# Has anybody achieved 'the treble'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 27, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251 "2006-02-27T01:43:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hogwash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e57/32.png) [@Hogwash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogwash)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/1 "2006-02-27T01:43:52Z")
By this I mean, has any one person accomplished all of the following: 1. Written a best-selling book. 2. Recorded a number one music album.\* 3. Starred in a box office smash motion picture with a significant, non-cameo role.\*\* Not necessarily simultaneously and not necessarily in that order. If not hitting all three targets fully, who’s ‘way up there’? - Or, less favourably, a number one single. \*\* Or, less favourably, a non-acting role such as director or screenwriter.\*\*\* \*\*\* Or, even less favourably, had their best-selling book adapted to the big screen (couldn’t resist the extra footnote ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/2 "2006-02-27T01:59:17Z")
> [@Hogwash](#): > > By this I mean, has any one person accomplished all of the following: > > 1. Written a best-selling book. > 2. Recorded a number one music album.\* > 3. Starred in a box office smash motion picture with a significant, non-cameo role.\*\* I’m having trouble thinking of anyone who’s done both 1 and 2. There are 1-and-3 folks (Steve Martin) and 2-and-3 folks (Elvis Presley), but I can’t think of 1-and-2 folks. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/3 "2006-02-27T02:00:22Z")
> [@Hogwash](#): > > By this I mean, has any one person accomplished all of the following: > > 1. Written a best-selling book. > 2. Recorded a number one music album.\* > 3. Starred in a box office smash motion picture with a significant, non-cameo role.\*\* > > Not necessarily simultaneously and not necessarily in that order. > > If not hitting all three targets fully, who’s ‘way up there’? > > - Or, less favourably, a number one single. > > \*\* Or, less favourably, a non-acting role such as director or screenwriter.\*\*\* > > \*\*\* Or, even less favourably, had their best-selling book adapted to the big screen (couldn’t resist the extra footnote ;)) Uhmmm… John Lennon?, I know he wrote a few books, but I don´t know if they were best sellers. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/4 "2006-02-27T02:00:25Z")
If you consider _SEX_ as “writing a best selling book”, then Madonna has done it with numerous singles and the movies _Evita_, _Desperately Seeking Susan_, _Dick Tracy_, and _A League Of Their Own_. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2006, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/5 "2006-02-27T02:03:00Z")
Best example: John Lennon. Music is obvious; appeared in the box office smashes **A Hard Day’s Night** and **Help** and his collections **In His Own Right** and **A Spaniard in the Works** did make some best seller lists. Rudy Vallee had top songs and a successful film career (major parts in **How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying** and **The Palm Beach Story** ). He also wrote three biographies: “Vagabond Dreams Come True” (1930), “My Time Is Your Time” (1962) , and “Let the Chips Fall” (1976). I don’t have the sales figures, but it’s likely at least one of these was a best seller. Fred Astaire had many music and film hits, and an autobiography **Steps in Time**. It probably sold well. William Shatner might also fill the bill: successful novels, some of which made various science fiction best-seller list (though he probably didn’t write them himself), TV and movies, and his recent record evidently did fairly well. Barbra Streisand would hit the triple if she ever wrote her autobiography. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2006, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/6 "2006-02-27T02:20:00Z")
Well, Lennon wasn’t there when I started. However, two more: Sammy Davis, Jr. Hit albums in the 50s, appearances in the “rat pack” films, and “Yes I Can” was a big best-seller. Noel Coward had a hit album “Noel Coward at Las Vegas,” dozens of movie roles (e.g., the original “The Italian Job”), and several memoirs that probably made best sellers. He also wrote hit plays, and had several of those turned into movies. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/7 "2006-02-27T03:24:12Z")
You gonna laugh, but hear me out. Bob Hope. Yeah that old ski-nosed guy. 1. He wrote several books such as “I owe Russia 1200 Dollars” Best sellers? I don’t know, but he was an author 2. He did sing. The road movies featured duets with Bing Crosby. I don’t think it is unreasonable to speculate that in the days before TV that he had an album that made it to the top of the charts. [Here](http://www.rhapsody.com/bobhope/more.html) is a link with some of his singing 3. BH starred in many top grossing movies. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2006, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/8 "2006-02-27T03:59:14Z")
