As poker continues to grow in popularity, so does celebrity interest. With shows like Celebrity Poker Showdown reaching unprecedented levels of popularity, celebrities have shown that the combination of fame and poker provide priceless entertainment.

Here’s a look at some favourite celebrity poker players:

•    Ben Affleck: in 2004 he added $356,000 to his bankroll, winning the No Limit California State Championship. With his high income from acting he can afford to play the highest stakes at the poker table.

•    Chris Moneymaker: this guy did things the other way around and became famous by winning the World Series of Poker in 2003 which was his first major live tournament. 

•    Jason Alexander: most famous for playing the exasperating “George” on Seinfeld, Alexander has now become a poker player in his own right – he competed in Celebrity Poker Showdown against players that included fellow celebrity poker player, Michael Ian Black.

•    Stephen Collins: the Emmy nominee made it to starring as Reverend Eric Camden in 7th Heaven for over 10 years during which he also practiced his skills as a poker buff.

•    Tom Everett Scott: famous for starring in films like An American Werewolf in Paris and Dead Man on Campus, this guy can often be found a World Poker Tour events as well as at celebrity home games.

•    Mena Survari: American Beauty is the film that got her firmly entrenched in Hollywood but her new talent seems to be poker. She’s also appeared on Celebrity Poker Showdown.

•    Dennis Quaid: another famous actor who also likes to be charitable. He’s participated in charity poker events with Hollywood Poker to donate money from Hurricane Relief Tournaments.

•    Eileen Davidson: she starred in the Young and the Restless and also played five characters at one time in rival soap Days of our Lives. She enjoys playing celebrity poker with hubby, Vince Van Patten.

Actor and celebrity poker player, Ben Affleck, had to cancel his appearance/participation in the WSOP ‘Ante Up for Africa’ event that started last Monday. His reasons were that he was suffering from a crippling migraine and he sadly stated to the New York Post: "This is the one poker event I go to each year, and I didn't even get to play."
 
Luckily there were plenty of other celebrity poker players there to draw an audience. Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Shannon Elizabeth all took part. Elizabeth came in second and won $80,000 while poker pro, Phil Gordon, took $129,086 first prize and donated his winnings of the event to Refugees International and Project Enough.

That’s right; show your support for democracy by playing poker, because that’s what Ben Affleck is doing. The 36 year old Oscar winner will be at the Democratic National Convention in Denver this week where, as part of many of his democratic tasks, he will be playing poker to benefit paralysed veterans.

Other supporters of the convention include Colorado first lady Jeannie Ritter and Barack Obama’s wife Michelle. Ritter said of Affleck: "right or wrong, gives us our traction."

Affleck will be joined by pros Andy Bloch and Barry Greenstein to play Poker at the Ballpark on Tuesday night, with the proceeds going towards the Paralysed Veterans of America. The VIP tournament is sponsored by the Poker Players Alliance.

And to wrap things up nicely, Affleck will be joining Josh Brolin, Rosario Dawson, Kerry Washington and Lupe Fiasco, on Wednesday afternoon to take part in an ideas forum with the title “History of Progressive America” and to do live scenes from the film, The People Speak.