Every Cameo in ‘Marty Supreme’

In 2015, Josh and Benny Safdie, indie filmmakers with features like Daddy Longlegs and Heaven Knows What under their belts, materialized on Reddit to participate in the time-honored tradition of the AMA. Fans had many questions, among them why the brothers cast non-actors in their films. Even then, the Safdies, two years away from Good Time and four from Uncut Gems, were known to put local legends, musicians, and everyday people onscreen.

“Real people are stars,” Josh wrote. “Established actors can be stars but sometimes they are not. We are interested in MOVIE STARS, sometimes they are established actors and other times they have barely appeared in photographs outside their family albums.”

That philosophy translated to Brooklyn horror-core rapper Necro appearing in Heaven Knows What and Good Time. Uncut Gems paired Adam Sandler and LaKeith Stanfield with Kevin Garnett, The Weeknd, Ca$h Out, those brothers we thought were twins, and Julia Fox, whose acting career the movie launched.

It follows, then, that Marty Supreme, Josh Safdie’s ping-pong epic, features a plethora of cameos from non-actors, micro-celebrities, athletes, and New York City personalities. All share the screen with lead Timothée Chalamet, who portrays the bullheaded table tennis phenomenon Marty Mauser. Some have history with the Safdies. Others are complete newcomers. All were cast with intent, either as homages, Easter eggs, or otherwise.

There are more than 30 cameos in Marty Supreme, and these moments can be easy to miss. We’ve put together a definitive list of the appearances from non-actors in the film. As a caveat, we didn’t include people with substantial roles. So while Tyler, the Creator, Fran Drescher, and others turned in strong performances, you won’t find them here. We’re also leaving out people whose likenesses or voices didn’t appear onscreen, like Bobbito Garcia, who’s credited as a basketball consultant. Lastly, this list will not include Kaytranada, who sat directly in front of me at my screening.

Alison Bartlett

The longtime Sesame Street actress voices the receptionist of Kevin O’Leary’s Milton Rockwell.

David Mamet

David Mamet, a playwright perhaps best known for Glengarry Glenn Ross, appears as the director of Gwenyth Paltrow’s character Kay Stone’s play. Mamet previously voiced a rabbi in Ari Aster’s Beau Is Afraid and appeared as himself on cartoons such as The Simpsons and Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.

Fred Hechinger

The White Lotus and Nickel Boys actor can be seen as the co-star in Kay Stone’s play.

George Gervin

Before Drake, this NBA legend was known as the Iceman. Gervin appears as Lawrence, the manager of the ping-pong club where Marty refines his game.

Hailey Gates

After appearing as a receptionist in Uncut Gems, Gates returns to the Safdie Cinematic Universe as Trish, a woman at the bowling alley.

Isaac Mizrahi

The New York designer has worked with the likes of Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman, and served as the head judge on the first season of Project Runway: All Stars. The over-the-top Mizrahi can be seen as Kay Stone’s publicist.

Jake Braff

Braff is the ultimate Safdie callback. His only other role was as a child, starring in 2009’s Daddy Long Legs. Braff returns from his 16-year hiatus as the writer of Kay Stone’s play.

John Catsimatidis

Catsimatidis plays Christopher Galanis, father of Dion and potential financial backer of Marty. In real life, Catsimatidis, a well-connected Republican, is a billionaire businessman and conservative talk radio host on New York City’s WABC, a station he’s owned since 2020.

Kevin O’Leary

After nearly two decades of ruthless judging as an investor on Shark Tank and Dragon’s Den, O’Leary steals the show as Milton Rockwell, the antagonistic businessman Marty attempts to court as a sponsor whilst also knocking boots with his wife, actress Kay Stone.

Kemba Walker and Tracy McGrady

The NBA All-Stars appear in a blink-and-you-miss-it flash as two of the Harlem Globetrotters. In an interview on Carmelo Anthony’s 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, Chalamet revealed Joe Johnson was also set to appear. “They flew him out. He never showed up.”

Koto Kawaguchi

This real-life table tennis champion plays Koto Endo, who serves as Marty’s main competition throughout the film. Kawaguchi earned a bronze medal at the 2022 Summer Deaflympics in Brazil.

