10 Very Weird Celebrity Cameos in Video Games

Jarrettjawn
Gaming News
Gaming News

I wasn’t the only person stroking my beard in confused contemplation when 2K Games announced that Arnold Schwarzenegger would be a playable character in this year’s WWE 2K16. Not as himself, mind you, who was inducted in the wrestling promotion’s Hall of Fame this year. But as T-800, better known as The Terminator. No,  I don’t quite understand it either.

It isn’t the only super strange cameo appearance by a celebrity or public figure in a video game, though. The industry actually has a pretty elaborate history with making off the cuff pop culture references by featuring celebrities. Here’s some of the weirdest.

10. Barack Obama/Sarah Palin – Mercenaries 2

Back when The President of the United States was still just a hopeful senator, the squad over at Pandemic Studios thought it would be pretty fitting to include DLC that turns your mercs into Barack Obama and his then Presidential rival’s VP candidate Sarah Palin. The were the freshest faces in the race, and the most Googleable political figures of the time (Ron Paul wasn’t around yet), so the tongue and cheek inclusion of these two was pretty relevant.

9. The Rock – SpyHunter

The Rock’s inclusion in 2006’s Spy Hunter reboot wasn’t completely out of left field – a movie also staring the burgeoning movie star was also in the pipe line. The game was supposed to be a simple tie in, but turned out to be the only thing to come out of that relationship. Dwayne Johnson might be too big of a star to do something like it now. At the very least, he’s too big to fit inside the car.

8. Mikhail Gorbachev – Street Fighter II

It’s actually almost funny how clearly Zangief’s ending in Street Fighter II illustrates the complete uselessness of fighting game ending sequences. Since not everyone is the main protagonist, only one or two of the casts’ total endings actually apply to the canon. The rest are “What if?” style fever dreams, and Zangief is such a random and inconsequential character narrative that he had no choice but to be the most ridiculous. Enter a weird dance slide show featuring Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.

7. Ronald Reagan – Bad Dudes vs DragonNinja

When rampant ninja-related crimes hit the White House, and President Ronnie (read Ronald Reagan) get’s caught in the crossfire, it’s up to a pair of random degenerates to rescue him. That sort of grassroots empowering was what The Jelly Bean Man was always professing, so it only makes sense that it’s a central theme in a game where he gets kidnapped. If you and an optional partner prove to be bad enough dudes to save him, then he’ll offer to take you guys out for a burger. I’d prefer medals, but we can’t get too picky, I guess.

6. Michael Jackson – Space Channel 5

So Michael Jackson was a weird guy, right? He was a rare talent that was innovative and provocative as a song writer, musician, and performer, but also really strange. So, as it may not surprise people that he’s in a game that is ostensibly about dancing, the final package is characteristically spacey. Jackson reached out to developer Tetsuya Mizuguci towards the end of the development of Space Channel 5 and wanted to be apart of the game in some way. Scrambling for options, the dev team decided to change the ending. Once involving saving aliens, it now involved saving aliens AND a wayward Michael Jackson. Of course it did.

5. The Clintons – Ready 2 Rumble: Round 2/NBA Jam

As far as presidential power couples go, Bill and Hillary Clinton have done some pretty impressive time together in video games. This is probably because the two of them were nigh inseparable, pre-Lewinsky. Together, they were a mean pair of street ballers in NBA Jam: Tournament Edition. As they weren’t the only celebrity cameos, no hidden characters ever hit the court more often on my Genesis than the Bill and Hill Express. The pair also showed up as playable pugilists in the arcade boxing sequel, Ready 2 Rumble: Round 2. Another surprise guest in that game: Michael Jackson, again.

4. The Burger King – Fight Night Round 3

Confession time: I love the Burger King. His persistent creepiness is only matched by omnipresence – he’s literally everywhere and his only base desire is to feed you Whoppers while staring into your primal soul with his cold, dead eyes. It’s comedic gold, really. So when he was a prominent figure in Fight Night Round 3, it served as both clever use of product placement, and an opportunity for catharsis. It’s also really, really random.

