The third season of Adult Swim’s hit animated series Smiling Friends is full of unexpected guest appearances, but one recent cameo connected two distinct generations of comedy fans. Brian O’Halloran, the actor famous for playing Dante Hicks in Kevin Smith’s classic 1994 film Clerks, made a surprise appearance as himself. He showed up in a post-credits scene for the season’s seventh episode, titled “Shmaloogles”. This brief but memorable moment blends live-action with the show’s signature animation, offering a specific joke that longtime indie film fans will particularly enjoy.
How Brian O’Halloran Appears in the Episode
The setup for O’Halloran’s cameo happens early in the “Shmaloogles” episode. The eccentric boss of the Smiling Friends office, Mr. Boss, informs employees Pim and Charlie that he and his friend Neil are planning to watch the Clerks movies later. He mentions that Neil has messaged Brian O’Halloran, inviting the actor to join their viewing session, though Mr. Boss expresses doubt that he will actually come.
The payoff comes in a live-action post-credits scene. True to the setup, O’Halloran is shown hanging out with Mr. Boss and Neil in the building’s rumpus room. As a scene from Clerks plays, O’Halloran attempts to offer some commentary or trivia about the film. Mr. Boss immediately shuts him down, saying he just wants to hear the movie. O’Halloran dejectedly agrees to be quiet, creating an awkward and funny moment.
The scene uses a technique sometimes called the “Roger Rabbit Effect,” placing a live-action person directly into the animated world, which Smiling Friends has used before for comedic effect.
The Actor Behind the Cameo: Who Is Brian O’Halloran?
For viewers who know him only from this brief scene, Brian O’Halloran is an American actor with a career deeply tied to one iconic role. He was born in Manhattan, New York, on December 20, 1969. His big break came when he was cast as the lead, Dante Hicks, in Kevin Smith’s low-budget debut film, Clerks, released in 1994.
The black-and-white comedy about two convenience store clerks became a massive cult hit and launched Smith’s career. O’Halloran reprised the role of Dante in the sequels Clerks II (2006) and Clerks III (2022). He has also appeared in other films within Smith’s interconnected “View Askewniverse,” often playing different members of the Hicks family. Beyond film, O’Halloran has an extensive background in theater and in 2020 started his own pop culture podcast called The O’HalloRant on YouTube.
Why This Specific Cameo Was a Dream for the Creators
The appearance was a meaningful full-circle moment for Smiling Friends creators Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack. In an interview, they revealed that they both grew up as huge fans of Clerks and that the film was an early inspiration for Cusack’s interest in filmmaking. Getting O’Halloran to appear was, in their words, “a dream”.
Interestingly, the creators suspect O’Halloran might not have been very familiar with their show before agreeing to the cameo. When asked if the actor was a fan, Zach Hadel joked, “I will not speak for Brian, but I would bet that he’s not a fan of the show. I don’t think he knew what it was.” He added that O’Halloran was “very gracious” and professional on set.
The cameo was the result of a specific joke the writers wanted to make. They originally had an idea where Mr. Boss would vaguely promise that “Randal from Clerks” might hang out later, leaving it ambiguous whether he meant the character or the actor. They eventually decided to reach out to O’Halloran directly because, as Cusack noted, “we just knew he says yes to fun stuff like this”. They also considered asking Kevin Smith himself to make an appearance.
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Smiling Friends and Its History of Celebrity Guests
O’Halloran’s cameo fits a well-established pattern for Smiling Friends, which has built a reputation for surprising and clever celebrity appearances since its first season. The show often features recognizable voices or live-action cameos that serve its surreal and unpredictable style of humor.
Past guests have included Gilbert Gottfried as the voice of God, Mike Stoklasa from RedLetterMedia, and comedian Jim Norton as the Mothman in Season 3. These appearances are rarely just for star power; they are carefully woven into the show’s absurd plots. O’Halloran’s cameo continues this tradition while paying a specific tribute to 1990s independent film culture.
The third season of Smiling Friends premiered on Adult Swim on October 5, 2025. The series has already been renewed for both a fourth and fifth season, ensuring more misadventures for Pim, Charlie, and likely more unexpected guest stars in the future.
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