75 Actors You Totally Forgot Appeared In "Community"

Six seasons and a movie!

Ever been binge-watching this criminally underrated comedy and thought, "Hey, where do I know that guy from?" Well, here's your definitive list:

1. John Michael Higgins

NBC

John's well known for a variety of appearances, such as in the Pitch Perfect series, Yes Man, Fired Up!, and more. He plays Professor Whitman in three episodes of Community, an accounting professor who treats his class like the Dead Poets Society and encourages everyone to "seize the day."

2. Iqbal Theba

NBC

Iqbal is best known for playing Principal Figgins in Glee. In three episodes of Community, he appears as Abed's overbearing dad, Gobi.

3. Eric Christian Olsen

NBC

You've probably seen Eric in a variety of places, like NCIS: LA, Fired Up!, the 2011 remake of The Thing, and more. He plays Vaughn in four episodes, a hippie who dates both Britta and Annie.

4. Patton Oswalt

NBC

Another actor who is no stranger to comedies, Patton has appeared in everything from Conan and Seinfeld to voice acting in Disney Pixar films. Here, he plays Male Nurse Jackie in two episodes, and works in Greendale's clinic.

5. Sandeep Parikh

NBC

Sandeep is best known for playing Zaboo in Felicia Day's web series The Guild. On this show, he plays a fictional version of Abed in a web series Abed creates about the study group.

6. Anthony Michael Hall

NBC

You know him well from '80s movies like The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, and more. Sporting an uncharacteristic mustache and temper, Anthony appears for two episodes as the muscled school bully named Mike.

7. Jack Black

NBC

Yep, the guy from favourites School of Rock, Tenacious D, Jumanji etc. — it's freaking Jack Black! In Community, he appears as Buddy, an awkward but well-meaning guy who wants to be in the study group.

8. Owen Wilson

NBC

That's right, Owen Wilson (The Royal Tenenbaums, Wedding Crashers, Midnight in Paris et. al.) appears in this show, too! He plays the leader of the study group Jack Black's character eventually joins. His cameo is uncredited.

9. Derek Mears

NBC

You may not recognise his face, but you've definitely seen him before: Derek plays a monster in just about everything, from Predators to Friday the 13th and more. He appears in two episodes as the titular Kickpuncher, a cheesy film series Abed and Troy are fans of.

10. Randall Park

NBC

Randall's another comedian with roles all over the place, such as the movie The Interview, Fresh off the Boat, and Ant-Man and the Wasp. He actually appears in Community *twice* in different roles — once as a crime boss in Abed's screening of Kickpuncher 2 (but we only hear his voice), and once as himself, replacing Chang when he's fired from a job with Steven Spielberg.

11. Katharine McPhee

NBC

Katharine is best known for being the runner up in Season 5 of American Idol, as well as starring in the show Smash. In Community she plays Pierce's stepdaughter Amber, who turns out to be stealing his money.

12. Lee Majors

NBC

Known for The Six Million Dollar Man, Scrooged, The Fall Guy, and many other popular '80s works, Lee plays Admiral Slaughter, who teaches students how to sail on a boat in the school's parking lot.

13. Tony Hale

NBC

You probably remember him as Buster Bluth from Arrested Development, or from his appearances in Veep or voice work in Toy Story 4. Tony plays Professor Holly, a pottery professor who loses it whenever anyone references the pottery scene in Ghost.

14. Crystal the Monkey

NBC

Yes, animal actors count too! Crystal has appeared in many popular productions such as the Night at the Museum series and The Hangover II, where she once again worked with Ken Jeong. Crystal appears in five episodes as Troy's pet monkey named Annie's Boobs.

15. Lisa Rinna

NBC

Lisa is best known for starring in Days of Our Lives, Melrose Place, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She plays the mom of Mark, a teenager who makes fun of Jeff and Britta.

16. Betty White

NBC

With an illustrious career behind her, Betty is probably best known for her role as Rose in The Golden Girls. Here, she appears in two episodes as Professor June Bauer, an anthropology professor who is suspended for attacking Jeff.

17. Drew Carey

NBC

You know him as the star of shows like — you guessed it — The Drew Carey Show along with Whose Line is it Anyway? In Community, Drew makes a post-impressive weight loss appearance as Jeff's old boss Ted.

18. Rob Corddry

NBC

Another frequent comedy actor, Rob is best known for his work in Warm Bodies, Hot Tub Time Machine, and Children's Hospital. He appears in three episodes as Alan Connor, Jeff's ex-coworker who ratted him out to the state bar.

