Werner Herzog is the legendary filmmaker responsible for a number of challenging, ambitious and mesmerizing movies. However, he is also one of the most unique personalities in the movie business that has given him notoriety on a whole other level.

Herzog’s voice which has been used to narrate many of his documentaries is incredibly captivating and his deadpan yet thought-provoking assessment of the world is endlessly compelling. This personality has made Herzog someone who is sought out for various cameo roles that play into his fascinating persona or make use of his effective presence.

10 The Simpsons (1989 – Present)

There have been countless celebrities of all kinds who have popped up on The Simpsons over the years, but it is still funny to think the show managed to get Herzog to make three appearances on the show.

He appears for the first time in the season 22 episode “The Scorpion’s Tale” in which he plays Dr. Walter Hotenhoffer who works for a pharmaceutical company and is seeking a drug that makes old people less cranky. Herzog just seems to have the perfect voice for a mad scientist type.

9 The Wind Rises (2013)

One of the most stunning movies from the acclaimed animated company Studio Ghibli has been The Wind Rises. Set in Japan, the movie tells the true story of Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of aircrafts that would later be used by the Japanese army during World War II.

In the English language release of the movie, the cast is dubbed over with English-speaking actors. Herzog lends his famous voice to Castorp, a German visiting Japan who warns Jiro of Germany’s march towards war.

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8 American Dad (2005 – Present)

The Simpsons is not the only animated comedy series Herzog has lent his voice to. In fact, those seem to be the roles he favors the most. While his appearance in American Dad is just a brief bit of narration, it does stand out.

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In the season 7 episode “Ricky Spanish,” Herzog narrates over a sequence as if it were one of his own documentaries. While Herzog plays the moment as straight as he usually does, the fact that he is talking about farts being kept in jars makes it all the more surreal.

7 Jack Reacher (2012)

One of the few live-action movie appearances Herzog has made outside of his own movies was in Jack Reacher. The movie stars Tom Cruise as the titular hero, a military police officer investigating a shooting.

Though his role is slightly larger than an average cameo, Herzog’s appearance is worth including on the list for how chilling of a performance he gives. He plays the main villain of the movie known as The Zec. Sporting a scarred face and missing several fingers, Herzog is the most memorable part of the movie.

6 Penguins Of Madagascar (2014)

One of the last places viewers would expect Herzog to pop up is in a spin-off movie to the family-friendly Madagascar movies. But Penguins of Madagascar does find a pretty clever use for Herzog that pokes fun as his nature documentaries.

In the opening scene of the movie, Herzog is heard providing narration to this look at the adorable penguins in Antarctica. He even makes an appearance as his animated self as he nudges the penguins off a cliff to make for a more interesting movie.

5 Rick And Morty (2013 – Present)

In yet another appearance in an animated series, Herzog provided a voice for a small character in an episode of Rick and Morty. However, with the big ideas of the series, its ambitious nature, and its utter bizarreness, this feels like a show in which Herzog really fits in.

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Herzog appears in the second season of the show as Shrimply Pibbles, a legendary alien civil rights leader who needs Jerry to donate his penis for a medical procedure that will save Pibble’s life. Hearing Herzog talk about penises in such a lamenting way is surprisingly hilarious.

4 Metalocalypse (2006 – 2013)

Like Rick and Morty, Metalocalypse seems like a show that is just crazy enough that it makes sense Herzog would appear. The series follows the adventures of the most famous heavy metal group in the world and the powerful forces bent on destroying them.

Herzog actually played a recurring character on the show with several appearances. He plays Ishnifus Meaddle was the High Holy Priest of the Church of the Black Klok whose narration would often speak of ancient prophecies related to Metalocalypse.

3 The Boondocks (2005 – 2014)

The hilarious and brilliant series The Boondocks also managed to get Herzog for another memorable appearance. The season three premiere reflects on the election of Barack Obama in a humorous way as a certain German director follows the Freeman family as they react to the news.

The episode is a very funny take on a monumental moment in American history and the fact that it is overseen by Herzog just makes it all the more enjoyable.

2 The Mandalorian (2019 – Present)

As the Star Wars universe continues to grow under the guidance of Disney, even someone like Herzog himself couldn’t avoid getting caught up in it all. The Mandalorian proves the epic feel of the movies could translate to small screens in a fun way.

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Herzog appears in a recurring role throughout the first season as the mysterious Client who pays Mando to capture Baby Yoda for him. Once again, Herzog’s chilling demeanor makes for a memorable villain, and Herzog himself seems to have been responsible for convincing the show to use a practical Baby Yoda.

1 Parks And Recreation

The final season of Parks and Recreation was a satisfying goodbye to the beloved characters of the series, but it also introduced one of the most interesting Pawnee characters for an all too brief appearance.

Herzog makes a cameo as a man who sells a house to April and Andy. With his trademark delivery, Herzog explains that the house is a former mental institution for people who went insane while working at the doll head factory. He also explains that he is moving so that he can be closer to Disneyland.

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About The Author


Colin McCormick
(2030 Articles Published)

Colin McCormick is a Senior Writer with Screen Rant and has been a proud member of the team since 2019. In addition to his work as Screen Rant, Colin is also a writer of News, Feature and Review pieces at Game Rant. Colin has had a long passion and obsession with movies going back to the first time he saw The Lion King in theaters. Along with movies, Colin stays up-to-date on the latest must-see TV shows. While he loves to find interesting projects in any kind of genre, he has a special movie of crime stories that are infused with a little dark humor much like the work of his favorite author, Elmore Leonard.

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