Here's a quick look at all of the Sign's many roles through the years, including each film's year of release, the Sign's co-stars and director, and a brief description of its big screen moment ...

Based on Nathanael West's dark satire of Hollywood, the movie features a scene where a tour guide at the base of the sign recounts how "Camille McRae, 1929 Clam Queen of Pismo Beach" leapt to her death from "the great H" in 1932. McRae's story refers to that of Peg Entwistle, a dispirited would-be starlet who actually did commit suicide in 1932 by jumping off of the "H."

The Sign enjoys two cameo appearances, before the opening credits and during a night scene after Bobby and Rose cruise the streets.

(Contributed by Randall Branam)

About as "B" as a B-movie can get, this extremely low budget film was made by intercutting filmed plot scenes with action sequences from Roger Corman movies, such as Death Race 2000. The Sign gets an (unpaid) cameo.

(Contributed by David Sebastien)

During a series of scenes depicting worldwide destruction, the Sign leans precariously during an earthquake -- quickly communicating that Los Angeles/the West Coast is part of the devastation.

(Contributed by Brian Holm)

(Contributed by Randall Branam)

(Contributed by Randall Branam)

The very first scene of the movie features the Hollywood Sign.

(Contributed by Andy Mills)

The Sign supplies its classic star turn on the movie poster and during the credits in this teen comedy where a Hollywood punk (Nicholas Cage) meets a Valley girl (Deborah Foreman).

(Contributed by Emily Compton)

This teen comedy begins with three delinquents who drive up to the Hollywood sign late at night and turn the two O's into E's ~ so that the Sign has been changed to "Hollyweed" (just as it has experienced in real life). Of course, their fun is ruined with the appearance of an unamused police officer.

(Contributed by Dave Grubka of Buffalo, NY)

Okay, it doesn't really count as screen time, but the murder of Barbara Stone (Midler) was supposed to have taken place "not far from Hollywood Sign."

The characters drive up a (fictional) road that ends in front of the Hollywood Sign.

(Contributed by Marcel Pazzin)

Slam Dance included Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Virginia Madsen, and the always superb Harry Dean Stanton. There were at least a couple of defacto contemporaneous punkers in the film -- Adam Ant, and L.A. staple John Doe of "X."

(Contributed by Rocky Rockmaker)

The Sign makes a cameo appearance during the opening credits.

(Contributed by Randall Branam)

This feature-length adaptation of the cult classic short film offers one of the most creative uses of the Sign to date, as a futuristic technology transforms HOLLYWOOD into WHOLLY ODD. ... Now why didn't CalTech think of that?

Amid the massive silliness that could only be imagined by Weird Al Jankovic, there is a great shot of the Hollywood Sign. Fortunately, not as the subject of a parody!

(Contributed by Ryan from the U.K.)

The establishing shot at the beginning of the picture uses the Hollywood Sign.

(Contributed by Marcel Pazzin)

The movie opens with a helicopter shot that comes up the back side of the Hollywood Hills meant to recall the jungle setting of the first movie. Then the helicopter flies over the hills to reveal the city of L.A. in the distance, and the Hollywood sign. (Contributed by Don Solosan)

Depicted in its original "Hollywoodland" form, the Sign is used to efficiently communicate place (Los Angeles) and time (relatively early in the 20th century) during an establishing scene in the film. (Contributed by Marcel Pazzin)

The film's epilogue features Frank Whaley as Jim. As he reads a book, he fantasizes that the Sign's letters transform to read "Jimwood."

The film offers the other alternate explanation for the loss of the LAND portion of the Sign: Villain Neville Sinclair (Dalton) crashes into them with a faulty rocketpack. Whatever else she achieves during her career, Jennifer Connelly will almost certainly go down in history as the only actor/actress to star alongside the Sign in two films in the same year.

In the poster picture, they added Doc to the front of the Hollywood Sign. (Contributed by Chuck Williams)

The movie features a great scene where Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. ride horses up to the sign (Fairbanks even takes a leak on the sign) and discuss the rising tide of Americanism sweeping the country as Fairbanks proceeds to climb the sign and even performs some gymnastics on one of the letters as the camera pulls back to reveal the entire "Hollywoodland" sign. (Contributed by Leslie A. Turner)

The Hollywood sign appears briefly when Mac and Fraser arrive in California in a pickup truck.

(Contributed by Randall Branam)

Again, the Sign is used to establish setting -- in this case, a dystopian, violence-wracked future Los Angeles.

