As video games and home consoles started to gain mainstream popularity in the early 1980s, Hollywood began to see a potentially huge new market they could tap into. Even before the first big video game movies like Super Mario Bros (1993) or Mortal Kombat (1995), big name celebrities were already marketing games by having their likenesses appear within the game itself.
This tradition dates as far back as 1984 with Bruce Lee on the Atari 8-bit family, and continues to present day with Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077. Clearly, celebrities allowing their likenesses in games is a trend that hasn’t slowed down yet. With almost four decades to cover, who are the biggest celebrities who have appeared in video games?
10 Keanu Reeves
While last year’s release of Cyberpunk 2077 didn’t go as smoothly as gamers had hoped, many of them agree Keanu Reeves' portrayal of Johnny Silverhand was certainly a silver lining. Reeves' appearance as this ex-military vet and rockerboy with a temper met with critical acclaim. The John Wick star played a huge role in marketing the game as well, with Reeves making appearances across various media to promote Cyberpunk 2077's release.
While Johnny Silverhand was Reeves' most recent in-game appearance, it certainly isn't his first. The actor's likeness (and various characters) have previously been used in Fortnite (2019), Payday 2 (2014), Constantine (2005), and The Matrix: Path of Neo (2005).
9 Shaquille O'Neil
An argument can be made that Shaq's likeness has appeared in just about every NBA-licensed game since his league debut in 1992. However, a lesser-known title will forever be associated with the four-time NBA champion. In 1994, Shaquille O’Neil starred in his own 2D fighting game, Shaq-Fu.
The game follows Shaq as he gets teleported into an alternate dimension on his way to a charity basketball game in Tokyo. There, he faces the task of rescuing a young boy from an evil mummy. The title met with mixed reviews and consistently ranks as one of the worst games of all-time. Despite this, the franchise was revived in 2018 in the form of a beat ‘em up sequel called Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn.
8 Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg has managed to remain a household name for almost two decades. Since then, he's explored all avenues of media and marketing, including video games.
The Long Beach rapper has most notably appeared in True Crime: Streets of LA (2003) as an unlockable character, and in Def Jam: Fight For NY (2004) as the antagonist in the game's story mode. Finally, he appears as an unlockable wide receiver in Madden NFL 20's Superstar KO mode.
7 Steve-O, Bam Margera, Phil Margera, and Wee Man
These four are best known for their roles in the Jackass TV series and movies. Steve-O, Wee Man, Phil Margera, and Bam Margera's brand relies on comic mischief and association with skateboard culture. This made them the perfect candidates for a Tony Hawk game, especially at the peak of the franchise's success in the mid 2000s.
While all four characters were unlockable and playable in Tony Hawk's Underground 2, Bam made his first appearance in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3. In fact, he has has appeared in seven of the games to-date.
6 Marshmello
Being no stranger to collaborations, Fortnite jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with successful DJ and EDM Producer Marshmello. Best known for his collaborations with artists like Selena Gomez and the late Juice WRLD, Marshmello's unique aesthetic — including his glowing white helmet — fit into the Fortnite universe like a glove.
The Marshmello outfit is part of Fortnite's Icon series. Players could purchase it in a set with other Marshmello cosmetics beginning on February 1, 2019. It's made 5 more appearances since then.
5 Drew Carey
Plenty of fans recognize comedian, actor, and host Drew Carey. He's the current host of The Price is Right, former host of Whose Line is it Anyway?, and star of The Drew Carey Show. Back in 2001, Carey was a secret unlockable character in The Sims: House Party expansion pack.
Carey wasn't available as a playable sim. Rather, an NPC bearing his likeness would pull up in a limousine after the player threw a successful party. To summon him, players had to reach a party score of at least 55, and the party had to last at least 135 minutes.
4 50 Cent
At the height of 50 Cent's career in the mid-2000's, the NYC rapper sank his teeth into the growing world of gaming. His title, 50 Cent: Bulletproof, released in 2005. This action game featured 50 Cent in a story loosely based on his life, where he searched for vengeance against people who tried to have him murdered. The game also featured appearances from Eminem, Dr. Dre, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, and Tony Yayo.
50 Cent would also appear in a third-person shooter published by THQ called 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand (2009). He was also one of the selectable fighters in Def Jam: Fight for NY (2004).
3 Bruce Lee
Legendary martial artist, actor, and director Bruce Lee was among the first celebrities to appear in a video game. With the self-titled platformer Bruce Lee (1984) for the Atari 8-bit family, fans could put themselves into the martial artist's shoes. They guided him through a series of chambers, fighting enemies such as ninjas.
Lee would appear in several other games going forward. One such title was Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1994) for the Sega Genesis based on the biopic from Universal Pictures. Another was Bruce Lee: Return of the Legend (2003) for the Game Boy Advance.
2 Travis Scott
Much like Marshmello, Fortnite's collaboration with Travis Scott met with praise from fans and acclaim from critics. Players could purchase his costume and accompanying cosmetics in the Fortnite item shop. On top of that, the Fortnite team also created a live virtual concert event to tie everything together.
The concert featured a larger-than-life version of Travis with all kinds of special effects that could only be replicated in a virtual space. Such effects involved submerging the crowd underwater, Travis turning into a cyborg, rollercoasters around the map, and setting the surroundings on fire.
1 Ricky Gervais and Katt Williams
Many fans would agree Grand Theft Auto is one of the only gaming franchises that could house two real-life comedy powerhouses in a game without skipping a beat.
Both Ricky Gervais and Katt Williams voice fictional versions of themselves as stand-up comedians in Grand Theft Auto IV (2008). In the game, they perform at the Split Sides Club. The GTA franchise is no stranger to raunchy comedy, and the two didn't shy away. They contributed bits about weed, short people, obesity, and more.
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