Full Tilt lands Don Cheadle

He's starred in major films like Oceans 11, Hotel Rwanda and Crash and now he's bringing his star power to Full Tilt Poker.

Full Tilt Poker announced Thursday it was welcoming actor, charity fundraiser and activist Don Cheadle to their team as a Friend of Full Tilt.

Don Cheadle may not have much, if anything, for major tournament cashes, but he's no stranger to poker. He's played in televised events such as the NBC National Heads-Up Championship and Celebrity Poker Shoot-Out.

The poker world sat up and took notice in 2007 when he was paired against Phil Ivey in the first round of the NBC National Heads-Up Championship and managed to defeat one of the game's best pros. He went on to lose in Round 2 to Scott Fischman.

NBC invited him back in 2008 and 2009 to participate again. In 2008, Cheadle was out in the first round after losing to Gus Hansen, but in 2009 he held his own against David Pham in the first round before being defeated in Round 2 by Paul Wasicka.

"I've done alright in the televised tourneys I've participated in, and I've won several tournaments around town," Cheadle said. "I have yet to play in the WSOP events, but I hope my schedule will permit me to do so in the future."

One event he has played in during the WSOP each year has been the Ante Up for Africa charity poker tournament he co-founded with Annie Duke and Norman Epstien. The tournament was created in 2007 and takes place during the WSOP each year to help raise money for Darfur relief.

Ante Up for Africa has raised more than $2 million to help support humanitarian aid to the crisis in Sudan.

The event draws top celebrities such as Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and top pro poker players like Team Full Tilt's Phil Ivey, Chris Ferguson and Andy Bloch.

Team Full Tilt is a select group of some the world's best professional poker players who represent the poker site at live events and on the site. Friends of Full Tilt also include celebrities such as UFC fighter Matt Hughes, UFC announcer Bruce Buffer and author Michael Craig.

For more information about the poker site, visit Full Tilt Poker.