19. Richard McGonagle

NBC

Richard frequently does voice work and is perhaps best known for voicing Sully in the Uncharted video game series. Here he provides the voice for Sanders, the digital host of a KFC space simulator the study group finds themselves trapped inside.

20. Paul Walter Hauser

NBC

He's now known for prominent roles in films such as Richard Jewell, BlacKkKlansman, and I, Tonya, but Paul's small Community role was definitely pre-fame. In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance, he plays a student gushing over Abed's new movie.

21. George Takei

NBC

George Takei is everyone's favourite gay Japanese dad, famous for playing Sulu in Star Trek. We don't see his face, but you can hear him providing the narration for Season 2's zombie-themed Halloween episode.

22. Hilary Duff

NBC

Everyone's favourite Disney Channel actress, Hilary Duff is best known for her role as the eponymous Lizzie McGuire. In Community, though, she plays Meghan, a bitchy girl who picks a fight with Abed and the study group women.

23. Andy Dick

NBC

Andy is a comedic actor and writer known for many appearances, including Road Trip, Reality Bites, and Employee of the Month. He is in two episodes as an imaginary tiny drone pilot that Pierce hallucinates when he starts to overdose on his pain medication.

24. Matt Walsh

NBC

Another popular comedic actor, you'll probably remember him from some of his roles such as in Veep, The Hangover, and Ted. He plays a gardener named Joshua who is tasked with the safekeeping of a secret trampoline, and who turns out to be a huge racist.

25. Kevin Corrigan

NBC

Kevin is a versatile actor spanning comedy and drama, with memorable roles in films such as True Romance, Pineapple Express, and The Departed. He appears in three episodes as Professor Sean Garrity, a drama professor indebted to the Dean.

26. Tig Notaro

NBC

Tig has had a large variety of acting roles and guest appearances over the years, but is best known as a stand-up comic. She plays a bartender who has a conversation with Annie when the group goes out for Troy's 21st birthday.

27. Paul F. Tompkins

NBC

Paul has worked in both comedy and drama with roles in productions such as BoJack Horseman, There Will Be Blood, and Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny. He plays Robert, a guy who hits on Abed at a bar and is frustrated when Abed does not reciprocate his flirting.

28. Malcolm-Jamal Warner

NBC

You probably know him best as Theo Huxtable from The Cosby Show. Malcolm-Jamal appears in four episodes of Community as Andre Bennett, Shirley's ex-husband.

29. Joel McKinnon Miller

NBC

He's best known as Scully in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Don in Big Love. While we don't *see* Joel in Community, he voices the store announcer of Dildopolis, the adult store that Annie lives above.

30. Brit Marling

NBC

Brit is best known for her starring roles in Another Earth and The OA. Here she plays Page, a friend of Britta, who is only friends with her because she believes Britta is a lesbian (and vice versa).

31. Luke Youngblood

NBC

Most famous for playing Lee Jordan in the Harry Potter film series, you'll also remember Luke from his role as Sid in Galavant. He plays fan-favourite character Magnitude in 15 episodes, a self-described one-man party with the famous catchphrase, "Pop pop!"

32. LeVar Burton

NBC

The second Star Trek alum to be in Community, you'll remember LeVar as Geordi, as well as the host of Reading Rainbow. He appears in two episodes as himself and comes to meet with Troy, who freaks out as he only wanted a signed picture and "never wanted to meet LeVar in person".

33. Enver Gjokaj

NBC

Enver is best known for his roles as Victor in Dollhouse and Sousa in Agent Carter. He appears as Lukka, a friend of Troy and Abed, who Britta dates and subsequently discovers is a war criminal from the Balkans.

34. Josh Holloway

NBC

You'll most likely remember Josh as the rugged antihero from the popular TV series Lost. He plays the Black Rider, a professional paintball player hired by City College to win Greendale's second paintball tournament.

35. Dan Byrd & Busy Philipps

NBC

I've counted these two together as they're there for the same reason; Dan and Busy appeared together on Cougartown. Abed (the character) is obsessed with their show, and as a result, Danny Pudi actually appeared as Abed in the background of a scene in Cougartown. To complete the reference, Dan and Busy appear at the end of Community's second season's paintball tournament.

36. John Goodman

NBC

This popular actor is no stranger to both film and TV, with roles in The Big Lebowski, Roseanne, Monsters Inc., and more. John appears in six episodes as Vice Dean Laybourne of the Air Conditioning Repair Annex, who flexes his power over Dean Pelton when the latter realises the annex makes up most of Greendale's budget.

37. Michael Kenneth Williams

NBC

Michael is typically a dramatic actor, with acclaimed roles in The Wire, 12 Years a Slave, and Boardwalk Empire. For three episodes he plays Professor Marshall Kane, a no-nonsense biology professor.