3. Phil Collins – GTA Vice City Stories

The weirdest part about having a GTA character that is an 80’s prog-rock music icon is that it wasn’t some crazy spoof caricature of Phil Collins, it was the honest-to-goodness, real deal Phil Collins. It marked the first time ever that a real celebrity played themselves in the long running crime series, and if you’ve never played the infamous mission “Kill Phil,” you really should. Oh, and there’s also a “live” performance of “In the Air Tonight,” and if that’s not your thing, well you’re probably wrong. 

2. Gary Coleman – Postal 2

The most interesting part of Gary Coleman’s prominent role in Postal 2 is that it’s probably the most relevant he’d been since his classic role in Diff’rent Strokes. His simple presence in things became bigger than any actorial value he’d add to the part. Maybe as a sort of recognition of this effect he had, and as a subtle act of defiance against the “child-like” persona he’d come to be associated with, he dove heavily into the role of violent psychopath in a game that is commonly considered one of the most vulgar and abhorrent games ever. Take that, typecasting!

1. Fred Durst – Fight Club

This one is a head-scratcher. I have no great understanding as to why this game features Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst as an unlockable character. Maybe its because the existence of the game is such a bold display of corporate tampering outside of the intent of the subject matter, that Vivendi Games figured that it was it’s natural duty to push this game as deep into the rabbit hole as possible. And listen, I’ve never read the book, so maybe Durst plays a huge role in some sub-narrative that I’m wholly ignorant to. Please be that…

What other games had completely nutty celebrity cameos? Leave them below, or tweet us @CurseGamepedia.


