Celebrity Poker Player: Paul Wesley

For the past few years, the world has seen a diverse selection of celebrities who have graced the different poker tables all over the globe. We've already seen singers, comedians, character actors as well as the other types of people who have reached the celebrity status play poker at an elevated level of competition. 

The events such as Bravo's television show "Celebrity Poker Showdown" allows the television audience to see the extra talent these celebrity poker players have in playing poker.

One of the most popular Hollywood celebrity star that come to the minds of the television audience when it comes to television action is Paul Wesley. He has already appeared in numerous action roles as well as some other roles that perfectly fit his personality as a tough individual.

Paul Thomas Wasilewski or simply Paul Wesley grew up in Marlboro, New Jersey. His parents, Agnieszka and Thomas Wasilewski, moved to the U.S. from Poland just before his birth. Paul has one older sister named Monika and two younger sisters, Julia and Leah. 

 

Paul Wesley attended Christian Brothers Academy and Marlboro High School for a short time before being cast in Guiding Light in his junior year. His role on the show forced him to transfer to Lakewood Prep School, which accommodated his busy acting schedule. 

After graduating in 2000, Paul Wesley attended Rutgers University for one semester. With his parents support, he left after he realized he could make a career of acting. 

 

In 2005 Paul Wesley changed his last name to “Wesley” due to the fact that “Wasilewski” was too hard to pronounce. Paul Wesley enjoys playing poker, ice hockey and snowboarding as well as having an interest in writing and directing.

Paul Wesley first landed a role in the soap Guiding Light as Max Nickerson. He has also made appearances on the television shows Army Wives, 24, Smallville, The O.C., 8 Simple Rules, Wolf Lake, Cane, American Dreams, Everwood, and Law &; Order: Special Victims Unit. 

As far as movies go, he has had roles in Peaceful Warrior, Roll Bounce, and Cloud 9, Fallen, and Killer Movie. Paul Wesley is probably best known for his role as Stefan Salvatore on the hit CW show The Vampire Diaries.

Paul Wesley's TV series Fallen is a 2006 ABC Family miniseries based on the novel series The Fallen, broken into three parts. The first part was originally advertised as an “ABC Family Original Movie”, but nearly a year later, it was followed up with two other parts of equal length over the course of a weekend.

Fallen stars Paul Wesley as Aaron Corbett, a good-natured high school student who discovers he is a Nephilim, human-angel hybrid. An alternate reality game advertising the series has won an interactive Emmy.

He is engaged to his Killer Movie co-star Torrey DeVitto. Paul Wesley is currently starring in Lifetime’s Army Wives as the soldier boyfriend of Emmalin Holden.

Here's a little treat for those fans who are feeling lost on this Thursday night since their favorite vampire show is officially on summer break. Paul Wesley, Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder of 'The Vampire Diaries' were in New York City today to attend the CW "Upfront" at Madison Square Garden.

The only show reportedly cancelled by the network was 'Melrose Place'. The network added 2 new shows ('Hellcats' & 'Nikita') and moved a few of the others (like 'Supernatural') around to new nights.

MONDAY

8 p.m. "90210" (New Night)

9 p.m. "Gossip Girl"

TUESDAY

8 p.m. "One Tree Hill" (New Night)

9 p.m. "Life Unexpected" (New Night)

WEDNESDAY

8 p.m. "America's Next Top Model"

9 p.m. "HELLCATS"

THURSDAY

8 p.m. "The Vampire Diaries"

9 p.m. "NIKITA"

FRIDAY

8 p.m. "Smallville"

9 p.m. "Supernatural" (New Night)

Are you surprised that Melrose Place was cut? Are you okay with them switching around days and times of the other shows?

Celebrity Poker: Emile Hirsch

When you're young, good-looking and already have a plethora of blockbusters under your belt, we imagine it wouldn't be too difficult to find a girl to legitimately grind on Emile Hirsch now.

Emile Hirsch play poker together with other celebrity poker players put up a funds for charity. Hosting the The Wilhelm and Karl Maybach Foundation and the Sunflower Children Foundation yoked together at Cannes Film Festival. The winner of the event will win a seat in the 2009 World Series Of Poker, flights to Las Vegas, and hotel accommodation. They will also receive private coaching from Jamie Gold before and during the event and $10,000 Main Event Buyin!.

About Emile Hirsch: Emile Hirsch is one prodigy who actually has his head screwed on straight. The son of an industrial consultant and a pop-up book artist, Emile Hirsh began acting at the age of 8 and by the time he was 14 he had appeared in more than a dozen television shows, including 3rd Rock from the Sun, NYPD Blue and ER.