38. Martin Starr

NBC

Martin is a comedic actor known for his roles in Freaks and Geeks, Party Down, and Spider-Man: Far From Home. He appears as Professor Cligoris, Annie's political science professor who organises a model UN competition.

39. Shangela

NBC

Shangela is a real-life professional drag queen, best known for competing on three separate seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race. In Community she appears as Miss Urbana Champaign, a drag queen who releases a hit song about Hawthorne Wipes.

40. Luis Guzmán

NBC

Luis is famous for his roles in Boogie Nights, Traffic, and Punch-Drunk Love. While the Dean dedicated a statue to Luis (a Greendale alum) early in Season 1, Luis appears as himself in Season 3 and is shocked at the state the school is in while the Dean shoots a commercial for Greendale.

41. Ryan McPartlin

NBC

Ryan is best known for playing Devon "Captain Awesome" Woodcomb in the popular TV series Chuck. In a very small role, he appears as "Frisbee Student #3" in an old commercial for Greendale.

42. Nick Kroll

NBC

Nick is best known for his work on TV series Big Mouth, as well as a wide variety of other comedic performances. He plays Juergen, a German exchange student who challenges Jeff and Shirley at foosball.

43. Taran Killam

NBC

Taran is a versatile actor best known for his work on SNL, as well as a variety of other comedic and dramatic productions. He plays Cory "Mr. Rad" Radison, the overzealous and murderous director of Greendale's glee club.

44. French Stewart

NBC

French is probably best known for playing Harry in the classic TV series 3rd Rock From the Sun. Here he appears as Vinnie, the owner of a celebrity lookalike hire service who recruits the study group to work for him to pay off Abed's debt.

45. JP Manoux

NBC

JP is known for his appearances in Veep, Eurotrip, and for playing a Moby lookalike in How I Met Your Mother. Ironically, in Community he also plays a Moby lookalike ("Faux-by") for four episodes, and Chang hires Faux-by to also impersonate the Dean.

46. Travis Schuldt

NBC

Travis is known for playing Keith in Scrubs, as well as a variety of other smaller roles. For two episodes he appears as Subway (his real name is later revealed to be Keith), the human personification of the Subway corporation, who falls in love with Britta.

47. John Hodgman

NBC

While John has a wide variety of acting roles under his belt, you probably best recognise him as the "PC guy" from the "Get a Mac" series of Apple commercials in the mid- to late-2000's. In Community he plays Dr. Heidi, a fake psychiatrist that Abed is forced to see by Faux-by, who is posing as the Dean.

48. Giancarlo Esposito

NBC

Another actor not normally known for comedy, Giancarlo is perhaps best known as Gus Fring in both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. He appears in two episodes as Gilbert Lawson, Pierce's half-brother who is the executor of the Hawthorne estate.

49. Fred Willard

NBC

Here was another actor known for many comedic appearances, such as in Anchorman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and more. The late Fred Willard plays an alternate version of Pierce in Abed's "happy place." Fun fact: Fred actually auditioned for the role of Pierce before it was given to Chevy Chase.

50. Matt Lucas

NBC

You'll most likely recognise this British comedy man from Little Britain. Matt appears as Toby, an Inspector Spacetime super fan who tries to usurp Troy as Abed's best friend.

51. Tricia Helfer

NBC

Tricia is known for a wide variety of roles in popular culture, but especially for portraying Number Six in Battlestar Galactica. Here she appears as Lauren, another Inspector Spacetime fan who believes Jeff is an actor from the show.

52. Luke Perry & Jennie Garth

NBC

Like Dan Byrd and Busy Philipps, these two are here for the same reason; they're famous cast members from Beverly Hills 90210. The late Luke Perry plays an American version of Inspector Spacetime, while Jennie plays his companion, Ensign.

53. Malcolm McDowell

NBC

While he is no stranger to both comedy and drama, Malcolm is best known for playing Alex in A Clockwork Orange. For two episodes he portrays Professor Cornwallis, an uptight British history professor.

54. James Brolin

NBC

He's famous for roles in classics like the original Westworld and The Amityville Horror. James appears in the important role of William Winger, Jeff's estranged father.

55. Adam Devine

NBC

You've probably seen Adam in comedies such as Workaholics and the Pitch Perfect series. Here he plays Willy, Jeff's insecure half-brother.

56. Brie Larson

NBC

Yes, before her Oscar win for Room and starring as Captain Marvel, Brie guest starred in Community! You'll see her in three episodes as Rachel, a girl working the cloak room at a dance who Abed meets and dates for a while.

