43 surprising 'Sex and the City' cameos you might have forgotten about

Gabbi ShawJan 12, 2021, 03:33 IST

The main crew.Getty Images

Across "Sex and the City's" 94 episodes on HBO, there was no shortage of future A-listers popping in for an episode or two.
Bradley Cooper, Chandra Wilson, Elizabeth Banks, and more all appeared in episodes.
Keep your eye out for these stars in the upcoming HBO Max revival, "And Just Like That..."

Across 94 episodes, Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha go through their fair share of ups and downs while trying to navigate their lives.

With the many relationships each of them goes through, it's not surprising that there was a revolving door of one-off characters that were never heard from again. What is surprising is how many of these guest stars went on to become huge stars.

Like we've done with "Grey's Anatomy" and "Friends" before it, keep scrolling for the surprising stars that appeared on "Sex and the City" whose roles range from iconic to less-than-memorable - maybe they'll pop up again the newly announced HBO Max revival, "And Just Like That..."

Matthew McConaughey played a fictionalized version of himself.

McConaughey wanted to star in a movie version of Carrie's column. HBO (Home Box Office)

Elizabeth Banks appeared briefly during season three.

It was one of Banks' first TV appearances. Home Box Office (HBO)

Bradley Cooper's first acting gig ever was his role as Jake in a season two episode.

Cooper meets Carrie in a bar. HBO (Home Box Office)

Matthew Morrison had a blink-and-you'll-miss-it role as a waiter in a season two episode.

He's credited as "Young Waiter." HBO (Home Box Office)

Vince Vaughn popped up during the show's two Los Angeles episodes.

He lies about his job. Home Box Office (HBO)

Carrie Fisher also showed up in Los Angeles as herself.

The other Carrie. Home Box Office (HBO)

Sarah Michelle Gellar played an LA exec trying to turn Carrie's column into a movie - right in the middle of her run as Buffy Summers.

She played the polar opposite of Buffy. HBO (Home Box Office)

And what LA episode would be complete without Hugh Hefner, who makes an appearance as himself.

He's flanked by two blondes, of course. HBO (Home Box Office Entertainment)

Jon Bon Jovi played Seth, a fellow patient of Carrie's therapist.

Seth had commitment issues. Home Box Office (HBO)

Candice Bergen had a recurring role as Enid, Carrie's editor at Vogue.

Bergen appears in three episodes during seasons four, five, and six. Home Box Office (HBO)

Alan Cumming played a stylist who makes the last-minute decision to send Carrie down a fashion runway in jeweled underwear instead of a blue designer gown.

He went by O. Home Box Office (HBO)

Supermodel Heidi Klum worked the runway with Carrie.

Klum appears as herself. Home Box Office (HBO)

Comedian Margaret Cho played Carrie's friend Lynne, who convinced her to walk in a runway show.

Cho is famous for her stand-up career. Home Box Office (HBO)

Donald Trump doesn't speak to any of the characters during his cameo, but found a way to name-drop Trump Tower.

Trump and Samantha's septuagenarian boyfriend. Home Box Office (HBO)

Blair Underwood's Robert is perfect for Miranda on paper, but ultimately she couldn't shake her love for Steve.

Underwood plays a sports doctor named Robert. Home Box Office (HBO)

Justin Theroux played two different characters ... both are interested in dating Carrie.

His characters were essentially polar opposites. Home Box Office (HBO)

Amy Sedaris and Molly Shannon play two publishers who want to turn Carrie's column into a book.

Sedaris and Shannon show up in season five. Home Box Office (HBO)

Andy Cohen is a longtime friend of Sarah Jessica Parker, which led to his blink-and-you-might-miss-it appearance as a shoes salesman.

These two are the definition of friendship goals. HBO (Home Box Office)

Lucy Liu appeared as "an alternate universe" version of herself when she becomes Samantha's newest client.

Lucy Liu is a client of Samantha's. HBO (Home Box Office)

A pre-"Mad Men" John Slattery showed up as a politician vying for Carrie's heart and the office of New York comptroller.

