Taylor Swift [1] attends her own funeral in the "Anti-Hero" music video [2] — and there are some famous faces in the crowd. Released on Oct. 21 alongside her entire "Midnights" album [3], the visual includes an unexpected comedy sketch with actors Mike Birbiglia, John Early, and Mary Elizabeth Ellis portraying Swift's sons and daughter-in-law, respectively.
The tacky trio hilariously squabble over her will, which leaves them just 13 cents each, and throw hands with other blond-haired relatives as present-day Swift peeks out from her casket to take in the chaos. When the two-minute scene concludes and the music picks back up, three different versions of Swift swig wine on a rooftop together before the screen fades to black.
After the video dropped, Swift posted several behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot on Instagram [4], including a funeral home picture with her fictional children. She captioned it: "The Anti-Hero video is HERE, which I wrote and directed. Watch my nightmare scenarios and intrusive thoughts play out in real time, with some help from the excellent @birbigs, @bejohnce, and @maryelizabethellis who fabulously portray… get ready for it… my grown sons and daughter in law?" She also included a shoutout to her "incredible" director of photography, Rina Yang [5], who previously directed the "All Too Well" short film [6].
Birbiglia, Early, and Ellis are the first of many stars set to appear in music videos for Swift's tenth studio album. In a teaser trailer [7] released on Oct. 20, the singer shared the names of other celebrities who will make cameos, including songwriter Jack Antonoff, all three Haim sisters, model Laith Ashley, "Big Little Lies" star Laura Dern, British makeup artist Pat McGrath, and burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese [8].
Read ahead to check out the first round of cameos and to refresh your memory on Birbiglia, Early, and Ellis's past projects.
John Early in Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero" Music Video
Early pops up in the video as Chad, one of Swift's two sons, who milks her fame for his own selfish purposes. The comedian is perhaps most known for portraying the similarly egotistical Elliot Goss in HBO Max's "Search Party" from 2016 to 2022, though he's also made memorable appearances in shows like "30 Rock," "Broad City," "Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later," and "Close Enough."
Mary Elizabeth Ellis in Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero" Music Video
Ellis basically serves as a living Easter egg [10] while portraying Swift's daughter-in-law Kimber, wearing a curly blond wig and the black dress from her 2009 "Fearless Tour." Known to "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" fans as the waitress whose name is never revealed, Ellis also played Nick Miller's ex-girlfriend Caroline in "New Girl" and has had recurring roles in "Santa Clarita Diet," "The Grinder," "Perfect Couples," and more.
Mike Birbiglia in Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero" Music Video
Birbiglia shines as Preston, Swift's other son and Kimber's husband, who reads the will aloud at the funeral. The day the music video dropped, the actor raved about the experience on Instagram Stories, writing, "Most fun day ever. We were laughing all day and Taylor is an incredible director. Obv." With several of his own comedy specials through the years, Birbiglia also portrayed Danny Pearson in "Orange Is the New Black [11]," Oscar Langstraat in "Billions," and Tom in "Trainwreck."