In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), its shown that Willy Wonka's distant father had framed highlights of his sons life. This was inspired by a trip Tim Burton took to visit his dying mother in 2002. Despite their relationship being not great, she owned framed movie posters of all his films.
In The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords plays an elf at the council of Rivendell. His cameo was so popular with fans that they named the elf Figwit. Peter Jackson brought Figwit back in The Return of the King (2003). Bret played another elf in the Hobbit (2012).