View Full Version : Movie Actors who also sing? and singers that act
XFactor1979
22 Jan 2010, 23:01
it is often seen to be a novelty aspect in the business of showbusiness.
when one actor or actress gets too bored of the field they are in and they span out into the other field of entertainment
keanu reeves has (or had) a band called Dogstar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9IlUAnFz_E
even though she doesnt write her own songs; scarlett johansson is a "reasonable" singer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHGecjIgJ70
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USiLOQFW3X4
in terms of musicians who have had a go at acting: we know of madonna's epic failure in her career as an actress.
Chris Isaak appeared in Twin Peaks, fire walk with me
the one actor/ singer who i really cannot differentiate is either a singer or an actor is Charlotte Gainsbourg (however she not a hollywood a-lister). her most famous role is probably playing the english wife of sean penn's character in '21 grams' - however that movie was known more for sean penn, naomi watts and melissa leo's performances (as well as benecio del toro :p )
anyway here she is as an actor in Michel Gondry's the science of sleep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPIccs5Tmjc
here is her song "Songs that we sing"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El0G6lApGEk
charlotte gainsbourg's closest brush with fame is she provides the line "girls can wear jeans, cut their hair short, wear shirts and boots, its ok to be a boy, but for a boy to look like a girl is degrading, because you think being a girl is degrading, but secretly you'd love to know, wouldnt you? what it feels like for a girl"
Shinboner '07
22 Jan 2010, 23:49
Brittany Murphy was quite a good singer
and probably the best transition from musician to actor is Will Smith
Zooey Deschanel.
That bout it....:rolleyes:
Dagless
23 Jan 2010, 00:59
Ryan Gosling
Co-creator of Dead Man's Bones with Zach Shields.
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Was there anything Swayze couldn't do?
Jeffers
23 Jan 2010, 05:56
Marky Mark Walhberg. Debatable but he started out in "music."
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And + 1 for the lovely Zooey Deschanel. She has done some good stuff with She and Him.
Ruddeger07
23 Jan 2010, 06:17
Do they have to be good at either acting or singing or both ?
If not then Rusty Crowe.He had the horrible music group 30 Odd Foot of Grunt [I think that's the name].
Craig McLachlan :D
Atheist
23 Jan 2010, 06:36
Jennifer Lopez...
lol
Atheist
23 Jan 2010, 07:19
Seriously though, I saw Jeff Bridges on Ellen a couple of days ago and he is quite an accomplished country singer.
Magpiespower
23 Jan 2010, 07:43
Eddie Murphy released three forgettable albums...
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512TCyYkfOL._SL500_AA280_.jpg
How Could it Be
1985
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LDstOyp7L._SL500_AA280_.jpg
So Happy
1989
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511jArIGMIL._SL500_AA240_.jpg
Love's Alright
1993
Magpiespower
23 Jan 2010, 07:54
'Best of' Eddie Murphy...
Party All the Time
#2 on the US charts.
#7 on VH1's 'Worst 50 Songs of All-Time'.
Produced by Rick James, b!itch!
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Put Your Mouth on Me
#27 on the US charts.
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Whatzupwityu
Featuring Michael Jackson
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I Was a King
featuring Shabba Ranks
#64 on the UK charts.
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Reckon he should stick to his parody songs...
Boogie in Your Butt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4le6Zr86ojs
Enough is Enough
As his SNL character 'Buckwheat'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZLJyt0516A
ByeByeBrendan
23 Jan 2010, 07:55
Jared Leto has done quite well with 30 Seconds To Mars
Magpiespower
23 Jan 2010, 08:10
Unfortunately, the huge success of Miami Vice gave Don Johnson the chance to make a few albums...
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513rHj%2BXd5L._SL500_AA280_.jpg
Heartbeat
1986
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41TMsAf4l7L._SL500_AA240_.jpg
Let it Roll
1989
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410GTMYX27L._SL500_AA240_.jpg
The Essential
1997
Heartbeat
#5 on the US charts.
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Even recorded some duets with Barbra Streisand!