He had unusual tastes. Home Box Office (HBO)

Heather Graham played herself at the height of her fame in the early 2000s.

Stanford is starstruck by her. Home Box Office (HBO)

David Duchovny played Carrie's high school sweetheart Jeremy, who turned out to have a bit more baggage than Carrie could handle.

The episode was reminiscent of "Californication." HBO (Home Box Office)

Tony Hale, famous for "Veep" and "Arrested Development," played Tiger, a photographer's assistant, for one memorable scene.

Tiger seemed a bit shocked by Samantha's openness. Home Box Office (HBO)

Singer Alanis Morissette kisses Carrie in a game of spin-the-bottle.

Her character was named Dawn. HBO (Home Box Office)

Eddie Cahill appeared as Carrie's bisexual boyfriend Sean.

Cahill is known for playing younger boyfriends - he did so on "Friends" as well. Home Box Office (HBO)

Long before "Santa Clarita Diet," Timothy Olyphant played a 20-something guy who Carrie hangs out with when she's having a crisis about Big.

His tongue is pierced. Home Box Office (HBO)

Broadway legend Nathan Lane appeared in the season five finale as a cabaret singer who shares the shocking news that he's getting married to Bitsy von Muffling.

The girls assumed he was gay. HBO (Home Box Office)

Will Arnett had a memorable part as Jack, a man Miranda dates who has interesting sexual preferences.

The two had a great first date. Home Box Office (HBO)

Kat Dennings' first role was at just 14, as Jenny, a wealthy girl who hires Samantha for her bat mitzvah.

Dennings is now known for "Two Broke Girls." HBO (Home Box Office)

Chandra Wilson played a cop who catches Samantha defacing public property.

Wilson is best known for her role as Miranda Bailey on "Grey's Anatomy." HBO (Home Box Office)

Years before he was accomplished lawyer Harvey Specter in "Suits," Gabriel Macht played a "modelizer."

He's in the show's second episode. Home Box Office (HBO)

Craig Bierko had a two-episode stint as Ray, a jazz musician and club owner who dates Carrie.

They meet at a jazz club. Home Box Office (HBO)

Kristen Johnston played Lexi, a socialite whose untimely demise spurs Carrie to move to Paris with her Russian boyfriend.

Her last words were "I'm so bored I could die." HBO (Home Box Office)

Bobby Cannavale's character Adam dated Samantha for just one memorable episode.

This was one of his first acting roles. HBO (Home Box Office)

Wallace Shawn's ("Gossip Girl," "Clueless") Martin was set up on a blind date with Carrie's editor Enid.

Shawn's had an extensive career in TV and movies. HBO (Home Box Office)

Jennifer Coolidge appeared as Victoria, a friend of the core four's who became a purse designer.

Coolidge is quite the character actress. HBO (Home Box Office)

Peter Hermann had just one scene as David, a man Charlotte meets while she's trying to get over Harry.

Hermann was very blunt with Charlotte. HBO (Home Box Office)

James Urbaniak got a little too friendly with Charlotte's feet for her liking.

His name was Buster. Home Box Office (HBO)

Michael Showalter, famous for his role in "Wet Hot American Summer," had the rough task of defending Berger's infamous breakup Post-it.

He does more work behind the scenes now. Home Box Office (HBO)

Comedian Jim Gaffigan played a guy whose lack of boundaries leads Miranda to break up with him.

He never closes the door. HBO (Home Box Office)

Dean Winters ("Oz," "30 Rock") played Carrie's friend-with-benefits, John.

Also known as Mayhem in the Allstate commercials. HBO (Home Box Office)

"Agents of S.H.I.E.LD." star Clark Gregg dated Miranda for a single episode.

He appeared in "The Avengers" as well. HBO (Home Box Office)

H. Jon Benjamin, now more famous for his voiceover roles in "Archer" and "Bob's Burgers," played a colleague who was convinced Miranda was a lesbian.

Benjamin as Jeff. HBO (Home Box Office)

Here's how the real ages of the 'Bridgerton' cast compare to their characters

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