'Suits': From Amy Acker to Charles Barkley, 7 celebrity cameos that spiced up USA Network's legal drama
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: 'Suits' aired on the USA Network for a total of 9 seasons. The hugely popular series follows the lives of lawyers Mike Ross (Patrick J Adams) and Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) who work together to provide legal solutions to their clients.
Apart from Mike and Harvey, the show features some pivotal characters like Rachael Zane (Meghan Markle), Donna Paulsen (Sarah Rafferty), Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres), and Louis Litt (Rick Hoffman).
While the plot mainly revolves around these characters, 'Suits' is a deep story that continually introduces new characters to keep the interest levels high in the series.
During its run from 2011 to 2019, creator Aaron Korsh cleverly utilized celebrity cameos to enhance the plot of 'Suits,' continuously surprising audiences with unexpected appearances throughout the series.
Here is a look at 7 celebrity cameos that spiced up the show.
1. 'Suits' Season 3 Episode 11: Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps made a memorable cameo appearance as himself in an episode of the show. He expressed his love for the show via Twitter and was later given the chance to make a cameo appearance during a discussion between Harvey Specter and Dana Scott (Abigail Spencer).
Michael Phelps is a multi-time Olympic Gold Medalist and is widely regarded as one of the greatest swimmers of all time. His presence in the show was a well-kept secret and surprised its audiences.
2. 'Suits' Season 5-Season 9: Amy Acker
Amy Acker appears in five episodes over four seasons where she plays the character of Esther Edelstein. She portrays Louis Litt's sister and a businesswoman who consults Harvey Specter for her divorce case.
Amy is a popular actor known for her roles in 'Person of Interest' and 'Angel'. She develops an interesting chemistry with Harvey Specter ultimately leading to a romantic angle between the two.
3) 'Suits' Season 4 Season 9: Eric Roberts
Eric Roberts plays the character of a businessman Charlie Foster, who is involved in immoral activities and has a past with Harvey Specter. He makes appearances in nine episodes from Season 4 to Season 9.
His character adds an antagonistic charm to the show, particularly enriching Harvey Specter's backstory with the shared history they have. Eric is known for his roles in 'Runaway Train', 'The Dark Knight', and others.
4. 'Suits' Season 3: Michelle Fairley
Michelle Fairley appears in Season 3 of 'Suits' where she plays the character of Ava Hessington throughout the third season. Her character is depicted as a CEO who becomes embroiled in allegations of bribery.
She delivered an exceptional performance in this role, and her character became central to the series during that season, with the plot revolving around her case.
Fairley is renowned for her performance in 'Game of Thrones' where she plays the character of Catelyn Stark. Additionally, she is also known for her performance in 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1'
5. 'Suits' Season 4-Season 9: Stephen Macht
Stephen Macht makes an appearance in Season 4 of 'Suits' as Henry Gerard. While he is the real-life father of Gabriel Macht, his character's role in the series is more closely tied to Mike Ross.
He plays a stern professor of legal ethics who is intertwined with the subplot of Mike Ross being a fraud in the series.
His character enhances the character of Mike Ross significantly as he raises obstacles for Mike but ultimately lets him off.
Stephen Macht is known for his previous roles in 'General Hospital' where he played the role of Trevor Lansing. He played Sean's father in the movie 'The Monster Squad'
6. 'Suits' Season 5 Episode 3: Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley, a basketball player, made a cameo appearance as himself in an episode of the show. In his brief cameo, he was self-deprecating and funny.
Harvey is shown to be a huge fan of basketball in the series and this cameo perfectly taps into that aspect of his character.
Charles Barkley's admiration for the show, combined with his unexpected cameo, came as a delightful surprise to the audience, creating a buzz and excitement due to his presence.
7. 'Suits' Season 2: Jacinda Barrett
Jacinda Barrett is another actor who shares a real-life connection with Gabriel Macht. Gabriel happens to be her husband, and this translates into some great chemistry between the two characters, who were portrayed in a romantic relationship.
Jacinda plays a character named Zoe Lawford in three episodes across Season 2. Apart from 'Suits', Jacinda plays the character of Diana Rayburn in the TV Series 'Bloodline' among others.
How to stream 'Suits'?
All seasons of Suits are streaming on Peacock. To watch seasons 1-9 of 'Suits', you will need a Peacock subscription.
A subscription to Peacock costs $5.99 a month for its Premium option and $11.99 per month for Premium Plus.
'Suits' trailer
All episodes of 'Suits' are streaming on Peacock.