.

2025-09-27 22:45