Pixels Cast, Character & Cameo Guide

The cast of Pixels includes several well-known Hollywood actors, as well as many supporting roles and fun cameos from the world of film, TV, and gaming. Despite not being considered one of Adam Sandler’s best-ranked movies, Pixels certainly includes a fun premise. It tells the story of extraterrestrial invaders of Earth who once found a video game-infused time capsule in space and mistook it as a declaration of war. In another Adam Sandler and Kevin James collaboration, the main cast of Pixels use their video game expertise to repel this alien invasion that comes in the form of game characters.

Due to this unique premise, Pixels can almost be counted as a video game adaptation movie. Although it is not based on any one game and does not include a storyline found in a video game like Detective Pikachu, Warcraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, or Mortal Kombat of late, it features endless references to classic video games from the 1980s. As such, many upcoming video game movies will likely be very different from Pixels, down to the fact that they will not feature the star-studded cast, vast supporting roster, and slew of cameos that Pixels does.

Adam Sandler as Sam Brenner

Date of Birth: September 9, 1966

Actor: Adam Sandler is an American actor born in New York City. Sandler’s early career consisted of appearances in Going Overboard, Coneheads, and Airheads, as well as live TV shows like Saturday Night Live.Sandler’s breakout role came in 1995’s Billy Maddison, leading to his career as a comedic actor in movies like Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, 50 First Dates, and Grown Ups, to name a small handful. Some of Sandler’s more dramatic roles came in Punch-Drunk Love, Reign Over Me, The Meyerowitz Stories, and Uncut Gems.

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Character: In Pixels, Sandler plays the character of Sam Brenner. Sam was once a video game enthusiast, playing in many tournaments when he was a kid and even becoming the second-best Donkey Kong player in the world. As an adult, Sam is an electronics installer who yearns for the glory days. When aliens attack Earth in the form of iconic video game villains, Sam is recruited by the United States President to fend off the attackers as the leader of an elite task force called the Arcaders.

Kevin James as Will “Chewie” Cooper

Date of Birth: April 26, 1965

Actor: Kevin James is an American actor born in Mineola, New York. James’ early career primarily consisted of stand-up comedy performances and a recurring role in Everybody Loves Raymond. James’ breakout role came in the sitcom The K ing of Queens, in which he appeared in over 200 episodes. This led to James’ more prolific film career, with many appearances coming alongside Sandler in 50 First Dates, Grown Ups, Pixels, and Hubie Halloween. James’ other most recognizable film roles include Hitch and Paul Blart: Mall Cop, with more dramatic roles coming in The Dilemma, Little Boy, and Becky.

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Character: Kevin James plays Will “Chewie” Cooper in Pixels. As children, Will and Sam were best friends before Will grew up to somehow become President of the United States. When the aliens attack Earth using the form of video game antagonists, Will immediately reconnects with Sam due to the latter’s knowledge of video games. Will becomes one of the Arcaders, the task force set up to defeat the video game-based alien invasion.

Michelle Monaghan as Violet von Patten

Date of Birth: March 23, 1976

Actor: Michelle Monaghan is an American actor born in Winthrop. Iowa. Monaghan’s early career included appearances in movies like Perfume and Unfaithful, as well as the drama Boston Public. Monaghan’s breakout role came in 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, leading to a more mainstream appearance in Mission: Impossible III. Since then, Monaghan has appeared in a variety of mainstream movies and TV shows, including Gone Baby Gone, Source Code, and True Detective.

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Character: Monaghan plays Violet van Patten in Pixels, the Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Army. Violet is also the love interest of Sandler’s Brenner and a member of the Arcaders. Violet is integral in repelling the alien invasion as she develops energy weapons that prove effective in defeating the invaders.

Josh Gad as Ludlow Lamonsoff

Date of Birth: February 23, 1981

Actor: Josh Gad is an American actor born in Hollywood, Florida. Gad’s early career saw him appear on several shows in one-off episodes and in some Broadway performances, finding wider success in The Book of Mormon. In film, Gad found success in the early 2010s with voice acting in movies like Ice Age: Continental Drift and Frozen. Live-action roles in Pixels, Beauty and the Beast, and Murder on the Orient Express can be classed as his breakout performances, leading to success in the likes of Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Avenue 5.