Emile Hirsch began acting in the late 1990s, appearing in many minor roles on television shows or made-for-television films, including Kindred: the Embraced, and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. He made his film debut with the 2002 drama, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, where he starred opposite Kieran Culkin in the story of two Catholic school boys. His next role was in the prep school drama, The Emperor's Club, which was released later in 2002. Both films received generally positive reviews, but performed only moderately at the box office.




In 2005, Hirsch starred in Lords of Dogtown; the film, about a number of well-known skaters of the 1970s, was released on June 3, 2005, but it ultimately performed poorly at the box office. Hirsch's next role will be in Alpha Dog with Justin Timberlake , a dark drama about drug dealer Jesse James Hollywood; the film is scheduled to be released on January 12, 2007. Hirsch has also been cast as adventurer Christopher McCandless in the Sean Penn-directed drama Into the Wild.





And just a month ago, Emile Hirsch with celebrity poker player Jessica Biel and Isabel Lucas trudged through a blizzard Monday on the fifth day of their hike with other entertainers and activists up 19,340-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro. The celeb-powered Summit on the Summit climb—which also included Lupe Fiasco, Robert Kennedy's granddaughter, Kick, and Jacques Cousteau's granddaughter, Alexandra—reached its goal today at the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa.




The six-day trek up the 19,341-foot peak was organized by Grammy-nominated musician Kenna to raise money on behalf of water-conservation issues. "The last 48 hours have been the most intense and physically grueling experience of my life, miraculously we all made it to the top together," Emile Hirsch, best known for his outdoorsy role in Into the Wild, texted upon summiting.





The climbers battled a variety of obstacles, including altitude sickness, nausea, stomach ailments, knee problems and yesterday's intense snowstorm at 16,000 feet, which fellow climber and United Nations Foundation exec Elizabeth Gore called "pretty gnarly."



Overture Films is developing a modern-day adaptation of "Hamlet" to star Emile Hirsch. "Twilight" helmer Catherine Hardwicke is on board to direct, with Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen producing. Jinks and Cohen credited Emile Hirsch with coming up with the idea for the modernized version.

The producers noted that there hasn't been a movie version with an appropriately aged actor playing the role. Overture said it hopes to have a finished script in the coming months, with principal photography commencing soon thereafter.

Marcus Allen's Celebrity Poker Tournament

Last weekend, a renowned football player, Marcus Allen held his Annual exclusive Charity Poker Tournament at Lucky Strike in Hollywood!























This Celebrity Poker Tournament featuring top sports celebrities and entertainers was followed by a Celebrity Golf Tournament hosted by Marcus Allen. The poker tournament was held at the Lucky Strike Lanes in Hollywood and the the golf tournament was at the gorgeous North Ranch Country Club nestled in the hills northwest of Los Angeles.


Beneficiaries of the event included: the Marcus Allen Scholarship, KIPP LA, PAX, UCSF Children's Hospital and Success Through the Arts Program.

























The Celebrity Poker Tournament was a charity event raising money for All Stars Helping Kids. Marcus Allen is very involved with All Stars Helping Kids and is also hosting a Charity Golf Tournament.




















The Marcus Allen Charity fundraiser was two days of excitement. The Poker Tournament was Sunday and Monday was the Golf Tournament. The tournament was at the illustrious North Ranch Country Club.




Everyone take part in some intense bowling before the poker. Lucky Strike offers a unique bowling experience with plush couches and neons lights.




While you are bowling videos are projected onto the bowling lanes. After the bowling everyone got down to playing some poker. Since it was for charity, it was very friendly poker. Old sports rivalries were put aside and everyone had fun. Keith Zubchevich won the tournament.




"I believe that you are rich by what you give and poor by what you keep. As the leader of All Stars in Los Angeles, my goal is to develop a program that provides multiple opportunities for individuals and corporations to respond to the needs of the community." Marcus Allen stated.

“When it comes to our kids, we all have a role to play.” And with that being the purpose, all the old heads came out to support the HOFer’s foundation.



About Marcus Allen: a former NFL player. As a professional, Allen ran for 12,243 yards and caught 587 passes for 5,411 yards during his career for both the Los Angeles Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs from 1982 to 1997. He scored 145 touchdowns including a then league record 123 rushing touchdowns and was elected to six Pro Bowls when he retired. He was also a fairly good passer for a running back, completing 12 of 27 passes for 285 yards and 6 touchdowns, with only 1 interception.

Allen was the first player ever to gain more than 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards during his career. Allen is considered as one of the greatest goal line and short-yardage runners in National Football League history. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. He is the older brother of Damon Allen, who plays in the Canadian Football League.




