Rush drummer Neil Peart has written several books, mostly autobiographical. The ones I’ve read were very good.
The late Dudley Moore was a comedic actor (however, I must be the only person who didn’t think “Arthur” was funny) although he considered himself a concert pianist who was better known for acting.
Anyone read Kim Gordon’s autobiography “Girl In A Band”? She considers herself a writer and artist who happens to play music. Her ex-husband, Thurston Moore, has done voiceovers for programs on the National Geographic channel.
Dee Snider of Twisted Sister has done a reality show and written at least one book, and also does a lot of voiceover work.
Except that his two “careers” were basically just how critics looked at him. Unlike Rodney Dangerfield there was no break in his career. He continued to work up to Pulp Fiction. It’s just that after Pulp Fiction he had more choices.
But are the novels themselves any good, or just the tidbit?
People used to jokingly refer to the pair of Alaska (born in Mexico, lives in Spain) and Rocío Dúrcal (from Spain, lived most of her adult life in Mexico) as “our little cultural exchange”. Dúrcal won a version of “the Voice” c. 1970 and went on to a career as a teen actress/musical idol; later she found enormous success in Mexico, selling rancheras and other “classic” styles like Dunkin’ sells donuts. Alaska’s combined her long musical career with acting (one of the first “Almodóvar girls”) and presented a groundbreaking children’s program.
Chuck Barris had several different (very different) chapters in his show biz career.
He started as a pop music songwriter. The biggest hit he ever wrote was “Palisades Park,” recorded by Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon.
Later, he became a successful TV executive, producing game shows like ***The Dating Game*** and ***The Newlywed Game.***
But he didn't become famous to the world at large until he created ***The Gong Show. *** Barris didn't intend to host the show. He auditioned numerous potential emcees, but he just COULDN'T explain to any of the auditioners how cheesy and smarmy and phony he wanted the show's host to be. He kept having to interrupt their tryouts to say, "No no no, do it like THIS!" Ultimately, he realized that he himself was the only guy who understood what he was looking for, and he became the host himself.
I was going to mention Groucho Marx, who had a major career in vaudeville and film as part of the Marx Brothers, then a second, solo career on radio and TV on You Bet Your Life. (Loads of people did the vaudeville/film/radio/TV transition; I’m not sure they all qualify as “separate careers”.)
Rob Zombie is primarily known as a musician, but has film credits all over the place as a writer, director, producer, actor, and probably a gaffer and a best boy!
Glenn Danzig published comic books for a while, really disgusting, stomach-turning ones.
Snoop Dogg appeared in porn; not sure exactly how separate that was from his day job, though.
Michael Strahan was a football star before taking over Regis Philbin’s chair, and is now going to Good Morning America.
Richard Dawson, actor, and then host of Family Feud
Chris Jericho - Professional Wrestler, leader of heavy metal group Fozzy and has a successful podcast
Henry Winkler was the Fonz and now has a series of children’s books.
Bruce Dickinson - Singer of Heavy Metal band Iron Maiden, written novels, wrote a movie, had a radio show, hosted a show on the discovery channel and was almost an olympic fencer. He also is a professional pilot, and flies a 747 and 757 for the band on tours, owns an aviation company, crafted a beer now being sold as Trooper Beer, as well as beating cancer.
Carrie Fisher had a very successful career as a writer and script doctor. Hamill’s greatest non-Star Wars success was as a voice actor, at which he’s kept very busy.