Til I Loved You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL7w7pGM284
What if it Takes All Night?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPc_JEC9tsU&feature=related
roostersgal4eva
23 Jan 2010, 08:31
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Was there anything Swayze couldn't do?
no :( (RIP)
Cher would own this thread as she won an oscar for her role in Moonstruck
sandeano
23 Jan 2010, 08:46
All these replies and no mention of either Frankie or Dino as yet?
danielcan
23 Jan 2010, 08:50
Barbra Streisand!
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Cher would own this thread as she won an oscar for her role in Moonstruck
Bette Midler
These three own all the others.
Going by awards, Streisand wins hands down.
[URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_persons_who_have_won_Academy,_Emmy,_Grammy,_and_Tony _Awards (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPc_JEC9tsU&feature=related)
XFactor1979
23 Jan 2010, 08:56
elvis was horribly cliched!
u2 made a movie called rattle and h.... ha just kidding! but thankfully that movie was somewhat saved by u2's musicianship
jonathan demme (the director of silence of the lambs) did something outside the square by making a legendary concert film called "stop making sense" featuring The Talking Heads, one of the weirdest bands of the 80s. david byrne stole that movie with his performance as a psycho killer to george mcfly lookalike
but seriously another foray into the actors who sing category, coming soon this year:
Melanie laurent, the french jew from Inglourious Basterds. maybe she will sing about killing nazis or burning down a theatre full of germans in a soft french accent
sandeano
23 Jan 2010, 09:10
Bette Midler
These three own all the others.
Going by awards, Streisand wins hands down.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_persons_who_have_won_Academy,_Emmy,_Grammy,_and_Tony _Awards
You are probably right, but Babs did first get great acclaim as a star of Broadway musicals which require strong proficiency in both discliplines. So even before her first films she was pretty well-trained as an actress.
I don't care much for her music and her dramatic acting is often overwrought, but as a light comedian she is without peer.
XFactor1979
23 Jan 2010, 09:27
cher could act a bit in her time
flight23
23 Jan 2010, 11:23
i still rate this as one of hip hops greatest
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Plugger35
23 Jan 2010, 11:40
Jon Bon Jovi has become a bit of an actor these days.
Well that's if you actually call it acting, can't help but thinking it's Bon Jovi everytime I see him in something and expect him to break out into "You Give Love a Bad Name".
XFactor1979
23 Jan 2010, 11:51
Joe strummer (the lead singer of the clash, and also of the melcaleros) put on a fine performance in jim jarmusch's Mystery train
David Bowie
Jack Black
Mos Def
Tom Waits
Morgan Kibby (M83)
TheStinger
23 Jan 2010, 12:55
Kevin Spacey has quite the singing voice.
And no mention of Hugh Jackman yet?
Gary Oldman is a trained Tenor I believe.
NitroFan
23 Jan 2010, 13:05
Ice Cube.
The Rock sang a song or two in his WWE time
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sandeano
23 Jan 2010, 13:08
Jack Nicholson in Tommy...
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Rod Stroker
23 Jan 2010, 13:22
Henry Rollins. The bloke can pretty much do it all.
Jared Leto has done quite well with 30 Seconds To Mars
Yeah Jared Leto would have to be one of the better actor/musicians out there IMO. Was great in Requiem For A Dream, and 30 Seconds To Mars seem to have done well on their own merits, not just for being a band with an actor, or musician who then got into acting or vice versa.
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sandeano
23 Jan 2010, 13:35
Frank Zappa deserved an Oscar nomination for his performance in Head (1968) ...or perhaps his cow did.
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Marky Mark Walhberg. Debatable but he started out in "music."
His brother Donnie too - a member of New Kids on the Block and acts in quite a few films/series - The Sixth Sense, Band of Brothers, Saw 2-5, Boomtown etc. Same thing though, NKOTB are debatable as music. :p
sandeano
23 Jan 2010, 13:48
Art Garfunkel became an impressive screen performer for a while in the 70s.
Bobby Darin managed an Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination.
Bob Dylan was never much chop, even when directed by Peckinpah.
Dwight Yoakam is suprisingly good (although nasty white trash is his stock in trade character).
Bender571
23 Jan 2010, 15:12
Was there anything Swayze couldn't do?
Beat pancreatic cancer
TheStinger
23 Jan 2010, 15:28
Henry Rollins. The bloke can pretty much do it all.
I put Rob Zombie ahead of Rollins in the Do it All category.
