Top 10 Nerd Icons

it’s an honor and a privilege to meet

it’s an honor and a privilege to meet you sir

you sir

you sir be nice to nerds you may end up working

be nice to nerds you may end up working

be nice to nerds you may end up working for one I know

for one I know

for one I know welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten nerd icons for this list we’re ranking

nerd icons for this list we’re ranking

nerd icons for this list we’re ranking some of the real-life people who’ve

some of the real-life people who’ve

some of the real-life people who’ve brought nerds the most joy whether in

brought nerds the most joy whether in

brought nerds the most joy whether in the form of scientific advancement

the form of scientific advancement

the form of scientific advancement entertainment or just by being awesome

entertainment or just by being awesome

entertainment or just by being awesome to be clear we’re not saying these

to be clear we’re not saying these

to be clear we’re not saying these people are nerds just that nerds tend to

people are nerds just that nerds tend to

people are nerds just that nerds tend to love them and yeah we’re nerds

love them and yeah we’re nerds

love them and yeah we’re nerds what of it now this is not going to be

what of it now this is not going to be

what of it now this is not going to be pretty we’re talking violence strong

pretty we’re talking violence strong

pretty we’re talking violence strong language adult content number 10 the

language adult content number 10 the

language adult content number 10 the writer Joss Whedon whether you’re a fan

writer Joss Whedon whether you’re a fan

writer Joss Whedon whether you’re a fan of Buffy Firefly Toy Story or the

of Buffy Firefly Toy Story or the

of Buffy Firefly Toy Story or the Avengers Whedon your source for

Avengers Whedon your source for

Avengers Whedon your source for self-referential sarcastic pop-culture

self-referential sarcastic pop-culture

self-referential sarcastic pop-culture reference heavy nerd comedy i understood

reference heavy nerd comedy i understood

reference heavy nerd comedy i understood that reference he’s also known for

that reference he’s also known for

that reference he’s also known for creating some of the most badass female

creating some of the most badass female

creating some of the most badass female protagonists ever as well as the angsty

protagonists ever as well as the angsty

protagonists ever as well as the angsty as characters he ever did see her

as characters he ever did see her

as characters he ever did see her getting kicked out of school for losing

getting kicked out of school for losing

getting kicked out of school for losing all of my friends for having to spend

all of my friends for having to spend

all of my friends for having to spend all of my time fighting for my life and

all of my time fighting for my life and

all of my time fighting for my life and never getting to tell anyone because i

never getting to tell anyone because i

never getting to tell anyone because i might endanger them

might endanger them

might endanger them even though he tends to kill off

even though he tends to kill off

even though he tends to kill off everyone’s favors Whedon’s projects

everyone’s favors Whedon’s projects

everyone’s favors Whedon’s projects almost always earned cult status making

almost always earned cult status making

almost always earned cult status making him a king among nerds he doesn’t fight

him a king among nerds he doesn’t fight

him a king among nerds he doesn’t fight evil or shoot lasers or fly number nine

evil or shoot lasers or fly number nine

evil or shoot lasers or fly number nine the edge you Taner Bill Nye

the edge you Taner Bill Nye

the edge you Taner Bill Nye I put his mechanical engineering

I put his mechanical engineering

I put his mechanical engineering background to good use once he became a

background to good use once he became a

background to good use once he became a comedy writer using his trademark energy

comedy writer using his trademark energy

comedy writer using his trademark energy and humor to bring edutainment to kids I

and humor to bring edutainment to kids I

and humor to bring edutainment to kids I said I mean what’s the big deal with his

