35 Musicians Who Crossed Over to Become Successful Actors
These days, it really isn't enough to be a talented artist in the music space. You've got to have the talent, the sound, the looks and a little something extra to make you truly stand out.
That's why we think so many of the biggest musicians in the world cross over to become incredible actors. They've got something to prove, and they have the skills (and the notoriety) to make it happen. Keep clicking through to discover the best 35 musicians who crossed over to become successful actors.
(The Pink Panther via Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group)
1. Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is an artist known for churning out hit after hit, as well as for her larger-than-life onstage persona. But in addition to wearing meat dresses and emerging from eggs at awards shows, she's proven herself to be talented on the screen, with her most notable role being Ally in the Oscar-nominated film A Star Is Born. We think she's also been great on American Horror Story.
(A Star Is Born via Warner Bros. Pictures)
2. Ice Cube
Ice Cube is a pioneer of the hip-hop world, forming the pivotal gangsta rap group N.W.A. in 1987 before going his way as a solo artist a couple of years later. It wasn't too long after that he also began experimenting with acting, debuting as Doughboy in the Oscar-nominated Boyz n the Hood. From there, he continued acting alongside making music, appearing in films including Friday, Anaconda and Barbershop.
(Boyz n the Hood via Columbia Pictures)
3. Flea
Flea is a founding member as well as bassist of the rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers, who released their very first album in 1984. What most people don't know, however, is that the's had a career as an actor running parallel to his music since the beginning. His first role was actually as a background character in The Outsiders, and he was in the second and third Back to the Future films, as well as appearing in movies such as My Private Idaho, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Baby Driver. He was also the voice of Donnie on Nickelodeon's The Wild Thornberrys.
(Back to the Future Part III via Universal Pictures)
4. Queen Latifah
Unlike many of the other stars on this list, Queen Latifah might now be better known as an actress than a rapper and singer. She actually started as a beatboxer for a group called Ladies Fresh before her hip-hop career took off. She became a well-known actress not long after that, appearing in episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air before starring in Fox's Living Single, and then her own self-titled The Queen Latifah Show, in addition to her expansive film career.
(Bringing Down the House via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
5. Justin Timberlake
From his time on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club as a kid to being the most beloved member of 'NSYNC and then becoming a superstar in his own right as a solo artist, Justin Timberlake has pretty much done it all. Of course it makes sense that a film career would follow. His credits include The Social Network, Friends With Benefits and Inside Llewyn Davis, but today, many actually know him as the voice of Branch in the Trolls movies.
(In Time via 20th Century Studios)
6. LL Cool J
LL Cool J is a rapper and producer who played a critical role in making hip-hop music more relevant to mainstream audiences. In 1984, his single "I Need a Beat" became a critical and commercial success, paving the way for many rap acts to follow. While he did some acting on the side from the beginning, his most notable roles in Oz, Halloween H2O and Deep Sea came in the late '90s. He's also been part of the NCIS: Los Angeles cast for 11 years.
(Deep Blue Sea via Warner Bros. Pictures)
7. Aaliyah
While Aaliyah's incredible life was cut short when she was just 22 years old, she accomplished unbelievable things during her time, including balancing her music with a foray into film. The singer was discovered on Star Search when she was just 10, and released her hit debut album Age Ain't Nothing but a Number at 14. Her films included Romeo Must Die and Queen of the Damned, the latter of which was released posthumously.
(Romeo Must Die via Warner Bros. Pictures)
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8. Ludacris
Today, Ludacris might be known just as much for his acting as he is for his music. While he broke into the industry as a DJ for an Atlanta radio station, he made his first big break collaborating with Timbaland on the hit song "Phat Rabbit" before starting his own solo career. Soon, he was also starring in movies including 2 Fast 2 Furious, Hustle & Flow and Crash, cementing him as a bonafide movie star as well.
(Furious 7 via Universal Pictures)
9. Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez is one of the first people we think of when we imagine successful multi-hyphenate musician-actors because she really can do it all. She actually started her career as a dancer for New Kids on the Block and in the TV series In Living Color, with aspirations to become a singer. However, she actually had her acting breakthrough in 1997 with Selena, and released her debut album On the 6 two years later. She's continued to be one of the biggest pop superstars in the world while never giving up on her acting.
(Hustlers via STX Entertainment)
10. Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf was a singer best known for his bold and theatrical singing voice, and with a name like that, you know he had a flair for the dramatic, which perfectly led into his time as an actor. He got his start doing musical theater and was part of the original cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1973 before he was cast in the film version two years later. Other appearances include Wayne's World, Spice World and Fight Club.
