Who is the best musician turned actor? (9 Viewers)

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

I know there are a few more but couldn't fit them all here.

discuss

 

[Ilov80s]

Of the ones listed, it’s easily Will Smith. Marky Mark had a big career where now most don’t know or don’t realize he started in music. But he’s not much of an actor imo.

The two big missing ones jumping to mind are:

- Bing Crosby. He was the top movie draw for several years.

- Sinatra. He’s the best actor of anyone who started in music. It’s not really close imo. His performances in From Here to Eternity, The Man with the Golden Arm and Some Came Running are incredibly good.

 

[Riffraff]

Jennifer Hudson won an Oscar.

LL Cool J was on NCIS LA for 14 years + the other NCIS variations and some movies.

May or may not qualify: Mandy Patinkin started off singing on Broadway then went on to win a Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe. Homeland, Criminal Minds, The Princess Bride. Very good actor.

And of course, the age old question: is a singer a musician if they don't play an instrument?

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Eddie Murphy on Elvis as an actor: He sang so good that they let him do movies and he couldn't act. They said eff it, let him sing his dialogue.

"Lemonade. That cool refreshing drink."

 

[The Dreaded Marco]

Others I’d consider:

Dwight Yoakam
Kris Kristofferson
Will Oldham

 

[Keith R]

Also worthy of consideration;

Dean Martin
2Pac
Al Martino

But I go Sinatra 1, Marky Mark 2

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

The two big missing ones jumping to mind are:

- Bing Crosby. He was the top movie draw for several years.

- Sinatra. He’s the best actor of anyone who started in music. It’s not really close imo. His performances in From Here to Eternity, The Man with the Golden Arm and Some Came Running are incredibly good.

recency/number bias. I knew the above have all been in a fair bit of movies (maybe not Gaga?) I've never seen any of those Sinatra movies and I didn't know Crosby was all that succesful of a movie star even though I knew White Christmas is a classic. Didn't include Patinkin since this was intended to be more about successful recording artists turned actors plus Patinkin would win in a landslide and that's no fun.

Who makes a poll with more than 10 options anyway?

 

[Brew Swillis]

Jack Black? Or is he an actor turned musician?

 

[The General]

Eddie Murphy on Elvis as an actor: He sang so good that they let him do movies and he couldn't act. They said eff it, let him sing his dialogue.

"Lemonade. That cool refreshing drink."

We got to win this race

 

[Ilov80s]

Jack Black? Or is he an actor turned musician?

Actor first imo

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

Jack Black? Or is he an actor turned musician?

Actor first imo

and not a very good one

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

and not a very good one

"High Fidelity" and "School Of Rock" are pretty good performances by Jack Black.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

and not a very good one

"High Fidelity" and "School Of Rock" are pretty good performances by Jack Black.

I don't think I've seen School of Rock. I do remember liking High Fidelity but that's more of a Cussak picture, no? I have a soft spot for 2005's King Kong as I think is a great and underrated film but my memory is that in both those films he wasn't a HUGE part of the film, or maybe he had a bigger role in King Kong but he wasn't playing Jack Black. With the exception of School Of Rock, his films tend to bomb with him as a leading man.

 

[bro1ncos]

Ice-T?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Others I’d consider:

Dwight Yoakam
Kris Kristofferson
Will Oldham

Along those same lines, Willie Nelson.

 

[FarFromHome]

Uh. Are we forgetting my boy Patrick? He was in band in middle school then turned to the stage.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[El Floppo]

I'll throw Tom Waits out there too.

Eta... Speaking of Toms- i thought Tom Jones was hilarious in Mars Attacks

But yeah- wouldnt put either Tom as the best, even though Ive liked Waits

Just remembered Flea was in a couple things too.. but maybe before RHCP? Also not great... I'm just throwing some out there.

 

[McBokonon]

Creed Bratton, obviously

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Willie Nelson
Frank Sinatra
Barbara Streisand
David Bowie

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Jennifer Lopez
Kris Kristofferson
Queen Latifah

 

[the moops]

And of course, the age old question: is a singer a musician if they don't play an instrument?

Of course

 

[El Floppo]

And of course, the age old question: is a singer a musician if they don't play an instrument?

Of course

It's like asking if a drummer is a musician because they don't make melodies and just bang on stuff. Or those guitarists and bass players just plunking on strings. And don't get me started on woodwinds.

That's an age-old question? What age..3?

 

[-fish-]

Ice Cube
Ice-T

Should be a poll in itself

 

[bigbottom]

I’d say Jared Leto but I believe he had an acting gig before forming 30 Seconds to Mars.

 

[Skipdog77]

His name is Robert Paulson.

 

[Don Quixote]

Sinatra is easily the best.

Janelle Monae has not been mentioned yet, but I’d put her up there with some of the others mentioned.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Was visiting Charlotte and the Independent Theater there was doing a 35th year anniversary of "Heat". I'd forgotten how good.

And also had forgotten Henry Rollins is in it. He didn't do a lot of acting but I was pleasantly surprised to see him in it.

 

[Kev4029]

Jennifer Lopez
Kris Kristofferson
Queen Latifah

J-Lo became a singer partially out of spite because they wouldn't let her sing in Selena.

