I was just watching the world series and they described Vanessa Williams as “mulit-talented”. True. She is an excellent singer. A decent actress. And a wonderful model. Wink, Wink. Click, Click. Nudge, Nudge.
It got me thinking:
Who are the true multi talented entertainers? Entertainers who have a wide range of skills?
A few from the top of my head:
Sammy Davis, Jr: This guy could do it all. Sing, Dance, Act, Tell jokes, do gun tricks. Very well rounded.
Jim Nabors: No joke! He can act (though he was horribly type cast), he has an incredible singing voice, and his dancing and skit writing were demonstrated on his variety show.
Wayne Brady: Had a nice run this summer displaying his many skills on a rare variety show.
Carol Burnett: She did it all.
Lucille Ball: See Carol Burnett
Bette Midler: Not my cup of tea, but clearly she is talented.
You know, a lot of people can play an instrument, sing and dance simultaneously, and they’re considered to be good entertainers. But they take the extra step of strapping a pair of cymbals to their knees, and everyone thinks they’re a nutball.
James Cagney - Not just a great actor, but excellent song and dance man as well. He was incredible in “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
Gene Kelly - Actor, singer, dancer, choreographer and writer.
Sinatra didn’t dance? I know he was in “On the Town” and “Anchors Aweigh.” I could’ve sworn he danced in at least one of those. Maybe a number with Gene Kelly? It’s been a while since I’ve seen those movies, so I don’t remember.
A little more contemporary:
Mike Myers - Great actor, both drama and comedy and a great writer. One of the few SNL alumnae who don’t suck outside the show.
Emma Thompson. She can act both in drama and comedy, and won an Oscar for a screenplay. Haven’t seen her sing, but I undersand she did some cabaret as she came up.
Kenneth Branagh. Can act, direct, write (though primarily Shakespeare adaptations). Certainly better than adequate in the singing and dancing department.
I second that in a big way. Steve Martin’s standup act included many skills. He juggled, did balloon animals, characters, magic. And his banjo playing was stellar. It was a real eye opener during his over-the-top shows when he would just for a few minutes be serious and do a kick-ass banjo tune.
Clint Eastwood - acting, directing, plays piano, has written musical pieces for his own films, a bit of a stretch with the singing in Paint Your Wagon.
I saw Kevin Kline on Broadway about 20 years ago in a production of ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ with Linda Ronstadt.
This guy is a quadruple-threat entertainer(can act, sing, dance and sword-fight). I 've never thought the movies I have seen him in since have done him justice.
Kinky, Kinky, Kinky. Gets a cult following as a country singing Texas Jewboy, then gets another cult following writing mystery novels about a country single Texas Jewboy turned private investigator named Kinky Friedman. How many people can do that?
Damn fine comedian. Accomplished actor. Excellent essayist and entertaining novelist. Also a lightning-fast crossword solver and brilliant chess player, although these are not particularly entertaining to watch.