Power King
23 Jan 2010, 15:33
Jamie Foxx is lightyears ahead of the rest.
The guy has won an academy award for a ridiculously good performance, and as a vocallist puts almost everyone on the planet to shame.
In terms of acting and singing talent, jamie foxx has more than everyone listed in this thread. He isn't an actor that occasionally sings, or vice versa, he does both, and he does both succesfully. That doesn't just mean sales wise, but critically as well.
Milla Jovovich released an album The Divine Comedy in the mid 90's which made the UK charts, was also in another band called Plastic Has Memory, and does stuff for soundtracks. She also sang on a couple of Puscifer songs - the side project of Maynard James Keenan (Tool).
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Some others I can think of...
Paul Shaffer - Artie Fufkin in This is Spinal Tap
Sting - Feyd in Dune
Tina Turner - Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Harry Connick Jr - Copycat, Memphis Belle etc
Lyle Lovett - The Player
Phil Collins - Buster
Gavin Rossdale (Bush singer) - Balthazar in Constantine
Flea - Needles in Back to the Future 2 & 3, My Own Private Idaho
Anthony Kiedis - as a kid in F.I.S.T, Point Break
Ludacris - Crash, Hustle & Flow
Ice-T - Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo, Ricochet, Law & Order: SVU
Bjork - Dancer in the Dark
Zooey Deschanel comes to mind.
Also...
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kAHMYVJhL._SL500_AA280_.jpg
Plugger35
23 Jan 2010, 23:55
Flea - Needles in Back to the Future 2 & 3, My Own Private Idaho
Anthony Kiedis - as a kid in F.I.S.T, Point Break
You forgot The Chase.
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Probably lucky they were good at music going by that performance.:D
XFactor1979
24 Jan 2010, 10:25
Milla Jovovich released an album The Divine Comedy in the mid 90's which made the UK charts, was also in another band called Plastic Has Memory, and does stuff for soundtracks. She also sang on a couple of Puscifer songs - the side project of Maynard James Keenan (Tool).
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milla jovovich's voice was very annoying to listen to on the soundtrack for 'the million dollar hotel'
sting was in lock stock and two smoking barrels as well
Adam Sandler (The Wedding Singer); James Marsden, Amanda Bynes & Brittany Snow (Hairspray (2007)); Renee Zellwegger (Chicago) and Meryl Streep & Amanda Seyfried (Mama Mia) are not normally associated with singing roles, but were very good in the above mentioned films when their characters had to sing. Ditto for Canadian actress Cobie Smulders from How I Met Your Mother, who did her own singing in the show when it was revealled that her character, Robin, had been a one hit wonder teenage popstar in the early 1990s.
Also of note are actors who can sing well in real life, but portray characters who are terrible at singing in a TV role. Some examples are Michael Crawford (Frank Spencer from Some Mothers Do Ave Em), Patricia Routledge (Hyacinth Bucket from Keeping Up Appearances) and Kaley Cuoco (Penny from The Big Bang Theory). Michael Crawford and Patricia Routledge are both Opera Singers, but you could never guess from their TV roles, especially in Keeping Up Appearances, where Hyacinth nearly drove the man next door to a nervous breakdown by singing at him. Penny's poor singing was the focus of one episode of The Big Bang Theory, but in another episode Penny was singing to herself while working around the apartment, and Kaley Cuoco's signing voice was very good - certainly good enough for her to land a part in a musical if she went for such a role.
Toothpick Vic
24 Jan 2010, 11:08
No one seems to have mentioned Ewan Macgregor??
And I think Billy Bob Thornton featured on Warren Zevon's last ever album and then sand a song on his tribute album (though I don't think he was all that flash)
kane249
24 Jan 2010, 18:35
Kris Kristoferson (sp?)
Billy Ray Cyrus
Miley Cyrus :p
Bomber32
24 Jan 2010, 18:45
Lee Marvin sang a few songs in Paint Your Wagon.
kane249
24 Jan 2010, 19:00
Trey Parker and Matt Stone...
'What would Brian Boitano do?' by DVDA (Trey on vocals, Matt on drums I think)
http://www.singingfool.com/Title.aspx?publishedid=852273
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Ruddeger07
24 Jan 2010, 20:54
Huey Lewis - he was in an episode of Just Shoot Me playing in Finchs air guitar band and he was in the movie Duets.Probably in other stuff as well.