Challenge Accepted | ‘Game of Thrones: Kingsroad’
Johnny Chiodini and Luke Westaway battle for the throne in 'Game of Thrones: Kingsroad'
Copied to clipboard
Squid Game and More New Netflix Shows and Movies Coming in June 2025
The light is turning green one last time in Squid Game Season 3
Copied to clipboard
CoD Season 4: Start Date, Ana De Armas Operator, Return Of Zombies Grief Mode
Here's everything we know and what we've heard so far about Black Ops 6's Season 4 update.
Copied to clipboard
Game Pass Now Has A Retro Games App, Including A PS1 Game
The new Retro Classics app on Xbox will let you access dozens of classic games from a variety of platforms.
Copied to clipboard
Catch These Five Games Before They Leave Game Pass At The End Of May
Remnant 2 is among the games leaving Game Pass on May 31, but there's still time to play them or keep them.
Copied to clipboard
Mario Kart World - 14 New Details Nintendo Just Revealed
Nintendo has revealed a boatload of new information about Mario Kart World.
Copied to clipboard
More New Game Pass Titles For May 2025 Include 2024's Best And Day-One Releases
Metaphor ReFantazio, Stalker 2, and To a T lead the second wave of titles coming to Game Pass this month.
Copied to clipboard
You Could Be Playing Battlefield 6 Playtests Very Soon, Here's How
As DICE announces an invite-only pre-alpha playtest for the new Battlefield game, here's how to access it.
Copied to clipboard
2025's Best-Selling Games So Far In The US
Here are the best-selling games of 2025 so far.
Copied to clipboard
Fortnite Is Finally Back On iOS In The US; Here's How To Download It
The legal drama might continue in one way or another, but Fortnite is out now on iOS after nearly five years away.
Copied to clipboard
One Chicago Showrunners Preview All Three Emotional, Game-Changing Finales
Car accidents, pregnancy news, a wedding, and more hit the Windy City
Copied to clipboard
Murderbot: Alexander Skarsgård on Crafting an Android With Neurodivergent Traits
'The core idea of the show is you shouldn't reduce personhood.'
Copied to clipboard
The Overwatch 2 X Street Fighter Collaboration Is "A Match Made In Heaven"
Two of Overwatch's key art directors discuss bringing Capcom's fighter to Blizzard's hero shooter.
Copied to clipboard
Some $80 Games Are A "Steal" Based On What They Offer, Former Sony Exec Says 
"As long as people choose carefully how they spend their money, I don't think they should be complaining."
Copied to clipboard
New Xbox Update Makes A Key Improvement
Microsoft is delivering an improvement that fans have been asking for.
Copied to clipboard
The Last Of Us Season 2 Finale's Intense Trailer Sets Up A Dramatic Conclusion
Season 2 wraps up this Sunday with what looks like a powerful episode.
Copied to clipboard
Red Dead Redemption At 15: There Will Never Be Another Spaghetti Western Like It
Even in its own trilogy, there's nothing quite like Red Dead Redemption.
Copied to clipboard
15 Games Like Call Of Duty To Play With Your Friends In 2025
Here's our full list of the best games like Call of Duty to play right now if you need a new multiplayer shooter to dive into.
Copied to clipboard
Magic: The Gathering - Final Fantasy Through The Ages: Every Bonus Sheet Card
Here are all 64 cards from the special subset included within the MTG Final Fantasy expansion.
Copied to clipboard
Fortnite Now Lets You Speak To Darth Vader With AI Voice Of James Earl Jones
The late actor now lives on in Fortnite, with his family's consent.
Copied to clipboard
Switch 2's Bravely Default Remaster Rings In 3DS Nostalgia Era With A Great RPG
The retro-throwback RPG looks beautiful in some ways, and charmingly rudimentary in others.
Copied to clipboard
Murderbot Review: Alexander Skarsgård Is Hilariously Awkward in Sci-Fi Dramedy
Skarsgård plays a rogue cyborg in Apple TV+'s somewhat shallow but appropriately snarky adaptation
Copied to clipboard
The Handmaid's Tale Cast and Crew React to the Show's Own Red Wedding Episode
'People are going to have their minds blown by what happens.'
Copied to clipboard
All The PlayStation Plus May 2025 Games For Premium And Extra Subscribers
PS Plus subscribers can look forward to a diverse selection of games this month.
Copied to clipboard
Duster Review: Thank You, J.J. Abrams, for Another Josh Holloway Show
The new crime thriller from Abrams and LaToya Morgan is a messy delight
Copied to clipboard
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Review - Completing The Set
Capcom delivers another great fighting game collection--even with varying quality in the selections this time around.
Copied to clipboard
Control Spin-Off FBC: Firebreak Is A Defiant, Punk-Rock Take On Co-Op Shooters
Remedy's three-player FPS combines a DIY spirit with Left 4 Dead-like chaos.
Copied to clipboard
The Bear Season 4 Has a Tasty Premiere Date
We'll be back in the kitchen imminently
Copied to clipboard
FX Just Dropped a Ton of Alien: Earth Info, Including a Premiere Date
Noah Hawley's take on the sci-fi franchise is set somewhere Alien has never been
Copied to clipboard