said I mean what’s the big deal with his

said I mean what’s the big deal with his never-ending stream of bowties and

never-ending stream of bowties and

never-ending stream of bowties and scientific info Bill Nye the Science Guy

scientific info Bill Nye the Science Guy

scientific info Bill Nye the Science Guy is a fond memory for anyone who grew up

is a fond memory for anyone who grew up

is a fond memory for anyone who grew up in the 90s your option today he still

in the 90s your option today he still

in the 90s your option today he still spends his days spreading the gospel of

spends his days spreading the gospel of

spends his days spreading the gospel of science and denying evolution deniers

science and denying evolution deniers

science and denying evolution deniers evolution is a fact we can prove

evolution is a fact we can prove

evolution is a fact we can prove evolution to you if you want to deny

evolution to you if you want to deny

evolution to you if you want to deny that stuff you’re setting aside what

that stuff you’re setting aside what

that stuff you’re setting aside what makes humans so good we are going to

makes humans so good we are going to

makes humans so good we are going to leave it right there

leave it right there

leave it right there number eight the Trekker George Takei oh

number eight the Trekker George Takei oh

number eight the Trekker George Takei oh my the Star Trek universe is replete

my the Star Trek universe is replete

my the Star Trek universe is replete with actors and characters who struck a

with actors and characters who struck a

with actors and characters who struck a chord with nerds

chord with nerds

chord with nerds but Takei transcended his role as Sulu

but Takei transcended his role as Sulu

but Takei transcended his role as Sulu to gain fans from all walks of life not

to gain fans from all walks of life not

to gain fans from all walks of life not only a trailblazer for asian-americans

only a trailblazer for asian-americans

only a trailblazer for asian-americans in Hollywood he’s also at the forefront

in Hollywood he’s also at the forefront

in Hollywood he’s also at the forefront of the gay rights movement mr. McCann’s

of the gay rights movement mr. McCann’s

of the gay rights movement mr. McCann’s you are a douchebag and he’s a

you are a douchebag and he’s a

you are a douchebag and he’s a remarkably popular and incisive social

remarkably popular and incisive social

remarkably popular and incisive social media presence we hope he lives long and

media presence we hope he lives long and

media presence we hope he lives long and prospers send me a tweet tell me what

prospers send me a tweet tell me what

prospers send me a tweet tell me what you think and hashtag it decays takes

you think and hashtag it decays takes

you think and hashtag it decays takes number seven the director George Lucas

number seven the director George Lucas

number seven the director George Lucas Star Wars Indiana Jones eat we say more

Star Wars Indiana Jones eat we say more

Star Wars Indiana Jones eat we say more while he may have gone off the rails in

while he may have gone off the rails in

while he may have gone off the rails in terms of his movie making choices since

terms of his movie making choices since

terms of his movie making choices since Jedi was released

no one can deny that Luke has created

no one can deny that Luke has created one of the most epic fictional universes

one of the most epic fictional universes

one of the most epic fictional universes this side of Tatooine not only that he

this side of Tatooine not only that he

this side of Tatooine not only that he built his own empire by making the

built his own empire by making the

built his own empire by making the dreams of fanboys come true and yes

dreams of fanboys come true and yes

dreams of fanboys come true and yes we’re talking about Leia’s bikini joy is

we’re talking about Leia’s bikini joy is

we’re talking about Leia’s bikini joy is something you can recall pleasure you

something you can recall pleasure you

something you can recall pleasure you can’t so the secret is that even though

can’t so the secret is that even though

can’t so the secret is that even though it’s not as intense as the pleasure the

it’s not as intense as the pleasure the

it’s not as intense as the pleasure the joy will last you a lot longer number 6

joy will last you a lot longer number 6

joy will last you a lot longer number 6 the teacher Neil deGrasse Tyson the

the teacher Neil deGrasse Tyson the

the teacher Neil deGrasse Tyson the beginning of your program your earth is

beginning of your program your earth is

