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.
Induction category:
Entrepreneur
Class of: 2022
As the head of Hasbro, he helped steer the company from disaster to success again.
Induction category:
Historian
Class of: 2022
Volk-Wiess' love of toys and sense of humor make him the perfect person to make history fun.
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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.
Induction category:
Actor
Class of: 2022
Combining bombshell looks with savvy comedy chops, Robbie is one of the most talented actors of her time.
Induction category:
Legend
Class of: 2022
The greatest basketball player ever, he is also a powerhouse of pop culture and marketing
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Artist
Class of: 2022
Rumiko Takahashi is a prolific, popular Manga creator, whose comics and cartoons have entertained and inspired fans and artists worldwide.
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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.
Induction category:
Game Developer
Class of: 2021
David Baszucki’s Roblox game inspires fun, friendship, and learning - on a global scale.
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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.
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Designer
Class of: 2021
For over 50 years, Larry Wood's Hot Wheels designs have fueled the imagination of kids and collectors.
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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.
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Historian
Class of: 2021
Since 1970, Bob Overstreet has been THE authority for comic book pricing for collectors and retailers.
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Actor
Class of: 2021
As Mr. Bean, Rowan Atkinson has been bumbling and stumbling hilariously into fans’ lives for over 30 years.
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.
Induction category:
Designer
Class of: 2021
Syd Mead’s inspired visions of the future have enthralled moviegoers for decades.
Induction category:
Actor
Class of: 2020
Jim Parsons' turn as Sheldon Cooper on "The Big Bang Theory" endeared him to pop culture geeks worldwide.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Artist
Class of: 2020
René Goscinny struck gold with his comic creation Asterix, a diminutive, globe-hopping adventurer, loved worldwide for decades.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Induction category:
Entrepreneur
Class of: 2017
Mez is the inspiration behind Mezcotoyz, makers of vinyl art figures, bobbleheads, and highly detailed action figures.
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.
Induction category:
Entrepreneur
Class of: 2017
Head of Palisades Toys, Factory X Power Up Factory, makers of highly detailed action figures and toys.
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."
Induction category:
Designer
Class of: 2016
An illustrator and designer who created the My Little Pony franchise.
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.
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.
Induction category:
Designer
Class of: 2016
Randy Falk is the Director of Product Development for NECA and has appeared in several toy industry documentaries.
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."
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.
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.
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.
Induction category:
Designer
Class of: 2015
Comic book creator whose Spawn comics launched an action figure empire.