There's a hilarious scene in which Robin Hood arrives at the coast of England. How do we know? A giant Hollywood Sign-style sign spells out ENGLAND on the distant hillside. It was the Sign's first comedic role ... but not its last.

The Sign is featured during the first and final shots of the film as part of a wide-angle pan. The purposefully artificial-looking, miniaturized depiction of Hollywood serves as the perfect introduction to Wood's world.

This barbed satire of L.A. (and, in turn, American) pop culture features a shot of the Sign with the Hollywood hills on fire in the background --a poignant image of just how badly things have gone in Los Angeles' future as imagined by Carpenter.

As the aliens are introduced to us by the director he gives us a great shot of the Hollywood sign to make sure that we know where the alien invasion is taking place. (Contributed by Angel Frost)

Remarkably, the Sign is spared. It is, however, the compositional centerpiece of a shot featuring a tower (in the foreground) that's knocked over to dam a river of molten lava.

In this hard hitting drama, the Sign appears approximately 7 or 8 minutes into the film in a very memorable and iconic way: a helicopter shot circling around the Sign at sunrise while Massive Attack's "Spying Glass" plays in the background. Very evocative indeed.

(Contributed by Rocco Battaglia)

This comedy about a naïve young Mormon missionary who's recruited to star in a sci-fi porn movie opens with a prominent shot of the Sign, under which the humorously obvious title card Hollywood, U.S.A. fades up.

A climactic car chase scene ends when Mr. Eddy rams a tailgater's car, forcing the driver off the road. Mr. Eddy proceeds to beat up the driver and yell at him, while the Hollywood Sign stands as silent witness in the background.

Contributed by Randall Branam.

The Sign's comedy calvacade continues. ... Actually, the Sign isn't featured in the film itself, but it's the focus of a promotional poster. In the poster, Bean (Atkinson) proudly marches down Hollywood Blvd. with a giant O under his arm. In the background, we can clearly see the Sign -- which now reads HOLLYWO D.

The film is about a man who discovers that what he thought was his life is, in fact, a TV show. His existential crisis is punctuated by a shot revealing that his hometown (Seahaven) is actually a set built inside of an enormous dome ... located just north of the Hollywood Sign.

The Sign is once again destroyed, but at least it's in an interesting way. Joe, the giant, enraged gorilla, picks up an O and hurls it at his attackers.

When Stan, Kyle, Eric, and Kenny see the R-rated Canadian movie "Terrance & Phillip: Asses of Fire", they are pronounced "corrupted". Kyle's mom Sheila, with the rest of the parents, pressure the United States to wage war against Canada. The Sign is used as a backdrop when the Canadian Air Forces bomb the Baldwin brothers' mansion. (Alec, Stephen, etc.).

(Contributed by Steve Etzkorn)

The Sign (again depicted in its original Hollywoodland incarnation) serves as the perfect backdrop for this film about Orson Welle's struggle to make Citizen Kane. The film is accurate in that the LAND portion of the Sign, which wasn't scrapped until 1949, would have been standing during the time of Citizen Kane's filming (1940-41). Still, the Sign would have looked much worse for wear than it appears here.

It is a helicopter shot from behind the sign on Mt. Lee and the camera nearly passes through. The purpose of the shot is to establish the all-powerful presence of Hollywood as an industry, a place where anything can happen.

(Contributed by Daniel Ferry)

One of the actresses that Steve Martin's character was hiring for his movie is sitting on a park bench underneath the sign.

(Contributed by Dave Lepkowski)

The main plot of the movie is in Hollywood and the sign appears at the very beginning of the movie right before the scene with Cotton weary in his car.

(Contributed by James Stewart)

The Hollywood Sign appears in about 20 minutes in. It is shown after Naomi Watts arrives in Los Angeles.

(Contributed by Julie King)

Dr. Evil's secret lair was built into the hill behind the Sign ... Talk about your glamorous digs.

The sign is seen as the girls enter Los Angeles for the first time, setting the stage for glamorous adventure.

Once again, the Sign sets the scene. At the very start of the movie, we hear a police radio requesting S.W.A.T. assistance, and the camera flies over the Sign into downtown Los Angeles to show a thrilling bank robbery taking place.

(Contributed by Emma-Louise Rabson)

You KNOW the climate is getting weird when it's a tornado, not an Earthquake, that knocks the Sign over -- in this case, killing an innocent reporter who's covering the freak storm from the street below.

