# Singers who turned into actors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681 "2008-11-20T18:23:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/41 "2008-11-21T04:32:05Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > She was a highly respected actor before she became known as a singer, Really? Highly respected? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/42 "2008-11-21T04:57:38Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Really? Highly respected? Yeah, pretty much. Her breakthrough role in \*Selena \*was universally critically praised, and I don’t recall anything but positive reviews for her in \*Out of Sight \*either. She was definitely an “up and coming” actor to watch. Then overnight she was all over MTV and her credibility tanked. Too bad; I still think _Out of Sight_ is one of the most purely entertaining movies I’ve ever seen, and she’s a big part of that. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/43 "2008-11-21T05:48:34Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Harry Connick Jr. (ID4, Copycay, Will & Grace) Also _The Iron Giant_. And if animated movies count, let’s add Louis Prima and Phil Harris. And Billy Joel for _Oliver and Company_. Mac Davis made a few movies. Mel Torme did, too. Wasn’t Glen Campbell in _True Grit_? [I see he was.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065126/) ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/44 "2008-11-21T06:20:07Z")
I know Hugh Jackman was a song and dance man before he hit Hollywood, did he record any albums? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/45 "2008-11-21T11:32:00Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Nope. > > She was a highly respected actor before she became known as a singer, unfortunately tarnishing her reputation as an actor at the same time. See \*Out of Sight \*before you write her off. Hopefully she’ll eventually recover some street cred. (Though it probably doesn’t help that even before that she was a dancer on _In Living Color_ . . .) Agreed. I think she’s a better actress than a singer. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/46 "2008-11-21T13:05:51Z")
[Rex Smith](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Smith) ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/47 "2008-11-21T13:07:46Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Justin Timberlake has gotten good reviews in his acting gigs. The SNL crew were reportedly very impressed by what a good actor he is. Interesting. In \*Black Snake Moan \*he had all the range of a potted plant. And not even one of the more interesting plants. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2008, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/48 "2008-11-21T13:11:11Z")
Madonna. Steve Martin Hugh Laurie was a song-and-dance comedian before _House_ ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/49 "2008-11-21T13:22:43Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I’ve excluded singers who only playing themselves, parodies of themselves, or in a handful of films or shows that totally sucked. […] Britney Spears barely squeeks by for HIMYM whereas Jessica Simpson doesn’t for Dukes of Hazzard I’d say Britney more than passes; if HIMYM puts her above the cut-off, then being the star of a theatricallly-released film (Crossroads) should solidify her position. Using the same criteria, I’d count Jessica Simpson as well-- she had a recurring guest role on a sitcom (That 70s Show), and has starred in more than just Dukes of Hazzard; she’s done Employee of the Month (playing a not unintelligent girl, so she’s not simply playing herself/parodying herself there). Teen singer JoJo (born in 1990… Jesus, I feel old) has done the crossover thing too, having starred in RV and Aquamarine. Seems _de rigeur_ for teen singers to become teen actresses and vice versa. Half of the Disney studio actresses have albums. Vitamin C (Colleen Fitzpatrick) has been in a few movies and TV shows… I actually saw Dracula 2000 in theaters and have it on DVD because she’s in it. …and then there’s His Royal Badness, Prince: Purple Rain, Under the Cherry Moon, and Graffiti Bridge. (These also admit Morris Day, other various members of the Time, the Revolution, the New Power Generation, Mavis Staples, Tevin Campbell…) ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/50 "2008-11-21T13:29:10Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Doris Day > Willie Nelson > Kris Kristofferson > Dwight Yoakum > Cher > Toby Keith > David Bowie Toby Keith? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah okay, He may surprise me and become a good actor. As long as we’re talking country singers Billy Ray Cyrus wound up with his own series. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2008, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/51 "2008-11-21T13:32:47Z")
> [@Miss\_Woodhouse](#): > > I know Hugh Jackman was a song and dance man before he hit Hollywood, did he record any albums? Check out the cast recording of The Boy From Oz. People in musical theatre are actors. I consider a singer to be someone who records and does concerts, not stagework. Katy Segal was a member of Bette Midler’s backup singers before hitting big with “Married with Children.” ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/52 "2008-11-21T14:30:53Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > Interesting. In \*Black Snake Moan \*[Justin Timberlake] had all the range of a potted plant. And not even one of the more interesting plants. True. However, I thought he was quite good in _Alpha Dog_. Maybe being plastered in fake tattoos does something for one’s acting chops. I have some fringe picks: Johnny Depp had a promising start to a music career before he switched to acting full time. Then we have the opposite – Joaquin Phoenix who has just decided that he’s no longer an actor and solely a musician, after spending the better part of 40 years as not a musician in the least, but more power to him I guess. And then there’s Billy Ray Cyrus who “acts” in _Hannah Montana_ (his daughter’s show) after being a successful “musician”. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/53 "2008-11-21T14:40:21Z")
Billy Ray had a successful series called “Doc.” He is a passable actor. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/54 "2008-11-21T14:48:41Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Billy Ray had a successful series called “Doc.” He is a passable actor. Agreed. My mom loved that show. But, as far as one’s opinion of his singing career goes, don’t tell his heart. His achy-breaky heart. Seriously. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/55 "2008-11-21T15:17:39Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > I would discount both Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler on the grounds that they both started out in musical _theater_ and thus were expected to do a certain amount of acting alongside their singing. They didn’t start out as strictly singers, then move on over to acting. Elliot Gould met Streisand when they both appeared in the musical “I Can Get It For You Wholesale.” ---
**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:** [November 21, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/56 "2008-11-21T16:10:09Z")
Bonnie Bramlett of Delaney, Bonnie & Friends became a regular character on “Roseanne.” Her singing was introduced at a backyard Mother’s Day get together while Dan (John Goodman) was playing “You Really Got a Hold on Me.” They later introduced David Crosby as her husband. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/57 "2008-11-21T16:18:19Z")
Unless I missed somebody saying it above, Bobby Darin wasn’t a bad actor. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/58 "2008-11-21T17:03:10Z")
Charo 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/59 "2008-11-21T18:14:10Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Yeah, pretty much. Her breakthrough role in \*Selena \*was universally critically praised, and I don’t recall anything but positive reviews for her in \*Out of Sight \*either. She was definitely an “up and coming” actor to watch. Then overnight she was all over MTV and her credibility tanked. Too bad; I still think _Out of Sight_ is one of the most purely entertaining movies I’ve ever seen, and she’s a big part of that. Huh. Consider ignorance fought, I guess. I’ve never seen her in anything in which I didn’t consider her a completely wooden beauty object. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681/60 "2008-11-22T01:57:22Z")
> [@zoogirl](#): > > ( **FaithFool** , beat ya to it! 😉 ) Hey, I don’t mind being beaten by an expert. 😃 Alice has also been in an episode of Monk, which he quite excelled at, and played a very appropriate \< gasp! \> mental patient briefly in [The Attic Expeditions](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118652/). But sadly overall, our beloved (I’m sorry to say) sucks as an actor. If he can remain elf-deprecating and wry, then he’s reasonably funny and does a good job. Anything else and oh man, is it painful. Not that he’s not completely doable and hot anyway, but I doubt that’s got much to do with this thread or its purposes. Of course, Coop probably doesn’t count regardless. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-who-turned-into-actors/473681.md?page=4)