I’m amassing a list of celebrity gamers—that is, famous people who play tabletop games. Games Quarterly Magazine has asked me to interview such personages for their pages, and I’d like to know just how large my potential pool of interview targets happens to be.
See after the break for a full list of what I’ve come up with so far. Names with asterisks after them are ones I’m pretty sure I can confirm. If you know of any others or can give better details about the ones I have, I’d appreciate it.
The next question, of course, is who on the list would you most like to see interviewed?
Celebrity Gamers
• Adam Copeland (WWE’s Edge)
• Antonio Rivera
• Armin Shimmermann
• Asia Carrera
• Bare Naked Ladies (band)*
• Ben Sargent
• Bill Amend
• Bill Campbell*
• Bill Gates
• Billy Crystal*
• BillyZeKick (band)
• Biohazard (band)
• Brian Warner
• Bruce Campbell
• Bruce Sterling
• Carrot Top
• Catherine Zeta-Jones (her kids play)
• Chaz Chamberlain
• Claudia Christensen*
• Conchata Ferrell
• Craig McCracken
• Curt Schilling*
• Daryl Hannah*
• Dave Chappelle
• David Brin
• Dean Haglund
• Devin Grayson
• Dream Warriors (band)
• Dwight Schultz
• Elijah Wood
• Emilio Estevez
• Eric Raymond
• Ewan MacGregor
• Fairuza Balk
• Freddie Prinze Jr.
• George Lucas
• George R. R. Martin*
• GWAR (band)*
• Harrison Ford
• Iain M. Banks (author)
• Jack Black
• Jacques Villeneuve (F1 champion)
• James Franco
• Jason Alexander
• Jason Mewes
• Jason Statham
• Jeff Bezos
• Jennifer Lopez
• Jim Lee*
• Joel and Ethan Coen
• John Dolmayan
• John M. Ford
• Johnny Knoxville
• Jon Spencer (Blues Explosion and Boss Hogg bands)
• Joss Whedon
• Judy Dench
• Katherine Kerr*
• Katherine Kurtz
• Kevin Smith
• Kobe Bryant
• Leslie Coulton (WWE)
• Lexa Doig
• Lionel Jospin (former French Prime Minister)
• Lou Ferrigno
• Marcy Playground (band)
• Marilyn Manson*
• Mary Gentle
• Massimo D’Alema (Italy’s ex-Prime Minister)
• Matt Groenig
• Matthew Lillard
• Metallica (band)
• Michael Sheard
• Mike Meyers
• My Chemical Romance (band)
• Nathan Fillion*
• Nelly
• Paget Brewster
• Parker Posey
• Peter DeLuise
• Quentin Tarantino
• Raymond E. Feist
• River Cuomo
• RJ Dio
• Robert Lynn Asprin
• Robin Williams*
• Rush (band)
• Sam Raimi
• Sarah Michelle Gellar
• Sean Astin
• Stephen Colbert*
• Stephen Lea Sheppard
• Steven Brust
• Steven Spielberg
• Terry Pratchett
• Todd Pratt
• Tom Morello
• Vin Diesel*
• Walter Jon Williams*
• Wil Wheaton*
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Daunting list, and I have some thoughts.
Mike Myers admitted that Lothar of the Hill people was based on a D&D character he played.
I don’t know about Stephen Colbert, I know he did the short and is a “professional geek,” but I don’t know how much is real and how much is show.
In fact, I wonder how many of the people on this list are “hopeful thinking” based on professional geek status. The asterisk by the ones who you think you can confirm is pretty cool.
Speaking of professional Geeks…I wonder if Ricky Gervais plays?
Bruce Campbell writes about what he thinks about gaming in the Deadlands (revised) Foreward. Memory serves, he understands but doesn’t game.
Oh and Weezer…I got Dungeon Master’s Guide…I got a Twelve Sided Die…
Daunting list, and I have some thoughts.
Mike Myers admitted that Lothar of the Hill people was based on a D&D character he played.
I don’t know about Stephen Colbert, I know he did the short and is a “professional geek,” but I don’t know how much is real and how much is show.
In fact, I wonder how many of the people on this list are “hopeful thinking” based on professional geek status. The asterisk by the ones who you think you can confirm is pretty cool.
Speaking of professional Geeks…I wonder if Ricky Gervais plays?
Bruce Campbell writes about what he thinks about gaming in the Deadlands (revised) Foreward. Memory serves, he understands but doesn’t game.
