History Main / AdamWesting

* West played a lawyer defending R. Kelly who made a video of himself whizzing on a schoolgirl in ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks''. In typical over-the-top West fashion, of course. It's like he doesn't even ''want'' to stop Adam Westing anymore.

* In ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3 Red Alert 3]]'' as the Emperor of Japan, he's basically Sulu-ing it in a set of art-deco techno robes, with the cheese-factor cranked as high as it will go. But, [[WorldOfHam compared to the other faction leaders and prominent characters]], he's downright ''sedate''. It gets kind of meta since the Emperor also seems to be playing it up in-universe; when he learns time travel is possible (which shatters his world view) he drops it until the end of the campaign when he regains his composure.

* Prior to getting into politics, UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump seemed to revel in parodies of himself, even appearing in a series of Oreo commercials with Darrell Hammond (known for having done an impression of Trump on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''). Of course, if you claim you're worth billions of dollars, you can afford some self depreciation.

* Snickers has begun an entire ad campaign consisting of a series of celebrities doing this to represent how unpleasant and/or weird a random person becomes while they're hungry. So far Creator/BettyWhite, Abe Vigoda, Music/ArethaFranklin, Creator/LizaMinnelli, Creator/RobinWilliams, Creator/JoePesci, Creator/DannyTrejo, and [[UsefulNotes/NFLDefensiveAndSpecialTeamsPlayers Adam Vinatieri]] have appeared.

* Creator/NeilPatrickHarris's appearances in ''Film/HaroldAndKumarGoToWhiteCastle'' and its sequels portray his former child star self as a womanizing drug addict. It was only later that his celebrity persona included a womanizing dimension due to ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''. This, of course, became a completely inverted persona when he came out in RealLife as a gay man in a long-term, committed relationship.

* A pioneer in spending an entire film sending up his public persona is Music/DeanMartin as the boozy, womanizing crooner Dino in 1964's ''Film/KissMeStupid''. He's called Dino, but the film otherwise doesn't try to hide that it's supposed to be Martin, right down to Dino having the same [[SignatureSong Signature Songs]] as Martin.

** In one episode, she dates Creator/JonathanFrakes, who is Adam-Westing the hell out of himself throughout the show. In the conclusion, he's strongly implied to have been [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Riker]] pretending to be Frakes.

** Half the regulars on ''30 Rock'' (Creator/TinaFey, Tracy Morgan, Jack [=McBrayer=], and Judah Friedlander) basically play comically exaggerated versions of themselves.

** Lynn Redgrave appeared as a JadedWashout, who would do literally any favour for anyone who mildly complimented her work.

** Busey also plays a literally crazy version of himself in ''Series/TwoAndAHalfMen''. Literal to the point where he's [[spoiler:Alan's roommate when he's institutionalized]].

* In the 2011 FOX sitcom ''Series/NewGirl'', Creator/ZooeyDeschanel plays a character who can't get a guy because [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} she's too weird]]. Of course, most of her fans like her ''because'' [[ManicPixieDreamGirl she's so weird]], but that's beside the point.

** Alan Thicke has made several appearances as himself, starting with the Season 3 episode, "Sandcastles in the Sand." He's an old friend of Robin's (due to both being Canadian and having met on the "Sandcastles in the Sand" music video, where he played her father -- not to mention, in real life Alan Thicke has a son named Robin).

* ''VideoGame/YIIKAPostModernRPG'' has Rory Mancer (portrayed by WebVideo/{{Yuriofwind}}), whose mannerisms and behavior basically make him his voice actor without the [=YouTube=] account.

* Music/SnoopDogg playing [[Literature/TheBible Moses]] as basically himself (smoking 'burning bush', being 'high' up on the mountain top, receiving '[[VerbalTic commandizzles]]' from 'the G-O-single-D', etc) in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kRAKXFrYQ4 this]] episode of ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory''.

* During an Music/{{Area 11}} skit, "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8MQxwW83_k Monopoly]]", pretty much everyone (except perhaps Leo) does this. Special mention goes to Parv, who plays himself as a [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} deluded man-child]] [[TheDitz who is completely absentminded]] (an exaggeration of his online persona), as well as LetsPlay/HatFilms, who cameo as prima-donna versions of themselves that argue pettily about whether or not they should get to play as the top hat.

