Best Musicians Turned "Actors"

Dwight Yoakam was excellent in Sling Blade a pretty good supporting actor in all the films he has been in.

Jacques Dutronc… and he is an amazing actor.

Frank Sinatra. . .His supporting role in “From Here To Eternity” was great and won his ass an Oscar
Tom Waits. . .He did “Down By Law” and “Dracula”. . .those were both great performances by him

Maria Callas’ performance in Pasolini’s “Medea” is quite stunning.

With my niece’s favorite Halloween movie coming around on the calendar again, I’d be remiss if I didn’t nominate Bette Midler for “Hocus Pocus.” I’d be inclined to suggest The Divine Miss M for holding-her-own status in “The Rose,” “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” and “Ruthless People,” but what kind of uncle would I be if I neglected Winifred the Witch?

Dislodging my tongue from my cheek after that preceding post, I’m reminded of a performance that I overlooked in initially assessing this topic: Diana Ross in “Lady Sings the Blues.” It would be tempting to see this as a vanity project were she at all vain in her portrayal, but this Motown megastar makes a daring warts-and-all debut, going beyond impersonation to evoke a lingeringly beautiful echo of Billie Holliday.

I thought I’d give the legendary Oscar Levant a nod here for his entertaining wry wit in various musicals, in particular Minnelli’s ‘An American in Paris’ and ‘Band Wagon’, but also his supporting role in Jean Negulesco’s ‘Humoresque’ is quite brilliant.

Ringo Starr "Hard´s Days Night¨….very “Chaplin”, and David Bowie “The Prestige”

Joe Strummer anyone?

Faye Wong in Chungking Express

Then again, alot of Hong Kong actors/actresses tend to be musicians as well.

YEEEEEEEES!!!!! FAYE WONG IN CHUNGKING EXPRESS!!!
SUCH A CRUSH ON HER!

If anyone gets a chance, check out Pedro Infante (Mexico’s Sinatra) in the Trilogy: Nosotros los Pobres, Ustedes los Ricos and Pepe el Toro. Mexican classics.

Again Carlos you remind me of my early childhood. My grandmother absolutely adores Pedro Infante. Definitely have to find these films. Thank you!:)

Definitely not Ice T.

Kris Kristofferson
Tom Waits

Will Oldham was great in Old Joy. I’d like to see more from him.

Agreed on Oldham

I would say Mark Wahlberg, Frank Sinatra, David Bowie, and Tom Waits.

Madonna in “Desperately Seeking Susan” and “Evita.”

Madonna in “Desperately Seeking Susan” and “Evita.”

Madonna in “Desperately Seeking Susan” and “Evita.”

No order

Cher
Will Smith
Frank Sinatra
Dean Martin
Bette Midler
Barbra Streisand

Deborah Harry, Yves Montand, Tom Waits

I watched LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE FABULOUS STAINS a few weeks ago, and Fee Waybill (lead singer for the Tubes) is absolutely hilarious as a past-prime heavy metal dork. If I were casting a movie, I would give the man a part. Seriously.

Dean Martin in Rio Bravo is probably my favorite example.

I totally second John Lurie. He’s a badass.

Ctrl-f: David Hess, Last House on the Left not found

His character is great, and the music is so good, reminds me of Nilsson. Actually the only thing I don’t like about the movie is the stuff with the cops.

Why is it, though, that actors-turned-musicians never turns out very good? I remember that Bruce Willis and Eddie Murphy barraged our ears with musical trash, and I will never forgive them for that.

I don’t know if Dwight Yokam has been mentioned yet, but I think he’s a great actor. Especially in Sling Blade, of course, but I’ve never seen him give a poor performances. He was also particularly excellent in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, one of the very best movies of this decade.

Absolutely thrilled to see the respect Tom Waits is getting on this topic. He was my obvious first choice, glad to see others here are not only aware of him but are fans of his filmwork. The Greatest and Most Underrated musician of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries ; )
Also nice to see John Lurie mentioned for their tandem in Down By Law. Both have also made wonderful contributions to film music. Im glad someone else put Johnny Depp, his first love was music and I know it informs his work.

See Criterion’s edition of Down By Law if you haven’t already!

Joaquin Phoenix…oh wait.