In his rookie season in 1982, he rushed for 697 yards as he led the Raiders to the best record in the AFC with a strike-shortened 8-1 record and was elected as NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Allen is best remembered for his heroics in Super Bowl XVIII. He ran for 191 yards, caught 2 passes for 18 yards, and scored 2 touchdowns in the Raiders 38-9 victory over the Washington Redskins. This included a 74-yard touchdown run, a record that was the longest run in Super Bowl history.



About All Stars Helping Kids: An organization that distributed $1.2 million to high-performing nonprofits in 2007 and one that Charity Navigator has given a rating of four out of a possible four stars.

It says All Stars "Excels, as compared to other charities in America, in successfully managing the finances of your organization in an efficient and effective manner." Creating a national coalition of athletes, foundations, individuals,and corporations to advance programs and policies that address the needs of the whole child.





Photo courtesy of http://www.jamd.com | http://www.wireimage.com | http://www.allstarshelpingkids.org

The Hangover Charity Poker Tournament

In anticipation of the release of the new comedy movie “The Hangover,” Warner Bros. Pictures hosted a celebrity charity poker tournament at The Poker Room of Caesars Palace last Friday, the stars of the latest Vegas-based comedy, “The Hangover,” will return to the scene of their soon-to-be-released film on Friday for a star-studded poker tournament.

Heather Graham, and Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper are three of the celebrities expected to attend the event, which will support Opportunity Village.

Other members of the cast, including Ed Helms and Justin Bartha, and director Todd Phillips will also participate.

The private poker tournament took place in The Poker Room at Caesars Palace.

The card game will be closed to the public.

To promote the movie, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Heather Graham and boyfriend Yaniz Raz, Justin Bartha and director Todd Phillips hosted a charity poker tournament Friday at Caesars Palace.

Heather Graham has become the latest celebrity to fall for the poker madness after hitting the tables in Las Vegas while making her new movie the Hangover.

Heather Graham admits that she never had any interest in the game before but now she's hooked - and let in gambling brings out her nasty side.


"We had a poker tournament and I did really well; I came in fourth!” ,"Poker is pretty vicious and dark. It brings out an ugly side of me that's pretty competitive." Heather Graham said.













When the stars of the new film The Hangover shot their location scenes in and near Caesars Palace, they promised to return for the press promotion.

They also wanted to do something special for our beloved local charity Opportunity Village, and our contributing photographer Erik Kabik was on hand to capture the action.

True to their word, the cast led by director Todd Phillips organized a celebrity poker tournament to benefit Opportunity Village.

Taking part were actress Heather Graham and her boyfriend Yaniz Raz and actors Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha and a bearded Zach Galifianakis, who played with his dad, Harry Galifianakis, and came in third place.

The poker tournament winner was Aaron Wong, who helped present the $10,000 check to Linda Smith, Opportunity Village’s director.

The movie “Hangover” premiers on June 5.

The premise of the film involves four friends: Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Justin Bartha who come to Las Vegas from L.A. for a bachelor party.

The men wake up the next morning missing the groom Justin Bartha, a tooth, and all memory of what happened the night before.

Their suite at Caesars Place is completely trashed, and there’s a tiger in the living room; a baby crying in the bathroom; and an unexpected wedding ring on one of their fingers.

The groomsmen are forced to retrace their steps from the night before in effort to find their friend and get him back to L.A. in time for his wedding.

While Heather Graham, who plays the woman Bradley Cooper accidentally marries during the booze-fueled night of debauchery.

PartyPoker and Paris Hilton's Poker Challenge

“We challenge Paris Hilton to take us up on the offer. Three years is a long time in show business and we’re sure she’d jump at it now - it is a simple offer for the former ‘Simple Life’ star.” A statement let off by PartyPoker this week.

Hurling down the challenge that was originally issued back in 2006, PartyPoker has once again unsealed the books on the Paris Hilton Challenge.

The days of yore in April 2006, when the hotel heiress Paris Hilton and a part time reality star and a chronic paparazzi target was allegedly enjoying her inaugural soirees around the poker table. Unaware of the pitfalls that can eventually catch up with all poker players, it is alleged that Paris Hilton lost her luxury vehicle Bentley Continental GT worth $200,000. According to many outlets in the issue, forced her parents to ban her from the family casino in Las Vegas in an attempt to control her from playing poker.

The rules of the Challenge are simple. Paris Hilton will battle on the virtual felt against World Series of Poker bracelet winner, World Poker Tour announcer and PartyPoker ambassador Mike Sexton in a heads-up match. If Paris is able to defeat the poker champion Mike Sexton, Paris will net herself one brand new Bentley to replace not only the one she lost but the one that has allegedly been vandalized.

