Alan Robertson wondered whether Thomas Pynchon had really made an appearance in the film of 'Inherent Vice', as actor Josh Brolin claimed. Hunter S Thompson was in the film of 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas', and Irvine Welsh was in 'Trainspotting'. Here are 10 more.
1. Giles Foden
Plays a reporter (and gets a line) in The Last King of Scotland (2006). Nominated by Alex Massie.
2. Saul Bellow
Drops in as "Man in hallway" in Seize The Day (1986). From Chris White.
3. John le Carré
Appears in The Little Drummer Girl (1984) and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011). Espied by Matt Korris.
4. Peter Benchley
A reporter in Jaws (1975). Seen by Patrick Hennessy and Brian Milne.
5. PD James
Cameo at the start of Children of Men (2006) as an extra in the café. Nominated by Tom Doran.
6. David Mitchell
"Makes a four-second cameo in the not-so-amazing film [2012] of his amazing book Cloud Atlas," James Chapman informs us.
7. Michael Bond
In Paddington (2014), he is in a café when he sees Paddington speed past in a taxi, and raises a glass to him. Suggested by Robert Bruce.
8. Arthur C Clarke
One of the political leaders taking the world to war on the cover of Time magazine in 2010, the 1984 film of his book, 2010: Odyssey Two (1982). Nominated by Love and Garbage.
9. Graham Greene
His hands are in The Stranger's Hand (1952), Christopher Hawtree tells us – and the rest of him pops up as an insurance salesman in François Truffaut's Day for Night (1973).
10. Jordan Belfort
Appears at the end of The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), the film of his memoir, to introduce Jordan (Leonardo DiCaprio) at a sales seminar. Nominated by Chujan Sivathasan.
Next week: Singles longer than six minutes
Coming soon: Characters you never see (such as Lt Columbo's wife). Send your suggestions, and ideas for future Top 10s, to top10@independent.co.uk
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