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' movie "Into the Wild Green Yonder" featured [[Creator/PennAndTeller Penn Jillette]] as a head who barely fit in his jar and worked with a [[TheSpeechless Teller]] who was dead and the act was pretty much the same.

** While he plays himself as a SophisticatedAsHell scientific genius in "The Cryonic Woman", Pauly Shore also parodies the hell out of his own act.

* The vast majority of {{Celebrity Voice Actor}}s on ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' appear as (totally mundane) fictional characters, but the ones who appear as themselves invariably do this, with Chuck Mangione being an eccentric Mega-Lo-Mart spokesman who's squatting in the Arlen store and struggles with anger issues, while Randy Travis is a compulsive liar who steals other people's ideas and deeds to take credit for them, to name two.

** Not to mention Kenny Loggins, portraying himself as an egoist disinterested in any fan contact. He also has some shady uranium deal going on and insists (unsuccessfully) on being addressed as "K-Log."

* Creator/MikeTyson plays himself in ''WesternAnimation/MikeTysonMysteries''. Keep in mind this is the same series where Mike Tyson is portrayed in universe as a Cloudcuckoolander who solves most problems by punching them.

* Nearly every role Creator/RLeeErmey played after Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in ''Film/FullMetalJacket'' was a pastiche of that role. Of course, sometimes he uses this for PlayingAgainstType, notably in ''Film/SavingSilverman'' - same persona, but [[spoiler:turning out to be ManlyGay at the end.]]

** Arguably the SignatureScene of the series is Liam Neeson coming to Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant in hopes of launching a comedy career; much hilarity ensues when it turns out the deadly-serious Neeson not only CannotTellAJoke, he might not even be aware what a joke ''is''.
-->'''Liam''': OK, let's do some...improvisational comedy.
-->'''Ricky''': I can't now, Liam, I--
-->'''Liam''': ''[threateningly with a DeathGlare]'' Let's do some improvisational comedy. '''Now.'''
* Any time a celebrity makes a cameo on ''Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway'' had a TON of this.

** In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "They Saved Lisa's Brain", he claimed he had an IQ of [[ImprobablyHighIQ over 200]] (though in real life, he didn't think highly of those who boasted about their high IQs) and appeared with a bunch of [[SuperWheelchair gadgets built into his wheelchair]], including an extendible boxing glove, an automatic toothbrush and a ''helicopter propeller''. (Homer mistook him for Larry Flynt, founder of ''Hustler'' magazine.)

*** Seth has gone so far as to claim that [[WhatCouldHaveBeen the character was never (originally) intended]] to be ''the'' Adam West -- [[NamesTheSame just a guy who shares his name.]] Then the actual Adam West came in to read for the part and the rest, as they say, is history.

* While Music/{{Eminem}}'s most famous film role (in ''Film/EightMile'') was an autobiographical role that was somewhat playing against type for a character known until then as an AntiRoleModel shock comedian, his later film roles have been mocking himself.

** In ''Film/TheInterview'', he gives the same interview about his inappropriate lyrics that everyone has heard him give a hundred times... until he admits the famous homophobia in his lyrics is because he's gay. He is confused that everyone seems so surprised by this, since as far as he was concerned [[TransparentCloset it was obvious]].

** Arguably the SignatureScene of the series is Liam Neeson coming to Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant in hopes of launching a comedy career; much HilarityEnsues when it turns out the deadly-serious Neeson not only CannotTellAJoke, he might not even be aware what a joke ''is''.

* Snickers has begun an entire ad campaign consisting of a series of celebrities doing this to represent how unpleasant and/or weird a random person becomes while they're hungry. So far Creator/BettyWhite, Abe Vigoda, Music/ArethaFranklin, Liza Minnelli, Creator/RobinWilliams, Creator/JoePesci, Creator/DannyTrejo, and [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague Adam Vinatieri]] have appeared.

* Series of iPhone commercials featuring celebrities asking Siri questions, playing broad caricatures of themselves: Creator/SamuelLJackson the suave ladies' man cooking a romantic dinner, Creator/ZooeyDeschanel the ManicPixieDreamGirl who doesn't wear shoes and wants to dance all day, Creator/JohnMalkovich...being John Malkovich, and Creator/MartinScorsese as the busy Hollywood big shot.

