# Celebs with talents everyone (but you) knew about **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860 "2016-11-24T02:03:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/21 "2016-11-26T19:40:06Z")
I guess this is turning into talents a lot of people don’t know. Or at least “secondary talents” of many celebrities. [Michael Bolton is not a great or classical opera singer, but he does pretty well.](https://youtu.be/npzEWf2LrAk?t=123) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/22 "2016-11-26T19:47:52Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Check him out doing “Let’s Misbehave” in Steve Martin’s movie version of “Pennies From Heaven.” That was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the title of this thread. That, and the Fat Boy Slim video where Walken literally bounces off walls! Garrett Morris was trained as an operatic singer, if I’m not mistaken. They let him perform a number on an early episode of _ **SNL** _ way back in 1975 or '76, and he was \*very \*good! ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/23 "2016-11-26T19:54:09Z")
Steve Martin plays a mean banjo. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/24 "2016-11-26T20:20:22Z")
Lance Henriksen makes beautiful [pottery](http://www.sullivangoss.com/Exhibits/henriksen.asp). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/25 "2016-11-26T20:35:31Z")
Jack Lord (the \*\*real \*\*Steve McGarrett) was an accomplished painter and photographer. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/26 "2016-11-26T20:44:42Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > That was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the title of this thread. That, and the Fat Boy Slim video where Walken literally bounces off walls! [“Weapon of Choice”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCDIYvFmgW8) ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/27 "2016-11-26T21:02:38Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Jerry Orbach was a song-and-dance man in his youth. Another one like this is Hugh Jackman. Wolverine’s a song and dance man when he’s not earning paychecks with the snikt stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/28 "2016-11-26T21:17:23Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > That Neil Patrick Harris can do magic tricks is broadly known, but apparently he’s a competent acrobat as well. According to his wiki, Harris was approached to take over Letterman’s show when Dave retired. NPH turned it down, along with a subsequent offer to replace Craig Ferguson. > [@](#): > > Simon Helberg is an excellent pianist and genuinely played as part of his role as accompanist Cosmo McMoon in _Florence Foster Jenkins_. Helberg is also an accomplished impressionist; [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7xQkJYwyi0) he is doing Billy Baldwin, Nic Cage, and Ben Stiller. And [Robin Williams](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH24DpieeWo). ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/29 "2016-11-26T21:31:50Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > in his youth? IN HIS YOUTH.? > Orbach’s last theatrical credit was in [1985](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Orbach#Stage), when he was _fifty_. For people who know him from _Law & Order_, fifty was his youth. > [@terentii](#): > > Garrett Morris was trained as an operatic singer, if I’m not mistaken. They let him perform a number on an early episode of _ **SNL** _ way back in 1975 or '76, and he was \*very \*good! Mike Rowe was an opera singer before hosting _Dirty Jobs_. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/30 "2016-11-26T21:49:30Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Mike Rowe was an opera singer before hosting _Dirty Jobs_. Comic Jim Jefferies was also an opera singer. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/31 "2016-11-26T21:58:10Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > [“Weapon of Choice”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCDIYvFmgW8) You need to watch it with [the right music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd6R36ZZPDQ). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/32 "2016-11-27T06:21:23Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Justin Bieber is a surprisingly good drummer. So was the late Bob “Col. Hogan” Crane. Here he is on the _ **Dick van Dyke Show** _ playing the Bongo-Congo: Both Mary Tyler Moore and Dick van Dyke were professional dancers before they became TV stars. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/33 "2016-11-27T11:29:43Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > You need to watch it with [the right music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd6R36ZZPDQ). 😉 I was expecting [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnHmskwqCCQ) instead. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/34 "2016-11-27T13:13:32Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Jack Lord (the \*\*real \*\*Steve McGarrett) was an accomplished painter and photographer. There’s some doubt as to how accomplished he was. His work did hang in legitimate museums, but only because he would require it as a condition for a big donation he was giving. Nothing in _Peter Pan Live_ showed that Walken had a dance lesson in his life. I’ve seen high school productions with better dancing. Maybe he was accomplished, but that certainly didn’t showcase it. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/35 "2016-11-27T14:16:43Z")
Geena Davis is a pretty good archer. [Geena Davis archery tricks.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93jSVyXW5gc) [Almost made the Olympics.](http://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/06/sports/olympics-geena-davis-zeros-in-with-bow-and-arrows.html) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/36 "2016-11-27T17:48:32Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > So was the late Bob “Col. Hogan” Crane. Here he is on the _ **Dick van Dyke Show** _ playing the Bongo-Congo: > > Both Mary Tyler Moore and Dick van Dyke were professional dancers before they became TV stars. Mel Brooks was also a drummer. He played in nightclubs before he ever made a dime from comedy. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/37 "2016-11-27T22:12:37Z")
Jane Leaves, aka “Daphne Moon” on _ **Frasier** _, is a trained dancer, a talent she demonstrated in one memorable episode of the series. If I’m not mistaken, she got her start as one of Benny Hill’s Angels back in the '80s. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/38 "2016-11-27T23:07:21Z")
John Urschel of the Baltimore Ravens NFL team has begun work on a Ph.D. in math (and is also a pretty good chess player): [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=19812120](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=19812120) ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/39 "2016-11-27T23:14:31Z")
Kriss Kristofferson - Rhodes Scholar ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860/40 "2016-11-27T23:44:17Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > That was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the title of this thread. That, and the Fat Boy Slim video where Walken literally bounces off walls! > > Garrett Morris was trained as an operatic singer, if I’m not mistaken. They let him perform a number on an early episode of _ **SNL** _ way back in 1975 or '76, and he was \*very \*good! I remember watching Garrett Morris sing Danny Boy on SNL. I was stunned. He was great. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebs-with-talents-everyone-but-you-knew-about/772860.md?page=3)