Black Flag
24 Jan 2010, 21:47
Leonard Nimoy - Highly Illogical
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TheStinger
24 Jan 2010, 22:08
Huey Lewis - he was in an episode of Just Shoot Me playing in Finchs air guitar band and he was in the movie Duets.Probably in other stuff as well.
Back to the Future!
Plugger35
25 Jan 2010, 00:50
Shouldn't forget James Reyne in Return to Eden.
Quality daytime soapie acting at it's very best.
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Err... Julie Andrews, anyone? Makes Babs look like a talentless hack. Also surprised no mention of Liza Minnelli yet.
Peter Ustinov won a Grammy at one stage IIRC.
DEBORAH HARRY
Combines a successful music career with her band Blondie (a new album is due sometime this year) and on the Jazz circuit with a well respected film career, in films such as VIDEODROME, HAIRSPRAY (The Original), HEAVY, SIX WAYS TO SUNDAY, SPUN ans ELEGY to name a few.
Magpiespower
25 Jan 2010, 07:26
Some prefer TOFOG.
But I'm sticking with Russell Crowe's earlier incarnation...
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2005/gallery/rcrowe/rcrowe6.jpg
Harry Dean Stanton
Julliete Lewis
Clint Eastwood also released an album.He could hold a note.
XFactor1979
25 Jan 2010, 20:12
Julliete Lewis
oh yeh i forgot about the Natural born killer
shes got "the licks" to support her in her musical endeavours
one i forgot to mention: jenny lewis of rilo kiley an indie pop group, and also collaborating with the watson twins
anyway more appreciation for charlotte gainsbourg
Her on David Letterman last night singing her song Trick Pony. now this is a top track
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOJpcgfC7Q8
This is a trailer for her movie Antichrist, co starring Willem Dafoe and directed by Lars Von Trier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48_XwieuSZw&feature=related
sandeano
25 Jan 2010, 20:36
http://www.pixelbros.net/blog/uploaded_images/042-779406.jpg
Actually a pretty good album...
XFactor1979
25 Jan 2010, 20:43
eddie murphy's comedy cds are way better
but listening to it now, hopelessly dated humour!
james Dean
26 Jan 2010, 17:26
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Break it down Pesc
Wahooti Fandango
28 Jan 2010, 12:45
Adam Sandler covering my favourite Lennon song Real Love.
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Also.
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JimDocker
28 Jan 2010, 13:08
I am not a fan of Barbara Streisand's music but she can definitely sing. Her acting is better. Some fantastic performances over the years.
Bette Midler has a brilliant voice and at her best, I enjoy listening to some of her big band stuff and she is another great ectress.
Tom Waits, Sting, Joe Strummer et al are all serviceable actors but would not rate them that highly, but all terrific singers.
Zooey Deschenal is a great actress and does a great job without being an amazing singer.
Frank Sinatra is the man. The best jazz singer of all time, an amazing artist who then made the move to Hollywood and made it clear that he wanted challenging roles. He won a best supporting actor Oscar for From Here to Eternity and was nominated for best actor for The Man with the Golden Arm. He was in plenty of musicals too where his singing was just brilliant.
JimDocker
28 Jan 2010, 13:08
I am not a fan of Barbara Streisand's music but she can definitely sing. Her acting is better. Some fantastic performances over the years.
Bette Midler has a brilliant voice and at her best, I enjoy listening to some of her big band stuff and she is another great ectress.
Tom Waits, Sting, Joe Strummer et al are all serviceable actors but would not rate them that highly, but all terrific singers.
Zooey Deschenal is a great actress and does a great job without being an amazing singer.
Frank Sinatra is the man. The best jazz singer of all time, an amazing artist who then made the move to Hollywood and made it clear that he wanted challenging roles. He won a best supporting actor Oscar for From Here to Eternity and was nominated for best actor for The Man with the Golden Arm. He was in plenty of musicals too where his singing was just brilliant.
wazzaisachamp
29 Jan 2010, 10:05
Dean Martin (and Ricky Nelson)
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Contra Mundum
29 Jan 2010, 10:35
Jamie Foxx is lightyears ahead of the rest.