* Peloton Exercise Equipment had a viral ad in Late 2019 that many compared to a "hostage tape" where the wife, played by Monica Ruiz, receives the item looks scared, angry, and eventually leaves the gift giver. The company's stock valuation dropped over one Billion dollars shortly after the ad's launch. Within a week, the same actress appeared in a viral ad for Creator/RyanReynolds owned Aviator American Gin were she is chugging gin with friends in a post breakup girl's night out for someone who's survived a horrific experience. The final line is one of them saying "You look great by the way."

* Creator/BenKingsley is a serious British actor who has also played a number of AmbiguouslyBrown LargeHam villains with various accents, in ''Film/PrinceOfPersia'', ''Film/TheDictator'' and ''Film/{{Thunderbirds}}'' among others. In ''Film/IronMan3'' he plays [[spoiler:a British actor hired to play the part of an AmbiguouslyBrown LargeHam villain with a strange accent]].

* The late Creator/LeonardNimoy did a fair amount of Adam Westing (see Western Animation below).

* In ''Anime/ZombieLandSaga'', Saga-born actor and musican [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakuryu_(actor) Hakuryu]] voices White Ryu, an exaggerated version of himself who goes around riding on the hood of his 1960s Cadillac convertible and constantly spouts {{Ice Cream Koan}}s.

* ''Film/{{Trainwreck}}'' has Usefulnotes/LeBronJames as a heightened version of himself. And most reviewers were surprised in that in a sharp contrast to sportspeople failing at acting, James actually gives a good performance that manages to hold his own and be funny against a cast of estabilished comedians.

* ''WebVideo/TheGuild'': Wil Wheaton becomes a recurring character in later seasons as a pompass, jerkass version of himself. When busy writing his memoirs, he'll answer his phone with a testy, "Journaling!"

** One epsiode has a cutaway gag where Stewie laments that someone turned their back on him "like reality turned its back on Creator/GaryBusey!" Cut to Gary Busey psyching himself up in the mirror, with his reflection as a hideous clown with snake hair. Busey voiced himself (and the reflection).

* Creator/ZackSnyder appeared in the 365th episode of ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'', voicing a cartoon version of himself who lifts weights and projects the eponymous Teen Titans (who want to see the "Snyder Cut") into the ancient times battle of ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'' against Darkseid in his serious and dramatic style (there's an [[ArtShift animation shift]] at this moment, from the cartoonish ''Teen Titans Go!'' style to the more serious style seen aplenty in the WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies).

[[/folder]]

** Creator/YukoGoto plays herself as a hyper masculine delinquent biker called "Gothouther-sama", in reference to Souther from ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' (who's her favorite character from said series). This pokes fun at how she's typically cast as characters who are {{Nice Girl}}s, while in reality, she's a hardcore biker.

** Chris Martin of Music/{{Coldplay}} plugging the (then) new greatest hits album on everything from a sitcom to a public service announcement to his shirt in every scene he's in.

* Virgin Money ran an advertising campaign starring various celebrities from the 1980s (Geoffrey Hayes, presenter of ''Rainbow''; ska icon [[Film/MagicalMysteryTour Buster Bloodvessel]]; and David Van Day from the pop duo Dollar) lampooning the fact that they had blown all their money and were now reduced to working menial jobs - respectively, as a taxi driver, guest house owner and running a mobile burger van.

* Nationwide Insurance won the 2007 Super Bowl ad race by a wide margin with its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIoHOtcPMh0&ab_channel=twentyxxxone21 Kevin Federline commercial]], which showcases K-Fed going from rap superstar to working at a fast food restaurant with their then-slogan, "Life comes at you fast". It was timed perfectly, as it aired in the wake of Federline's debut rap album ''Playing With Fire'' flopping in a historic fashion and [[Music/BritneySpears Britney]] serving him the divorce papers, making its premise not too far-fetched. Federline deserves credit for participating in it; him taking this payday right as his 15 minutes of fame were ending suggests [[ObfuscatingStupidity he might not have been as stupid as we made him out to be]].

