Nothing can be more flattering for an author than if their book becomes so popular they become courted by Hollywood production companies. This year, a record number of movies released are based on books including The Hobbit, The Great Gatsby and the final Twilight Saga movie.

Recently I read an article about the many cameos that Stephen King has played in movies, series and even TV shows that have been based on his works. He’s such an over-achiever when it comes to his success that we shouldn’t be surprised. What was surprising to me was the number of other authors that have played cameos in movies based on their book. Most are small parts and others are quite large.

Below is a list of my top 10 author cameos:

Number one on my list has to be Stephen King’s role as the funeral director in Pet Sematary. He gives a creepy and somewhat foretelling speech at a grave site in the beginning of the movie. You’ll see part of it below in the trailer.

Number Two is the very brief cameo by Stephenie Meyer at the diner in the first Twilight movie. Don’t blink, you might miss it.

In the movie Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen is spotting being brushed by Rob Pattinson who is fixated on the beautiful Rose played by Reese Witherspoon. Her family members are also seen in the movie, playing parts of extras.

S.E . Hinton plays Dally’s nurse in the 1980’s classic The Outsiders.

Kathryn Stockett can be spotted all decked out in 60’s glam in one of the Junior Society meetings in The Help.

V.C. Andrews  gets some house cleaning done the morning after the children try to escape from the attic in Flowers in the Attic. Unfortunately, she never lived long enough to see the debut of the movie in theaters.

John le Carré bursts out in song during the Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy Christmas party.

Louis Sachar plays Mr. Collinsworth, who is offered a hair growth tonic made of onions by the main character in the book Holes.

Arthur C. Clarke has a brief cameo in his book-turned-movie 2010: Odyssey Two.

Hunter S. Thompson plays the older version of Johnny Depp’s character in a Vegas night club in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Although I couldn’t find the clip itself, I did find this clip of him discussing his cameo with the director before it was filmed (you’ll need to excuse the language).

Do you know of any other author cameos I may have missed? Please feel free to leave it in the comments area below.

– Copyright infringement on any movie clips is completely unintentional.-