# People with two separate careers in show biz **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2016, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879 "2016-04-23T06:07:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/1 "2016-04-23T06:07:40Z")
I suppose this depends on how you define terms, but it seems to me that a few people could be said to have had two completely separate careers in show business. In my opinion, the prime example of this is George Burns. The main part of his first career was his radio and tv shows with Gracie. This first career was a partnership. Then after she died, he reinvented himself, and had a whole second career by himself, as a “two-pronged” comedian who wrote several books and had major roles in several movies. Who else do you think would qualify? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/2 "2016-04-23T06:53:52Z")
Anybody such as Barbra Streisand or Kris Kristofferson who have had successful careers as both actors and musicians. Gene Hackman has retired from his acting career and has become a best-selling novelist. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2016, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/3 "2016-04-23T08:49:45Z")
Another sort of second career is exemplified by Rodney Dangerfield. He had a first career as a comedian from 1940 to 1949 under the name Jack Roy. Then he did other things like selling aluminum siding for a while. He then went back into comedy from 1962 till his death in 2004 using the name Rodney Dangerfield and using the “no respect” persona we now know him for: > **[Rodney Dangerfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_Dangerfield)** > > Jack Roy (born Jacob Rodney Cohen; November 22, 1921 – October 5, 2004), better known by the pseudonym Rodney Dangerfield, was an American stand-up comedian, actor, screenwriter, and producer. He was known for his self-deprecating one-liner humor, his catchphrase "I don't get no respect!" and his monologues on that theme. > He began his career working as a stand-up comic at the Fantasy Lounge in New York City. His act grew in popularity as he became a mainstay on late-night talk shows throughout t... ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/4 "2016-04-23T08:59:18Z")
Do sportsmen who become commentators count? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/5 "2016-04-23T10:58:22Z")
Does actor, then director count? Or writer, then actor? Because there are a bunch of those. ---
**Author:** ![Flare4roach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7cd45c/32.png) [@Flare4roach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flare4roach)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/6 "2016-04-23T11:43:53Z")
Ron Howard obviously would apply. Beloved child actor and incredible director. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2016, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/7 "2016-04-23T11:55:13Z")
Sharon Osbourne: 1. Ozzy’s manager (and wife) 2. Reality show actress / talk show host ---
**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:** [April 23, 2016, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/8 "2016-04-23T12:10:40Z")
The number of singers who became successful actors is large. Bing Crosby, for example, has the most successful single ever (“White Christmas”) and an Oscar. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/9 "2016-04-23T13:33:42Z")
Leslie Nielson has to count here, one career as a dramatic actor, a second as a comedic one. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2016, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/10 "2016-04-23T14:37:51Z")
Also William Shatner. First dramatic, then comedic. Kinky Friedman was a country singer before becoming a detective novel writer. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/11 "2016-04-23T14:38:09Z")
Cher is a somewhat unusual case of a crossover. She became famous for singing and for her sketch comedy TV series. Many other celebrities have crossed over into acting from a similar background. But they generally do so in lightweight comedies. Cher jumped into the deep end with dramatic roles in _Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean_, _Silkwood_, _Mask_, and _Suspect_. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/12 "2016-04-23T14:41:45Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Cher is a somewhat unusual case of a crossover. She became famous for singing and for her sketch comedy TV series. Many other celebrities have crossed over into acting from a similar background. But they generally do so in lightweight comedies. Cher jumped into the deep end with dramatic roles in _Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean_, _Silkwood_, _Mask_, and _Suspect_. Robin Williams. ETA: Steve Martin ---
**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:** [April 23, 2016, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/13 "2016-04-23T14:47:42Z")
Whoopi Goldberg ETA: Oprah Winfrey ---
**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:** [April 23, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/14 "2016-04-23T15:04:15Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Robin Williams. > ETA: Steve Martin Stand-up comedian (and/or comedy writer), then actor, is a pretty common one. This would also include Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, Tim Allen, and plenty more. Conan O’Brien went from TV writer to talk show host. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2016, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/15 "2016-04-23T15:12:33Z")
Stand up comedian (and/or comedy writer) to comedic actor is a pretty common one. How many become recognized dramatic actors. Same with singers in musical roles and dancers in dancing movies. How many cross over into drama? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/16 "2016-04-23T15:13:33Z")
Jimmy Buffett - first an unbelievably popular singer/songwriter/musician, then one of the less than a dozen authors to put books at the top of the NYT Best-Seller list in **both** Fiction and Non-Fiction, then as a ridiculously rich businessman. Plus he’s a really nice guy. eta - He’s also acted a little and written a musical (it tanked.) ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/17 "2016-04-23T15:16:29Z")
Arnold Schwarzenegger: Champion Bodybuilder, top box-office draw actor, Governor of California. When Elijah “Frodo” Wood isn’t acting, he’s deejaying. [https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;\_ylt=A0LEV76NkRtXrnwAC2QnnIlQ?p=elijah+wood+deejay&fr=yhs-mozilla-002&fr2=piv-web&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002](https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=A0LEV76NkRtXrnwAC2QnnIlQ?p=elijah+wood+deejay&fr=yhs-mozilla-002&fr2=piv-web&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002) ---
**Author:** ![Goofus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7feea3/32.png) [@Goofus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goofus)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/18 "2016-04-23T15:52:25Z")
Other entertainers who achieved success in “show business for ugly people” include Ronald Reagan, Fred Thompson, and Al Franken. Too soon to tell for Donald Trump. To be closer to the spirit of the OP, I’ll mention US actor/German singer David Hasselhoff. Are there any people who simultaneously have two unrelated show business careers? For example, Charli XCX writes and performs Top 40 pop songs for herself, and writes Top 40 pop songs for other people. But is there anyone who writes and performs pop songs for themselves while writing Icelandic death metal for others? Or is there a writer/director who only writes lowbrow comedies for others to direct, and only directs action movies written by others? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/19 "2016-04-23T15:54:33Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Does actor, then director count? And, if so, do we split the hair further? Like, take Clint Eastwood: he’s a big enough movie star that he starts directing films where he’s top-billed – and ultimately wins Oscar after Oscar as a director, but only with Oscar-nominated _acting_ performances. So would that be separate? (Of course, he also earned nominations and awards directing films without doing _any_ of the acting – FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA, INVICTUS, BIRD, MYSTIC RIVER, AMERICAN SNIPER – so figure he eventually earned it; whereas, say, Warren Beatty branched out from acting to win an Oscar for directing himself, but he’s really only ever done projects where folks keep watching him act before asking _was that a well-written line by Beatty, or did Beatty just deliver it well? Does that count as good acting by Beatty, or getting a good performance out of Beatty?_) ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879/20 "2016-04-23T16:07:30Z")
Wayne Rogers from MASH became a big stock market investor who later appeared on TV a lot giving advice on investing and stocks. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-with-two-separate-careers-in-show-biz/752879.md?page=2)