Inductees of the Pop Culture Hall of Fame

The Pop Culture Hall of Fame recognizes those who dedicate their lives to making the toy industry an amazing home to collectors from all walks of life.

Founded in 2015, the organization annually celebrates the best in the industry – Iconic inductees include Marvel’s Stan Lee, My Little Pony creator Bonnie Zacherle and skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.

Class of 2022

Brian Goldner
Brian Goldner

Induction category:
Entrepreneur

Class of: 2022

As the head of Hasbro, he helped steer the company from disaster to success again.

Brian Volk-Weiss
Brian Volk-Weiss

Induction category:
Historian

Class of: 2022

Volk-Wiess' love of toys and sense of humor make him the perfect person to make history fun.

Cabu
Cabu

Induction category:
Artist

Class of: 2022

Cabu, Jean Maurice Cabu, was one of France's most revered and admired comics creators and tragically died in the terror attack at the Charlie Hebdo offices.

Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie

Induction category:
Actor

Class of: 2022

Combining bombshell looks with savvy comedy chops, Robbie is one of the most talented actors of her time.

Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan

Induction category:
Legend

Class of: 2022

The greatest basketball player ever, he is also a powerhouse of pop culture and marketing

Rumiko Takahashi
Rumiko Takahashi

Induction category:
Artist

Class of: 2022

Rumiko Takahashi is a prolific, popular Manga creator, whose comics and cartoons have entertained and inspired fans and artists worldwide.

Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise

Induction category:
Actor

Class of: 2022

Always cool and in command, for 4o years Tom Cruise has been able to anchor blockbusters such as Top Gun and Mission: Impossible.

Class of 2021

David Baszucki
David Baszucki

Induction category:
Game Developer

Class of: 2021

David Baszucki’s Roblox game inspires fun, friendship, and learning - on a global scale.

John Williams
John Williams

Induction category:
Musician

Class of: 2021

In an era when it feels like orchestral movie soundtracks are a thing of the past, John Williams continues to remind the world otherwise.

Larry Wood
Larry Wood

Induction category:
Designer

Class of: 2021

For over 50 years, Larry Wood's Hot Wheels designs have fueled the imagination of kids and collectors.

Matt Groening
Matt Groening

Induction category:
Entrepreneur

Class of: 2021

Matt Groening (rhymes with complaining) has been in charge of the Simpsons so long that people forget what life was like before Springfield.

Robert Overstreet
Robert Overstreet

Induction category:
Historian

Class of: 2021

Since 1970, Bob Overstreet has been THE authority for comic book pricing for collectors and retailers.

Rowan Atkinson
Rowan Atkinson

Induction category:
Actor

Class of: 2021

As Mr. Bean, Rowan Atkinson has been bumbling and stumbling hilariously into fans’ lives for over 30 years.

Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko

Induction category:
Artist

Class of: 2021

Steve Ditko’s comic creations inspired millions of kids to believe a radioactive spider bite could change their lives forever.

Syd Mead
Syd Mead

Induction category:
Designer

Class of: 2021

Syd Mead’s inspired visions of the future have enthralled moviegoers for decades.

Class of 2020

Jim Parsons
Jim Parsons

Induction category:
Actor

Class of: 2020

Jim Parsons' turn as Sheldon Cooper on "The Big Bang Theory" endeared him to pop culture geeks worldwide.

Kathleen Kennedy
Kathleen Kennedy

Induction category:
Entrepreneur

Class of: 2020

The movies of Kathleen Kennedy (Jurassic Park, Ghostbusters, Back To The Future) have earned billions at the box office over the last 40 years.

Marcos Bessa
Marcos Bessa

Induction category:
Designer

Class of: 2020

For Marcos Bessa, a childhood of building with Lego blocks eventually led to a career as one of the company's lead designers.

Mark Hamill
Mark Hamill

Induction category:
Actor

Class of: 2020

As Luke Skywalker in Star Wars and The Joker in Batman cartoons, as well as other fun projects, Mark Hamill has earned a spot in the Pop Culture Hall of Fame as an Actor.

Mitsuhiro Arita
Mitsuhiro Arita

Induction category:
Artist

Class of: 2020

Mitsuhiro Arita's illustrations of Pikachu, Charizard, and Mewtoo (along with countless other characters) have delighted Pokemon fans for years.

Naoko Takeuchi
Naoko Takeuchi

Induction category:
Artist

Class of: 2020

Naoko Takeuchi's Sailor Moon appeals not only to girl readers, but boys too. As a result, it has become one of the most popular manga and anime titles of all time.