Our heroes arrive in a land far far away ... as evidenced by a ridiculous FAR FAR AWAY Sign that's similar in appearance to the Hollywood Sign.

The film's villain (an immortal baby who never ages) has a secret lair inside of the Sign's H.

This emmy-nominated TV movie depicts what would happen to Los Angeles in the event of a 10.5 earthquake. Given the magnitude of the quake, the damage isn’t that bad: Only one of the Ls and a W go toppling over the hillside this time. Heck, the Sign probably looked worse circa 1976.

(Contributed by Marcel Pazzin)

The Sign, which at thetime of the film’s setting (1940) still read HOLLYWOODLAND, was near the site of the grisly Black Dahlia murder. It’s shown, accurately, with the "H" damaged, as it would have been before the Chamber of Commerce’s 1949 refurbishment.

(Contributed by Jim Pinard)

(Contributed by Steven Etzkorn)

(Contributed by Stefan Rocke)

(Contributed by Randall Branam)

(Contributed by Beth McGroarty, Los Angeles, CA)

(Contributed by Yvanne Kennedy)

20th Century Fox knows that nothing says "showbiz" like the Hollywood Sign, which is why the world-famous icon is now being used to open all of the studio's releases ... Looks like we'll be seeing even more of the Hollywood Sign at the movies in the very near future!

The Sign is no stranger to the small screen, where a quick visual of the Sign on a Hollywood hillside can instantly communicate all the glamour of its location. Here's a quick look at all of the Sign's roles through the years, including the Sign's co-stars and director, and a brief description of its appearance...

When the Ricardo's moved to Hollywood to bolster Ricky's career, the Sign is visible on the backdrop to their hotel room.

(Contributed by Jim Pinard)

The iconic show that popularized the detective drama format on television didn't visit the Hollywood Sign until 1998, when it was shown in the episode "Ashes to Ashes." Early in the episode, a grieving widow is shown pouring her husband's ashes at the Sign.

(Contributed by Peter Mikkelsen, Denmark)

NBC's popular private investigator show (starring the charismatic James Garner) has remained in constant syndication from its original airing in 1974. The title character was unique in the pantheon of little screen detectives, being an ex-con (albeit a falsely accused one) who lived in a brokendown trailer at the ocean in LA, chasing minor cases and avoiding bill collectors.

Famously, every episode begins with a short, wry telephone answering machine message that changes with every episode (incidentally, an answering machine was quite a novelty in 1974). Just after the message ends, a quick montage of Los Angeles sights flashes by, including a somewhat creaky looking pre-restoration Hollywood Sign.

(Contributed by Paul Hennessy)

This show ran for over 250 episodes, including one where Carol duets in a medley of popular movie themes with Eydie Gorme. At the end of the 10 minute segment, they suddenly transport from the soundstage to the base of the Hollywood Sign, singing their final notes as a helicopter shot pulls away to reveal the whole mountainside. The Sign shows its considerable wear: graffiti, patchy paint, and missing sections are clearly visible. A fascinating time capsule, as this was less than a year before the Sign was reconstructed in 1978.

The Fall Guy was a new leading man role for television hunk and former Six Million Dollar Man Lee Majors, playing a stunt man who undertakes dangerous side jobs as a bounty hunter. It was a case of art imitating art, in that the stunts performed in catching the bad guys often mirrored the stunts that Majors had performed earlier in the show during his "day job." Featuring large in this action was his special-built Ford pickup truck which made numerous death defying jumps in the course of duty and became a hit toy with fans of the show.

The opening credits were a virtual moving slide show of Hollywood landmarks, including a nice show of the Sign from what appears to be a Gower Street vantage point.

(Contributed by Marcel Pazzin)

The Sign makes frequent brief appearances in this made-for-tv comedy about a wild party that takes place in a film producer's Hollywood mansion. While there is an earthquake and aftershocks in this movie, it's played for comic effect, so the Sign and the characters are all spared.

(Contributed by Dave Grubka of Buffalo, NY)

This long running television police drama took a stiff hand with lawbreakers, as the perpetrators more often than not ended up dead by the final scene. This was a quintissential Los Angeles show with many famous landmarks seen amid the action, and the Season 5 opening credits were no exception. As the opening music concluded, we saw a shot of Hunter standing confidently overlooking the Hollywood basin from the top of Mt. Lee, with the Hollywood Sign just below him at his feet.

