Gaming Lives Of Stars
What if the biggest names in Hollywood, sports, or music secretly shared the same late-night obsession as millions of gamers? Beyond red carpets and sold-out arenas, some stars trade the spotlight for controllers in their spare time. Gaming gives them escape and connection in ways fans rarely imagine. Keep reading to explore 20 celebrities who turned out to be serious gamers—you may be surprised who shows up.
1. Seth Rogen
Who knew that beneath the infectious laugh and comedy stardom, Seth Rogen was secretly crushing it in Rocket League with FaZe Clan's finest? Between his cherished retro arcade games and hilariously honest struggles with trickier levels of Call of Duty, Rogen's gaming side surprises fans altogether.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
2. Dave Bautista
Dave Bautista's authentic passion for Gears of War transformed into strategic advocacy when he publicly campaigned to portray Marcus Fenix in a potential film adaptation. While that role remains unclaimed, his genuine gaming enthusiasm earned him something unique—integration as a playable character in Gears 5's multiplayer mode.
Daniel Benavides from Austin, TX on Wikimedia
3. Terry Crews
When Terry Crews livestreamed his first PC build on social media, the gaming community embraced this unexpected tech apprentice. What started as father-son gaming sessions blossomed into genuine hardware passion. It even resulted in fans championing the action star to voice Overwatch's Doomfist character.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
4. Elijah Wood
Beyond his celebrated acting career, Elijah Wood has woven gaming deeply into his professional journey, evolving from a longtime gaming enthusiast to voicing Spyro in The Legend of Spyro series, and ultimately becoming an active community participant who surprises fans during Animal Crossing trading sessions.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
5. Ice-T
Fans tuning into Twitch often do a double-take when they spot Ice-T streaming intense Call of Duty sessions. The revelation of his gaming passion extends to Twitter, where he posts as @FINALLEVEL, and he even lent his voice to characters in GTA: San Andreas and Gears of War 3.
6. Emilia Clarke
Growing up, Emilia Clarke forged precious gaming memories alongside her brother, bonding over Sega classics like her favorite, Sonic the Hedgehog. That early connection sparked a lasting love for gaming, from a teenage Sims obsession to using video games as relaxation between Game of Thrones shoots.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
7. Michael Phelps
The world's most decorated Olympian traded pool lanes for virtual battlefields between competitions, with Michael Phelps openly admitting his "addiction" to Call of Duty. The swimming legend spends countless hours unwinding with the video games after intense training.
Agência Brasil Fotografias on Wikimedia
8. Snoop Dogg
When Xbox Live servers went down, Snoop Dogg took it straight to Bill Gates himself with a complaint message. The rap legend backs up his gaming cred by regularly streaming Madden NFL and FIFA on Twitch, even earning recognition as Call of Duty: Ghosts' multiplayer announcer voice.
9. Zachary Levi
So you know that smooth-talking Arcade Gannon from Fallout: New Vegas? That was actually Zachary Levi, who's not just another celebrity voice actor—he's a full-blown gaming enthusiast. He created Nerd HQ at Comic-Con to host epic gaming tournaments and geek out with fans.
10. Brie Larson
As a vocal advocate for women's representation in gaming and game development, Brie Larson backs her message with authentic gaming credentials. The actress regularly shares her Nintendo adventures on social media, diving deep into Animal Crossing: New Horizons. She even transformed her digital character into a real-life Halloween costume.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
11. Vin Diesel
Starting as a passionate Dungeons & Dragons player over twenty years ago, Vin Diesel transformed his gaming enthusiasm into creative leadership. He went on to found Tigon Studios, ultimately taking hands-on control in developing The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
12. Michelle Rodriguez
Known for her explosive action roles on screen, Michelle Rodriguez brings that same intensity to her off-screen gaming pursuits. Her journey from conquering the original Doom as a young player to engaging in Halo and Call of Duty battles with co-stars mirrors her Hollywood evolution.
13. Henry Cavill
Henry Cavill nearly missed the call to play Superman because he was deeply engrossed in raiding in World of Warcraft, a moment that perfectly shows his true passion for gaming. It also ironically prepared him perfectly for stardom. His self-built PC and deep love of The Witcher games equipped him uniquely for his monster-slaying role.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
14. Christian Slater
You might assume starring in Alone in the Dark would make Christian Slater a dedicated gamer, especially given his enthusiastic video game discussions during press interviews. Yet the actor's most endearing gaming credential is his honest admission of being "terrible" at the games he enjoys.
15. Jamie Lee Curtis
For Jamie Lee Curtis, the line between gaming personas and real life beautifully blurs, as she transforms from a Street Fighter's Vega alongside her son to a World of Warcraft-clad wedding officiant. She even extends her character play to gaming conventions, where she moves incognito among fellow enthusiasts.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
16. Matthew Perry
In a delightful collision of sitcom stardom and gaming culture, Matthew Perry's genuine obsession with Fallout 3 (which even resulted in carpal tunnel syndrome) transformed into an unexpected career crossover. His enthusiastic gaming confession on Ellen DeGeneres' show landed him the role of Benny in Fallout: Las Vegas.
17. Robin Williams
Behind the dimly lit screens of local arcades, you might have spotted Robin Williams mastering pinball machines between comedy sets. That gaming spark grew into full-fledged World of Warcraft sessions and Nintendo commercial appearances, ultimately inspiring him to name his daughter after gaming's beloved Princess Zelda.
18. Megan Fox
What started as a fondness for Mortal Kombat has blossomed into full-fledged gaming enthusiasm for Megan Fox, who's proven herself quite the digital warrior. From mastering fatalities to conquering Halo matches with surprising politeness, she's shattered stereotypes about Hollywood gamers.
Spc. Ethan Ford U.S. ARMY GARRISON YONGSAN on Wikimedia
19. Olivia Munn
Most TV hosts just play at being gamers, but Olivia Munn flipped that script during her G4TV days on Attack of the Show. Between epic Call of Duty sessions and that legendary moment when she licked a PS3 on air, she's proven herself both an industry insider and a genuine gaming enthusiast.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
20. Mark Hamill
Behind Mark Hamill's chilling Joker performances in the Batman: Arkham series lies a surprising secret: he's actually an avid gamer himself. His deep appreciation for video game storytelling, from World of Warcraft sessions to convention appearances, brings authentic gaming passion to his celebrated voice work.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America on Wikimedia