“Forget one night in Paris, we’re offering her one night to win a replacement for her vandalized Bentley. Fortune may be on her side in many ways but, when it comes to Bentleys, it certainly doesn’t seem to be the case… we’re confident Mike Sexton would win. We challenge her to take us up on the offer. Three years is a long time in show business and we’re sure she’d jump at it now.” PartyPoker.com spokesman said.

As of press time, the socialite has not accepted or refused the challenge… which is exactly what happened when it was issued three years ago.

But Paris Hilton has a hard time staying away from the night life and the poker tables.

Paris has been seen recently at some of the other casinos in Las Vegas including the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and according to media reports, has also under go vandalism to a new Bentley that replaced the one she used as a poker bankroll.

With that in mind, PartyPoker has decided to bring back their Paris Hilton Challenge of three years ago.

It also seems that the thrills of poker have drifted down further into the Hilton family. While Paris Hilton seems to prefer the live action, her little sister Nicky Hilton is an occasional celebrity bounty in the online game during the weekly Bounty Tournament that is held on Doyle’s Room by the legendary Doyle Brunson.

Over the past three years other poker players have attempted to step up to test Paris Hilton’s dexterity on the poker tables. Three years is a long time in showbusiness and we’re sure she’d jump at it now - it is a simple offer for the former Simple Life star. Following the original offer in 2006 the likes of Clonie Gowen also made public challenges to the heiress but so far Paris has resisted.” the duo would play heads up and the winner would walk away with a $100,000 payday for the charity of their choice.

The last time Paris Hilton and poker professional Mike Sexton crossed paths at the poker table was the 2007 Celebrity Invitational in Los Angeles, when Mike Sexton found himself throwing down chips to Hilton just to keep her in the poker table.

The heiress and singer actress Paris Hilton is not likely to benefit from such charity this time around.

Keep an eye on Celebrity Poker Players Blog to find out if Paris Hilton takes Mike Sexton up on this challenge.

Matt Damon And Other Celebrities To Play In Charity Poker Tournament

To all poker aficionados out there! Want to have a poker experience very memorable? Just imagine joining in a charity poker tournament, sitting at the card table with Matt Damon on the right side and Charles Barkley on your left!










And imagine that your friends stares back at you, wide-eyed, star struck,and exhorting you to go on, they're obviously enthralled at you!

Now you're playing poker, your seeking for luck. You dealt with 2 Queens, then the flop comes: 2 Queens and Jack and then you see the cast of Ocean Thirteen's Don Cheadle at the end of the table.

Delighting stories like these are few and far between , however, when they come along, they are told an retold for a lifetime!

Famous celebrities are not hard to find in a city like Las Vegas but it's rare to find oneself at the table as well as a renowned celebrity, let alone a group of celebrities.



And now to announce that Ante Up For Africa is filled with high-caliber Hollywood personalities and offering a chance to play poker against and alongside well-known celebrities and poker professionals!

Want to know some of the renowned celebrities who are playing poker against you? The actor and poker player Matt Damon, the basketball NBA super star Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Reggie Miller.

Actor Don Cheadle, TV host and poker player Montel Williams, actor, producer, comedian, writer, and director Marlon Wayans, comedienne, writer, actress, singer and musician Sarah Silverman, actor Cassey Affleck, film and television actor, director, comedian and voice artist Hank Azaria, actor, voice actor and stand-up comedian Brad Garrett, and retire NFL Herschel Walker will also participate!

Also taking part of the event, poker professional Howard Leaderer, MIT Blackjack Team Member Andy Bloch, Full Tilt Poker player Erik Seidel, and the living legend of poker with 11 World Series of Poker Bracelet wins Phil Hellmuth will also compete for the prize!

The tournament is being organized in support of Ante Up for Africa, which helps victims of ongoing humanitarian crises in Darfur and Sudan.

Don Cheadle started the nonprofit 3 years ago, along with professional poker player and recent “Celebrity Apprentice” star Annie Duke who won an envied World Series of Poker bracelet in 2004 and has collected more than $4 million in poker tournament winnings and Norman Epstein.

Ante Up For Africa started in 2006, and they had raised nearly $ 2,000,000.

Anyone can enter the tournament, provided they’re at least 21 years old and are able to Ante Up the $5,000 entry fee.

Meanwhile, those who prefer to watch can do that for free!

The contest will get underway at 2 p.m. on July 2 at the Rio Convention Center’s Amazon Ballroom. The tournament is expected to last no more than five hours from start to finish, and will be followed by a post-poker party at Caesars Palace.


The tournament will air as a three-hour special on Aug. 11 on ESPN.

This year’s Ante Up for Africa effectively serves as an outset for the 2009 World Series of Poker Tournament, which will get underway the following day.

The World Series of Poker last year attracted 58,720 players from 124 different countries and doled out $180 million in prize money.