Larry Sloman

Larry Sloman, a seasoned music journalist, helped the likes of Howard Stern, David Blaine and Anthony Kiedis pen their memoirs. He also wished Adam Sandler a “good Pesach” in Uncut Gems. This time around, Sloman earns screentime as Murray Mauser, Marty’s uncle and the owner of a shoe store.

Levon Hawke

Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman’s son plays Christian, who Marty and Wally (Tyler, the Creator) hustle at a bowling alley.

Lizzi Bougatsos

The New York-based musician makes an appearance as a customer at the pet store Marty enters as he attempts to hide from the police.

Luke Manley

Barstool Sports’ Lukey Lunchbox plays Dion, who Marty manipulates for favors throughout the film.

Mariann from Brooklyn

A fixture of The Howard Stern Show who’s widely considered to be the radio host’s biggest fan, Mariann Tepedino is one of the first faces you see in Marty Supreme, playing a patron at the shoe store where Marty is a salesperson.

Mitchell Wenig

Mitchell and his brother Stewart famously appear as lenders to Howard in Uncut Gems. Mitchell shows up in an equally shady role in Marty Supreme, as a heavy working with Abel Ferrara’s Ezra. Fun fact: Stewart wrote and recorded original songs for Uncut Gems, which the Safdie brothers ultimately decided to pass on.

Nancy Shankman

The former director of music for New York City Public Schools plays Kay Stone’s mother, turning Marty away when he attempts to enter Kay’s room at an afterparty.

Naomi Fry

Fry, a New Yorker staff writer, plays Kay Stone’s personal assistant.

Nikhil Kumar

This San Jose native competed in table tennis at the 2020 Summer Olympics and appears as Marty’s first face-off at the London tournament.

Paul Grimstad

After stealing the show as Howard Sommerville in One Battle After Another, composer Paul Grimstad returns to the screen as a production manager for Kay Stone’s play. Grimstad previously scored the Safdies’ Heaven Knows What.

Philippe Petit

The French tightrope artist, famous for walking between the Twin Towers, pops up as an MC at a Harlem Globetrotters game.

Pico Iyer

The English essayist makes his acting debut as Ram Sethi, the head of the International Table Tennis Association.

Randy Credico

This comedian turned politician has had three unsuccessful runs for office, losing his bids for a seat in the Senate in 2010, mayor of New York City in 2013, and the Democratic nomination in New York’s 2014 gubernatorial election. Credico can be seen as a guest at Milton Rockwell’s party.

Ray Tintori

A director known for helming several iconic MGMT and Arcade Fire videos, Tintori stays true to form as a cameraman at the London table tennis tournament.

Roman Persits

Another returning player from Uncut Gems. After evaluating jewelry for authenticity in that movie, Persits comes back for seconds in Marty Supreme, once again discerning real goods from fake ones.

Ronald Bronstein

The film’s co-writer appears as a voice on a payphone as Odessa A'zion’s Rachel attempts to con Abel Ferrara’s Ezra for his dog.

Sandra Bernhard

The comedian pops up as Judy, Marty’s nose neighbor. Bernhard famously appeared in Martin Scorsese's 1982 anxiety trip, The King of Comedy, a noted inspiration for Safdie.

Stephen Dachtera

Though his face isn’t seen, the comedian turned lawyer is the repairman at the Halsey Hotel. He ran as a Republican for a Queens County civil court judgeship last month.

Ted Williams

The Ohio native went viral for his “golden voice” in 2011. Williams was unhoused at the time, and his impossible road to success echoes the struggles of the film’s protagonist. He appears as a fixture at Marty’s go-to ping-pong club.

Timo Boll

Real-life table tennis Olympian Timo Boll can be seen as one of Marty’s competitors at the London tournament.

Todd Vulpio

The Diamond District staple follows up his cameos in Uncut Gems, Hustle and Happy Gilmore 2 as a patron of the Halsey Hotel.

Wiki

The New York rapper steals the show with his triumphant “Hey Marty” line at the ping-pong club.

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Ping-Pong Champions, Basketball Greats, Republican Power Brokers: Every Cameo in ‘Marty Supreme’