Watching a Marvel movie over the last decade was like participating in a game of Where's Waldo, except instead of a bespectacled man in red and white stripes, you were on the lookout for a comic-book legend. That legend, of course, was Stan Lee, creator of some of our favorite superheroes and arguably one of Marvel's best Easter eggs, who passed away at the age of 95 on Nov. 12, 2018 after battling pneumonia and other medical issues.
While Lee has made cameos in countless Marvel movies and TV series, as well as non-Marvel shows and films (hello, Big Hero 6), his most memorable appearances were in Marvel live-action superhero movies dating back to the very first Hulk film in 1989. If you want to look back on his legendary cameos, here's every one we could find, with the exception of the Deadpool trailer, which, while hilarious, wasn't from the movie. Also, fair warning: there are many Hulk and Spider-Man films on this list. Keep in mind Marvel's been through its fair share of Peter Parkers and Bruce Banners, and Lee met them all.
Yep, you read that right: the iconic Stan Lee cameos first started in the '80s in a TV movie. Lee, who was 67 at the time, plays a jury member in the 1989 film The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, which follows a court trial where David Banner (aka the Hulk) is a star witness.
2000 was a big year for many people, but especially for comic book fans thanks to the introduction of the first major blockbuster Marvel movie, X-Men. Something as momentous as this didn't get past Lee: he makes a brief appearance as a hot dog vendor in an early beach scene.
Our first introduction to Peter Parker — at least on film — is in 2002 with the very first Spider-Man movie starring Tobey Maguire as the titular hero. In the movie, the Green Goblin attacks a festival and Lee, who plays a bystander, ducks from the explosion while simultaneously saving a young girl from debris.
The comic book legend's second Hulk cameo involves him playing a security guard alongside Lou Ferrigno, who played the Hulk in the live action CBS show.
By now, you'd probably guess that Stan Lee is a pretty recognizable celebrity, but even comic book moguls have trouble getting into places. Lee, who plays himself in the Fantastic Four sequel, tries to get into the wedding of Sue Storm and Reed Richard in this hilarious scene.
The final Spider-Man film starring Tobey Maguire includes a heartfelt line from Lee, who stands next to Peter Parker as they read a bulletin news report about Spider-Man. Lee turns to Parker, not knowing he's actually the masked hero, and says, "You know, I guess one person can make a difference." Such a touching send-off.
10 / 37
11Iron Man (2008)
Image Source: Marvel Studios
Iron Man mistakes Lee for Hugh Hefner, but can you blame him? Dressed in a red robe and in the company of two blondes, he could easily pass as the Playboy founder.
Appearing in another Hulk movie, this time starring Edward Norton as the titular character, Lee accidentally drinks a green drink infused with Bruce Banner's blood. Yikes.
Captain America made his way onto the big screen and into our hearts with his first film, The First Avenger. Lee briefly pops up as a WWII general waiting to get a peek of the legendary hero at a press conference.
Arguably one of Lee's most tongue-in-cheek cameos, he plays a New Yorker who says, "Superheroes in New York? Give me a break," in response to the Avengers. We see what they did there.
The second Spider-Man live-action film starring Andrew Garfield features Stan Lee as a librarian listening to music so loud, he doesn't notice a fight happening right behind him.
While Lee seems to be a ladies man in the Marvel universe, he's not much of a drinker — in this role, Lee plays a vet who can't handle Asgardian liquor. Thor warned you, buddy.
Getting his revenge for all the times Stark confuses him for someone else, Lee plays a FedEx delivery man who mistakenly calls Tony Stark, "Tony Stank."
Unknowingly finding himself in the middle of action yet again, Lee plays a bus passenger reading a copy of The Doors of Perception as Doctor Strange and Mordo are slammed into the window by Kaecilius.
This time portraying a bus driver, Lee calms down Peter Parker's classmates, who freak out as one of Thanos's ships hover over New York City. "What's the matter, kids? You never seen a spaceship before?"
During an intense car chase sequence through the hilly streets of San Francisco, we briefly see Lee as he's about to get into his car. Unfortunately for him, some Pym technology zaps it, making it tiny.
After revealing to the audience that Venom hasn't died and is still a part of him, Eddie passes by Lee who is walking his dog. Lee stops to tell Eddie, "Don't give up on [Anne]. Either of you," alluding to the fact that he knows Venom is alive in Eddie's head.
35 / 37
36Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse (2018)
In this dazzling animated version of the classic Spider-Man tale, Miles Morales finds himself in need of a spider-suit. Fortunately the man who sells it to him has just the insight he needs to hear at that moment (with a heaping of sarcasm, of course).
As Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) searches for an alien foe aboard a train in Los Angeles, she happens to pass by an elderly man reading a newspaper. Who is it? None other than Stan Lee, of course.
