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Stephen King stands as one of the most prolific and successful authors in literary history, boasting a staggering sale of hundreds of millions of books and a repertoire of numerous novels since his breakthrough work, “Carrie,” hit the shelves in 1974. Two years post-publication, “Carrie” was transformed into a blockbuster film featuring stars Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie, under the directorial vision of Brian DePalma. This adaptation marked the beginning of a long series of King’s works making their way to the screen. Although King occasionally penned scripts for these adaptations, his versions were typically shelved, with the exception of the 1989 “Pet Sematary.” Beyond writing, King has dabbled in acting, with over two dozen credits, including cameos in films like “Pet Sematary” and “Maximum Overdrive,” as well as TV miniseries such as “The Stand” and “The Shining.” Despite making two voice cameo appearances on “The Simpsons,” King declined an invitation to feature in the Season 34 “Treehouse of Horror” special.
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Fans of “Frasier,” the popular spin-off of “Cheers” that enjoyed an 11-season run, might have caught another fleeting vocal performance by King. In Season 8, Episode 8, titled “Mary Christmas,” Dr. Frasier Crane, portrayed by Kelsey Grammer, fields two calls before a news break. Both callers express a desire to continue their conversation post-break for Dr. Crane’s undivided attention. The first caller, voiced by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, is named Tom. The subsequent caller, Brian, who is phoning in from a car, is voiced by King himself, infusing a touch of grumpy impatience into his brief dialogue.
King’s stint on “Frasier” might have been overlooked among the show’s secretive and surprising call-in cameos, yet it seemingly reignited interest in King among casting directors. Following this cameo, more than half of King’s 31 acting credits on IMDb emerged, including a role on “Sons of Anarchy” and various voice roles, such as playing himself in a 2021 episode of “Duncanville.” Although “Duncanville” was eventually canceled, this appearance remains King’s most recent acting credit. Nonetheless, King, now 78, continues his fervent writing endeavors, with his latest novel, “Never Flinch,” released in May 2025. His storytelling continues to captivate audiences, with “The Long Walk” now available for streaming as of October 21, and Edgar Wright’s dynamic take on “The Running Man” set to premiere soon.
On his website, King shared his enthusiasm about guest-starring on “Sons of Anarchy,” expressing excitement over working with the talented cast and riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. “I was particularly pleased to meet Charlie Hunnam (Jax) and Ron Perlman,” King wrote, adding that he secured signed “Hellboy” photos for his grandsons. “I also got to act with Katey Sagal, who plays Gemma, the scary matriarch of the Sons clan, and Kim Coates, who plays Tig. They treated me like a professional, which I most assuredly am not.”
King still takes on-camera and voice roles
Despite King’s self-deprecation, his filmography suggests a notable presence in the acting world, even if his performances haven’t been contenders for Emmy or Oscar accolades. He has, however, received two Primetime Emmy nominations for writing the miniseries adaptations of “The Shining” and “The Stand.” Fans of King’s literary works often relish his on-screen and voice appearances, regardless of recognition from award bodies.
In a post to his website discussing his “Sons of Anarchy” appearance, King said he jumped at both the chance to work with the accomplished cast, and ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. “I was particularly pleased to meet Charlie Hunnam (Jax) and Ron Perlman,” King wrote. “I got signed ‘Hellboy’ photos for my three grandsons; pretty nice … I also got to act with Katey Sagal, who plays Gemma, the scary matriarch of the Sons clan, and Kim Coates, who plays Tig. They treated me like a professional, which I most assuredly am not.”
His filmography would suggest otherwise, even if none of his acting performances have been particularly Emmy or Oscar-worthy. He does have two Primetime Emmy nominations for writing the miniseries adaptations of “The Shining” and “The Stand,” but fans of King’s writing always get a kick out of his live-action and voice appearances, even if award committees don’t.
