10 Great Directors Who Acted In Other Peoples' Movies

2. Cecil B DeMille - Sunset Boulevard

The man who defined classic Hollywood also put in an appearance in the ultimate satire of it, when Billy Wilder brought Cecil B DeMille in to play himself in warped 1950 comedy drama Sunset Boulevard. DeMille was no stranger to the task, his face being associated with some of his films. Indeed, he's frequently acknowledged as creating the image of the director as showman. Starring Gloria Swanson as washed-up screen idol Norma Desmond and William Holden as down-at-heel screenwriter Joe Gillis, the sinister narrative played out at Desmond's Gothic mansion, where her attempts at a comeback were seen as an opportunity for exploitation by Gillis. DeMille lent the project some weight by sharing front of camera time with Swanson. It's also worth noting the presence of fellow helmer Erich von Stroheim, who served the champagne as butler Max. Our subject got the last laugh however, further immortalized in the bonkers closing line: "I'm ready for my close up Mr DeMille..."