Las Vegas' gaming tables have always attracted celebrities, from the Wild West days when Wyatt Earp could be spotted hanging out at the Arizona Club downtown, through the Rat Pack era that saw Dino dealing cards at the Desert Inn, and culminated in a Caesars Palace executive pulling a gun on Frank Sinatra over his casino-credit situation, to all the recent stories of unpaid markers from the likes of Charles Barkley and Pacman Jones.
Bruce Willis is a well-known blackjack player (and even more notorious bad toker), while James Woods loves video poker (we've stood in line behind him at the change booth).
But it's the ongoing (inter)national Texas hold 'em craze that's elevated previously unheard-of players to the ranks of household names, and swept through the ranks of existing celebrities faster than the latest exercise fad. While the majority will no doubt have moved on to some other diversion soon, some have actually proven to have a passion -- and talent -- for the game.
For example, having won that coveted WSOP bracelet for triumphing in the 2005 Ladies-Only event, these days actress Jennifer Tilly, whose boyfriend is professional player Phil "the Unabomber" Laak, is probably better known for her association with poker than she is for Bride of Chucky.
With a field of 6,844, there were too many players for every celebrity's finishing place to have been recorded in any source we could unearth, but here's the list, presented on a day-by-day elimination basis, including details on the few who finished in the money:
Eliminated on Day 1:
Jason Alexander (actor) Nick Cannon (rapper, actor, just married to Mariah Carey) Jose Canseco (former Major League Baseball player) Jeff Fenech (boxer) Larry Flynt (publisher of Hustler) Forrest Griffin (mixed martial artist) Orel Hershiser (former Major League Baseball player) Cheryl Hines (actress) Chuck Liddell (UFC mixed martial artist) Camryn Manheim (actress) Brad May (ice-hockey player) Mindy McCready (country music artist) Mekhi Phifer (actor) Mimi Rogers (actress) Sam Simon (TV producer and writer) Jennifer Tilly (actress) David Wells (Major League Baseball player)
Day 2:
Paul Azinger (professional golfer) Bruce Buffer (Ultimate Fighting Championship main ring announcer) Shannon Elizabeth (actress) Sully Erna (lead singer for hard rock group Godsmack) Ray Romano (actor, comedian)
Day 3:
Andy Griggs (country music artist) Shane Warne (former international cricketer)
Day 4:
Steve Davis (professional snooker player) -- 389th place, $28,950
Eliminated on Day 5:
Kara Scott (TV personality, journalist) -- 104th place, $41,816
Eliminated on Day 6:
Tiffany Michelle (actress, TV host) -- 17th place, $334,534
