Notable Entertainers That Have Had Poker Success
Poker players have become celebrities. Celebrities are flocking to poker. Let’s look at a few of the celebrities that have had some success at the tables.
Our first celebrity is a surprising one, Jennifer Tilly. The catch here is that her boyfriend is none other than Phil Laak, a top poker player. He has taught Jennifer well. She has cashed in quite a few tournaments, and has won a WSOP bracelet. In 2005 she shocked the poker world winning the ladies only event.
Rock star Sully Erna (Godsmack) has been playing as much as the pros lately. He can’t get enough of the game. He has admitted to changing the bands tour schedule, so he could play in the WSOP. He has cashed in the last two main events at the WSOP.
James Woods is a regular at poker tournaments. Not a very successful player in the tournaments, he loves the action anyway. He is an owner of Hollywood Poker, a popular online poker room.
Ben Affleck, a regular cash game player, had a big win in 2004. He won the California State Championships of Poker main event ($10,000 buy in). He credits top pros Annie Duke, Antonio Esfandaria, and Allen Cunningham with tutoring him.
Actor Chad Brown isn’t the super star the others are. He is perhaps the best poker player though. After a short acting career in the 1990′s, Chad has become a strong professional poker player. He also hosts the television series the Ultimate Poker Challenge.
With career earnings of over 2 million dollars, he has had many good runs in big events. He almost captured a WSOP bracelet with a second place finish in event 54 of the 2007 WSOP. His strong record is only tainted by not having a big win.
Gabe Kaplan, of Welcome Back Kotter fame, is the iconic celebrity poker player. He has been involved in poker for years. Back in the seventies, when televised poker lived in obscurity, Gabe was often the host, or the poker expert, for the commentary.
Gabe started playing in the WSOP way back in 1978. He didn’t get his first cash until 1986. He has reached 6 final tables, including a second place in 2005.
Gabe can still be found doing commentary for poker shows. He is close to the game, is a good player in his own right, and has a quick comedic mind. This makes for a quality voice for poker.
I’m sure we’ve left some celebrities off this list that should be here. As poker has grown in recent years, many new celebrities are getting into the action. The WSOP has more celebrities than are courtside at the Lakers games. They all want to take a shot at the big one.
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