Does Brad Garrett Play Poker? You Bet He Does!

If you‘ve ever seen an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, then you‘ll recognize the tall, deep-voiced comedic actor Brad Garrett. What you may not know is that Garrett is also an avid poker enthusiast who has been hitting the tables for over 15 years. So the answer is a definitive yes – Brad Garrett absolutely plays poker!

In fact, Garrett is a seasoned poker veteran with some legitimate skills and results against top competition over the years. Let‘s take a closer look at how Garrett first got into poker, some of his biggest accomplishments at the table, his unique style of play, and how his passion for cards has endured throughout his acting career.

From Hollywood Home Games to High Stakes Poker

After growing up on TV sets, Garrett caught the poker bug from friends early on during his budding acting career. He began by playing casual home games around Hollywood.

According to an interview Garrett did with PokerNews, he quickly became enthralled with poker‘s competitiveness and complex strategy:

"I‘ve always been a fan of games that challenge the mind. With poker, every hand presents a new puzzle to solve. I was hooked from the first time I played."

The more Garrett played, the more he wanted to test himself against the very best in real competitive environments. This led him to start entering World Poker Tour (WPT) events and World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournaments in the mid-2000s.

Though already famous for his acting, Garrett proved he was no amateur on the felt. He held his own against professional players, even besting some of the world‘s top pros to final tables along the way.

Let‘s look at some of the highlights of Garrett‘s impressive poker resume over the years.

Notable Brad Garrett Poker Results:

World Series of Poker (WSOP)

• 2006 WSOP – Final table in Stud event, finishing 6th place for $93,089
• 2009 WSOP – Cashed in 2 events, highlighted by a 3rd place finish in Razz for $138,064
• 2010 WSOP Main Event – Impressive 108th place run out of 7,319 entries for $80,697

World Poker Tour (WPT)

• 2008 WPT Celebrity Invitational – Final table appearance, finishing 3rd for $170,620
• 2015 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown – Cashed for $18,307
• 2019 WPT Gardens Poker Championship – Cashed for $15,493

Other Notable Scores

• 2009 WSOP Champions Invitational – 1st place for $100,000
• 2018 WSOP Charity Tournament – 4th place out of 264 entries for $27,025

In total, Garrett has cashed for over $700,000 in live poker tournaments – impressive for a recreational player! He‘s proven he can hang with the pros when he‘s dialed in.

As Garrett recounted to Phil Hellmuth on his podcast:

"I‘ll never claim to be the best player, but I love the challenge of poker and pushing myself to compete with anyone."

Inside Garrett‘s Poker Playbook: A Patient, Observant Approach

When you watch Garrett play on poker TV shows like High Stakes Poker, you‘ll notice he takes a fairly conservative, selective approach compared to many pros. He‘s not just spewing chips around recklessly.

Garrett tends to play a higher ratio of premium hands preflop, then focuses on gathering information and observing his opponents postflop before making big moves.

As his good friend Phil Hellmuth analyzed:

"Brad has an uncanny ability to sniff out bluffs and notice player tendencies. His instincts are top notch."

Rather than pulling off fancy bluffs, Garrett wins many big pots by making disciplined folds and picking good spots to value bet strong hands. You won‘t catch him paying off opponents with second best hands very often.

This patient style of play likely comes from Garrett‘s background as an actor – he‘s an expert reader of people. By combining solid fundamental play with keen observation, Garrett knows how to extract maximum value when he has the goods.

Charity Ambassador & Poker‘s "Gentle Giant"

In addition to his playing accomplishments, Garrett has long been an ambassador for promoting poker as a force for good.

He has hosted and participated in numerous charity poker tournaments that have raised millions of dollars for various causes close to his heart:

• Brad Garrett Celebrity Poker Tournament benefiting the Maximum Hope Foundation
• Spending Spree Charity Poker Event for Folds of Honor
• "Laughing for a Change" Comedy & Poker Night for the UCLA Foundation

The WSOP has enlisted Garrett several times to play in and publicize their charity events like the Warrior‘s Invitational that supports veterans.

Despite his intimidating 6‘8" stature, Garrett is known as one of the friendliest personalities on the poker circuit. Fans and fellow players gravitate to his lighthearted table banter and self-deprecating humor.

He even poked fun at his less-than-svelte physique by titling his 2005 memoir When the Balls Drop:

"I‘m not ever going to be on the cover of Poker Abs Monthly. But I enjoy keeping the game fun."

This gentle giant has brought smiles to poker fans for over 15 years while racking up some nice winnings along the way.

The Poker Bug Bites for Good

Many celebrities who talk about playing poker never actually show up on the tables. That‘s what makes Garrett‘s poker journey so unique – his passion has endured over time and transcended his acting career.

Rather than a passing hobby, poker clearly grabbed Garrett for the long run. Just take a look at his steady participation and results over the past 15+ years.

In a recent 2022 interview, Garrett said his love for poker burns brighter than ever:

"I‘m still obsessed with the game. My poker goals keep me sharp as a player and a performer."

Given his commitment to improving and competing, we can expect Brad Garrett to be a familiar friendly face at the felt for years to come.

So if you ever find yourself at a poker table and spot the grinning giant across the way – beware! Despite the jokes, Garrett is one actor who takes his poker very seriously.