Quirky Celebrity FactsWhat do famous people do with their time off-camera? Oh, write cookbooks, maintain elaborate fish tanks, and never leave the house. These list contain the most quirky celebrities and celebrity facts.
It’s definitely a good time to be a nerd. Fantasy and science fiction properties are hotter than ever, as can be seen from the numerous film and TV adaptations that continue to be released at a rapid rate. What is particularly remarkable about this age of popular culture is just how many major celebrities have shown themselves increasingly willing to wave their nerd flags high.
While various athletes and rock stars have been open about their various nerdy loves, it’s also important to pay attention to Hollywood stars and celebs who have been just as open about the nerdy and geeky things they enjoy. Star Wars, Star Trek, Tolkien, and anime are just some of the interests of Hollywood’s most notable names. So scroll on down and vote up the celebs that have the nerdiest passions of the bunch!
Henry Cavill has established himself as a peak nerd, particularly in the types of roles he has opted to play over the past several years. In addition to his well-received take on Superman in the DC Extended Universe, he has also earned acclaim for portraying Geralt of Rivia, a white-haired, cynical, but ultimately honorable Witcher in the series of the same name from Netflix.
Cavill has also shown himself to be a very big nerd in his private life. At one point, he even took to social media to update his fans on his efforts to build a gaming PC from scratch. Given just how famous Cavill is, seeing him be so open about his nerdy passions is extraordinary. Granted, it can't hurt to look the way that he does…
Over the past two decades, Vin Diesel has become one of Hollywood’s most bankable action stars. In addition to starring in the multi-film Fast & Furious franchise, he has also appeared in a number of other highly-regarded action and science films, including Pitch Black and XXX. With his intense gaze, bald head, and gravelly voice, he epitomizes a certain form of powerful (if somewhat obvious) masculinity.
Beneath that tough exterior, however, there lurks a huge nerd. This is particularly evidenced by his undying love of Dungeons & Dragons. Among other things, he has had a D&D-themed birthday cake, penned the introduction to a book on the game, and was reported to have played it on the set of The Chronicles of Riddick. It’s no wonder so many of his projects have been in the realms of science fiction and fantasy.
Throughout his career, Leonardo DiCaprio has shown himself to be one of Hollywood’s most versatile and respected actors. Starting as a child actor, he moved into becoming a heartthrob in films such as Titanic before entering his “serious phase” over the last couple of decades. Through it all, he has maintained his own signature charm and charisma.
Like many nerds, he was also once an avid collector of action figures. In fact, he had such an extensive collection at one point he was able to auction many of them off, the proceeds from which went to his foundation, which is committed to various environmental causes. He's also super into Star Wars… just ask Jonah Hill about that.
Though he might be most famous for his numerous comedic appearances, Ben Stiller has also shown he has some formidable dramatic chops. Perhaps more importantly, he has also shown he’s just as talented behind the camera, having been both a director and a producer of a number of projects, including the hit comedy Tropic Thunder.
Like many other major celebrities, however, Stiller has been unafraid to talk about his nerdier pursuits. In particular, he is a devoted fan of Star Trek, so much so that he named his production company Red Hour Films after an episode of the original series. His mother, the actress Anne Meara, was instrumental in cultivating his love of the classic TV show, as she used to take him to conventions and even introduced a young Stiller to William Shatner once upon a time.
Few comedians have had quite the cultural impact of Jerry Seinfield. In addition to his enduringly popular standup routines, he is also famous for appearing in the sitcom that bore his name. Seinfeld endures as one of the most popular sitcoms ever made, with an influence on popular culture rivaled by few other series.
Keen-eyed viewers no doubt noticed the prevalence of Superman in various aspects of Seinfeld, from many mentions of terms such as “Kryptonite” and “Fortress of Solitude” to small pieces of decor. These are all reflections of the real Jerry Seinfeld’s love of the superhero. His status as a Superman superfan is so well-known he even managed to make an appearance on a limited edition of a comic book starring both Batman and Superman.
With his long-running show The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert demonstrated a keen knack for satirical comedy almost unmatched in American popular culture. Though he has now shifted to more mainstream late-night fare with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, his humor still has a keen edge.
For many, though, Colbert is just as famous for being one of the biggest Tolkien geeks around. A devoted fan of The Lord of the Rings, Colbert has been very open and enthusiastic about his love of one of the most influential figures in the history of the fantasy genre. In fact, he even managed to one-up actor Lee Pace - who played Thranduil in The Hobbit trilogy - by correcting his pronunciation of Elvish words on The Late Show, giving the flummoxed Pace an Elvish linguistic lesson in the process.