(Contributed by Marcel Pazzin)

The Sign made at least one appearance in this epic long-running series: season 6, episode 10 - "Kelly Does Hollywood: Part 2," which aired November 17, 1991. The Sign appears when the Bundys fly to Hollywood and again when the Bundys arrive at the "NBS" network.

(Contributed by Randall Branam)

The Sign has been a regular guest star over the years, appearing in key scenes and looking both bold and beautiful, towering over Los Angeles!

(Contributed by Randall Branam)

In this made-for TV remake of 1974's EARTHQUAKE, the Hollywood Sign comes crumbling down letter by letter as one of many victims of a huge quake.

(Contributed by Dave Grubka of Buffalo, NY)

In the episode "The Simpsons Go to Hollywood," the Hollywood Sign appears.

(Contributed by Robert Oranchuk)

There is a framed picture in The Peach Pit of the sign reading "Hollywoodland." (Contributed by Meredith Gardner)

The Sign also appears in the final episode of the 92-93 season, which is a graduation episode. In the opening scene, the gang is gathered at a viewpoint of the Sign. At the end of the show, we see a banner created by the gang hanging over the Sign that reads "W BEV HI' 93." All created with Hollywood magic, of course!

In episode #2, during the bachelorette's first date, she takes one lucky guy right down to the Hollywood Sign where they sit, talk and canoodle as the sun goes down, taking in that famous Los Angeles view.

(Contributed by Melissa Marie Monroe, Los Angeles, CA)

The Sign appears repeatedly in this Friends spin-off, usually during scene switches. Joey makes reference to the Sign in the first episode, where he comments that from his apartment he can see the "Ollywoo" sign -- since his window has no view of the H or the D.

(Contributed by Luke Timmons, Glasgow Scotland)

Starring Heidi Montag, Brody Jenner, Justin Bobby, Lauren Conrad, Whitney Port.

The opening credit sequence includes a helicopter tracking camera shot of the Sign with an added glowing effect.

(Contributed by Marcel Pazzin)

This latest version of a venerable television franchise includes many passing references to the Sign, and the cast uses the Sign as a backdrop for a documentary film they are shooting. In addition, Season 3 sees one character (Jasper) throwing himself off the "H" and narrowly escaping death.

(Contributed by Yvanne Kennedy)

The opening credit sequence for this ill-fated late night variety show, which depicted a whirlwind tour of the most important landmarks of Los Angeles, included a nighttime tracking camera shot of the Sign from behind silhouetted against the LA skyline.

(Contributed by Duff Ferguson)

These days, the video game industry is considered a serious rival to the film and television industry, with newly released games achieving first week purchase receipts that can top the biggest Hollywood blockbuster. It is no surprise that the Hollywood Sign is also occasionally called upon for a cameo role in a game, especially when the setting is Los Angeles...

A cult classic racing game that allowed players to test their driving skills on challenging tracks based on famous USA locations, including Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Hawaii, and more.

The Hollywood Sign features prominently in the Los Angeles track portion, as well as on the packaging.

(Contributed by Rocco Battaglia)

Another thrilling game from Rockstar, allowing players to buy the hottest cars and race them through hyper-realistic Los Angeles settings, complete with traffic, weather, and the police.

The Hollywood Sign is seen in all its glory in the game, as well as on the packaging, letting players know exactly where they are as they drive.

(Contributed by Rocco Battaglia)

Hollywood is a musical mecca that has been the launch pad for many a music star's career. Whether high concept or low budget, the Hollywood Sign has been a fixture helping create the scene in numerous music videos. These highly creative short films are often shot by directors who go on to much larger things.

Belinda Carlyle wasn't the only former member of the Go-Gos who went on to a successful solo career. Punk guitarist Jane Wiedlan, who penned their hit "Our Lips Are Sealed," released 4 solo albums of her own with some respectable chart success. Her last charting single "World on Fire" was accompanied by a steamy video filled with pyrotechnics as her music and attitude literally burned up the screen. Shot in many Hollywood locations, the Sign is seen in the backdrop in several spots and then bursts into flames as a finale.

(Contributed by Duff Ferguson)

If you've seen the Sign in a movie, television show, video game or music video that we haven't listed, we'd love to hear from you! Just contact us to tell us about the appearance and a brief description of the Sign's role. We'll review and add it to our list, and if you give your permission, we'll give your name a special "screen credit" for your contribution.