Peter Sanderson
Peter Sanderson

Induction category:
Historian

Class of: 2020

Peter Sanderson's love of comics and attention to detail makes him the most prominent historian in the industry.

René Goscinny
René Goscinny

Induction category:
Artist

Class of: 2020

René Goscinny struck gold with his comic creation Asterix, a diminutive, globe-hopping adventurer, loved worldwide for decades.

Richard Garfield
Richard Garfield

Induction category:
Game Developer

Class of: 2020

Richard Garfield has invented many games over the years, but Magic The Gathering is far and away his most beloved creation.

Class of 2019

Blake Wright
Blake Wright

Induction category:
Historian

Class of: 2019

Taking the skills he learned as a Journalist, Blake Wright has written and published two books on the history of toys that may have been less-than-sought after during the time they were created, The Toys that Time Forgot, Vol I and II. Together, the Kickstarter's for each book has raised nearly 100,000, and Wright's work has shown light on areas of collecting that often go ignored.

Christopher Lloyd
Christopher Lloyd

Induction category:
Actor

Class of: 2019

Christopher Lloyd's Doc Brown character in Robert Zemeckis' Back to the Future, with his wild hair, genius and fierce determination, entertained millions and helped make the series the most popular sci-fi movie in history. Doc Brown is still collected as a figure today, and Lloyd's other work from the period (Clue, Judge Doom) have become classics in their own right.

Garth Ennis
Garth Ennis

Induction category:
Writer

Class of: 2019

Comic writer and co-creator of famous series' Preacher, Punisher and Hitman, Garth Ennis thrives in themes that mainstream comics often shun, such as corruption, religion and moral ambiguity. Many of Ennis' creations live on as cult classics, while shows based on his works, like The Punisher on Netflix and The Boys on Amazon, draw millions of viewers.

Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax

Induction category:
Game Developer

Class of: 2019

Gary Gygax was the legendary figure behind Dungeons & Dragons, the tabletop roleplaying game now synonymous with gaming and nerd culture. Drawing on his love of fantasy and wargaming, Gygax worked hard to convince publishers for the potential of his game, ultimately forging his own path with his own publishing company. D&D's popularity is not an accident, with great ideas like the Dungeon Master and 20-sided die influencing games to this day.

Haim Saban
Haim Saban

Induction category:
Entrepreneur

Class of: 2019

Billionaire and founder of Saban Entertainment, the company behind the music of well-known cartoons like Inspector Gadget, Saban correctly guessed the potential of Japanese Tokusatsu shows in the US, producing Power Rangers with a US cast in the same style with scenes from Super Sentai. The shows' success led to Fox forming a partnership with Saban Entertainment, ending with a multibillion-dollar sale to the Walt Disney Corporation.

Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki

Induction category:
Legend

Class of: 2019

The creative force behind the legendary Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki created some of the most popular, lucrative and loved animated films of all time, introducing US audiences to films like Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. Miyazaki's films continue to influence toys, current animation and pop culture worldwide.

Jean Giraud AKA Moebius
Jean Giraud AKA Moebius

Induction category:
Artist

Class of: 2019

Storied artist behind famous comics like Blueberry and Airtight Garage, Moebius (also known as "Gir") produced some of the most famous comics known today, not just in his native France, but around the world. Giraud's surrealist style, in both Westerns and science fiction, continues to influence popular culture today.

Layron DeJarnette
Layron DeJarnette

Induction category:
Artist

Class of: 2019

Currently an artist with Garbage Pail Kids with a backlog of great work that includes Disney, the BBC, and DC Comics, Layron DeJarnette's work spans many of the pop culture we know today. DeJarnette continues to draw great work, along with teaching the subject on his Youtube channel.

Reis O'Brien
Reis O'Brien

Induction category:
Designer

Class of: 2019

Reis O'Brien, as Senior Designer at Funko, helps create many of the world's most sought after toys. O'Brien's work follows a lifelong love of collectibles, including customizing and showing off his work at conventions. O'Brien also founded his own toy company, Bimtoy, producing the popular figure Tiny Ghost.

Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr.

Induction category:
Actor

Class of: 2019

Robert Downey Jr. is an American actor best known as protagonist Tony Stark in Ironman. Downey Jr. is widely regarded as one of Hollywood's biggest A-listers, with Ironman and more marvel films raking in billions worldwide, not to mention Downey Jr.'s Academy Award-winning work on other films like Sherlock Holmes.

