10 Memorable Celebrity Cameos in Video Games

Celebrity cameos in video games have evolved from hidden Easter eggs to massive marketing collaborations.

However, games are usually built around specific worlds and narratives, making celebrity cameos a bit difficult to integrate.

Sometimes, it is surprising to see a favorite star appear in a game you half expected them to be in. When done right, though, they can elevate the experience for the players.

From Bruce Lee’s digital return to Hideo Kojima’s self-insert missions, these ten unexpected appearances redefined how stars interact with the gaming world.

Bruce Lee (UFC 2014)

Bruce Lee featured in EA Sports UFC (2014) as a playable fighter across four divisions: Flyweight, Bantamweight, Featherweight, and Lightweight, with developers working closely with his team to recreate his signature moves, fighting stance, and overall style as accurately as possible.

Lee was available as a pre-order bonus in UFC 2014 and is also available as an add-on purchase for other users. Players could also unlock his character after completing Career Mode on Pro difficulty or higher.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (WWE 2K16)

The WWE video game series added Arnold Schwarzenegger to WWE 2K16, tying into the popularity of the Terminator franchise and his 2015 WWE Hall of Fame induction, with developers including two playable Terminator characters.

The T-800 (1984) version, based on the original Terminator movie, and the T-800 (1991) version from Terminator 2: Judgment Day were exclusive pre-order bonuses that were later released as a purchasable DLC pack.

Fresh Prince And Jazzy Jeff (NBA Jam: Tournament Edition)

NBA Jam: Tournament Edition’s console releases had Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff as hidden playable characters.

The “Stay in School” campaign in the 1990s led to NBA Jam: Tournament Edition including Will Smith as the “Fresh Prince,” inspired by The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, unlocked with “FRS” and February 2, while DJ Jazzy Jeff is unlocked with “JAZ” and October 9.

Kit Harington and Conor McGregor (Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare)

This crossover surprised everyone. Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington and UFC champion Conor McGregor were added to Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.

The celebrity stars appear as key members of the villainous Settlement Defense Force, with Kit as leader Admiral Salen Kotch and Conor as Captain Bradley Fillion, commander of the carrier Ares Vallis.

Lewis Hamilton also plays a cameo in the game as Officer Carl Hamilton on the Retribution.

Steve-O (ESPN NFL 2K5)

MTV star “Steve-O” is a celebrity challenger in ESPN NFL 2K5 and is accessible through Crib mode. If you spend time in your custom “Crib,” you might receive a random phone call from Steve-O.

The character will challenge you to play against his DreamTeam, specifically the LA DreamTeam, a custom team comprising Pro Bowl players. During the matchup, his character appears as a picture as he proceeds to trash talk the player.

Jimmy Kimmel (Call of Duty Black Ops II)

This cameo is easy to miss, as Jimmy Kimmel does not appear during gameplay but features in two of the game’s endings.

In both appearances, Jimmy Kimmel hosts a fictional Jimmy Kimmel Live! during the end credits, interviewing Chloe Lynch about the cyberattack if she survives, or joking about Raul Menendez if he escapes.

The partnership was perfectly timed, aligning with the game’s release on Kimmel’s 2012 birthday.

Samuel L. Jackson (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)

Samuel L. Jackson’s role in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas stands out as one of the most dominant celebrity cameos in the series.

He plays the role of a corrupt LAPD officer, Officer Frank Tenpenny, the main antagonist of the San Andreas storyline. Tenpenny is part of a corrupt group called C.R.A.S.H.

The character was modeled after real-life LAPD officer Rafael Perez.

Ricky Gervais (Grand Theft Auto IV)

Ricky Gervais appears in Grand Theft Auto IV as a headliner at the Split Sides Comedy Club in Liberty City, performing material from his Fame tour along with new jokes, which players can watch by visiting the club in Star Junction, Algonquin, and returning later if he is not performing.

Gervais is also interviewed on the WKTT radio station, and his sets are broadcast on in-game television channels like Weazel.

Liam Neeson (Fallout 3)

Video games are not the first thing that comes to mind with Liam Neeson, who plays James, a scientist and the protagonist’s father, whose disappearance from Vault 101 while leading Project Purity sets the story in motion.

The story centers on tracking down Neeson’s character, whose responses vary with player decisions, before he reappears later in a virtual simulation, taking on the form of a dog named “Doc.”

Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain)

Hideo Kojima is known for his work in Metal Gear, Death Stranding, and its sequels. In Metal Gear Solid V, the Japanese game designer lends his physical appearance and is an unlockable staff member for Mother Base.

He also appears in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, while in The Phantom Pain he can be recruited into Diamond Dogs under the codename “Hideo” by completing the mission “Side Op 112: Extract the Intel Agent.”

Earlier, cameos were often hidden or brief, but in newer games like Cyberpunk 2077 featuring Keanu Reeves, they are now central to the story, showing how celebrity roles have evolved from simple extras into major narrative elements.