Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Skateboarders

John Ficenec, Photo Editor|March 19, 2014

There is a surprisingly long list of celebrities today who either just started skateboarding, or have been a skateboarder at heart for a long time.  In this article I will list some of the more popular celebs who can skate.  Click on the links to view said celebrities in action.

Jason Lee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaY6Fvz_bq8

Before Mallrats, My Name is Earl, and Alvin and the Chipmunks, Jason Lee was a professional skateboarder.  His breakthrough part in Blind Skateboards’ Video Days (filmed, edited, and produced by fellow skateboarder Spike Jonze) revolutionized street skateboarding as we see it today, and showed us just how stylish 360 flips could be.

Spike Jonze

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl6VvEScamQ

Director of films such as Being John Malkovich, Where the Wild Things Are, and Her, Spike Jonze’s prominence in the skate scene was during the early 90s when street skateboarding was in what many consider to be its “Golden Days”.  Jonze was more of a man behind the scenes, though, and was never actually a pro skater.  Along with making Video Days, he co-founded Girl Skateboards with Mike Carroll and Rick Howard in 1993 and is a co-owner to this day.

Pharrell Williams

Pharrell with the Ice Cream, 2006. Image courtesy of Getty Images.
Pharrell with the Ice Cream team, 2006. Image courtesy of Getty Images.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N.E.R.D founder and never-aging Pharrell Williams was adorned with the nickname “Skateboard P” when he was in high school.  And in 2005 Williams launched Ice Cream, a skateboarding shoe and clothing line with a team that included pro skater Terry Kennedy.  Ice Cream, while still sponsoring skaters, is now solely a clothing company.

 

Dave Chappelle

Screen Shot 2014-03-18 at 6.31.57 PM
Chappelle walks with his bodyguard, whom is carrying his skateboard. Image courtesy of Getty Images.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stand-up comedian and Chappelle’s Show creator Dave Chappelle has been spotted on numerous occasions with a skateboard in hand.  He has even been spotted at the Skatepark of Tampa and Rye Airfield (a skatepark in New England) just cruising around.  He has even said “I can just find a hill in my neighborhood and skate down it or my driveway.”

 

Lil Wayne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sQfLwsgDnw

Lil Wayne may be the last person you expect to be a skateboarder, but he’s even gone as far as getting skateboard brands Baker and Deathwish logos tattooed on his face.  While not the best skateboarder (understandably), it’s enjoyable to see the progression of Lil Wayne over the years as he skates more and more.

Matt and Kim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt8lqsEf-gU

Indie pop duo Matt and Kim are also two unlikely skateboarders, but whenever they have free time on tour, they like to whip out their old deck and enjoy themselves.