Obsessive Cinematic Disorder: Traffic Stop Cameos

You might be asking yourself, “Surely there can’t be multiple instances of actors appearing as officers stopping drivers for traffic violations?” Prepare to have your mind blown (respectfully, with mind breakfast afterwards).

Although with that being said, I’m still a little amazed at all of these cameos. What is it about sticking a famous actor in the role of a highway officer?

Join me as I take a look at some of these faux cops.

Tim Blake Nelson Stops Fockers for Speeding

Our first example - from the underwhelming sequel Meet the Fockers - is pretty standard. Ben Stiller and Dustin Hoffman are trying to chase down Robert De Niro when actor/director/Hulk villain Tim Blake Nelson drops in to arrest just about everyone.



He’s got a rubber boobie, indeed.

Michael McKean Stops Steve Martin and John Candy for Driving a Melted Car

McKean shows up to chastise John Candy and Steve Martin for their burnt out car in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Is there a better excuse for speeding than a melted speedometer?



Poor Steve Martin. All he wanted to do is get home to his family. At least the radio works, Officer McKean!

Gary Busey Stops Johnny Depp for Speeding

How do you make Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - a movie directed by Terry Gilliam about gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson’s drug fueled adventures in Vegas - even stranger? Gary Busey. Gary Busey is always the answer when you’re trying to make something stranger. The actor appears in the flick - which is chock full of cameos in general - as a highway patrolman chasing Thompson as he flees Vegas.



Towards the end of the scene, Busey ad libs a request for a kiss, and Hunter S. Thompson was supposedly “horrified” by the improvisation. I find it hard to believe that anything horrified Thompson.

Edward Norton Stops Ricky Gervais and Louis C.K. for Drunk Driving Food Poisoning

In a world where anything you say is taken as gospel, lying to the cops would probably be one of the most satisfying activities around. Edward Norton proves this in The Invention of Lying.



Not only does Norton believe everything Ricky Gervais says, he's brutally honest. Who knew violence arouses cops?

Robert Patrick Stops Mike Myers in Pursuit of a Child Savior

This is it. Wayne vs. the T-1000. Aurora's finest vs. a mimetic poly-alloy killing machine.

The last person you want to be pulled over by is the T-1000 and Mr. Campbell learns this the hard way in Wayne’s World. That icy attitude and all that sleek metal. Schwing!

Chilling how Patrick takes off after the Mirthmobile on foot like that, isn’t it? I’m not sure who he's looking for - the photo doesn’t look like John Connor - but I’m going to assume that he’s another future resistance leader.

Patrick must like doing cameos as the T-1000, as the killing machine makes an appearance in another Schwarzenegger flick.

Getting pulled over can be nerve-wracking but remember, that cop or state trooper might be one of America’s sweethearts. So you might have to pay a speeding ticket, but at least you’ll have a cool story to tell.