(Fight Club via 20th Century Fox)
11. Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz is a singer and musician known for his hard funk rock sounds. Though he may not be the most prolific actor on this list, thanks to a high-profile role in The Hunger Games as Cinna, he's now known to audiences around the world who might not be familiar with him otherwise. He's also appeared in both Zoolander movies, as well as series Better Things and Star.
(The Hunger Games via Lionsgate Films)
12. Rihanna
Rihanna is one of the biggest musical artists in the world at the moment, and with hits including "Only Girl (in the World)," "Umbrella" and "Love the Way You Lie," everyone knows her music. And we think people are also becoming familiar with her acting in a very big way. Notable roles include playing Marion Crane in Bates Motel, Bubble in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets and Nine Ball in Ocean's 8.
(Ocean's 8 via Warner Bros. Pictures)
13. Dwight Yoakam
Dwight Yoakam may not be talked about these days in the mainstream, but at the height of his career in the '80s, he helped reinvent the country music genre with his signature honky-tonk sound. He's one of the best-selling country artists of all time, while also starring in films such as Sling Blade and Panic Room, and more recently, Logan Lucky.
(Sling Blade via Miramax)
14. Ice-T
Because he's played the role of detective Odafin Tutuola on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for an incredible two decades, we're guessing a number of people know Ice-T as an actor, rather than a rapper and singer with a massive discography. His sophomore album, Power, is perhaps his best, and went Platinum.
(Law & Order: Special Victims Unit via NBC)
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15. Mandy Moore
Before Mandy Moore became everyone's favorite TV mom—Rebecca Pearson on NBC's This Is Us—she was a pop singer with a massive career in front of her. Mandy was just 15 when her debut single, "Candy," became a huge hit. Not long after that, she starred in films including The Princess Diaries and Chasing Liberty. And while This Is Us might be her biggest series to date, she's also gained acclaim for her voicing Rapunzel in the Tangled series.
(This Is Us via NBC)
16. Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw isn't just one of the biggest country stars in all of history, he's one of the best-selling artists of all time in general thanks to 15 hit studio albums spawning 65 big singles. We're not surprised he didn't stop there and also have acting a shot. His credits include a couple of football films with The Bling Side and Friday Night Lights, as well as other movies such as Tomorrowland, Flicka and Country Strong.
(Friday Night Lights via Universal Pictures)
17. Bow Wow
Rapper Bow Wow started his career very young, giving him lots of space to experiment with different roles in both music and film. He was just 13 when he released his first album Beware of Dog under the name Lil' Bow Wow in 2000, and two years later had his first lead as an actor in Like Mike. He's also appeared in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Scary Movie V, and was one of the main cast members in CSI: Cyber.
(The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift via Universal Pictures)
18. Tom Waits
Singer-songwriter Tom Waits is best known in the music world for his experimental music and unique, gravely voice. He released his first album, Closing Time, in 1975, and by 1978 was already dabbling in the acting world. Notable projects include The Outsiders, Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mystery Men, all of which showcase his unusual talents.
(Bram Stoker's Dracula via Columbia Pictures)
19. Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand is a legendary talent who today is known both for her musical and theatrical outings, but in the early '60s, she started her career as a nightclub and Broadway singer. She released a self-titled album in 1963, and later in the decade broke into film. Her role in Funny Girl in 1968 earned her an Academy Award. She's also one of just three actors on this list to appear in a version of A Star Is Born.
(A Star Is Born via Warner Bros. Pictures)
20. David Bowie
David Bowie was without a doubt one of the most beloved and influential musical artists of the last century. He was known for his music, his acting and his overall persona, which all left a lasting cultural impact on the world at large. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee started making music in the '60s and broke into film in the '70s with The Man who Fell to Earth before appearing in other hit movies such as Labyrinth and The Prestige.
(The Prestige via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
21. Harry Connick Jr.
Singer and composer Harry Connick Jr. is a jazz pianist and musician with more No. 1 albums than any other jazz artist in history. Funnily enough, his big break in music actually came in the form of a film when he was asked to make the soundtrack or 1989's When Harry Met Sally. As his music career took off, he also pursued acting, appearing the next year in Memphis Belle. Other credits include Independence Day, P.S. I Love You and Will & Grace, as well as voicing Dean in The Iron Giant.
(Independence Day via 20th Century Studios)
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22. Courtney Love
Though Courtney Love appeared in small roles in the films Sid and Nancy and Straight to Hell before becoming a musical artist, the singer-songwriter first made a name for herself as the lead singer in the grunge rock band Hole, formed in 1988. Her notoriety likely led to her being able to pursue further acting roles, including parts in The People vs. Larry Flynt, Man on the Moon and Sons of Anarchy.