beginning of your program your earth is spinning the wrong direction

spinning the wrong direction

spinning the wrong direction astrophysics ain’t no thing for this

astrophysics ain’t no thing for this

astrophysics ain’t no thing for this world famous scientist like his mentor

world famous scientist like his mentor

world famous scientist like his mentor Carl Sagan he has made science

Carl Sagan he has made science

Carl Sagan he has made science accessible with his easy-to-understand

accessible with his easy-to-understand

accessible with his easy-to-understand explanations of the mysteries of the

explanations of the mysteries of the

explanations of the mysteries of the universe

universe

universe if Neptune were analogized with a Chevy

if Neptune were analogized with a Chevy

if Neptune were analogized with a Chevy Impala how big is Pluto compared to that

Impala how big is Pluto compared to that

Impala how big is Pluto compared to that so this Chevy Impala parked at curbside

so this Chevy Impala parked at curbside

so this Chevy Impala parked at curbside Pluto would be not like a Mini Cooper no

Pluto would be not like a Mini Cooper no

Pluto would be not like a Mini Cooper no it would be a matchbox car sitting on

it would be a matchbox car sitting on

it would be a matchbox car sitting on the curb when he’s not busy demoting

the curb when he’s not busy demoting

the curb when he’s not busy demoting Pluto to a dwarf planet or ripping on

Pluto to a dwarf planet or ripping on

Pluto to a dwarf planet or ripping on the scientific inaccuracies of Hollywood

the scientific inaccuracies of Hollywood

the scientific inaccuracies of Hollywood films deGrasse Tyson is bringing his

films deGrasse Tyson is bringing his

films deGrasse Tyson is bringing his quirky personality to talk shows

quirky personality to talk shows

quirky personality to talk shows podcasts and his own version of Sagan’s

podcasts and his own version of Sagan’s

podcasts and his own version of Sagan’s Cosmos are we going to be quizzed on

Cosmos are we going to be quizzed on

Cosmos are we going to be quizzed on this because I’m not taking notes he is

this because I’m not taking notes he is

this because I’m not taking notes he is suddenly taken Bryggen for a guy who

suddenly taken Bryggen for a guy who

suddenly taken Bryggen for a guy who looks like he plays bass in the Jay

looks like he plays bass in the Jay

looks like he plays bass in the Jay geils Band number 5 the skeptic Carl

geils Band number 5 the skeptic Carl

geils Band number 5 the skeptic Carl Sagan it is said that men may not be the

Sagan it is said that men may not be the

Sagan it is said that men may not be the dreams of the gods but rather that the

dreams of the gods but rather that the

dreams of the gods but rather that the gods are the dreams of men the true

gods are the dreams of men the true

gods are the dreams of men the true definition of a science communicator

definition of a science communicator

definition of a science communicator Sagan was one of the first to explain

Sagan was one of the first to explain

Sagan was one of the first to explain complicated theories in layman’s terms

complicated theories in layman’s terms

complicated theories in layman’s terms producing billions and billions of

producing billions and billions of

producing billions and billions of thinkers and skeptics there’s no

thinkers and skeptics there’s no

thinkers and skeptics there’s no evidence for this I just say that’s not

evidence for this I just say that’s not

evidence for this I just say that’s not implausible known for his stance against

implausible known for his stance against

implausible known for his stance against nuclear weapons his connection to the

nuclear weapons his connection to the

nuclear weapons his connection to the u.s. space program and his interest in

u.s. space program and his interest in

u.s. space program and his interest in planets and extraterrestrial life this

planets and extraterrestrial life this

planets and extraterrestrial life this astronomer astrophysicist and

astronomer astrophysicist and

astronomer astrophysicist and cosmologists inspired a generation with

cosmologists inspired a generation with

cosmologists inspired a generation with books and films like contact and he

books and films like contact and he

books and films like contact and he TV series cosmos we’re just beginning to

TV series cosmos we’re just beginning to

TV series cosmos we’re just beginning to trace the long and tortuous path which

trace the long and tortuous path which

trace the long and tortuous path which began with the primeval fireball and led

began with the primeval fireball and led

