At the very end ofKillers of the Flower Moon, we are treated to a cameo by none other thanMartin Scorsesehimself, when he explains what happened to the characters after the events of the movie. It’s nice to see Scorsese do this, as his partcompletely recontextualizes the whole movie. It’s not the first time he has done this in one of his movies (and hopefully not the last), but his is hardly the only cameo in the movie. Thereare six other cameos or smaller roles played by iconic musicians inKillers of the Flower Moon, and, while some may be instantly recognizable, others require a little more context to be perceived. Scorsese has always had deep ties to music, having six acclaimed documentaries on the subject and two music videos under his belt, and having musicians do cameos in one of his best movies is the best way to celebrate this. So let’s see who are the music legends who show up this time.
Killers of the Flower Moon
When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one - until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.
Who Does Jack White Play in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’?
In the very same scene in which Scorsese has his cameo, another huge star is right beside him - legendary guitaristJack Whiteplays one of the radio show actors in the retelling of the Osage murders case. White first met Scorsese when the filmmaker was working onShine a Light, the epic 2008Rolling Stonesconcert film in which White joins the band on stage to perform “Loving Cup.” Nowadays, he leads a successful solo career after becoming a 2000s landmark withThe White Stripes(anyone who’s never listened to “Seven Nation Army” has surely been living under a rock for the last 20 years).White even took it to Instagramto celebrate his cameo inKillers of the Flower Moon, calling the experience “an embarrassment of riches.”
Who Does Jason Isbell Play in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’?
This one isn’t really a cameo, but a proper role. Bill Smith is the husband of two of Mollie Burkhart’s (Lily Gladstone) sisters, Anna Brown (Cara Jade Myers) and Reta (JaNae Collins), and he’s played by country musicianJason Isbell. InKillers of the Flower Moon, he’s seen by Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio) and King Hale (Robert De Niro) asan obstacle to ensuring the rights to the sisters' wealth. A four-time Grammy winner, Isbell’s acting career includes roles in the TV seriesBillionsandDeadwood: The Movie.
Pete Yorn Plays a Key Role in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’
When Ernest and King Hale decide Bill Smith has to go, they turn to explosives specialist and clueless hitman Acie Kirby, played by indie musicianPete Yorn, to blow up Bill and Reta’s house. That way, they deal with two problems at once. He’s usually seen as one of the best songwriters of the 2000s and, in 2009, he teamed up withScarlett Johanssonto record an album titledBreak Up, featuring the hit single “Relator.“Killers of the Flower Moonis his first acting gig, and he revealed he’d have a role in it in anInstagram post in May.
The True Story Behind Jesse Plemons’ ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Character
Agent Tom White solved the Osage Nation murders, but this was only part of his extraordinary life.
What Is Sturgill Simpson’s Role in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’?
Before hiring Kirby, though, Ernest and King Hale talk to bootlegger Henry Grammer, played by country singerSturgill Simpson. In the movie, Grammer also acts as King Hale’s bodyguard of sorts and is also a rodeo star. Simpson’s acting career included the TV seriesThe Righteous GemstonesandGareth Edwards’s sci-fi movieThe Creator, and he also wrote and performed the theme song forJim Jarmusch’s zombie comedyThe Dead Don’t Die.
Who Does Charlie Musselwhite Play in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’?
When federal investigatorTom White (Jesse Plemons)arrives in Fairfax to solve theOsage murders case, the first person who cooperates with him and points him in the right direction is an old man called Alvin Reynolds, played by Chicago blues legendCharlie Musselwhite. He is best known for his skill with the harmonica, and it sure would’ve been nice to see some of that in the movie. In the 1960s, Musselwhite was one of the names behind the resurgence of the Chicago blues movement and is even said to be the inspiration behindDan Aykroyd’s role inThe Blues Brothers.
Killers of the Flower Moonis now streaming on Apple TV+.