57. Sophie B. Hawkins

NBC

Sophie is a well known singer-songwriter who had a string of big hits in the '90s, including "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover". She appears as herself to host the "Sophie B. Hawkins dance" that Britta mistakenly names after Sophie.

58. Jason Alexander

NBC

Jason's had roles all over the place, but you'll undoubtedly know him as George Costanza from the classic TV series Seinfeld. He plays the Mountain Man who meets the study group in a forest and feeds them hallucinogenic berries.

59. Sara Bareilles

NBC

A singer who is also known for her acting, Sara is a well known singer-songwriter who also wrote the music and lyrics for Broadway musical Waitress. She plays the Balloon Guide who helps the study group set off on their self-discovery journey. Her music is also used in two episodes of the show.

60. Joe Lo Truglio

NBC

Joe has had a large variety of comedic roles over the years, but is probably best known as Charles Boyle in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He appears in two episodes as Mark, Jeff's ex-coworker who delivered the news he was being fired, but is back with his own firm to offer Jeff a job after his graduation.

61. Zach Braff

NBC

Everyone knows Zach as the main character JD from popular comedy TV series Scrubs. Here he delivers a voiceover at the end of an episode as JD, while Abed explains JD's Scrubs voiceovers to Shirley, Britta, and Annie.

62. Ben Folds

NBC

Ben's not typically an actor, he's just a massively famous musician as both a solo artist and part of the Ben Folds Five. In his Community cameo he plays Professor Bublitz, a botany professor who is briefly suspected of being the Ass Crack Bandit. Ben also wrote the song "Ass Crack Bandit" for the show's soundtrack.

63. Walton Goggins

NBC

Walton is known for his appearances in shows like Justified and movies like The Hateful Eight, but is just as well-versed in comedy. He appears as a lawyer named Mr. Stone who grills the study group with a polygraph test to prove they are eligible for items in Pierce's will.

64. Nathan Fillion

NBC

Nathan is widely known throughout popular culture for roles such as Malcolm Reynolds in Firefly and Rick Castle in Castle. For two episodes he plays Bob Waite, the smarmy head custodian at Greendale who makes progress for the study group difficult.

65. Kumail Nanjiani

NBC

Kumail is a well known comedian with popular appearances in productions such as Silicon Valley and The Big Sick. For two episodes he appears as Lapari, another custodian working at Greendale.

66. Robert Patrick

NBC

Robert has had a huge career but is most famous for playing the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. He appears as Waldron, Greendale's head of parking who acts as a power-hungry bureaucrat.

67. Paul Williams

NBC

Paul is a famous songwriter and composer who wrote many popular songs, including The Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie. Here he plays Britta's contact who appraises and fences valuable textbooks.

68. David Cross

NBC

David is best known for playing Tobias in Arrested Development, but has had many other great comedic roles over the years. He appears as Hank Hickey, Professor Hickey's estranged son who plays a game of Dungeons and Dragons with the study group.

69. Jared Fogle

NBC

Jared was the spokesman of Subway in the 2000's and 2010's, and appears in Community as himself when the company attempts to take over Greendale. Unfortunately this episode aired a year before Jared was sentenced to prison for child pornography charges.

70. BJ Novak

NBC

You probably know him best as Ryan from The Office. BJ Novak makes a small cameo appearance at the end of Season 5 as Mr. Egypt, the star of a (fake) new TV show coming to NBC.

71. Jason Mantzoukas

NBC

Jason has been appearing all over the place, from Brooklyn Nine-Nine to Parks and Recreation, The Good Place and more. He plays Matt Lundergard, who directs Chang in a stage production of The Karate Kid.

72. Billy Zane

NBC

You know him as the Phantom, or maybe as Cal in Titanic. Billy appears as a Honda boss, a corporate guy pushing yet another round of product placement into Greendale.

73. Steve Guttenberg

NBC

Steve appeared in many popular films throughout the '80s, such as 3 Men and a Baby, Police Academy, Short Circuit, and Cocoon. He plays Maury, a Hollywood producer who helps the study group create a film starring Chang to profit off his internet fame.

74. Matt Berry

NBC

Matt is another big name in British comedy, known for appearances such as Douglas in The IT Crowd and a fictional version of himself in Snuff Box. He plays Roger DeSalvo, a grifting professor who used his cover to actually try and steal thousands of dollars from the school.

75. And finally, Seth Green

NBC

Everyone knows Seth for his work in Robot Chicken, Family Guy, Austin Powers, and more. He appears in the final episode of Community as Scrunch, a tech billionaire who Jeff imagines would take his spot at the table if all members of the study group left.