# Celebrities with other strings to their bow **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 22, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113 "2005-01-22T17:48:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/1 "2005-01-22T17:48:32Z")
I am not a fan of British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, but I cannot but be impressed by the CV (resumé) of their lead singer, Bruce Dickinson. When not imploring us to bring our Daughters to the Slaughter, Bruce has also found time to be a [professonal airline pilot](http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,812005,00.html), and before that was pretty serious about the sport of fencing (some sources claim that he fenced for Britain and was in the world top ten). He cannot be accused of wasting his life, that’s for sure. Are there other examples of famous people achieving notable success in other fields? ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/2 "2005-01-22T17:49:34Z")
Steve Martin - Comedian Actor Author Painter And totally foxy. He’s my dream man! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/3 "2005-01-22T17:51:15Z")
**Kinky Friedman** –Cult country western singer turned mystery writer. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/4 "2005-01-22T17:53:15Z")
The Rolling Stones’ Ron Wood is an accomplished artist (he did the cover of Eric Clapton’s _Crossroads_ box set, for example). John Travolta is a licensed commercial pilot. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/5 "2005-01-22T17:56:16Z")
Hedy Lamarr invented [spectrum spreading](http://www.hypatiamaze.org/h_lamarr/scigrrl.html). Madonna writes children’s books. No, the two are in no way comparable. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/6 "2005-01-22T18:03:47Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > John Travolta is a licensed commercial pilot. Yeah, but Bruce Dickinson actually flies regular paying customers, on everyday flights to and from the Mediterranean. As in, “hello, this is your pilot, Bruce Dickinson, we’ll be landing at Heathrow in 35 minutes.” That freaks me out. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/7 "2005-01-22T18:08:30Z")
> [@Glory](#): > > Steve Martin - > > Comedian > Actor > Author > Painter > > And totally foxy. He’s my dream man! How DARE you leave out musician? He’s a damn good banjo boy. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/8 "2005-01-22T18:52:05Z")
Ethan Hawke is an author. Jamie Foxx is releasing an album this year. Minne Driver has released an album that’s been doing decently. (Russel Crowe and Billy Bob Thorton have bands and albums, but they don’t do terribly well. Keanu Reeves plays bass with some guys in a band, they don’t do well either, and James Marsters plays in a band too.) ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/9 "2005-01-22T18:53:17Z")
Oh, and Juliette Lewis fronts a band. Is getting some press, but nothing outstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/10 "2005-01-22T18:57:42Z")
And going the other direction, rock 'n roll Canadian **Bryan Adams** is a photographer (I hate his work!) and was chosen to be one fo the four official photogs for the Queen’s “Golden Jubilee” portraits. I know he’s released at least one monograph (portraits of famous Canadian women). ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/11 "2005-01-22T19:02:29Z")
> [@Eats\_Crayons](#): > > (Russel Crowe and Billy Bob Thorton have bands and albums, but they don’t do terribly well. Keanu Reeves plays bass with some guys in a band, they don’t do well either, and James Marsters plays in a band too.) Marsters left his band, Ghost of the Robot, to concentrate on acting. ---
**Author:** ![bigdfrombigd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bigdfrombigd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bigdfrombigd)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/12 "2005-01-22T19:04:05Z")
IIRC Gina Davis was into archery and tried out for the Olympics. I thought when I opened the thread that she was going to be the subject of the op. …you know…‘other strings to their bow’…never mind. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/13 "2005-01-22T19:17:01Z")
Angelina Jolie is getting her license to fly… ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/14 "2005-01-22T19:42:49Z")
Before his acting career took off, Harrison Ford was a trained carpenter. Wallace Shawn is either a funny character actor who is also happens to be an accomplished essayist and playwright, or vice versa. Clint Eastwood is a jazz pianist and composer. Likewise, John Carpenter also composed rudimentary (but memorable) scores for his own films. Terry Jones is a published historian, documentary filmmaker and now, political essayist. Todd McFarlane is a successful entrepreneur as well as an artist. Gene Simmons was a high school English teacher and speaks, IIRC, seven languages. David Gilmour is another musician who is also a licensed pilot. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/15 "2005-01-22T19:45:44Z")
Viggo Mortensen is a published poet, an exhibiting photographer, a jazz musician with three released albums and an excellent painter. Oh, and damn hot. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/16 "2005-01-22T20:01:55Z")
**Charo** is considered one of the best flamenco guitarists in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/17 "2005-01-22T20:13:17Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > Marsters left his band, Ghost of the Robot, to concentrate on acting. Really? Oh. I thought he still played with them form time to time for fun. He’s one busy dude (always seems to have several irons in the fire all at once), so I guess it doesn’t surprise me. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/18 "2005-01-22T20:13:27Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Hedy Lamarr invented [spectrum spreading](http://www.hypatiamaze.org/h_lamarr/scigrrl.html). Exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/19 "2005-01-22T20:14:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by Mr. Blue Sky > John Travolta is a licensed commercial pilot. > > Yeah, but Bruce Dickinson actually flies regular paying customers, on everyday flights to and from the Mediterranean. As in, “hello, this is your pilot, Bruce Dickinson, we’ll be landing at Heathrow in 35 minutes.” That freaks me out. Well, Travolta is type rated in the 747, and flew it around the world as Captain for Qantas airlines. He’s also rated in the 707, and has a private one he uses as his flying home away from home. He is also rated in several fighter jets, and used to own a DeHavilland Vampire jet. Cliff Robertson is an excellent pilot and owns and flies a Supermarine Spitfire. Tom Cruise is also an accomplished pilot. Harrison Ford is a very good pilot of both fixed wing and helicopters. In fact, he has been credited with several helicopter rescues flying part time as a rescue pilot. Rumor has it that Arnold Schwarzenegger has had some success outside acting. Other politician/actors: Senators Fred Grandy (“Gopher” on the Love Boat) and Fred Thompson, Shirley Temple Black, Ronald Reagan. Lots of actors have branched into writing, but I wouldn’t count that very strongly because lots are no doubt propelled by their fame and aren’t any good. But some have made a name for themselves. Carrie Fisher is an excellent writer (“Postcards from the Edge”), and is one of the most in-demand script doctors in Hollywood. William Shatner had a lot of success with Tek War and his Trek novels, although it’s unclear how much of them were ghostwritten. Shatner is also a world-class horse trainer/breeder/competitor, and his last album is getting pretty good critical acceptance. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113/20 "2005-01-22T20:17:54Z")
Tom Waits has done a good deal of acting (Down By Law and Mystery Men come to mind), and has written and produced plays too. Christopher Walken is known as quite an accomplished cook, and for a long time, there were rumors of him having a TV cooking show, which would have been the BEST COOKING SHOW EVER. Many wrestlers have written books, but Mick Foley is known as the best writer among them–in addition to two wonderfully well-written behind-the-scenes books about the industry and his own life, he has written a novel and several children’s books. Robert Rodriguez is a great acoustic guitarist, and composed the music for his own movie Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and his friend Quentin Tarantino’s movie Kill Bill Volume 2. Woody Allen plays clarinet in a Dixieland band (as shown in his documentary Wild Man Blues) and is really terrific. Ron Jeremy was a special education teacher. Jeff Goldblum is supposed to be a great jazz pianist. Johnny Depp has a band (or did at one time) that was actually supposed to be GOOD. Jack White (of the White Stripes) has produced other artists like Loretta Lynn and done some acting (Cold Mountain). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrities-with-other-strings-to-their-bow/286113.md?page=2)