Share this @internewscast.com
Celebrity cameos have long added a splash of excitement to films, often coming with hefty price tags. However, Mark Wahlberg’s latest action movie, “Play Dirty,” features a star-studded appearance that surprised even Wahlberg himself—not due to its cost, but for a very different reason. The cameo is none other than Mark Cuban, the billionaire media mogul and “Shark Tank” star. It’s worth noting that Cuban is also an investor in Static Media, the parent company of Looper.
Amazon
Wahlberg was taken aback by Cuban’s participation in “Play Dirty” because of the scene’s unexpected nature. In the film, Wahlberg’s character dramatically and unapologetically kills Cuban’s character, then claims not to know who Mark Cuban is. Despite the scene’s unflattering depiction of the billionaire, Cuban eagerly joined in, much to Wahlberg’s surprise and amusement.
“We shot most of the scenes first, and then they filmed his parts later,” Wahlberg revealed to Entertainment Weekly. Initially, Wahlberg doubted Cuban would take part, saying, “And then when I watched the movie, I thought, ‘Wow, they actually convinced him to do it.’ I expected we’d end up using a different name.”
Though Wahlberg was taken by surprise, perhaps he shouldn’t have been. Mark Cuban has a history of enjoying cameo roles, having portrayed himself in film and television for over two decades. His first cameo dates back to 2000 on “Walker, Texas Ranger,” and since then, he’s made numerous appearances in both comedic and serious roles.
Shortly after his “Walker, Texas Ranger” cameo, Cuban appeared in the HBO comedy “Arli$$,” where he was humorously involved in a storyline about creating a modeling calendar with his Dallas Mavericks team. Beyond that, Cuban has lent his voice to animated series like “The Simpsons” and “American Dad” and graced live-action series such as “Super Pumped,” “Hustle,” and “Billions,” where he played a recurring guest role.
Mark Cuban loves cameos
HBO
Perhaps his most significant role came with the Wahlberg-produced HBO series “Entourage,” renowned for its celebrity cameos. Cuban appeared in five episodes of the series and reprised his role for the 2015 follow-up film. This previous collaboration could explain why Cuban was more than willing to join Wahlberg once again in “Play Dirty.”
Not long after his appearance in “Walker, Texas Ranger,” Cuban showed up on the HBO comedy “Arli$$,” where he bumps into a high-powered sports agent whose agency meets Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, to convince him to make a modeling calendar with the players. He’s also provided his voice in animated series, including episodes of “The Simpsons” and “American Dad,” and has appeared in live-action shows and movies centered on the world of business, like “Super Pumped,” “Hustle,” and “Billions,” where he was a recurring guest star.
His biggest role, though, was in the Wahlberg-produced HBO comedy-drama “Entourage,” a series known for its celebrity cameos. Cuban appeared in five episodes, and even returned for the follow-up film in 2015. That could explain why Cuban didn’t hesitate to help out Wahlberg one more time and show up in “Play Dirty.”