(Man on the Moon via Universal Pictures)
23. Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson is a star in his own right, but he might be most notable for writing hits that went to other artists, including "Me and Bobby McGee," "For the Good Times" and "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down." He also started acting in the '70s, with some of his biggest films including Blade, Payback and Bloodworth. He also appeared opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1976 adaptation of A Star Is Born, earning him a Golden Globe for his performance.
(Blade II via New Line Cinema)
24. 50 Cent
Rapper and songwriter 50 Cent was discovered in 2002 by Eminem, who along with Dr. Dre helped propel him to become of the best selling rappers in the world. In 2005, he made his big acting debut with Get Rich or Die Tryin', and he's still acting today in series including Power and For Life.
(Power via Starz)
25. Madonna
Madonna is one of those talents that truly wants to do it all, and given her worth ethic, we're not surprised that she branched out from being a singer-songwriter to also acting, writing and directing for film. Considered the Queen of Pop in the '80s, she also became somewhat of a movie star with roles in Desperately Seeking Susan, A League of Their Own and Evita.
(Evita via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
26. André 3000
André 3000 is a singer-songwriter and rapper most famous for being half of the hip-hop duo Outkast, but he's also had a very impressive film career—including roles that integrate his musical ability. His acting roles include parts in Be Cool, Scary Movie 4 and Semi-Pro, but we really love his turn as Jimi Hendrix in Jimi: All Is by My Side.
(Jimi: All Is by My Side via XLrator Media)
27. Harry Styles
One Direction was undoubtedly the western boy band of the last decade, and with Harry Styles as its most adored member, we're not surprised to see that his solo career has been a huge success. So when Harry was cast in Christopher Nolan's war epic Dunkirk, many people thought it was a bit of ill-advised stunt casting, only to be surprised by the actor's powerful performance. Various future roles are only rumored, but we can't wait to see what he does next.
(Dunkirk via Warner Bros. Pictures)
28. Cher
The "Goddess of Pop" Cher practically invented the musical mononym, only needing four letters to signify her important to the music world. She first found fame as half of the folk duo Sonny & Cher in the '60s, and almost immediately began recording solo material as well. She started acting at the same time, going on to appear in films such as Moonstruck, Burlesque and, most recently, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
(Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again via Universal Pictures)
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29. Elvis Presley
Elvis was one of the most important cultural figures of the last century, bringing rock and roll to a wider audience, earning him the title of the King of Rock and Roll. His music may have become even more popular because of the films he began making, starting with 1956's Love Me Tender, the first of dozens of his films that heavily featured his music.
(Blue Hawaii via Paramount Pictures)
30. Mark Wahlberg
We wouldn't blame you if you didn't even know that Mark Wahlberg was a musician before he became the prolific actor he is today. In his music days in the early '90s, the rapper was known by the stage name Marky Mark and was the leader of a group called Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. However, he soon made his starring debut in a film called Fear in 1996, and that was just the beginning of a decades-long career that's still thriving today.
(Transformers: Age of Extinction via Paramount Pictures)
31. Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is yer another Renaissance woman on this list. The country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is also an actor, writer, businesswoman and humanitarian. It's impressive enough that she wrote "I Will Always Love You" and "Jolene" on the same day in 1972, but she's also shown her onscreen talents in films including 9 to 5, Steel Magnolias and Joyful Noise.
(9 to 5 via 20th Century Studios)
32. Mos Def
Mos Def technically began work as a child actor before he ever was known as a rapper and singer, but we have no doubt his music career has been more notable. He started working in hip-hop in 1994 with Urban Thermo Dynamics and Black Star, and collaborations with Da Bush Babees and De La Soul before trying his hand at acting again in the late '90s. Notable roles include Monster's Ball, The Italian Job and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
(The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
33. Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson didn't have to be the winner of the third season of American Idol to become its biggest name. Despite placing seventh, her incredible voice soon earned her the nickname the "Princess of Soul," as well as a starring role in the film Dreamgirls. As she continued making music, she also continued acting with roles in The Secret Life of Bees, Chi-Raq and Sing.
(Chi-Raq via Roadside Attractions)
34. Will Smith
Will Smith is arguably one of the biggest movie stars in the business today, and it can almost be difficult to remember that he actually got his start in hip-hop. In fact, it was his time as a rapper known as The Fresh Prince that led to the creation of his breakout role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. As his career catapulted, many of his early films, including Men in Black and Wild Wild West, were even vehicles for original rap tracks about the movies.
(Men in Black via Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group)
35. Beyoncé
Does Beyoncé even require an introduction? She first found recognition as a teenager in the best-selling girl group Destiny's Child before launching her own spectacularly successful solo career in 2002—which was also the year she starred in Austin Powers in Goldmember. Though she's primarily returned to music, she still acts occasionally, recently voicing Nala in the live-action adaptation of The Lion King.
(Austin Powers in Goldmember via New Line Cinema)
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