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Greatest Cameos in DC Universe TV Shows

People seemingly can't get enough of DC comic books and films, but what are the greatest cameos in DC Universe TV shows?

By Bill ShaffirPublished 6 years ago 6 min read
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The DC Universe is a massive world, full of complex and iconic characters. Whether it's in DC movies, TV, or the original comics, DC has something for everybody — it's part of their mass appeal. They have so many popular and easily recognizable characters played by amazing actors, that when we see one pop up in our show unexpectedly we get understandably excited. People love the unexpected drop in of one of their most beloved heroes.

Sometimes they play their famous character, and other times they play someone else entirely, but no matter how or why they show up, most don't know what are the greatest cameos in DC Universe TV shows. In order to get a comprehensive list, we've scoured the entirety of incredible DC shows, both old and new, and have come up with a little something everybody can get behind. Check and see if any of your favorite TV series made the cut.

Dean Cain on Supergirl

When looking for the perfect dad for the tv series Supergirl, executive producers tapped somebody with strong ties to the DC Universe: Dean Cain. Cain is known for his role as Clark Kent in Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

He doesn't play Clark Kent in this one, but instead plays Jeremy Danvers, whose daughter (Supergirl) runs into trouble after she is caught using her powers in public. When DEO agents (Department of Extra-Normal operations) come and threaten to take her away from her family, Danvers doesn't allow it. Instead, like a good father should, he volunteers to go to work for them in her place, on the condition that they leave his daughter alone. Getting Superman to play Supergirl's father is inspired casting, and one of the greatest cameos in DC Universe TV shows.

Phyllis Coates on Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Phyllis Coates was TV's first Lois Lane back in 1951, when she starred in Superman and the Mole Men. Although she was replaced after the first season of Adventures of Superman, getting the original Lois Lane to appear in a 90s reboot is one of the coolest cameos in DC Universe TV shows.

Coates appeared in the first season finale of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, where she played Lois's mother. Coates imparts advice on her daughter who is about to get married, helping Lois come to terms with the fact that she doesn't truly wish to get married.

Christopher Reeve on Smallville

Smallville was a hit show on the CW, focusing on Clark Ken't youth and upbringing before he ever put on the cape. In an amazing casting choice, and one of the greatest cameos in DC Universe TV shows, somehow the producers were able to wrangle wheelchair bound Christopher Reeve.

At the time, Reeve had been paralyzed since 1995 after a terrible horse riding accident, but the former big screen Superman came back for a two episode spot playing a brilliant and reclusive scientist. Reeve tells Clark his Kryptonian name, Kal-El, and his belief that Krypton had been destroyed, leaving Clark as its only survivor.

John Wesley Shipp on The Flash

John Wesley Shipp played the Flash back in the 90s, which chronicled the life of a Central City forensic scientist who is given incredible speed powers after being struck by lighting. In the revival of The Flash that came out in 2014, Shipp plays Barry Allen's father.

In the reboot, a mysterious red and yellow lightning strike kills his mother and frames his father — who eventually clears his name. The fact that they use the former Flash to play his father is a great tip of the cap to the older series, and one of the more interesting cameos in DC Universe TV shows.

In addition to Shipp, Mark Hamill also appeared in the 90s version of The Flash, playing a villain known as The Trickster. And, like Shipp, Hamill was invited back for the revival and made one of the greatest cameos in DC Universe TV shows.

In the new series, Hamill is in prison after serving 20 plus years for his crimes, when Barry Allen approaches him for help catching a new criminal terrorizing the city. In true Trickster fashion, the new villain turns out to be Hamill's son, who has taken up the slack for his imprisoned father.

Helen Slater on Supergirl

In Supergirl, Kara Zor-El is sent to Earth by her parents to protect her cousin Kal-El, or Superman. However, when her space ship goes off track she is transformed back in to a teen girl, now much younger than her cousin. Superman arranges for her to live with the Danver family.

Her new mother is scientist Eliza Danvers, played by former movie star Helen Slater, who starred in the spinoffs to the Christopher Reeve Superman films. For fans of DC comics and live action adaptations, it's one of the greatest cameos in DC Universe TV shows, because it's a great ode to its history.

Lynda Carter on Supergirl

In the second season of Supergirl, the President of the United States comes to National City, and she is played by none other than TV's Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter. Carter starred in Wonder Woman in 1975, in a role that would last for three seasons.

She is in National City to sign an executive order that would grant aliens amnesty on Earth, but things do not go as planned and the aliens attack. For both young and old fans of Wonder Woman, it's one the greatest cameos in DC Universe TV shows.

Terence Stamp on Smallville

Terence Stamp famously played General Zod in Superman: The Movie. Zod was a renegade from Krypton who was exiled to the Phantom Zone after Krypton was destroyed.

In Smallville, Stamp voiced young Clark Kent's birth father Jor-El. Using artificial intelligence he helps guide Clark towards his ultimate goal: being the savior of Earth. It's a great nod to previous iterations of Superman, and is one of the best cameos in DC Universe TV shows, popping up 23 times over the shows run.

A favorite in the comic books, Harley Quinn, made an appearance in season two of Arrow, played by two different actresses — Cassidy Alexa and Tara Strong. In the show, Green Arrow visits Quinn in a high-level security prison, as she is deemed too deranged to be trusted on missions.

Fans were hoping for more than just a mere cameo from Quinn. However, disputes over Suicide Squad forced her removal from the show. Famously, there were disputes over the usage of Quinn, as Warner Brothers didn't want them spoiling ideas for Quinn they planned on using in the film. Short-lived as it was, fans consider it one of the greatest cameos in DC Universe TV shows.

Adam West and Frank Gorshin on Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

In season two of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Clark Kent finds himself in need of a lawyer. Frank Gorshin, who played The Riddler in the 60s, plays Kent's fast-talking, dishonest lawyer. The Batman nods don't stop at Gorshin, as later on in the episode we get the Dark Knight himself, Adam West.

West plays a talk show radio host who interviews the musician who is suing Kent. Kent is being sued, because after he saved the musician, an amp fell on his hand, for which the shady musician blames Kent. With so much DC history in one episode, it makes for one of the most excellent cameos in DC Universe TV shows. West didn't stop there, as he starred in the animated series, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders before his recent passing.

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About the Creator

Bill Shaffir

Lover of gangster films and worried about the future of artificial intelligence.

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