A new Reddit thread, "Any famous people on Second Life?" suggests a number of celebrities, but so far, only mentions two which still apparently use SL -- most notably, comedian Drew Carey, who as we noted, Tweeted about a well-known SL designer only a few months ago. (Carey's a big fan of SL steampunk, too.) I believe Carey's never revealed his SL username -- and why would he want to? -- though a "Drew Carey" avatar was created for an online video segment Carey did with me in 2008 for Reason TV.
Less well-known but still noteworthy (and news to me): Bestselling sci-fi/fantasy author Michael Stackpole is still in SL. If you check his official site, he's doing an SL Relay for Life event. (According to a Redditor, he also does regular in-world meetings with authors.) Speaking of which, Ready Player One author Ernest Cline was an active SLer, but back in 2012, said, "I haven’t logged on to Second Life in many moons".
Far as I know, most the other folks mentioned in the Reddt thread, like Suzanne Vega, used Second Life for a one-time public appearance (with hands-on help from SL experts) many years ago. However, I have it on good authority that at least one member of Duran Duran was an active user before they used it as a marketing tool.
Related to that, one name is notably absent in the Reddit thread:
Insiders tell me an extremely well-known Hollywood star was an active SLer even before the hype wave, but I'd rather not say who. Instead, I'll try to confirm with him on Twitter (since he's a heavy Twitter user, especially around sporting events), so stand by.
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Best selling author, Warren Ellis used to be active on Second Life. He wrote about his experiences for Reuters for a brief bit, but as far as I know, has been inactive for a few years now.
Posted by: Roslin Petion | Monday, January 12, 2015 at 03:18 PM
It's a has-been platform, tied to the mid 00's and irrelevant to the present day. These days, everyone uniformly regards SL as being lame and something of an embarrassment; particularly the youth demographic that Hollywood is perpetually chasing.
I'm surprised you could even find two Celebrities for the article. At least "admitting" to playing D&D has some sort of geek cachet (SL decidedly ...doesn't).
Posted by: Han Held | Monday, January 12, 2015 at 04:53 PM
One of the best things about virtual worlds is that you can be who you want to be without reference to your real-world press, bank account, or other baggage. Artists (performing and visual) have a certain tendency to do pseudonymous work now and then, just to connect with an audience without the infrastructure of fame.
Posted by: Arcadia Codesmith | Monday, January 12, 2015 at 06:29 PM
My thoughts exactly brother hand held.
Posted by: iisingh | Monday, January 12, 2015 at 09:17 PM
About a month back Adventure Time creator Pen Ward had an SL stream with a couple fans tagging along. Was a fun little journey.
Posted by: ice cream jones | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 02:45 AM
It doesn't surprise me, in the least. that SL has no appeal to RL celebrities or extremely wealthy people. I can't speak for Hollywood celebrities, but my little business has catered to the 1% for years. I live off of their chump change and I can't imagine that they would piddle away their time in the pretense of SL.
Everything that we find rewarding in SL, they can actually have amplified in RL. They don't need wings. They can afford to have someone fly them anywhere they want to go at any time.
SL society has a very vulgar, delusional, and ill obsession with it's own celebrity and the rewards are a pittance. It's a bit like fishing for mental illness.
Posted by: A.J. | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 05:46 AM
Two of my musical gods, David Bowie and Brian Eno, had avatars at one point, and Eno did a multimedia installation. Alas. The gods have left us bereft and alone. Here's a bit of Eno for the moment:
"Chop and change to cut the corners
Sharp as razors, shiny razors
Stranded on a world that's dying
Never moving, hardly trying
I was just a broken head
I stole the world that others plundered
Now I stumble through the garbage
Slide and tumble, slide and stumble"
Posted by: Iggy | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 06:46 AM
There used to be a place called Mill Pond, and for a week or so , there was a fellow there on voice who claimed to be actor William Hurt. Sounded like him but I really have no idea, considering. Just my random moment from SL history.
Posted by: long time gone | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 10:35 AM
I use Second Life ironically. You wouldn't get it.
Posted by: Adeon Writer | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 12:57 PM
Back in 2007 George R.R. Martin made an avatar to look like Tyrion Lannister and came in world to do a reading event, hosted by his publisher who at that time had an inworld presence (Bantam). Here is the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYonVhBqh1Q
Posted by: Vivienne Daguerre | Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at 04:18 AM
William Hurt? Cool.
AJ needs therapy or to leave SL for good. Talk about bitterness, someone took SL too seriously at one point.
Posted by: melponeme_k | Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at 08:26 PM
SL would be an ideal place for a celebrity to get out and socialize with 'normal people' WITHOUT having the baggage of their celebrity identity get in the way. A place you could just 'be yourself'.
So there's probably more than those 2, but the others aren't outing themselves.
Posted by: Pussycat Catnap | Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 08:54 AM
Nice work!
Posted by: ufo3d | Tuesday, December 06, 2016 at 05:17 AM
Mike Stackpole is still holding weekly office hours for authors and aspiring writers on a (mostly) weekly basis. When he cannot make it, Robert E. Vardeman (who also writes under the names Karl Lassiter and Jackson Lowry) fills in. Bob also comes in most weeks, and has done some RFLofSL fundraising.
In 2014, Mike brought Diana Gabaldon in world to do a reading for RFLofSL, and a few years before, he brought in Phil Plait for a special event.
Posted by: Kat Alderson | Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 10:57 PM
This is amazing!! Absolutely praise-worthy! Great job
Posted by: Sahil Kumar | Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 04:12 AM
Best in class
Posted by: Ikarus 3D | Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 04:12 AM