To all of us here, we enjoy spending our afternoons with a PlayStation/Xbox/Nintendo Switch controller in hand, on a comfortable couch, in front of a big screen. You’re also a gamer if you play on a PC with a monitor; there’s room for everyone here.
Throughout history, video games have intertwined with various forms of media. From literature to comics, movies to TV series, it’s a natural occurrence where transmedia storytelling is common and beneficial. Today, we bring you the definitive compilation of all those artists who lent their face, expressions, and voice to portray a fictional character in a world created through code and game engines. Let’s dive in!
Famous people you didn’t know appeared in videogames
Keanu Reeves in Cyberpunk 2077
This appearance is at the top of the list because it is the most famous of this decade. Above, you can watch the epic trailer released by CD Projekt Red to introduce the game, where you can clearly see the one and only Keanu Reeves.
Keanu Reeves portrays a rock musician and veteran named Johnny Silverhand in the Cyberpunk universe, who later exists as an “engram” where his personality and memories exist in holographic form.
The game’s protagonist, V, has the option to let Johnny Silverhand take over their body or remain as an engram. In any case, it’s a difficult decision to make.
For those who are unaware, in the upcoming DLC of the game, titled “Phantom Liberty,” Idris Elba will take on the lead role. Not content with just one A-list actor, it seems they needed two giants of the big screen.
Kristen Bell in Assassin’s Creed and Kingdom Hearts
Here we caught you, and don’t play smart. You didn’t know that Kristen Bell, one of the most prolific actresses in Hollywood in the last decade, also appeared in one of the most powerful video game franchises.
Kristen Bell is a popular actress with a multitude of award-winning roles. She portrayed Ellie Bishop in “Heroes,” the titular Veronica Mars in “Veronica Mars,” and Eleanor Shellstrop in “The Good Place.”
However, most of the audience, especially younger viewers, probably recognize Kristen Bell as the voice of Anna in Frozen. And breaking with Disney tradition, Bell also sang her own songs in the films.
As Frozen was so popular, Disney funded a lot of games starring its characters, and Bell portrayed Anna in all of them, including Kingdom Hearts 3.
At first glance, it may seem that Bell only takes on film roles in video games, but there is one well-known exception: Kristen Bell provided the voice for Lucy Stillman, an Animus operator and secret agent of the Assassin Order, in Assassin’s Creed and its sequels.
In the series, she plays a genetic memory researcher who was born into a historical order of assassins and uses a unique device that allows people to relive the memories of their ancestors.
Norman Reedus in Death Stranding
We all came to know Norman Reedus for his role in The Walking Dead. Back then, he was a young heartthrob who captured the hearts of millions of fans. Now, at the age of 54, he has an impressive video game under his belt.
Death Stranding is set in a post-apocalyptic United States where creatures threaten human life.
Norman Reedus portrays Sam, a porter tasked with reconnecting isolated communities across the country while taking care of an unborn fetus named Lou.
And since Kojima is a legend in the industry, he also managed to enlist his friends Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, and director Guillermo del Toro to appear in the video game.
Rami Malek in Until Dawn
From Mr. Robot to Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek went on to become the protagonist of one of the most terrifying exclusives on PlayStation 4. When it comes to work, one can star in any video game necessary.
Rami Malek portrays Josh in the horror game Until Dawn. Josh invites eight friends to a cabin on Blackwood Mountain, where his sisters disappeared a year ago, and they end up trapped until dawn.
The game’s plot may be clichéd, but it becomes enjoyable to play… if you’re into horror. The game also features a stellar cast including Jordan Fisher, Hayden Panettiere, and Nichole Sakura.
So get ready for some scares, intense chases, and a few stabbings while watching Rami Malek deliver an impressive performance.
Jesse Williams in Detroit: Become Human
If you’re a fan of Grey’s Anatomy, you’re well aware of Jesse Williams, one of the most handsome and amiable doctors on the show in its over 18 seasons: Dr. Jackson Avery.
Jesse portrays Markus, an android who is falsely accused of killing a renowned artist under his care and later leads a massive revolt against the mistreatment of androids by humans.
Clancy Brown (also known as Mr. Krabs in SpongeBob SquarePants) and Lance Henriksen also star in the game. Honestly, it’s wild from start to finish, and no two playthroughs are the same. I highly recommend you give it a try when you can.
Ashley Johnson in The Last of Us 1 & 2
Ashley Johnson may not be a widely recognized actress, but to be fair, she has appeared in several movies and TV shows. For example, she was in the series Blindspot and the film What Women Want.
