# Movies featuring singers as actors and no big deal was made. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 14, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781 "2014-06-14T16:26:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/61 "2014-06-15T14:58:35Z")
Dwight Yokum in “Sling Blade,” “Panic Room,” “Red Rock West,” and a few others. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/62 "2014-06-15T15:13:47Z")
I grew up thinking Kris Kristofferson was just an actor. Imagine my surprise to find out he had a musical career as well. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/63 "2014-06-15T15:24:41Z")
Carl McCoy as the Nomad in _Hardware_ and Iggy Pop in lots of things (The Crow, _Tank Girl_, as a DJ in the aforementioned _Hardware_) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/64 "2014-06-15T15:30:23Z")
I’ve only seen a little clip on the internet of this show, Eastbound and Down, showing a makeup-free Marilyn Manson playing a waiter. A cameo, really, quite a little curiosity. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/65 "2014-06-15T19:52:36Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > Meatloaf played a supporting character in Fight Club and he didn’t sing a single word. He was also in “Leap of Faith.” Though he did play keyboards in the band in a couple of scenes, he didn’t sing; and his role was more “member of the crew and driver of the bus” than “musician.” ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/66 "2014-06-15T20:17:39Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > I grew up thinking Kris Kristofferson was just an actor. Imagine my surprise to find out he had a musical career as well. Have we had Kristofferson AND Bob Dylan AND Rita Coolidge in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid yet? ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/67 "2014-06-16T00:47:16Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Levon Helm was primarily known as a singer/drummer, but had a decent [acting](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0375629/) career, starting with _Coal Miner’s Daughter_ (haven’t seen it, don’t know if he sings or not). As already noted, no music. As an actor he blended right in with the rest of a very good cast. > [@txtumbleweed](#): > > Reba McEntire as gun enthusiast Heather Gummer in **Tremors** I fell in love with her in this movie. “…I know, he thinks he knows everything…” ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/68 "2014-06-16T01:27:37Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > Meatloaf played a supporting character in Fight Club and he didn’t sing a single word. He also played the record executive in “Wayne’s World”. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/69 "2014-06-16T01:48:11Z")
Jack White appeared in _Cold Mountain_. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/70 "2014-06-16T02:44:21Z")
I wasn’t around at the time, but I don’t think too big a deal was made when Garfunkel made his acting debut in _Catch-22_. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/71 "2014-06-16T03:38:49Z")
Iggy Pop also has a cameo in Sid and Nancy with his then wife, Suchi. Bowie’s been in many with larger roles, but he had a funny cameo in Zoolander. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/72 "2014-06-16T19:46:42Z")
Paul Williams in _Smokey and the Bandit_. (He played Little Enos Burditt.) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/73 "2014-06-16T20:04:31Z")
Nitpick: Burdette. Also: Jerry Reed in the same movie. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/74 "2014-06-16T20:19:33Z")
Gene Simmons played a villain in the 1984 Tom Selleck sci-fi vehicle _Runaway_. There have been a (to me) surprising number of rappers who have done acting turns. My nominee is Common, notably for supporting roles in _Terminator Salvation_ and the cable series _Hell on Wheels_. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/75 "2014-06-16T20:27:01Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Huey Lewis in _Duets_. I only became aware of this film through cable. There might have been a big deal because he was co-starring with Gwyneth Paltrow, but I don’t recall it. This is what I thought of first. Saw it on cable one morning: Is that Gwyneth? Oh yeah. Oh hey, is that Huey Lewis? Cool. ETA: It’s a pretty good duet. Smokey Robinson wrote it, I think? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U_HaoZ73wWg/hqdefault.jpg "Gweneth Paltrow & Huey Lewis - Cruisin") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_HaoZ73wWg) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/76 "2014-06-16T20:32:46Z")
Ah, one more: Angry Anderson of Autralia’s Rose Tattoo played the henchman Ironbar in _Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome_, which of course is better known for Tina Turner’s flashy role as the mayor of Bartertown. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/77 "2014-06-16T20:39:11Z")
Two more for Gene Simmons: [Wanted: Dead Or Alive](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094293/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_111) (1986)–GS is the bad guy, he gets his from Rutger Hauer. It’s nasty, but you’ll laugh your ass off, too. [Extract](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1225822/?ref_=nv_sr_1) (2009)–GS is an amusing shyster. Mila Kunis fixes his wagon. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/78 "2014-06-16T20:50:04Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > Bing Crosby won the Best Actor Oscar for _Going My Way_ and was nominated two other times. Yeah, but that movie is a musical and the guy is singing all the time! Though it’s an absolutely terrible movie, Tom Petty’s non-musical presence in **The Postman** didn’t make it any worse. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/79 "2014-06-16T22:41:30Z")
Justin Timberlake in _Alpha Dog_ was amazing; I didn’t even know it was him until the end credits. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2014, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781/80 "2014-06-16T23:10:47Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Don’t forget about the young [Gordon Sumner](http://pyxurz.blogspot.ca/2011/10/quadrophenia-page-4-of-6.html) in Quadrophenia. > > (You need to scroll down to the fourth picture.) And the somewhat older version in “Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels”. > [@Morbo](#): > > Tone Loc in **Ace Ventura**. And “Heat”. What about Hoyt Axton in “Gremlins”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-featuring-singers-as-actors-and-no-big-deal-was-made/690781.md?page=5)