Oh and Weezer…I got Dungeon Master’s Guide…I got a Twelve Sided Die…
I am pretty sure that Trey Anastasio formerly of Phish used to play D & D…
j
I am pretty sure that Trey Anastasio formerly of Phish used to play D & D…
j
If you mean, the Dame, her name is spelled Judi Dench.
Great list! Personally, I’d love to read about Matt Groening’s and Nathan Fillion’s experiences with tabletop gaming.
Asia Carrera? Seriously? Man, MENSA and hardcore adult films OWE THEIR EXISTENCE TO GAMERS.
If you mean, the Dame, her name is spelled Judi Dench.
Great list! Personally, I’d love to read about Matt Groening’s and Nathan Fillion’s experiences with tabletop gaming.
Asia Carrera? Seriously? Man, MENSA and hardcore adult films OWE THEIR EXISTENCE TO GAMERS.
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck…
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck…
“Leslie Coulton (WWE)” — The tome of wrestling knowledge in my head has no information about this person, and the ony references I can find online are the ones from the Hero board that say she’s a gamer.
If Adam Copeland is a gamer, I’d also suspect that his buddy Christian Cage [real name: Jay Reso] is. Christian works for the badly-named TNA [that's Total Nonstop Action, honest] wrestling now. Shane Helms [real name: Gregory Helms] is a comic book fan, and I seem to recall that he’s done some gaming.
Also, I would have suspected that TNA wrestler Raven, who has written a couple comic books, would be a gamer. But he once described a WWE writer as “a D&D geek who couldn’t get laid and had never been in a real fight” so I have my doubts.
The rest of the people on your list … aren’t movies fake?
“Leslie Coulton (WWE)” — The tome of wrestling knowledge in my head has no information about this person, and the ony references I can find online are the ones from the Hero board that say she’s a gamer.
If Adam Copeland is a gamer, I’d also suspect that his buddy Christian Cage [real name: Jay Reso] is. Christian works for the badly-named TNA [that's Total Nonstop Action, honest] wrestling now. Shane Helms [real name: Gregory Helms] is a comic book fan, and I seem to recall that he’s done some gaming.
Also, I would have suspected that TNA wrestler Raven, who has written a couple comic books, would be a gamer. But he once described a WWE writer as “a D&D geek who couldn’t get laid and had never been in a real fight” so I have my doubts.
The rest of the people on your list … aren’t movies fake?
The 1980s band “The Human League” got their name from the old SPI “Starforce: Alpha Centuri” series of games (which had a Human League faction).
The 1980s band “The Human League” got their name from the old SPI “Starforce: Alpha Centuri” series of games (which had a Human League faction).
John M. Ford posts over on the Pyramis Online site all the time, so I’d put a HUGE asterix by his name.
John M. Ford posts over on the Pyramis Online site all the time, so I’d put a HUGE asterix by his name.
Oh, yeah…Ben Sargent’s a pal (and a hero of mine). He mostly plays Train Games, I believe.
Oh, yeah…Ben Sargent’s a pal (and a hero of mine). He mostly plays Train Games, I believe.
Plus Kurt Schilling, the ball player.
Squad Leader geek, I believe…
Plus Kurt Schilling, the ball player.
Squad Leader geek, I believe…
Stephen Lea Sheppard is a moderator at http://www.RPG.net , compiles huge and awesome Exalted maps, and is the resident expert on White Wolf canon over at RPG.net
Is that enough confirmation of geekhood?
Stephen Lea Sheppard is a moderator at http://www.RPG.net , compiles huge and awesome Exalted maps, and is the resident expert on White Wolf canon over at RPG.net
Is that enough confirmation of geekhood?
Stephen Lynch, a singing comedian from Comedy Central, has a song called D&D that is specific enough I think he must have played it.
Stephen Lynch, a singing comedian from Comedy Central, has a song called D&D that is specific enough I think he must have played it.
Stephen Lea Sheppard is. In fact, he’s a mod at RPG.net. Stephenls is his handle.
IIRC, I heard Matthew Lillard on Loveline talk about his gaming group a few years back.
Stephen Lea Sheppard is. In fact, he’s a mod at RPG.net. Stephenls is his handle.
IIRC, I heard Matthew Lillard on Loveline talk about his gaming group a few years back.
Rivers Cuomo of Weezer came right out about playing D&D in an interview in Rolling Stone back in 2001.
If you need a citation: http://www.theescapist.com/advocacy01.htm (Look for “Weezer Leader Goes Multi-Class”)
Rivers Cuomo of Weezer came right out about playing D&D in an interview in Rolling Stone back in 2001.
