It sounds like a fever dream or some weird piece of Mandella Effect trivia, but it's 100% real. Marla Maples, yes, the former Mrs. Donald Trump and 90s tabloid fixture, actually showed up on the Disney Channel. Specifically, she appeared on the hit show Liv and Maddie.
Honestly, if you missed it, you aren't alone. It was one of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it guest spots that makes you do a double-take during a Sunday afternoon rerun. But for fans of the show and pop culture junkies, the Marla Maples Liv and Maddie connection is a fascinating crossover between high-stakes celebrity history and bright-colored sitcom antics.
The Role You Probably Forgot: Amy Becker
Maples didn't just play "herself" or some generic background character. She stepped into the shoes of Amy Becker. This happened back in 2014, during the show’s first season. The episode was titled "BFF-A-Rooney."
In the episode, she plays the mother of Artie Smalls—Joey Rooney's eccentric, cape-wearing nemesis. If you remember Artie, you know he was basically a villainous theater kid with a weirdly intense energy. Seeing Marla Maples walk in as his mom was a stroke of casting genius because it was so unexpected.
She wasn't there for a long arc. It was a single episode. But she brought this polished, slightly over-the-top energy that fit the Disney multicam style surprisingly well.
Why was Marla Maples on Disney Channel anyway?
People forget that before the political madness and the tabloid headlines, Maples was a working actress. She had a whole career. We’re talking The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Spin City, and even a stint on Broadway in The Will Rogers Follies.
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By 2014, she was living a more low-key lifestyle, focusing on wellness and her daughter, Tiffany. But the Marla Maples Liv and Maddie appearance wasn't a "comeback" in the traditional sense. It was more of a fun character bit.
Actors often take these Disney or Nickelodeon guest spots for a few reasons:
- Their kids love the show. (Though Tiffany was already an adult by then).
- It’s a quick, professional gig. Sitcoms shoot fast and pay decently for a guest star of her stature.
- The irony factor. There is something undeniably funny about a woman once married to a billionaire playing the mother of a kid who thinks he’s a supervillain in Wisconsin.
The "BFF-A-Rooney" Breakdown
In this particular episode, the main plot revolves around Liv (Dove Cameron) trying to help Maddie make new friends so she isn't so codependent. But the B-plot—where Maples shines—involves the "Diggie and Joey" dynamic.
When Maples appears as Amy Becker, she’s essentially the "cool mom" who is blissfully unaware of her son's weirdness. She’s sweet, she’s elegant, and she contrasts perfectly with Artie’s frantic, nerdy intensity. It was a clever way to ground a character like Artie by showing where he came from—or at least, who raised him.
Watching it back now, her performance is actually quite charming. She has good comedic timing. You've got to admit, she held her own against the high-energy Disney kids.
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Misconceptions About the Cameo
I've seen some weird rumors online about this. Some people think she was a recurring character. She wasn't. Others think she played a version of herself. Also no.
There's also this weird idea that the cameo was "scrubbed" from the air because of her association with the Trump family. That is totally false. You can still find the episode on Disney+ or buy it on digital platforms. Disney didn't "cancel" Amy Becker; she was just a one-off character.
The Dove Cameron Connection
Working on the set of Liv and Maddie meant Maples shared space with a young Dove Cameron. At the time, Dove was the "it girl" of the network, playing two different characters simultaneously.
While there aren't any legendary "behind the scenes" feuds or deep friendships reported from that week of filming, it’s a cool piece of industry overlap. You have a veteran of the 80s and 90s celebrity circuit working with the future star of Descendants and a platinum-selling pop artist.
Why the Marla Maples Liv and Maddie Cameo Matters Now
We live in an era of "Wait, THEY were in that?"
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Looking back at 2010s Disney Channel is like looking at a time capsule. You see future Oscar winners (like Ariana DeBose in Austin & Ally) and established stars like Maples trying something different.
It reminds us that careers aren't linear. They’re weird. They have peaks, valleys, and occasional stops in a fictionalized version of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
What You Should Do Next
If you're a fan of sitcom history or just want to see a very different side of a woman usually discussed in political contexts, go find the episode.
- Platform: Disney+
- Season: 1
- Episode: 8
- Title: "BFF-A-Rooney"
It’s twenty minutes of lighthearted 2014 nostalgia. You'll get to see Maples playing a doting mom to a cape-wearing teenager, which is arguably more entertaining than any reality show she’s been on.
Check out the credits next time you watch—you'll be surprised who else pops up in these shows. From Octavia Spencer to Gilbert Gottfried, the Disney guest list is a wild ride.