Musicians turned actors

Did anyone pull this off sucessfully? I know many did this, Alanis Morissette, Jon Bon Jovi, Gene Simmons, Tina Turner etc. But who did it good? Here's 2 i think did it very well:

Tom Waits - His role in "Bram Stoker's Dracula" is awesome!

Cher - She's done some great movies, and my favorites include "Mermaids", "The Witches of Eastwick" and "Tha Mask"

Meat Loaf

Roger Daltrey's been in some movies I think. Don't know if he's any good or not.

I don't think he ever made it big or made good movies but what movies he did made/starred in were hilarious(ly bad). I'm talking about Jon Mikl Thor of course.

Elvis' debut movie 'Love Me Tender' was actually pretty decent and he did a good job with the role. It wasn't written with him in mind, so it wasn't the cheese his later films would become.

Frank Sinatra has some decent roles early on as well. His bit part in "From Here To Eternity" was rumored to be the inspiration for the whole "Make him an offer he can't refuse" horsehead scene in 'The Godfather'.

Good call on Cher too, Kmorg. I'd rather watch her act than listen to her music.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Good call on Cher too, Kmorg. I'd rather watch her act than listen to her music.

I agree. However, she's recorded some great songs, including a cool version of Kiss' "A World Without Heroes".

Depending on how you define musician, or how you define success...

Kris Kristofferson

Clint Eastwood

Common (me and the wifey saw Just Wright, where he plays a baskeball player...I was pleasantly surprised. He was pretty good.)

David Bowie's been in a few movies. Labyrinth was pretty cool, and he was in Zoolander for a few minutes.

Alice Cooper did "Monster Dog," plus he had a bit part in "Wayne's World"

Fat Freddy wrote:

Alice Cooper did "Monster Dog," plus he had a bit part in "Wayne's World"

Didin't he play Freddy Krueger's father in one of the 'Nightmare on Elm Street' sequels?

Will Smith and Marky Mark have done alright for themselves. Although some might take exceptions to calling them "musicians"

Gene Simmons did a movie with Tom Selleck, and did a season and half of a show called 'Third Watch'

Joan Jett did a movie with Michael J Fox, 'Light of Day'

Michael Des Barres formely of the forgotten Silverhead used to be a TV show in the 80's, the Equalizer or some crap like that.

but the question was any of them any good?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! except Cher but I am not a fan.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Didin't he play Freddy Krueger's father in one of the 'Nightmare on Elm Street' sequels?"

Did he really? That must've been one of the later movies. I got sick of "Elm Street" after the fourth (or was it fifth?) movie and didn't bother with the ones that came afterward.

Fat Freddy wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Didin't he play Freddy Krueger's father in one of the 'Nightmare on Elm Street' sequels?"

Did he really? That must've been one of the later movies. I got sick of "Elm Street" after the fourth (or was it fifth?) movie and didn't bother with the ones that came afterward.

Never seen it myself either, but in Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, Alice played Freddy's abusive father in what I assume was some sorta flashback sequence.

Michael Des Barres was also in that newer version of WKRP in Cincinatti from the early 90's with Tawny Kittane. I think his qualifications as a "musician' are a little questionable as well.

Joan Jett more or less played herself in Light of Day from I can remember.

Gene was cool in Trick or Treat

Huh... you really do learn something every day.

I don't know if they were exactly "acting" since they played themselves, but the Ramones each had a line or two of dialogue in "Rock N Roll High School" (DeeDee's sole spoken part: "Hey, PIZZA! Great! Let's dig in!")

"Mama Cass" Elliot was in an old episode of "Scooby Doo" -- does that count?

Quote :

"Mama Cass" Elliot was in an old episode of "Scooby Doo" -- does that count?

I remember that episode well although as a kid, I had no idea who Mama Cass was at the time. It wasn't until many years later that I made the discovery.

J-Lo but is she really a musician? For that matter, is she even an actress?
Barbara Streisand. Neil Diamond.
Deborah Harry actually did ok in Wiseguy and was in Hairspray and Videodrome.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Quote :

"Mama Cass" Elliot was in an old episode of "Scooby Doo" -- does that count?

I remember that episode well although as a kid, I had no idea who Mama Cass was at the time. It wasn't until many years later that I made the discovery.

That "Scooby Doo" toon turned up on the "Boomerang" channel not long ago, so I had to explain to my son who this "Mama Cass" was and why the Mystery Machine gang was so excited about meeting her.

Ted Nugent , Phil collins, Frank Zappa, and pop metal singer Fiona ( remember her?) all did appearances on 'Miami Vice'

Bob Dylan did two films and there is a reason he is a professional musician and not an actor. He makes Corey Fieldman look like Russel Crowe in comparison.

Quote :

Ted Nugent , Phil collins, Frank Zappa, and pop metal singer Fiona ( remember her?) all did appearances on 'Miami Vice'

Don't forget Glenn Frey. He actually played a sporadically recurring character if I remember correctly.

Do rappers count? I can think of a few off the top of my head that have been in mainstream movies and tv shows:

Ice-T
Ice Cube
Snoop
Ludacris
LL Cool J
Eminem (although he pretty much played himself, right?)
Vanilla Ice

Spoiler:

There's probably plenty more, but those are some that come to mind.

Harry Connick Jr.

He's been in a handful of movies and done a decent job.

Independence Day
Hope Floats
Copycat

Those come to mind.

Fat Freddy wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Didin't he play Freddy Krueger's father in one of the 'Nightmare on Elm Street' sequels?"

Did he really? That must've been one of the later movies. I got sick of "Elm Street" after the fourth (or was it fifth?) movie and didn't bother with the ones that came afterward.

And John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness as a homeless guy.

Huey Lewis
Never understood why he doesn't do more things. Just don't watch him in Short Cuts because you'll see more of him than you'll ever need to see. He takes a full on leak in that one.

When my brother was a producer on One Tree Hill they brought him in to play a father role. And not only were they impressed with his acting but apparently he was the coolest guy as well. No ego, super friendly to everyone. My brother who was not a fan before went out and bought all his albums.


Gene Simmons was also really good in that Rutger Hauer movie Wanted: Dead Or Alive

jstate wrote:

Huey Lewis
Never understood why he doesn't do more things. Just don't watch him in Short Cuts because you'll see more of him than you'll ever need to see. He takes a full on leak in that one.

According to "Sweet Sweet Connie" Hamzy, the famous groupie, Huey has a giant wang.

Alice Cooper has done lots of movies, Prince of Darkness, Roadie (w/Meat Loaf), Freddy's Dead (Another 3D movie, btw), and he did a role for Maverick that was cut out before the movie was released. I swear I saw that part in the cinema though......