Celebrities Who Have Played Themselves on ‘This Is Us’

  • “This Is Us” has had many notable guest stars throughout its six seasons.
  • Only eight of those guest stars have played themselves on the show.
  • Katie Couric is the only woman who has played herself so far on the family drama.

Alan Thicke played himself on the pilot episode of ‘This Is Us,’ which aired about three months before his death in December 2016

Alan Thicke on "This Is Us."

Alan Thicke on “This Is Us.”

NBC


Thicke guest-starred on Kevin Pearson’s (Justin Hartley) show “The Manny” as his character’s father. Thicke witnesses the breakdown Kevin has before he quits the show that made him a star. The first episode of “This Is Us” aired September 20, 2016; Thicke died on December 13 that year.

In his tribute post to Thicke on Instagram after his death, Hartley wrote: “I grew up watching and loving Alan Thicke on television and was lucky enough to get to work with him recently. We became friends. What a great talent and a wonderful spirit.”

Mario Lopez played himself twice on ‘This Is Us’

Mario Lopez on "This Is Us."

Mario Lopez on “This Is Us.”

NBC


Lopez resumed his duties as an “Extra” host on the “This Is Us” pilot to report on Kevin’s on-set meltdown. Lopez also plays himself interviewing Kevin in a later season two episode.

Seth Meyers witnessed a fight on ‘This Is Us’ season 1

Seth Meyers on "This Is Us."

Seth Meyers on “This Is Us.”

NBC


On the first season of “This Is Us,” late-night talk-show host Seth Meyers plays himself witnessing a physical fight between Kevin and Randall (Sterling K. Brown) on the streets of Manhattan. He casually walks away when Kevin says he’s fighting with his brother.

Katie Couric appeared in Kevin’s nightmares

Katie Couric on "This Is Us."

Katie Couric on “This Is Us.”

NBC


Katie Couric plays herself in Kevin’s nightmare during the 15th episode of season one. Before his play opens, Kevin has a nightmare that Couric calls him out in an interview for sleeping with his coworkers. In the dream, she also calls him vain and is bemused that he thinks he can be taken seriously as a stage actor. Then, she leaves the interview to go play tennis.

Ron Howard has been on several episodes of the family drama

Ron Howard on "This Is Us."

Ron Howard on “This Is Us.”

NBC


Howard appears on several episodes of “This Is Us” in season one and season two. In the penultimate episode of season one, the acclaimed actor and director calls Kevin to say he was in the audience of Kevin’s play and wants him to star in his next movie. Throughout season two, Howard appears multiple times as the director of that fake film.

Sylvester Stallone played Kevin’s costar in Ron Howard’s movie

Sylvester Stallone on "This Is Us."

Sylvester Stallone on “This Is Us.”

NBC


Stallone plays Kevin’s costar on his war film on season two of “This Is Us.” He speaks to both Kevin and his sister Kate (Chrissy Metz) about their late father, Jack (Milo Ventimiglia).

Director M. Night Shyamalan also showed up on ‘This Is Us’

M. Night Shyamalan

M. Night Shyamalan on “This Is Us.”

NBC


Shyamalan plays himself as a director on “This Is Us” in an episode in the fourth season called “A Hell of A Week: Part Two.” He tells Kevin that when not trying to be charming, he’s an “incredible” actor.

John Legend played an important part on one of Kevin’s dates

John Legend on "This Is Us."

John Legend on “This Is Us.”

NBC


Kevin hired John Legend to serenade him and his date Lizzy (Sophia Bush) with his song “Conversations in the Dark.” After planning an elaborate date, Kevin learns Lizzy is married and he is her “hall pass.”

The final season of “This Is Us” airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.

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