began with the primeval fireball and led to the condensation of matter gas dust

to the condensation of matter gas dust

to the condensation of matter gas dust stars galaxies and at least in our

stars galaxies and at least in our

stars galaxies and at least in our little nook the universe planets and

little nook the universe planets and

little nook the universe planets and life intelligence and inquisitive men

life intelligence and inquisitive men

life intelligence and inquisitive men and women number four the entrepreneur

and women number four the entrepreneur

and women number four the entrepreneur Bill Gates hello I’m Bill Gates chairman

Bill Gates hello I’m Bill Gates chairman

Bill Gates hello I’m Bill Gates chairman of Microsoft

of Microsoft

of Microsoft while Steve Jobs is another important

while Steve Jobs is another important

while Steve Jobs is another important tech entrepreneur Gates gets credit for

tech entrepreneur Gates gets credit for

tech entrepreneur Gates gets credit for spurring the personal computer explosion

spurring the personal computer explosion

spurring the personal computer explosion the richest man in the world depending

the richest man in the world depending

the richest man in the world depending on the year he started small with a

on the year he started small with a

on the year he started small with a childhood interest in computer

childhood interest in computer

childhood interest in computer programming aggressive business

programming aggressive business

programming aggressive business strategies turned that into Microsoft

strategies turned that into Microsoft

strategies turned that into Microsoft and the rest is history

and the rest is history

and the rest is history 95 is so easy even a talk show host can

95 is so easy even a talk show host can

95 is so easy even a talk show host can figure it out he and his wife Melinda

figure it out he and his wife Melinda

figure it out he and his wife Melinda are also noted philanthropists so you

are also noted philanthropists so you

are also noted philanthropists so you know Gates doesn’t just lie around on

know Gates doesn’t just lie around on

know Gates doesn’t just lie around on his piles of money this will become the

his piles of money this will become the

his piles of money this will become the second disease after smallpox that’s

second disease after smallpox that’s

second disease after smallpox that’s ever been eradicated number three the

ever been eradicated number three the

ever been eradicated number three the superhero

superhero

superhero Stanley judging by fan excitement over

Stanley judging by fan excitement over

Stanley judging by fan excitement over as many film cameos Stanley truly is the

as many film cameos Stanley truly is the

as many film cameos Stanley truly is the men after all he co-created the Marvel

men after all he co-created the Marvel

men after all he co-created the Marvel Universe and iconic characters like

Universe and iconic characters like

Universe and iconic characters like spider-man The Avengers the Fantastic

spider-man The Avengers the Fantastic

spider-man The Avengers the Fantastic Four the x-men and many many more and

Four the x-men and many many more and

Four the x-men and many many more and superheros the most important thing is

superheros the most important thing is

superheros the most important thing is to get a new power right and you run out

to get a new power right and you run out

to get a new power right and you run out of powers the guy can fly a guy his

of powers the guy can fly a guy his

of powers the guy can fly a guy his strong ago what’s left

strong ago what’s left

strong ago what’s left he also dispensed with traditional comic

he also dispensed with traditional comic

he also dispensed with traditional comic book rules to tackle real world issues

book rules to tackle real world issues

book rules to tackle real world issues and themes in the process he became a

and themes in the process he became a

and themes in the process he became a dynamic marble spokesman that any fanboy

dynamic marble spokesman that any fanboy

dynamic marble spokesman that any fanboy would die to meet holy shit excelsior

would die to meet holy shit excelsior

would die to meet holy shit excelsior Archie Oh Stanley hi

Archie Oh Stanley hi

Archie Oh Stanley hi number two the genius Stephen Hawking

number two the genius Stephen Hawking

number two the genius Stephen Hawking diagnosed with ALS in his early 20s and

diagnosed with ALS in his early 20s and

diagnosed with ALS in his early 20s and given only a few years to live dr.

given only a few years to live dr.