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Character: Gad plays Ludlow “The Wonder Kid” Lamonsoff in Pixels. Ludlow is a major conspiracy theorist and video game enthusiast like Brenner and Cooper were as children. Ludlow sees video footage of the video game-inspired alien attacks and rushes to the spot of another, meeting with Brenner, Cooper, and von Patten to join the Arcaders.

Peter Dinklage as Eddie Plant

Date of Birth: June 11, 1969

Actor: Peter Dinklage is an American actor born in Jersey Shore, New Jersey. Dinklage performed in a few lower-status movies and TV shows in the 1990s, including Living in Oblivion. Dinklage’s breakout role was in The Station Agent, leading to more mainstream roles in Elf and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Undoubtedly, Dinklage’s most well-known role is that of Tyrion Lannister in HBO’s Game of Thrones, which led to him appearing in big movies like X-Men: Days of Future Past, Avengers: Infinity War, and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

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Character: In Pixels, Dinklage portrays Eddie “The Fireblaster” Plant. Eddie was the primary rival of Sam as a child, with the former beating the latter to become the best Donkey Kong player in the world. However, it is later revealed that Eddie is a cheater after he joins the Arcaders. This renews Sam’s confidence and allows him to defeat the aliens, with a remorseful Eddie aiding in the various battles against the video game invaders.

Pixels Supporting Cast & Characters

Brian Cox as Admiral James Porter: A high-ranking military official, James Porter is one of the men responsible for overseeing the training of NAVY Seals alongside the Arcaders. Porter is played by Brian Cox, known for his roles in Braveheart, Succession, X2, and Troy among many others.

Sean Bean as Corporal Hill: Corporal Hill, like Porter, is one of the main military men who aids the Arcaders in preparing for the alien invasion as a leader of the British SAS. Sean Bean is primarily known for The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones.

Jane Krakowski as Jane Cooper: Jane Cooper is the First Lady of the United States and Will Cooper’s wife. In Pixels, Cooper is portrayed by Jane Krakowski, known for her roles in 30 Rock, Ally McBeal, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Ashley Benson as Lady Lisa: Lady Lisa is the protagonist of a fictional video game called Dojo Quest who is the object of Ludlow Laminsoff’s desires. The alien taking the form of Lady Lisa defects to the side of Earth’s protectors during the film. Ashley Benson portrays Lady Lisa, primarily known for her role in Pretty Little Liars.

Matt Lintz as Matty van Patten: Matty van Patten is the son of Violet in Pixels and aids the Arcaders by revealing Eddie’s cheating ways and inspiring Sam during the final battle. Matt Lintz plays the character, known for his roles in The Walking Dead and Ms. Marvel.

Pixels Cameo Guide

Alongside the main and supporting cast members, Pixels includes several major cameos in the film. Be it collaborators of Adam Sandler or cameos from sports personalities, Pixels has no shortage of surprises. Furthermore, Pixels pays homage to the world of video games several times through its cameos, with some iconic people from the industry appearing in the film.

• Dan Ackroyd of Ghostbusters fame appears as the master of ceremonies of the video game championship in the film’s prologue.
• Nick Swardson, a frequent collaborator of Sandler’s, appears as a bystander during the Pac-Man attack.
• Sportscaster Dan Patrick, screenwriter Robert Smigel, and writer Steve Koren all appear as reporters at the White House.
• Tennis player Serena Williams and businesswoman Martha Stewart appear as acquaintances of Dinklage’s Eddie Plant.
• Steve Wiebe, a former Donkey Kong world record holder, appears as a military scientist.
• Tōru Iwatani, the creator of the Pac-Man franchise, appears as an arcade repairman.
• Fiona Shaw of Harry Potter and Andor fame appears as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.