A List of Poker Playing Celebrities
The following is a list of some of the best-known celebrities who have an affinity for the game of poker. I have left off the slew of celebrities who have been spotted in a game or two in favor of the celebrities that are now enmeshed in the poker culture. Feel free to add to the list in the comments section below and I will periodically update the list to keep it current!
Actors and Actresses
- Don Cheadle – A regular on the charity poker scene
- Shannon Elizabeth – Elizabeth has been an active participant in poker tournaments
- Jason Alexander – “George” from Seinfeld got his poker start on Celebrity Poker Showdown and has been a staple at the WSOP ever since
- Gabe Kaplan – Kaplan has been a fixture in the poker world since the 70′s and is considered one of the most knowledgeable celebs in the game
- Brad Garrett – the Everybody Loves Raymond star is a regular at a number of tournaments in Vegas and LA
- Ray Romano – Romano -the real star of Everybody Loves Raymond– is a regular at the WSOP
- Jennifer Tilly – the former WSOP Ladies Champion; Tilly may very well be the most accomplished celebrity poker player
- James Woods – Woods is an avid poker player, mostly in private games
- Jon Favreau – Favreau is a regular participant in the Hollywood Home Games
The Poker Rat Pack
If there is a private high-stakes poker game you can bet that these four celebs are somewhere in the vicinity!
- Tobey Maguire
- Ben Affleck
- Matt Damon
- Leonardo Dicaprio
Athletes
- Paul Pierce – Pierce showed his poker ability with a deep run in the 2011 WSOP Main Event
- Emmitt Smith – Smith is one of the NFL’s all-time greats, and is now turning out to be quite the poker student to boot
- Mike Swick – Swick has shown some serious talent for fighting and poker
- Boris Becker – Becker is a Team PokerStars Pro and regularly competes in major tournaments throughout Europe
- James Blake – Blake is a Friend of Full Tilt Poker
- Matt Hughes – the UFC Champion is no stranger to the felt
- Alex Rodriguez – A-Rods poker habit has gotten him in hot water with baseball on more than one occasion
Musicians
- Sully Erna – Erna plays in virtually every WSOP Main Event
- Scott Ian – The former UB spokesman is a poker enthusiast, playing in tournaments online and in casinos
Personalities, Media Figures, and Businessmen
- Bruce Buffer – Buffer is a mainstay in the poker world
- Joe Reitman – the soon to be Mr. Annie Duke is also a pretty decent poker player in his own right
- James McManus – the acclaimed author is a well-known face in the poker community
- Michael Craig – another author with a liking for the felt
- Vince Van Patten – Van Patten learned the game from his father and has parlayed his Hollywood Home Game image into a lucrative WPT hosting career
- Jerry Buss – the LA Lakers owner has been playing high-stakes poker for years
- Robert Croak – the founder of Silly Bandz is another whale in the poker world
- Guy Laliberte – the Cirque de Soleil founder is an avid high-stakes poker player
- Bob Stupak – Stupak is a Vegas and Poker landmark
- Hollywood Dave Stann – Stann is a former blackjack pro turned poker player, and he is one of the few celebs who is now considered a “poker pro”