**I Owe Russia $1200** definitely made the best seller lists, but I don’t believe Hope ever released any successful music or comedy albums, even though he was a fine singer. As far as singles, there’s a chance his “Thanks for the Memories” or “Silver Bells” charted. However, if we include comedy albums – Bob Newhart has a bio due out this year, which should chart. He’s already had two #1 albums (“Button Down Mind” and “Button Down Mind Strikes Back”) and a hit movie (several, including “Elf”). Plus two hit TV series. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/9 "2006-02-27T04:54:14Z")
If we get to include comedy albums, I think Bill Cosby enters the lineup. His movies haven’t quite been box-office smashes, but he’s done all right multiple times. His albums (comedy monologues, mostly) have done quite well. And he wrote _Fatherhood_. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/10 "2006-02-27T04:58:31Z")
I think Steve Martin has to be the closest. He has the hit movies (and plays) and the bestseller. He’s also a very good banjo player. I don’t know what ranking the songs/albums achieved, but he’s won Grammys for both a comedy album and a bluegrass performance (granted, that was a joint effort) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/11 "2006-02-27T05:03:17Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > There are 1-and-3 folks (Steve Martin) Martin had the top-selling comedy album of all-time, too. Wild and Crazy Guy reached #2 on the Billboard charts and was the best-selling comedy album for almost 30 years. And technically speaking, it includes some music. I know the OP is written to exclude that, I just don’t think it’s fair. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/12 "2006-02-27T05:03:29Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > If you consider _SEX_ as “writing a best selling book”, then Madonna has done it with numerous singles and the movies _Evita_, _Desperately Seeking Susan_, _Dick Tracy_, and _A League Of Their Own_. Madonna also wrote some children’s books that sold well. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/13 "2006-02-27T05:51:30Z")
Madonna comes close to the mold. Another one not mentioned is Sting. He was in _Dune_ and _Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels_; obviously tons of music stuff. His [autobiography](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385338651/qid=1141019287/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-2659541-8257743?s=books&v=glance&n=283155) was a New York Times bestseller. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/14 "2006-02-27T06:13:26Z")
Bob Dylan is a #1 & #2 guy. As for #3, he had a small role in Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, a moderately successful movie in 1973. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/15 "2006-02-27T06:24:42Z")
Cher comes close, too. She co-wrote a “quasi-autobiography” called **The First Time** and acted in **Moonstruck**. Funnily enough I’m not sure if she’s had a number 1 album. If the one with “Believe” on it didn’t hit the top, I don’t think any did. Not sure how big a best-seller her book was. #1 & #2 was recently accomplished by the drummer of Motley Crue, Tommy Lee. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/16 "2006-02-27T06:41:18Z")
For the record, the title of John Lennon’s first book was “In His Own **Write**.” ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/17 "2006-02-27T10:49:35Z")
Not exactly what you were looking for but I think Howard Stern had the number one movie, book, and radio show at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/18 "2006-02-27T11:07:08Z")
Eric Idle comes close. _Always Look on the Bright Side of Life_ reached number 3 in the UK chart, and he’s written plenty of books. Oh, and I think he was in a couple of films 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/19 "2006-02-27T11:59:23Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Eric Idle comes close. _Always Look on the Bright Side of Life_ reached number 3 in the UK chart, and he’s written plenty of books. Oh, and I think he was in a couple of films 🙂 Don’t forget his starring role as Dirk McQuickley in [The Rutles](http://www.rutles.org/). ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251/20 "2006-02-27T15:16:36Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > If we get to include comedy albums, I think Bill Cosby enters the lineup. George Carlin too. I was trying to make the Blues Brothers work, since I remember hearing that they had the #1 movie, album, and TV show (SNL) all at once, but I don’t think either Ackroyd or Belushi wrote anything. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-achieved-the-treble/346251.md?page=2)