11 stars you can’t miss at Rhode Island Comic Con 

Celebs

Michael J. Fox, John Cleese, Williams Shatner, Jojo Siwa — and more — are all in Rhode Island this weekend.

What do Michael J. Fox, Helen Hunt, William Shatner, John Cleese, and JoJo Siwa have in common?

They’re all in Rhode Island this weekend, my friends. 

Yup, Rhode Island Comic Con has pulled some A-listers this year. I have my picks here for 11 celebs you won’t want to miss at the convention Nov. 1-3 at Providence’s Rhode Island Convention Center and Amica Mutual Pavilion. 

Grab your autograph book and hop in the car: We’re headed to Providence.

MIchael J. Fox

Whether you know him as Marty McFly or Alex P. Keaton, or the deputy mayor of New York on “Spin City,” you’ll want to meet Fox when he’s in town Saturday and Sunday. Since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, he’s also been an advocate and author: founding the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, writing various books including “No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality” (2020), even bringing levity by incorporating Parkinson’s into a brilliant storyline as Larry David’s neighbor on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” See his schedule and pricing here.

Christopher Lloyd

Speaking of “Back to the Future,” Doc Brown is also in town.

The legend’s resume stretches back half a century — and at 86, Lloyd hasn’t stopped working. He was fantastic as Larry Arbuckle on HBO’s “Hacks” this season, and has popped up everywhere from the Disney+ Star Wars series “The Mandalorian” to the George Clooney-directed “The Tender Bar.” 

But aside from his role as Doc, you most likely know him as Taber in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Reverend Jim on “Taxi,” as Uncle Fester in The Addams Family movies or — for ’90s kids like me — for scaring the living daylights out of you as Judge Doom in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” (I still have nightmares.) Details here.

Helen Hunt

Stream “Twisters” anytime. Now’s your chance to watch the original “Twister” at the mall theater with Helen Hunt. Yup, Hunt will be at the Providence Place Mall Friday at 8 p.m. for a Q&A, followed by an 8:30 screening of the ’96 classic. Admission: $60, with autograph $150, and for the Helen Hunt super-fan, $270 gets you an autograph and photo. Details here. 

Meanwhile, find the Oscar winner (“As Good As It Gets”) at the regular convention meet-and-greet Friday afternoon and Saturday. Details here.

Giancarlo Esposito

Gus Fring is in the house. Aside losing half his face as the chicken-hawking drug-lord man on “Breaking Bad” — and doing more evil deeds on “Better Call Saul” —  we also know him as Moff Gideon in “The Mandalorian” and as Vought’s superhero-wrangler Stan Edgar on the off-the-rails joyride that is “The Boys.” For my money, one of the best shows out there right now. The question is which tattoos he sees more of in PVD: Los Pollos Hermanos, Star Wars, or Homelander? Details here.

Dean Norris

Fring better watch out, because Hank Schrader is also in the house.  (Don’t leave any incriminating books in the men’s room.) Aside from “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” Norris more recently also presided over Larry David’s trial as Judge Whittaker on the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” finale, popped up in Jerry Seinfeld’s Pop-Tart movie, “Unfrosted,” and plays Randall Stabler on “Law & Order: Organized Crime.” Details here. 

Chris Parnell

“Liz, I believe doctor-patient confidentiality is a two-way street. I’m cheating on my wife.” 

“Tracy, you are going to die … when I tell you who I’m dating.”

I could go on all day. We “30 Rock” fans all have their favorite lines, and Dr. Leo Spaceman has just so many gems. Of course, the “SNL” alum is one of those actors that might pop up anywhere and always delivers, from “Curb Your Enthusiasm” to “The Goldbergs” to the Anchorman movies, “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” “Hot Rod” and more. I’m sure he’ll have a slew of “Archer,” “Fallout,”  and “Rick & Morty” fans — he’ll do “team-ups” with Rick & Morty cast-mates. Details here. 

Priscilla Presley

Yes, as in Elvis’s ex-wife. Presley played Jenna Wade in “Dallas,” and Jane Spencer in the “Naked Gun” franchise, and has been played on-screen by Olivia DeJonge in Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” (2022), Cailee Spaeny in Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” (2023) …. Aaaand I just lost all the Graceland fanatics. They’re speeding toward the Rhode Island Convention Center. Details here.

William Shatner

The reports of his death are greatly exaggerated. 

Yup, after correcting the Internet— and his own sister— that he is indeed still alive recently, the 93-year-old Kirk beams into New England to meet fans, whether you’re going for “Star Trek,” “Boston Legal,” “$#*! My Dad Says” or his music — it’s almost “Shatner Claus” season. Details here.

JoJo Siwa

She’s come a long way from “Dance Moms.” Now a 21-year-old pop singing sensation, she’ll sign all weekend — and perform on stage at the Omni Providence Hotel Narragansett Ballroom from 8-8:45 p.m. Friday night, according to Comic Con’s website. You can also submit a panel discussion question for Siwa via the website. JoJo fans, it’s go-time.  Details here and here.

John Cleese

Insert your favorite Monty Python quote here. 

Like Lloyd, the 85-year-old legend has a mile-long resume and is still adding to it: Catch him as Terry in Michael Boccalini’s 2024 film, “How to Make Her Leave.” You’ll likely know him from Monty Python films, as Nearly Headless Nick in the “Harry Potter” movies, as Archie in “A Fish Called Wanda,” or from his voice work — everything from “Shrek” movies to Dreamworks’ “Trolls.” 

Also — where my fellow “Garden Wall” stans at? —  both Cleese and Lloyd voiced characters in the underrated animated gem that is “Over the Garden Wall.” An annual autumn-time must-watch for me, the under-the-radar whimsical fairy tale of a mini-series from Cartoon Network turns 10 this year. In fact, after reading this, go watch it. Details here. 

Chris Klein

You likely know him as Oz from the “American Pie” movies — and, with other “American Pie” castmates, he’ll also take part in a panel discussion — but he’ll always be Paul from “Election” for me. Details here. 

Honorable mentions

I told you I’d give you 11, and a promise is a promise… but if I could name 18?

• David Arquette
• Dermot Mulroney
• Rose McGowan 
• “She-Hulk” herself Tatiana Maslany
• “Beverly Hills, 90210” alum Brian Austin Green 
• Ernie Hudson, aka Winston from the original “Ghostbusters” movies
• And for “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” fans: Cole Sprouse

GA from $55 for single day, kids from $28. Details here and pricing here.

Lauren Daley is a freelance writer. She can be reached at [email protected]. She tweets @laurendaley1, and Instagrams at @laurendaley1. Read more stories on Facebook here.