My grandfather was my biggest influence that led me to role-playing games. He instilled a love of reading. He introduced me to fantasy and science-fiction literature. He taught me chess, how to shoot a gun, and how to fire a bow. He took me to movies like Conan and Excalibur (without my mother knowing ).
Another big factor was my disillusionment of the high school click scene. I chose not to align myself with a specific click as was the norm, and, consequently, found myself on the self-imposed fringe. I made friends with a quadriplegic and a boy who just moved to our town from out of state. My out of town friend introduced us to 2nd Gamma World at lunch in the library. He then introduced us to 1st AD&D.
I was hooked on role-playing immediately. It became my crack cocaine.