The world of video games often intersects with the realm of Hollywood, leading to some of the most memorable and iconic celebrity collaborations. From providing voiceovers to embodying characters, many famous actors have left their mark on the gaming industry.
As is known now, video games have evolved beyond mere entertainment; they are now a powerful medium for interactive storytelling. This has attracted numerous celebrities to be a part of these experiences. Including popular faces in video games also attracts a whole new crowd to experience these interactive stories.
These are not just any celebs either; some massive names have entered the industry to be a part of some genre-defining titles. The involvement of these famous actors has significantly influenced the industry, setting new standards for character development and narrative complexity.
In the following list, we will explore the most iconic celebrities appearing in video games. From brilliant supervillains to death-defying superspies, these collaborations were unforgettable.
1. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Release year: 2002
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, PC
Starring: Ray Liotta
Ray Liotta, who was known for his roles in films like Goodfellas (1990), brought the character of Tommy Vercetti to life. His performance as the protagonist of the game added depth and authenticity to the game, making it feel more grounded.
While Al Pacino’s Scarface (1983) inspired the game’s story, Tommy Vercetty did not feel like a character who was just a virtual imitation of Tony Montana. Maybe this is why fans remember Tommy Vercetti as one of the most memorable video game protagonists ever.
2. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Release year: 2004
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, PC
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson
Fans of the series remember GTA: San Andreas as a game that pushed the series in an incredible new direction. It was much larger and more detailed than its predecessors and gave fans a dark story to experience. Samuel L. Jackson, who voices Officer Frank Tenpenny, was one of the highlights.
Jackson’s distinctive voice brought the corrupt cop to life, making him an antagonist that gamers hated to the core. Looks like when Samuel L. Jackson leaves the path of the righteous man, he goes all the way.
3. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Release year: 2015
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland
Whenever someone talks about celebrities in video games, Japanese video game designer Hideo Kojima’s name is an unmissable one. He has a knack for delivering cinematic experiences through his games to his fans. With wide shots, lens flare, and slow motion, the experience is similar to watching a very well-shot film. In addition to that, he also casts very big actors in iconic roles.
For Metal Gear Solid 5, he decided to replace series regular David Hayter with 24 star Kiefer Sutherland. This decision was initially met with a negative response from longtime fans of the series, but Kiefer delivered nonetheless. He left an unforgettable impact on the game through his incredible performance as Venom Snake, capturing his heroism and inner conflict at the same time.
4. Death Stranding
Release year: 2019
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC
Starring: Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux and Guillermo del Toro
Yet another game created by Hideo Kojima is filled to the brim with well-known celebrities. Norman Reedus, famous for his role as Daryl Dixon in the Walking Dead TV series, stars as the protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges.
His performance, backed by the likes of Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux and acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, made this game an incredible, star-studded affair. The most exciting part about it is that most of them will reprise their roles in Death Stranding 2.
5. Cyberpunk 2077
Release year: 2020
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba
CD Projekt Red’s open-world sci-fi role-playing game (RPG) has become one of the most talked-about video games ever. It is also very successful, all thanks to the massive hype it created pre-launch and Keanu Reeves.
The John Wick star plays Johnny Silverhand, a legendary rock star and terrorist who is now a digitised engram living in protagonist V’s brain. He makes constant interferences with the players’ actions and becomes a crucial friend to them over time, giving this sci-fi story a memorable twist.
Idris Elba appeared in Cyber Punk 2077’s Phantom Liberty expansion. He plays Solomon Reed, a Federal Intelligence Agency (FIA) operative living as a sleeper agent in Dogtown. His intense portrayal of a no-nonsense operative made this expansion worth a go. Truly a brilliant example of how celebrities in video games can do wonders for their story.
6. Call of Duty: Black Ops
Release year: 2010
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Starring: Sam Worthington. Ice Cube, Ed Harris and Gary Oldman
Yet another star-studded affair that offers gamers an action-packed story. Many consider Black Ops to be one of the best stories ever told in the Call of Duty franchise. This story came to life thanks to the performances by Sam Worthington, who played Alex Mayson; Ice Cube, who portrayed Bowman; Ed Harris as Hudson; and Gary Oldman, who voiced Viktor Reznov.
With incredible performances and a mind-blowing twist, Call of Duty: Black Ops remains a game that no fan should ignore.
7. Batman: Arkham Knight
Release year: 2015
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Starring: Mark Hamill, Jonathan Banks, Kevin Conroy and John Noble
Rocksteady Games concluded the famous superhero trilogy with this hard-hitting game. Besides a well-written story, this game included performances by some of the most iconic performers out there. Mark Hamill continued to voice The Joker, a character he has been portraying for over three decades now. The same goes for Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy.
Jonathan Banks, best known for his portrayal of Mike Ehrmantraut in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, plays Commissioner James Gordon, while John Noble, who played Denethor in The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, plays Scarecrow. Every one of these actors delivered a masterful performance, bringing all the complex characters of this franchise to life.
8. Far Cry 3
Release year: 2012
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Starring: Michael Mando
Michael Mando, known for his role in Better Call Saul, played Vaas Montenegro in Far Cry 3. Vaas became one of the most iconic villains in the history of video games, thanks to Mando’s intense performance as the unpredictable pirate.
His chilling performance made such an impact that Ubisoft has been trying to recreate that magic to this day.
9. Fallout 3
Release year: 2008
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Starring: Liam Neeson
When Bethesda took over the Fallout franchise, they decided to make the third game full 3D. They also decided to bring a very popular name to voice a crucial character in Fallout 3. It was none other than Liam Neeson. He plays James, the father of the protagonist, who leaves the vault after their 19th birthday, and they must go and look for him.
While he does not play the main role in this game, Liam Neeson’s name being attached to Fallout 3 was a big enough thing, making it the most successful instalment in the franchise up to that point.
10. Assassin’s Creed
Release year: 2007
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Starring: Kristen Bell
The iconic singer and actress best known for Frozen and Central Park played the role of Lucy Stillman in the first three Assassin’s Creed games. She is instrumental in guiding the player character towards his freedom and learning the ways of the Assassin. She provided her voice and likeness for the character. She played the complex character of a double agent with perfection, and became one of the fan favourite characters of the franchise, besides the likes of Ezio Auditore.
This is our list of famous actors in video games who left a mark in the industry. These performances encouraged developers to write stories that could justify even more such collaborations. We are hopeful we get to see more instances of celebrities in video games in the future.
(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Ubisoft, Bethesda, Rocksteady, Activision, Kojima Productions, CD Projekt Red, Konami Digital Entertainment, Rockstar Games)
