Musicians And Film (Part 1)

Musicians And Film (Part 1)

Every now and then people who are best known as musicians venture into the world of film. A few artists have even made the transition to find equal success in both music and movies. In this first of a two part series, we take a look at some of these infamous people as well as some actors and actresses who have dabbled in music but are better known these days for their work on the big screen!

Andre 3000

Andre 3000 a.k.a. Andre Benjamin has a hit song with “Hey Ya”. He has also ventured onto the big screen in the films “Four Brothers” (2005) and “Idlewild” (2006).

Marc Anthony

Marc Anthony is not only the singer of the hit song “I Need to Know” but he also starred in several movies including “The Substitute” (1996) and “Man on Fire” (2004).

Gene Autry

This singing cowboy was the voice behind the holiday favorites “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer” as well as “Back in the Saddle Again”. He starred in a number of movies throughout his long career including “Helldorado” (1946).

Clint Black

This artist brought us such hits as “Killin’ Time” and “The Hard Way”. Clint Black has ventured onto the big screen in the films “Maverick” (1994) and Anger Management.

David Bowie

This rock icon is the voice behind the songs “Changes” and “Jean Genie”. David Bowie has also had success in the films “Labyrinth” (1986) and “The Prestige” (2006).

Harry Connick Jr.

This crooner can be heard singing “A Wink and a Smile”. But Harry Connick Jr. has also found success in the films “Little Man Tate” (1991), “Independence Day” (1996) and “Hope Floats” (1998).

Roger Daltrey

The front man for the legendary rock band The Who has also ventured into TV and films. He appeared in the movies “The Legacy” (1978), “Mack the Knife” (1990) and “Lightning Jack” (1994) as well as the “rock opera” “Tommy” (1975).

John Denver

Best known for singing the songs “Sunshine on My Shoulder” and “Take Me Home, Country Road”, John Denver also starred in the film “Oh, God!” (1977).

Hilary Duff

This young actress has appeared on TV and in film as well as working on a singing career. She is the voice behind the songs “Our Lips are Sealed” and “Sweet Sixteen”. Duff can also be seen in the movies “Cheaper by the Dozen” (2003) and “A Cinderella Story” (2004).

Eminem

This rap artist is the voice behind the song “Lose Yourself’. Eminem also starred in the film “8 Mile” (2002).

Flea

This flamboyant member of the band Red Hot Chili Peppers has appeared in a number of films. Flea can be seen in “Back to the Future II and III” as well as “The Chase” (1994), “The Big Lebowski” (1998), “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (1998) and “Psycho” (1998).

Jamie Foxx

This Oscar winner for the movie “Ray” (2004) has also starred in Any Given Sunday and “Collateral” (2004). Jamie Foxx is also the voice behind the song “Gold Digger”.

Debbie Harry

As the front person for the band Blondie, Debbie Harry had hit singles with “Call Me” and “One Way or Another”. She has appeared in the films “Cop Land” (1997) and “Deuces Wild” (2002).

Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes is the voice behind the timeless theme song from the movie “Shaft” (1971) as well as “Hold On I’m Comin’”. He also starred in the films “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” (1993) and “Hustle and Flow” (2005).

Faith Hill

This country sweetheart has several hit songs including “Breathe”. Faith Hill has also appeared on the big screen in the 2004 movie “The Stepford Wives”.

Susanna Hoffs

As one of the four members of the all girl rock band The Bangles, Susanna Hoffs had chart topping hits with the songs “Walk Like an Egyptian” and “Eternal Flame”. Hoffs has also appeared on the big screen in the movies “The Allnighter” (1987) and as part of Austin Power’s band in the films Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and Goldmember.

Whitney Houston

The award winning Whitney Houston had hit singles with “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and “I Will Always Love You”. She starred in the films “The Bodyguard” (1992), “Waiting to Exhale” (1993) and “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996).

Mick Jagger

Mick Jagger, the front man for the Rolling Stones has starred in several films including 1970’s “Ned Kelly” and 1992’s “Freejack”.

Toby Keith

This country star sings the hits “I Love This Bar” and “Should Have Been a Cowboy”. Toby Keith also starred in the recent film “Broken Bridges” (2006).

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys has had a number of hit singles including “A Woman’s Worth”. She recently starred in the movie “Smokin’ Aces” (2007) and will co-star in the upcoming movie “The Nanny Diaries” (2007).

Anthony Kiedis

Anthony Kiedis gained worldwide fame as the front man for the band Red Hot Chili Peppers. As an actor, Kiedis has appeared in “Point Break” (1991) and “The Chase” (1994).

KISS

The legendary make-up wearing band KISS is comprised of Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. The band that brought us “Beth” and “Rock and Roll All Night” starred in the TV movie “KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park” (1978) and appeared in “Detroit Rock City” (1999).

Beyonce Knowles

Whether as a pop superstar or as a member of the group Destiny’s Child, Beyonce Knowles has had an exceptional career in music with such songs as “Crazy in Love”. She has also starred in the films Austin Powers: Goldmember and the 2006 movies “The Pink Panther” and “Dreamgirls”.