The guy has won an academy award for a ridiculously good performance, and as a vocallist puts almost everyone on the planet to shame.
In terms of acting and singing talent, jamie foxx has more than everyone listed in this thread. He isn't an actor that occasionally sings, or vice versa, he does both, and he does both succesfully. That doesn't just mean sales wise, but critically as well.
Hugh Jackman is the same. What about the guy who plays George Costanza - cannot believe what a great voice and dancing talent
XFactor1979
29 Jan 2010, 11:13
a bleeding obvious one that everyone's missed out so far
um... jennifer lopez?!?!
she looked really cute in out of sight with george clooney, but then preceeded to sell out in both fields
Carla (judy reyes) from Scrubs reminds me of her
Ruddeger07
29 Jan 2010, 11:55
Hugh Jackman is the same. What about the guy who plays George Costanza - cannot believe what a great voice and dancing talent
Is Jason Alexander like Hugh Jackman and comes from a stage background ?
a bleeding obvious one that everyone's missed out so far
um... jennifer lopez?!?!
she looked really cute in out of sight with george clooney, but then preceeded to sell out in both fields
Carla (judy reyes) from Scrubs reminds me of her
On Scrubs they do make the odd reference to her "Jenny from the block" up bringing :D
Is Jason Alexander like Hugh Jackman and comes from a stage background?
Yeah, he started out on Broadway - I think he's actually won a Tony.
Abba Lonie
29 Jan 2010, 12:37
Dwight Yoakam is suprisingly good (although nasty white trash is his stock in trade character).
I have never despised a character as much as his in Panic Room (which interestingly also starred fellow 'double threat' Jared Leto).
Abba Lonie
29 Jan 2010, 12:46
Also I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned Kylie Minogue?
Plugger35
29 Jan 2010, 12:58
Also I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned Kylie Minogue?
Not sure if Neighbours counts as acting.
james Dean
29 Jan 2010, 13:19
Not sure if Neighbours counts as acting.
Street Fighter man!.. sorry
Ruddeger07
29 Jan 2010, 14:49
Also I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned Kylie Minogue?
If you mention Kylie then you may as well mention Paris Hilton.Both sing and act as well as each other.
The Old Dark Navy's
29 Jan 2010, 16:22
Bruce Willis has great presence as a Blues singer. The guy is the living definition of cool in everything he does. I'm not ashamed to admit I bought his Return of Bruno album back in the day. Some bag his 'Respect Yourself' and 'Under the Boardwalk' covers, but I really liked some of his other stuff like 'Secret Agent Man' and 'Jackpot'.
Some of his clips:
Devil Woman
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Secret Agent Man
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Jackpot
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Save The Last Dance For Me
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roostersgal4eva
29 Jan 2010, 21:37
WOW - Didnt realise he was that good
roostersgal4eva
29 Jan 2010, 21:40
Some I thought would be obvious
Elvis
Olivia Newton John
Gene Kelly
sandeano
29 Jan 2010, 22:51
Back in the days of the classical Hollywood era, the studios made it mandatory for their young talent to be versed in all requirements of performance, from deportment to horse-riding along with singing and dancing. Add to that the Vaudeville (or, in the UK, music hall) background of many performers and it is no surprise that so many stars of the golden age were so versatile.
Just check out Jimmy Cagney for example - not only was he a superb dramatic actor (and one fo the hardest bastards on film) and a top notch comedian but he could also hold a tune pretty well and was one of the best dancers in Hollywood.
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The Old Dark Navy's
30 Jan 2010, 13:09
Very true sandeano. Marilyn Monroe started out as a contracted starlet for a studio. They basically made appearances, went in parades, played hostess, and were sent for modelling, acting and dancing lessons to see who could make it. The studios controlled it all.
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sandeano
30 Jan 2010, 16:13
Very true sandeano. Marilyn Monroe started out as a contracted starlet for a studio. They basically made appearances, went in parades, played hostess, and were sent for modelling, acting and dancing lessons to see who could make it. The studios controlled it all.
Too right ODN and a nice pair of Marilyn clips.
Here's a rare example of Errol Flynn's singing skills and they are not too shabby, either.
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