It’s hard to remember, but there was a time when the name “Leeroy Jenkins” didn’t elicit knowing nods and sage murmurs among every living human on the planet. But it’s true: It was 13 years ago today that an impetuous World Of Warcraft player was caught on camera bellowing his name, storming into battle, and getting himself and his entire team killed in a glorious mélange of chaos brought on by his impulsive action. Today we honor that fallen hero by watching—some of us for the 11,000th time—the beautiful behavior that sent him plunging forever into the annals of meme history.
The good people at Cheezburger have put together an assortment of the many pop-culture memorials to this headstrong gentleman. These include game company Blizzard’s subsequent recognition of Leeroy with an official trading card, mini figurine, and even naming an achievement after him. But there’s also advertisments, mentions on The Daily Show, and—perhaps most fitting of all for such a seemingly trivial moment—immortality as a clue on Jeopardy!
Shine on, Leeroy, you crazy Planeswalker diamond.