Actor Joe Manganiello is known for playing a werewolf, Flash Thompson and now Death Stroke, but he’s also the owner of a one of a kind game room. In an interview with comedian Stephen Colbert, Manganiello talked about his passion for Dungeons and Dragons.
“I’m OG nerd. Back when it wasn’t cool. I was a little kid, I had the Hobbit picture book and from there it was like a gateway drug into basic Dungeons and Dragons, like the red box with the dragon on the front.”
Manganiello is a die-hard fan of the role-playing game. He created his own personal dungeon; The Gary Gygax Memorial Dungeon, in his home just to play Dungeons and Dragons. His wife, actress Sofia Vergara said she had other plans before the renovation.
“My wife wanted to turn it into like a Pilates dance studio. As the wood flooring was about to go in I started playing Dungeons and Dragons again after a long hiatus since pretty much I was a kid. I said I need this room.”
.@JoeManganiello and @StephenAtHome go full #DnD #LSSC https://t.co/VKAWuhtel8 pic.twitter.com/JwJ3ZWETDr
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) August 8, 2018
The basement contains Dungeons and Dragons relics and creatures such as a Beholder, the head of a Mind Flayer, and dragons. One of his most valued possessions is a painting of his character, Arkhan the Cruel standing in front of the dragon queen Tiamat.
“He is a paladin but an oath breaker. So he’s broken his oath, he’s evil. He worships the five headed dragon goddess Tiamat.” To which Stephen replies. “Sure, Bahamut’s counterpart obviously. You don’t come into my house and drop Tiamat and think I’m not gonna drop Bahamut at the same time.”
They then spoke about Death Saves, which creates clothing and accessories revolved around Dungeons and Dragons.
“I wanted cool stuff to wear. When I was a kid if you played Dungeons and Dragons you also listened to Metallica, you read Steven King; you had a glow in the dark Led Zeppelin poster on your wall; you had an Iron Maiden t-shirt, you hung out at the arcade, you read comic books, it all went together. So I’m combining them all under one banner again.”
They ended the interview by rolling death saving throws. That’s where a player’s character is on deaths door and rolls to see if they live or die. In true nerd fashion and by the grace of Tiamat, Manganiello rolled a natural 20.
Manganiello can be seen playing Arkhan the Cruel on Critical Role, The Stream of Many Eyes, and Force Grey.