Tracker Boss Unpacks That Season 2 Finale and What's Coming in Season 3
Elwood Reid says Justin Hartley evokes a certain classic tough guy
Copied to clipboard
Marvel Rivals Battle Pass Season 0 - All Skins, Emotes, And Other Rewards
The free-to-play hero shooter Marvel Rivals has arrived, launching with a short Season 0 battle pass.
Copied to clipboard
Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra Delayed
The new Marvel game won't make it out on time.
Copied to clipboard
The Best And Wildest Grand Theft Auto 6 Theories We've Seen So Far
Even with limited footage and screens, the GTA community has some big ideas for the next game.
Copied to clipboard
WoW Legion Is Getting The Remix Treatment, Blizzard Confirms
Legion Remix has been officially announced at PAX East.
Copied to clipboard
Fallout Renewed For A Third Season, But Heading To New Vegas First
Prime Video has greenlit Fallout Season 3 while we're still waiting for Season 2 to premiere later this year.
Copied to clipboard
Boba Fett, Final Fantasy 7's Aerith, And The Best Cosplay From PAX East 2025
Halo, Helldivers, Fallout, and much more were on display by fans at PAX.
Copied to clipboard
GTA 4 Remaster May Be In The Works
We might get GTA 4 a second time before GTA 6.
Copied to clipboard
Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Collab Led To Spirited Discussions Over Cuts
"I had to say 'Daniel, if they don't make it in, I will be very upset, because someone will get very upset with me if they don't make it in."
Copied to clipboard
Nintendo Reveals A Switch 2 Setting That Prevents Its Battery From Deteriorating
Make sure you turn on this Nintendo Switch 2 setting if you don't want your battery to deteriorate as fast.
Copied to clipboard
Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy PAX East Panel: See The Revealed Cards Now
The mad dash to June 13 has begun, as the PAX East panel revealed over 20 cards from the upcoming set.
Copied to clipboard
Borderlands 4 Will Feature Substantial Changes For Co-Op Players
From improved lobbies to the ability to fast-travel directly to your friends, Borderlands 4 looks like it'll be a blast of fun for fans of co-op games
Copied to clipboard
Andor's Kyle Soller: Syril's 'Finally Understanding That He's Been the Patsy'
'He's in such a primal state of transition, it's like he's leaving a cult'
Copied to clipboard
The Hilarious Peacemaker Season 2 Trailer Features Some DC Cameos
Check out the Superman connection in the first Season 2 trailer
Copied to clipboard
Revenge Of The Savage Planet Review - A Goo(d) Time
A bigger and better sequel, stretching out its joyful mix of platforming, exploration, and puzzle-solving across four diverse and lively planets.
Copied to clipboard
Doom: The Dark Ages Review - The Old One
Doom: The Dark Ages reinvents and reins in with equal measure, taking the series in a bold new direction without straying from its captivating roots.
Copied to clipboard
Europa Universalis 5 Is Unabashedly Hardcore, And I Love It
Europa Universalis 5 features all of the thorough mechanical depth Paradox Interactive’s grand strategy series is known for.
Copied to clipboard
How To Survive Fortnite's Painfully Slow Star Wars Meta
Zero Build players should never leave home without shield bubbles.
Copied to clipboard
8 Horror Subclasses Join Unearthed Arcana For Dungeons And Dragons 2024
New D&D horror subclasses announced with the latest Unearthed Arcana.
Copied to clipboard
Squid Game's Season 3 Trailer Teases a New Deadly Game
Let's talk about that gumball machine in the new trailer
Copied to clipboard
The Best Anime TV Shows on Netflix
The biggest streamer has a ton of Japanese imports and exclusive originals worth watching
Copied to clipboard
GTA 6 Trailer 2 Breakdown: What's Happening In Leonida?
You'd be amazed how much can be packed into two minutes and 46 seconds.
Copied to clipboard
Disney Lorcana Next Chapter Livestream: Everything Revealed For Lorcana's Future
Ravensburger's hit TCG has some big plans for its third year.
Copied to clipboard
Games Joining Game Pass In May 2025, Including Doom: The Dark Ages
Three day-one releases are part of this wave for the subscription service.
Copied to clipboard
GTA 6 - Here Are 177 Screenshots To Ease The Wait Until 2026
Grand Theft Auto VI is coming in May 2026.
Copied to clipboard
Filming The Last of Us Episode 4's Subway Action Scene Was No Easy Task
Go behind Episodes 2 and 4 with cinematographer Catherine Goldschmidt
Copied to clipboard
Apex Legends Season 25 Patch Notes: New Legend, Arenas Mode, And More
Season 25: Prodigy includes a new audio bug report system, the return of Arenas, and a new Legend named Sparrow.
Copied to clipboard
Nintendo Switch's Latest Update Disables Popular Game-Sharing Loophole
Switch owners have lost a helpful way to share online-enabled games thanks to the latest hardware update.
Copied to clipboard
Fortnite Star Wars Battle Pass: All Skins And Other Rewards
Fortnite is going all in on Star Wars this month.
Copied to clipboard
GTA 6 Delayed To 2026
Rockstar's giant open-world game will not make it out on time.