Ashley Johnson portrays Ellie, a teenager immune to the mutated Cordyceps fungus infection that is turning people into “Infected.”
Her portrayal of Ellie was so exceptional that she won not just one but two BAFTA Games Awards for “Best Performer.” Undoubtedly, the actress’s performance is sublime and the reason why millions of players fell in love with Ellie and Joel’s story.
Kit Harington in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
“You know nothing, Jon Snow.” Or so they said to Kit Harington in the Game of Thrones series, where he portrayed one of the most important and beloved characters in the entire HBO series.
While he is most famous for his role in Game of Thrones, Kit Harington also voices Salen Kotch, the main antagonist in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, leading a force determined to take control of the solar system.
It’s one of the rare instances where we’ve seen the British actor play a villain, as his good-guy image often dominates his roles. This unexpected cameo as a video game protagonist is sure to surprise you.
Neil Patrick Harris in Saints Row & Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions
Neil Patrick Harris has appeared in more TV series, movies, and cartoons than we can count. That list also includes several video games.
Neil Patrick Harris rose to fame with the acclaimed series Doogie Howser, M.D., where he portrayed the child prodigy doctor. This role made him so famous that it was referenced in The Simpsons episode “Bart the Murderer,” where Harris played a fictionalized version of himself voicing a fictionalized version of Bart Simpson.
However, most audiences probably recognize Harris as the pop culture icon Barney Stinson from “How I Met Your Mother.”
Harris also has a number of voice acting roles under his belt, such as Music Meister in Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Dr. Blowhole in “The Penguins of Madagascar.” And yes, Harris has also made his mark in the world of video games.
His first role in a video game was as DJ Veteran Child in “Saints Row 2.” Harris’s next role was significantly larger, as he portrayed the main antagonist in “Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard,” Wallace “Wally” Wellesley.
However, Harris’s most significant role was undoubtedly that of Amazing Spider-Man in “Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.”
Michael Fassbender in Fable 3
While many actors play a wide range of roles, others become typecast. Jason Statham, for example, often portrays tough and British characters.
Michael Fassbender is another example of an actor who takes on similar roles, as he tends to play villains even when he’s not on the screen live.
Fassbender has appeared in numerous TV shows and films. One of his early roles was as Burton Christenson in “Band of Brothers,” but his most significant role was the award-winning portrayal of Steve Jobs in the film “Steve Jobs.”
However, most audiences probably recognize Fassbender for his villainous characters, such as Magneto in “X-Men: First Class” and David in “Prometheus.”
Fassbender has portrayed two video game characters in his career, one of which wasn’t actually in a video game. In the live-action adaptation of “Assassin’s Creed,” Fassbender played Cal Lynch/Aguilar, a character created exclusively for the film and not directly connected to the video game franchise.
Fassbender’s only role in an actual video game belongs to the “villainous” King Logan in Fable 3. While Fassbender wasn’t the only celebrity in the game (Ben Kingsley voiced Sabine, and John Cleese voiced the butler Jasper), his portrayal was hardly recognizable in this role.
Mark Strong in Battlefield V & Warhammer 40,000: Space Marines
No one can predict the course his career will take. One day he’s a supporting actor in a soap opera, and the next he’s portraying some of the most famous heroes and villains in cinema history.
Mark Strong began his career in the British soap opera Eastenders. Although Strong started appearing in films several years later, it took nearly 30 years for him to receive true recognition.
His breakthrough role was Frank D’Amico in “Kick-Ass,” and from there he landed better roles. Since then, he has appeared in movies like “Shazam!” and “Kingsman.”
While Strong reprised his role as Frank D’Amico for the video game “Kick-Ass,” he has also portrayed several video game characters such as Silanus in “Total War: Rome II” and Stargordon in “The Artful Escape.”
Most gamers probably remember Strong for his strong connection to the Warhammer 40K universe. Strong portrayed Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn in “Eisenhorn: Xenos,” as well as Captain Titus in the cult classic “Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine.”
Unfortunately, Strong will not be voicing Titus in Space Marine 2; he will be replaced by Clive Standen. Oh, and he also lends his voice to one of the prominent characters in Battlefield V, one of EA’s major releases in recent years.
Nathan Fillion in Halo & Destiny
“Firefly” not only marked the beginning of Alan Tudyk’s career but also endeared him to science fiction fans worldwide. However, he wasn’t the only actor blessed by what we’ll call the “Firefly effect.”