 

[Ilov80s]

Jennifer Lopez
Kris Kristofferson
Queen Latifah

J-Lo became a singer partially out of spite because they wouldn't let her sing in Selena.

Yeah I think her career went: dancer, actor, singer

 

[Kev4029]

Some others that aren't mentioned that shouldn't be at the top of this list but are worth calling out as I think they are generally good actors:
Eminem
Harry Styles
Common
Mos Def
Harry Connick Jr.
Alana Haim
Marc Anthony
Tim McGraw

 

[Nipsey]

Dwight Yoakam

 

[northern exposure]

Billy Bob Thornton. I was sure I saw an interview where he said he was a musician in the 70s before turning to acting. I checked Wiki and confirmed it.

Kevin Bacon hasn't been mentioned yet and Maya Hawke (Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman's daughter) from Stranger Things.

 

[Ilov80s]

and not a very good one

"High Fidelity" and "School Of Rock" are pretty good performances by Jack Black.

I don't think I've seen School of Rock. I do remember liking High Fidelity but that's more of a Cussak picture, no? I have a soft spot for 2005's King Kong as I think is a great and underrated film but my memory is that in both those films he wasn't a HUGE part of the film, or maybe he had a bigger role in King Kong but he wasn't playing Jack Black. With the exception of School Of Rock, his films tend to bomb with him as a leading man.

Yeah he’s got a small supporting role in High Fidelity but it’s very memorable. He’s fantastic in School of Rock- the role is totally built for him. He’s got a narrow band of parts he can do but when he gets the right one, he’s excellent because he just has the juice. Funny enough you could make an argument that right now he’s the biggest most bankable star in movies because of the appeal and recognition he has with kids. Mario and now Minecraft were huge hits with more coming. Plus Jumanjis and the Kung Fu Pandas. Not good movies but massive hits with young people.

 

[JohnnyU]

Glenn Frey

 

[Dennis Castro]

Iggy Pop made a fantastic Vorta on Star Trek DS9.

 

[Sand]

Some others that aren't mentioned that shouldn't be at the top of this list but are worth calling out as I think they are generally good actors:
Eminem
Harry Styles
Common
Mos Def
Harry Connick Jr.
Alana Haim
Marc Anthony
Tim McGraw

This is the name y'all have been looking for.

 

[El Floppo]

Janelle Monae

Good one... She's been really good in my own limited viewing.

 

[FarFromHome]

Bette Midler. She has won a Grammy for music and an Emmy for acting. Was also nominated for an Oscar.

 

[El Floppo]

Can't remember if Bjork has been mentioned... Since for the most part we're just throwing out musicians who have acted- not best actors. And yeah- she acted

 

[rogwadd]

Little Steven? Nine years on The Sopranos.

 

[Hastur]

The question at hand is "Who is the best musician turned actor". If I'm reading this right, we are looking for the best musician who then went into acting. They all went into acting. Of the choices, who is the best musician?

Or are we looking for the combo of musician/acting ability?

 

[General Malaise]

Others I’d consider:

Dwight Yoakam
Kris Kristofferson
Will Oldham

Yeah, this list has some glaring ommissions. Dwight and Kris were my first thoughts.

Learned the other day that Marky Mark used to beat the crap out of Asians with a gang of ruffians in Boston. Apparently he blinded some guy in an attack. Damn.

 

[bigbottom]

The question at hand is "Who is the best musician turned actor". If I'm reading this right, we are looking for the best musician who then went into acting. They all went into acting. Of the choices, who is the best musician?

Or are we looking for the combo of musician/acting ability?

Oh yeah, when I mentioned Jared Leto, I was trying to think of the most talented actor who was once a musician, so I interpreted (likely misinterpreted) it an even different way. Your way seems right though.

 

[General Malaise]

Chris Isaak can act.

 

[Mister CIA]

Hugh Dillon

Hugh Dillon | Actor, Writer, Producer

Known for: Mayor of Kingstown, Yellowstone, Flashpoint

www.imdb.com

 

[Brunell4MVP]

This is Sinatra in a landslide. If he was a choice.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

The question at hand is "Who is the best musician turned actor". If I'm reading this right, we are looking for the best musician who then went into acting. They all went into acting. Of the choices, who is the best musician?

Or are we looking for the combo of musician/acting ability?

people can interpret and use whatever criteria they want. For my part, I'm looking at it as what musician turned actor is the best actor and that's likely Smith. Other than Streisand (and Sinatra I guess) a lot of the others haven't had the careers they've had or maybe they have. Its not like I did a ton of homework before making this.

 

[Hastur]

The question at hand is "Who is the best musician turned actor". If I'm reading this right, we are looking for the best musician who then went into acting. They all went into acting. Of the choices, who is the best musician?

Or are we looking for the combo of musician/acting ability?

people can interpret and use whatever criteria they want. For my part, I'm looking at it as what musician turned actor is the best actor and that's likely Smith. Other than Streisand (and Sinatra I guess) a lot of the others haven't had the careers they've had or maybe they have. Its not like I did a ton of homework before making this.

Gotcha. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

This is Sinatra in a landslide. If he was a choice.

Beg to differ. Jack Benny was a much better actor than musician.

 

[Gatorade]

I think Wahlberg is great, but Will Smith was/is so good at both he was my choice.