Copied to clipboard
FX Gives First Details on Shōgun Season 2
Production is set to begin in 2026
Copied to clipboard
Sam Elliott Joins Landman Season 2, as He Should
A legend of the West is joining Season 2 — yeehaw!
Copied to clipboard
Everything New In Fortnite's Star Wars Season, Galactic Battle
For the next five weeks, Star Wars is taking over Fortnite battle royale and Lego Fortnite.
Copied to clipboard
Fortnite Returning To US iOS Soon After Judge Slams Apple For "Insubordination"
The latest chapter in the Epic Games/Apple legal battle gives Epic a big win.
Copied to clipboard
Xbox Consoles, Games, And Accessories See Price Increases Starting Today
An Xbox Series X system will now cost $600 in the US, after previously being listed for $500.
Copied to clipboard
PlayStation Plus Free Games For May 2025 Revealed
Here's what PS Plus subscribers can look forward to in May.
Copied to clipboard
These Nintendo Switch 2 Titles Have The Full Game On The Game Card
Only certain physical releases for Nintendo Switch 2 will contain the entire game on the Game Card. These are all of the ones confirmed so far.
Copied to clipboard
Best Oblivion Remastered Mods To Download So Far
Mods are available to download in Oblivion Remastered, but which ones should you prioritize first for your journey in Cyrodiil?
Copied to clipboard
Borderlands 4 Release Date Moved Up
Gearbox's looter-shooter is now coming a few weeks sooner.
Copied to clipboard
Skin Deep Review - System Snark
While rewarding creativity like any great game in its genre should, Blendo Games' Skin Deep also offers a refreshingly lighthearted take on the im sim
Copied to clipboard
The Best Games Of 2025 (So Far)
2025 is off to a great start, thanks to games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Civilization VII.
Copied to clipboard
Gameloft CEO Reflects On 25th Anniversary:"No Miracle Recipe For A Blockbuster"
The CEO of the tenured game maker speaks about agility, collaboration, and vigilance in a volatile industry.
Copied to clipboard
You Won't Find Switch 2 Consoles On Amazon, But You Can Get Games & Gear
Here's why only select Nintendo Switch 2 products are available at Amazon right now.
Copied to clipboard
Andor's Undocumented Labor Subplot Hits Terrifyingly Close to Home
The Star Wars series draws real-world parallels with its harrowing refugee storyline
Copied to clipboard
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Review
Despite its name, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered comfortably toes the line between a remake and remaster
Copied to clipboard
You Season 5 Takes a Strange Detour but Ends Where It Must
The final season of the twisted Netflix drama knows what Joe Goldberg deserves, even if it takes too long to deliver
Copied to clipboard
Getting A Switch 2 Was A Chaotic, Stressful Mess
The floodgates opened, and online retailers nearly buckled under the surge of Switch 2 seekers.
Copied to clipboard
Fortnite Star Wars Map Revealed A Week Before Major Update
The next Fortnite update might not be Chapter 6 Season 3 like players expected.
Copied to clipboard
What's Coming to Netflix in May
Check into the Four Seasons with Tina Fey and Colman Domingo on May 1
Copied to clipboard
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review - Light And Shadow
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a phenomenal RPG, telling a heartbreaking tale while incorporating thrilling action into its tactical turn-based combat
Copied to clipboard
Everything Sucks, But Video Games Help Me Process It
As much as the world needs games that make us feel secure and cozy, I believe we need games that encourage and empower us, too.
Copied to clipboard
Best Classes In Oblivion Remastered And All Elder Scrolls IV Classes
There are nearly two dozen classes to choose from in Oblivion Remastered, so which ones are the best to use for your character?
Copied to clipboard
Oblivion Remastered Is Steam Deck Verified And Steeply Discounted For PC
If you want the newly released remaster of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion on Steam, check out Fanatical's deals on the standard and Deluxe Editions.
Copied to clipboard
73 Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remaster Screenshots Showing Off The New Visuals
Bethesda's new Unreal Engine 5-powered RPG remaster is out now, and it looks pretty great.
Copied to clipboard
New Max and HBO TV Shows and Movies in April 2025
I couldn't help but wonder, what's coming to HBO in May?
Copied to clipboard
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Full Walkthrough
Oblivion Remastered is here, and we have a full walkthrough, including character customization, quests, guilds, shrines, and more.
Copied to clipboard
Oblivion Remaster Surprise-Launches Today On Game Pass, Also Available On PS5
The long-rumored Elder Scrolls remaster was announced today, and it's out now.
Copied to clipboard
Andor Season 2 Review: A Thrilling Conclusion to the Greatest Star Wars Spin-Off
Diego Luna's rebel spy returns in this beautifully realized anti-fascist drama
Copied to clipboard