If you need a citation: http://www.theescapist.com/advocacy01.htm (Look for “Weezer Leader Goes Multi-Class”)
The first Slipknot album was largely about Werewolf the Apocalypse. The first song began with “Pentex sucks! Pentex sucks!” (not quite Shakespearean poetry, but we are talking Slipknot here.)
http://www.mfkrboard.com/mfkr/Lyrics.htm
Curt Schilling loves Squad Leader so much…he bought the rights to sell it.
The first Slipknot album was largely about Werewolf the Apocalypse. The first song began with “Pentex sucks! Pentex sucks!” (not quite Shakespearean poetry, but we are talking Slipknot here.)
http://www.mfkrboard.com/mfkr/Lyrics.htm
Curt Schilling loves Squad Leader so much…he bought the rights to sell it.
George R.R. Martin is definitely a gamer. He says so in one of the essays at the end of the first volume of the “Wild Cards” series–and that essay is also a handy list of other people in his gaming circle upon which the entire series was originally based. (In fact, Walter Jon Williams was a member of this group.)
Steven Brust is also definitely a gamer–he says in essays and I believe on his website that Vlad Taltos and the Dragaera world are based on a long-running D&D game he was in.
George R.R. Martin is definitely a gamer. He says so in one of the essays at the end of the first volume of the “Wild Cards” series–and that essay is also a handy list of other people in his gaming circle upon which the entire series was originally based. (In fact, Walter Jon Williams was a member of this group.)
Steven Brust is also definitely a gamer–he says in essays and I believe on his website that Vlad Taltos and the Dragaera world are based on a long-running D&D game he was in.
I believe Aron Eisenberg (Nog, from Deep Space Nine), has been quoted as being a gamer…
I believe Aron Eisenberg (Nog, from Deep Space Nine), has been quoted as being a gamer…
Re: John M. Ford
Didn’t he help develop the Klingons supplement for the old FASA game while writing “The Final Reflection”?
Re: John M. Ford
Didn’t he help develop the Klingons supplement for the old FASA game while writing “The Final Reflection”?
James Barclay and Mary Gentle (both british fantasy authors with published books) are both gamers.
James Barclay and Mary Gentle (both british fantasy authors with published books) are both gamers.
I know that Chris Jericho, another WWE wrestler, played D&D when he was younger.
I know that Chris Jericho, another WWE wrestler, played D&D when he was younger.
I believe that Hal Sparks (comedian, American “Queer as Folk” actor) has mentioned on “Best Week Ever” and the various VH1 commentary shows that he is/was a gamer. That might just be wishful thinking though.
Also Patton Oswalt and Brian Posehn are, from what I remember from “comedians of comedy” both gamers /and/ comic book fans.
I believe that Hal Sparks (comedian, American “Queer as Folk” actor) has mentioned on “Best Week Ever” and the various VH1 commentary shows that he is/was a gamer. That might just be wishful thinking though.
Also Patton Oswalt and Brian Posehn are, from what I remember from “comedians of comedy” both gamers /and/ comic book fans.
I remember hearing somewhere that Robin Williams is a gamer – Wawrhammer and WH40K.
I remember hearing somewhere that Robin Williams is a gamer – Wawrhammer and WH40K.
Bill Amend confirms he plays World of Warcraft:
http://homepage.mac.com/billamend/ – his homepage (scroll down a couple of screens)
He links to this interview: http://wow.allakhazam.com/news/sdetail5190.html?story=5190
(He mentions a couple of other games too, but only WoW is important. ^_^)
I’ve also heard that Drew Carey games – supposedly he used his own miniatures in one episode of his show.
Bill Amend confirms he plays World of Warcraft:
http://homepage.mac.com/billamend/ – his homepage (scroll down a couple of screens)
He links to this interview: http://wow.allakhazam.com/news/sdetail5190.html?story=5190
(He mentions a couple of other games too, but only WoW is important. ^_^)
I’ve also heard that Drew Carey games – supposedly he used his own miniatures in one episode of his show.
Oh, and I also saw ex-WCW and WWE manager Terri Runnels buy a Ral Partha figure from the FASA booth at FASA at GenCon one year, but I got the impression that it just caught her eye as she walked by the booth, not that she was seeking out that one specific mini to perfectly represent her D&D character.
Oh, and I also saw ex-WCW and WWE manager Terri Runnels buy a Ral Partha figure from the FASA booth at FASA at GenCon one year, but I got the impression that it just caught her eye as she walked by the booth, not that she was seeking out that one specific mini to perfectly represent her D&D character.