Class of 2018

Alex Ross
Alex Ross

Induction category:
Artist

Class of: 2018

More than a comic illustrator, Ross has lent his painterly style to cartoon projects by Marvel, DC and other publishers over the years. He also develops characters and writes plots for his stories to further bring his art to life.

Daniel Pickett
Daniel Pickett

Induction category:
Historian

Class of: 2018

Daniel Pickett is one of the founders of actionfigureinsider.com, one of the most thorough and entertaining websites about the toy industry. He writes reviews of new and old action figures and just enjoys sharing his knowledge and passion for toys in general

Howard Chan
Howard Chan

Induction category:
Entrepreneur

Class of: 2018

Howard Chan is the founder of Hot Toys, known for their amazingly detailed and realistic large scale action figures and collectibles. Characters from Star Wars, Back to the Future, Marvel and DC are among other well-known universes that have been immortalized by the company.

Marty Abrams
Marty Abrams

Induction category:
Entrepreneur

Class of: 2018

In 1971, Marty Abrams transformed a struggling toy import company into a behemoth of the action figure world. Mego's inexpensive action figures, most of them sharing the same body molds, in the likeness of popular comics figures were the biggest toys on the planet for much of the '70s.

Steve Geppi
Steve Geppi

Induction category:
Entrepreneur

Class of: 2018

Steve Geppi is the founder of Diamond Comic Distributors, who has become a titan - actually THE titan in the comics distribution business. His magazine Previews has become the go-to source for collectors and stores to discover new comics, action figures, and other collectibles.

Class of 2017

Derryl DePriest
Derryl DePriest

Induction category:
Historian

Class of: 2017

As former Vice President of Global Brand Management of Hasbro, and previously at Midway Games, he has been in charge of many of the biggest names in the toy and game business.

Marc Mostman
Marc Mostman

Induction category:
Entrepreneur

Class of: 2017

One of the most prominent figures in licensing and marketing, he is responsible for toys, collectibles, and other merchandising for countless movies, television shows, animation, video games, and comic books.

Mez Markowitz
Mez Markowitz

Induction category:
Entrepreneur

Class of: 2017

Mez is the inspiration behind Mezcotoyz, makers of vinyl art figures, bobbleheads, and highly detailed action figures.

Michael Crawford
Michael Crawford

Induction category:
Historian

Class of: 2017

Best known for his popular Captain Toy website, he is an expert on action figures and vinyl art toys.

Mike Horn
Mike Horn

Induction category:
Entrepreneur

Class of: 2017

Head of Palisades Toys, Factory X Power Up Factory, makers of highly detailed action figures and toys.

Seth Green
Seth Green

Induction category:
Actor

Class of: 2017

Best known to many as an actor and voice talent, he is also the creator of the action figure based television show "Robot Chicken."

Class of 2016

Bonnie Zacherle
Bonnie Zacherle

Induction category:
Designer

Class of: 2016

An illustrator and designer who created the My Little Pony franchise.

Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan

Induction category:
Legend

Class of: 2016

Hulk Hogan inspired a generation of Hulkamaniacs, as well as extensive toy lines in the '80s and '90s, as the face of the WWF.

Jordan Hembrough
Jordan Hembrough

Induction category:
Entrepreneur

Class of: 2016

A former owner of Hollywood Heroes, Inc., Jordan Hembrough was the host of "Toy Hunter" on the Travel Channel and Discovery Network.

Randy Falk
Randy Falk

Induction category:
Designer

Class of: 2016

Randy Falk is the Director of Product Development for NECA and has appeared in several toy industry documentaries.

Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk

Induction category:
Legend

Class of: 2016

Skateboarding Legend & Video Game Inspiration

Class of 2015

Johnny Jimenez Jr.
Johnny Jimenez Jr.

Induction category:
Entrepreneur

Class of: 2015

Owner of Las Vegas’ world-famous Toy Shack, Johnny Jimenez Jr. was also an expert for History's reality series "Pawn Stars."

Mark Boudreaux
Mark Boudreaux

Induction category:
Designer

Class of: 2015

Mark Boudreaux was one of Kenner’s original designers of Star Wars toys, beginning in 1978 with the Millennium Falcon.

Ron Rudat
Ron Rudat

Induction category:
Designer

Class of: 2015

Ron Rudat was the driving force behind the creation of Hasbro’s G.I. Joe action figures series in the early 1980s.

Stan Lee
Stan Lee

Induction category:
Legend

Class of: 2015

The godfather of Marvel Comics, co-creator of iconic characters such as Spider-Man, The Hulk and Iron Man.

Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane

Induction category:
Designer

Class of: 2015

Comic book creator whose Spawn comics launched an action figure empire.