Kris Kristofferson

Most movie fans will recognize Kris Kristofferson as Whistler from the Blade trilogy and also from his roles in “Payback” (1999) and “Planet of the Apes” (2001). However Kristofferson is a legendary singer/songwriter in his own right, who was the voice behind the song “Why Me Lord” and wrote Janis Joplin’s timeless hit “Me and Bobby McGee”.

Queen Latifah

The queen of hip hop, Queen Latifah has had a number of hit singles including the song “U.N.I.T.Y.”. She has also had a successful movie career, appearing in the films Chicago for which she received an Oscar nomination, “The Bone Collector” (1999) and “Last Holiday” (2006).

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan has found success in film and music. She’s the voice behind the songs “I Decide” and “Fastlane” and has also starred in the movies “Freaky Friday” (2003), Mean Girls and “Bobby” (2006).

Jennifer Lopez

This actress and musician is the voice behind the song “Love Don’t Cost a Thing”. Jennifer Lopez has also starred in “Selena” (1997), “The Wedding Planner” (2001) and “Shall We Dance” (2004).

Courtney Love

Courtney Love is the front person for the rock bank Hole. She received critical acclaim for her work in “The People vs. Larry Flynt” (1996) and has also starred in “200 Cigarettes” (1999) and “Man on the Moon” (1999).

Tim McGraw

This country star is behind a number of hit songs including “Indian Outlaw”. In recent years Tim McGraw has also ventured into acting, appearing in the films “Friday Night Lights” (2004) and “Flicka” (2006).

Bret Michaels

Bret Michaels is best known for being the front man for the band Poison. He has appeared in the movies “A Letter from Death Row” (1998) and “No Code of Conduct” (1998).

Willie Nelson

The legendary singer of “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and “Whiskey River” has also made a foray into film. Willie Nelson starred in “Barbarosa” (1982), “Wag the Dog” (1997) and “The Dukes of Hazzard” (2005).

Ozzy Osbourne

This hard rocker had hit songs with “Changes” and “Crazy Train”. He appeared in the films “Riders of the Storm” (1986), “Trick or Treat” (1986) and had a cameo in Austin Powers: Goldmember.

Keith Richards

Mick Jagger’s songwriting partner as well as the guitarist for the Rolling Stones, hasn’t ventured much into the world of cinema. However, you can expect to see him on the big screen in 2007’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”.

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

This on screen and off screen couple starred in numerous movies including “My Pal Trigger” (1946). Dale Evans wrote the signature song “Happy Trails” and Roy Rogers also sang with The Sons of the Pioneers who were behind the songs “Cool Water” and “Tumbling Tumbleweeds”.

Henry Rollins

The front man for the bands Black Flag and the Henry Rollins Band has also had a successful career in films. Henry Rollins has starred in “Heat” (1995), “Bad Boys II” (2003) and Feast.

Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland is also a vocalist from the girl group Destiny’s Child. She appeared in the 2003 horror flick “Freddy vs. Jason”.

Frank Sinatra

“It Had to Be You” is one of Frank Sinatra’s trademark songs. This member of the Rat Pack won a best supporting actor Academy Award for “From Here to Eternity” (1953) and also starred in “The Man with the Golden Arm” (1955) and 1960’s “Ocean’s 11”.

Smashmouth

This band had a world wide hit with the song “All Star”. They appeared as themselves in the concert sequence at the end of the film “Rat Race” (2001).

Will Smith

Will Smith has had a number of musical hits such as “Parents Just Don’t Understand”. But this two time Oscar nominee has found success in such films as “Men in Black” (1997), “Ali” (2001) and the Pursuit of Happyness.

Sting

This solo artist and member of the rock band The Police is the voice behind the hit songs “Every Breath You Take” and “Message in a Bottle”. Sting has starred in 1984’s “Dune” and 1985’s “The Bride”.

Barbra Streisand

Although we may think of her song “The Way We Were” when Barbra Streisand’s name is mentioned, she is an accomplished actress and director. After winning the Oscar for best actress for “Funny Girl” (1968), Streisand has starred in the dramatic “Prince of Tides” (1991) and the blockbuster comedy “Meet the Fockers” (2004).

Donnie Wahlberg

Donnie Wahlberg started out his music career as a member of the boy band New Kids on the Block. These days you can find him “Ransom” (1996), “The Sixth Sense” (1999) and “Saw II” (2005).

Mark Wahlberg

Donnie’s younger brother Mark Wahlberg started his singing career with the Funky Bunch. Today, this Oscar nominee can be seen in the films “Boogie Nights” (1997), “The Perfect Storm” (2000) and “The Departed” (2006).

Vanessa Williams

This former Miss America found success on the music charts with hits like “Save the Best for Last”. Vanessa Williams has also starred in “Eraser” (1996), “Shaft” (2000) and “Johnson Family Vacation” (2004).

Dwight Yoakam

Before becoming a regular in films, Dwight Yoakam had hit songs with “Guitars, Cadillacs” and “Long White Cadillac”. He has starred in the films “Sling Blade” (1996), “Panic Room” (2002), Wedding Crashers and “Crank” (2006).

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