given only a few years to live dr. Hawking defied the odds to become one of

Hawking defied the odds to become one of

Hawking defied the odds to become one of the world’s most famous theoretical

the world’s most famous theoretical

the world’s most famous theoretical physicists and cosmologists with the

physicists and cosmologists with the

physicists and cosmologists with the coolest wheelchair we’ve ever seen

coolest wheelchair we’ve ever seen

coolest wheelchair we’ve ever seen eventually writing books like a brief

eventually writing books like a brief

eventually writing books like a brief history of time and forming

history of time and forming

history of time and forming groundbreaking theories about black

groundbreaking theories about black

groundbreaking theories about black holes

holes

holes – which we don’t understand Hawking

– which we don’t understand Hawking

– which we don’t understand Hawking cemented his status as a brilliant

cemented his status as a brilliant

cemented his status as a brilliant badass I’m sure what dr. Hawking means

badass I’m sure what dr. Hawking means

badass I’m sure what dr. Hawking means is Islands I don’t need anyone to talk

is Islands I don’t need anyone to talk

is Islands I don’t need anyone to talk for me except this voice box you have

for me except this voice box you have

for me except this voice box you have clearly been corrupted by power for

clearly been corrupted by power for

clearly been corrupted by power for shame Larry Flynt is right you guys

shame Larry Flynt is right you guys

shame Larry Flynt is right you guys stick before we unveil our number one

stick before we unveil our number one

stick before we unveil our number one pick here are a few honorable mentions

pick here are a few honorable mentions

pick here are a few honorable mentions kids ask the question if the universe

kids ask the question if the universe

kids ask the question if the universe bang then what made it bang and the

bang then what made it bang and the

bang then what made it bang and the answer is dark energy I’m fundamentally

answer is dark energy I’m fundamentally

answer is dark energy I’m fundamentally an optimistic person as an entrepreneur

an optimistic person as an entrepreneur

an optimistic person as an entrepreneur the vast majority of Americans want this

the vast majority of Americans want this

the vast majority of Americans want this to happen we have to push forward it

to happen we have to push forward it

to happen we have to push forward it needs to happen adventure excitement

needs to happen adventure excitement

needs to happen adventure excitement Jedi craves not these things I find that

Jedi craves not these things I find that

Jedi craves not these things I find that one of the problems with with people who

one of the problems with with people who

one of the problems with with people who attempt to convey science to laypeople

attempt to convey science to laypeople

attempt to convey science to laypeople whether it’s children or adults is they

whether it’s children or adults is they

whether it’s children or adults is they tend to be obsessed with bringing it

tend to be obsessed with bringing it

tend to be obsessed with bringing it down to earth and making it ordinary and

down to earth and making it ordinary and

down to earth and making it ordinary and mundane and the sort of thing you might

mundane and the sort of thing you might

mundane and the sort of thing you might meet in your own kitchen

as the planet continues to shrink in

as the planet continues to shrink in size his surface moves away from us

size his surface moves away from us

size his surface moves away from us forcing us to spiral down to maintain

forcing us to spiral down to maintain

forcing us to spiral down to maintain the same distance from exactly it was a

the same distance from exactly it was a

the same distance from exactly it was a long time ago mankind has evolved since

long time ago mankind has evolved since

long time ago mankind has evolved since then yes into us and we’d like to show

then yes into us and we’d like to show

then yes into us and we’d like to show it to you today for the first time and

it to you today for the first time and

it to you today for the first time and we call it the iPad number one the mad

we call it the iPad number one the mad

we call it the iPad number one the mad scientist Albert Einstein with his

scientist Albert Einstein with his

scientist Albert Einstein with his twinkling eyes childlike wonder and

twinkling eyes childlike wonder and

twinkling eyes childlike wonder and unkempt hair

unkempt hair

unkempt hair Einstein is the quintessential mad

Einstein is the quintessential mad

Einstein is the quintessential mad scientist and he’s got the goods to back

scientist and he’s got the goods to back

scientist and he’s got the goods to back up his reputation his landmark research

up his reputation his landmark research

up his reputation his landmark research built the foundation on which physics is

built the foundation on which physics is

built the foundation on which physics is based and altered the accepted

based and altered the accepted

based and altered the accepted perceptions of space time and matter but

perceptions of space time and matter but

perceptions of space time and matter but he’s perhaps best remembered for

he’s perhaps best remembered for

he’s perhaps best remembered for formulating the most famous equation of

formulating the most famous equation of

formulating the most famous equation of the 20th century and for being an

the 20th century and for being an

the 20th century and for being an unpretentious genius do you agree with

unpretentious genius do you agree with

unpretentious genius do you agree with our list what does it take the status

our list what does it take the status

our list what does it take the status about you who do you think are the

about you who do you think are the

about you who do you think are the biggest nerd icons it’s made for more

biggest nerd icons it’s made for more

biggest nerd icons it’s made for more geeky top 10s published every day be

geeky top 10s published every day be

geeky top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com

sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com

sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com resume course to our next destination

resume course to our next destination

resume course to our next destination mr. Suder course laid in sir