* Nationwide Insurance won the 2007 Super Bowl ad race by a wide margin with its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIoHOtcPMh0&ab_channel=twentyxxxone21 Kevin Federline commercial]], which showcases K-Fed going from rap superstar to working at a fast food restaurant with their then-slogan, "Life comes at you fast". It was timed perfectly, as it aired in the wake of Federline's debut rap album ''Playing With Fire'' flopping in a historic fashion and [[Music/BritneySpears Britney]] serving him the divorce papers, making its premise not too far-fetched. Federline deserves credit for participating in it; him taking this payday right as his 15 minutes of fame were ending suggests [[ObfuscatingStupidity he might not have been as stupid as we made him out to be]].

* Elements of Adam Westing are incorporated into ''Film/TropicThunder'': Creator/RobertDowneyJr's character, an award-winning Australian actor, was revised after he was cast to include attributes of the real-life actor, including his propensity for staying in character for extended periods of time and a turbulent relationship with the press. In the same movie, Creator/TomCruise plays a [[PrimaDonnaDirector Prima Donna Producer]] that seems to be inspired by some of the star's [[NeverLiveItDown more embarrassing public appearances]].

* Music/{{KISS}} has a track record of often appearing as zany caricatures of themselves in animation. The two most notable examples are when they helped save the world from a giant alien black hole in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' special ''WesternAnimation/{{Wishology}}'' and when they were ''interdimensional space guardians'' complete with an {{animesque}} MagicalGirl transformation sequence in ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndKissRockAndRollMystery''. If that sounds awesome, that's because it is.

* ''Music/{{Kiss}}'' has a track record of often appearing as zany caricatures of themselves in animation. The two most notable examples are when they helped save the world from a giant alien black hole in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' special ''WesternAnimation/{{Wishology}}'' and when they were ''interdimensional space guardians'' complete with an {{animesque}} MagicalGirl transformation sequence in ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndKissRockAndRollMystery''. If that sounds awesome, that's because it is.

Compare to SelfDeprecation.

* Creator/WillSmith plays his 90's comedic roles as the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fights aliens (''Film/IndependenceDay''), the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air fights more aliens(''Film/MenInBlack'', ''Film/MenInBlackII''), the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a SteamPunk cowboy (''Film/WildWildWest''), and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a cop (''Film/BadBoys'').

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'', he plays [[AsHimself Adam West,]] who used to play [[{{Expy}} Catman]] on TV. Like in several of the other examples, he's delusional and thinks he really ''is'' Catman.

Almost every other role Creator/WilliamShatner has had since ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'' is him playing William Shatner the egotist, or an {{expy}} of that character under a different name. He specifically avoids the IAmNotSpock effect, by virtue of [[http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/tvandradioblog/2009/may/22/television-television1 creating a "SHATNER" persona,]] of which Kirk is but one mere part. One must wonder, however, if it has reached the level of enlightened self-parody or if he has become genuinely unhinged (''Magazine/{{Mad}}'' once put it that he is trying, thirty years too late, to prove to everyone that he was always "[[ParodyRetCon in on the joke]]") -- see his appearance on ''Friday Night with Jonathon Ross.''

* Creator/ClintHoward already had indulged in this with his B-movie career (to the point that an MTV Lifetime Achievement Award was given to him on the 1998 MTV Movie Awards). But he parodied his role as a flight controller in [[Creator/RonHoward his brother's]] ''Film/{{Apollo 13}}'' by appearing on both the ''Film/AustinPowers'' series and the second ''Film/NightAtTheMuseum'' as part of MissionControl.

* Sometimes the guest stars on Series/{{Entourage}} will do this. Matt Damon is the best example, with one episode ending with him begging for donations to a child charity on his phone, becoming more and more overly emotional each time and going further into overblown ham comedy.

** In the final episode of season one [[spoiler:Sean Bean lets Morpheus cut his head off because [[Main/ChronicallyKilledActor Sean Bean always dies in everything]]]]. Then he turns the Internet memes up to eleven when [[spoiler:he comes back to life in a white light and says "One does not simply kill Sean Bean"]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'', Creator/StanLee plays a school janitor who is prone to delusions of grandeur and frequently talks to himself when nobody else is around. The students seem to think he is insane.

** In 2022, he played a fictional version of himself in ''The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent''.

[[caption-width-right:270:[[http://www.viruscomix.com/page434.html Adam Westing as metaphor.]]]]