Nathan Fillion is a chameleon in acting who brings an adorable spark to every character he portrays. Two of his early recognizable roles were Johnny Donnelly in “Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place” and “the wrong Private Ryan” in “Saving Private Ryan.”
However, he didn’t achieve true fame (or win any awards) until he played Captain Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds in “Firefly.” Since then, Fillion has portrayed countless characters.
Fillion has also portrayed many video game characters, and we’re not just talking about Nathan Drake in the excellent fan film of “Uncharted”.
His first role in a video game was Gao the Lesser in “Jade Empire”, quickly followed by Sergeant Reynolds in “Halo 3”. After those roles, Fillion found his place portraying the recurring character Edward Buck in the subsequent titles of the “Halo” series.
But most notably, Fillion took on the role of Cayde-6 in the “Destiny” franchise until the character’s untimely demise in the DLC “Forsaken,” where Nolan North voiced his final moments.
Sean Bean in Civilization 6 & The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Sometimes, a single line is enough for a character and their actor to become ingrained in the minds of the audience. This is especially true in the case of Sean Bean.
Anyone who has watched The Lord of the Rings or spent time on the internet will instantly recognize Bean as Boromir. However, Bean is much more than just saying, “One does not simply walk into Mordor,” although Bean loved filming Boromir’s death scene.
He won several awards for his role as Eddard “Ned” Stark in the first season of Game of Thrones, and Bean also portrayed Joseph Wilford in Snowpiercer and Ulrich in Black Death.
Unlike other actors from The Lord of the Rings, Bean did not reprise his role as Boromir in related video games, but he has a lot of experience in the world of video games.
His first role was that of Martin Septim in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, which was followed by several voice-over works. Anyone who has played “Papa Sangre II,” “Kholat,” or “Civilization VI” should recognize Bean as the respective narrators in those games.
Fans of Hitman 2 and 3 should also identify Bean as Mark Faba, who undoubtedly met his demise at their hands countless times. And while not a character in a video game per se, Bean also provided the voice for King Regis Lucis Caelum in the movie “Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV.”
Martin Sheen in Mass Effect 2 & 3
Despite the enormous influence of celebrities, their roles in video games are usually few and far between. Even the cinematic titan Jack Black has only appeared in five video games.
However, a truly talented celebrity always leaves their mark on the few roles they have in video games.
Martin Sheen is one of the most renowned actors in the history of cinema. He has portrayed characters such as Captain Benjamin Willard in Apocalypse Now (one of his favorite roles, despite suffering a heart attack during filming) and the award-winning President Josiah Bartlet in The West Wing.
Although Sheen has been involved in hundreds of TV shows and movies, he only has two notable voice acting roles, one of which is Sly Sludge in “Captain Planet and the Planeteers.”
Sheen’s other notable role was his sole performance in a video game: The Illusive Man in Mass Effect 2 and 3. Many players agree that The Illusive Man is one of the best-acted villains in video games, and while much of it is attributed to the character’s dialogue and actions, Sheen brought them to life with his voice.
Without Martin Sheen, The Illusive Man would likely be just another footnote in the annals of video game villainy, rather than a distinctive mark.
Andy Serkis in Enslaved: Odyssey to the West & Heavenly Sword
Not all celebrities are famous for their on-screen performances. Many become famous for their work behind the scenes to create cinematic magic. In the era of CGI, few can match Andy Serkis.
Serkis has brought countless computer-generated characters to life, such as King Kong in Peter Jackson’s film “King Kong” and Caesar in the “Planet of the Apes” trilogy.
But Andy Serkis is more than just a master of motion capture. He portrayed Ulysses Klaue in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Black Panther,” and gained worldwide fame for his portrayal of Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings” films.
While Serkis did not provide the voice in the infamous video game “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum,” he has considerable experience in the world of video games.
Of course, he voiced Gollum in the previous “Lord of the Rings” games, but Serkis also portrayed The Inquisitor in “Risen” and Guy Gisbourne in “Volume.”
However, Serkis’s most significant contributions to video games were his collaborations with Ninja Theory. He performed motion capture for “Enslaved: Odyssey to the West” and also co-wrote and co-directed “Heavenly Sword.”
More recently, Serkis portrayed Grandmaster Vardan Kai in “Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate.” As you can see, Andy is as much an actor in the world of video games as he is in films. We would even say that this case is the most intriguing on the list, as he transitioned from voice acting to performance and found success in both realms.
