Fame and fortune is fleeting in Hollywood, but skill and talent lasts forever. Just ask the actors who’ve made a mark on the silver screen and also have the gift of music. A-listers like Keanu Reeves, Hugh Laurie, Johnny Depp and a few others have managed to make some time to pursue their love for music. Some of these names won’t surprise you, but others totally will.
There are only a few actors as beloved as Keanu Reeves. Despite his heavy action roles in movies like John Wick, Speed, and The Matrix, Reeves has maintained his charming persona, one that’s wooed the hearts of millions worldwide. But that’s not the only reason he’s famous. As it turns out, Reeves has carried around a lot of rockstar appeal, thanks to his moonlighting as a bassist in the alternative rock band, Dogstar, from 1991 to 2002. During this time, the band released two albums and an EP and even performed opening acts for shows of legendary musicians like Bon Jovi and David Bowie. The band also appeared in movies like Ellie Parker and Me & Will. Although Reeves has left the band, he still meets the team for little jam sessions whenever he can!
Best known for his television series House, James Hugh Calum Laurie became a popular name in the 2000s. On his way to establishing a successful career in the industry, he joined a group called Band from TV. This charity cover band exclusively features actors from American television, such as Bob Guiney, Jesse Spencer, Greg Grunberg, James Denton, Adrian Pasdar, Scott Grimes, and Teri Hatcher. As a part of this group, Laurie sang and played the keyboard. He also excelled in his solo musical career, releasing two Blues albums, Let Them Talk and Didn’t It Rain.
Perhaps everyone who has watched Jack Black’s brand of comedy has had a good time laughing. But the actor is more entertaining than you may think! Besides his hilarious work in movies like The Holiday and Jumanji, Black has maintained a strong musical presence as the lead vocalist of Tenacious D. He formed the Emmy-winning band back in 1994 with his best friend Kyle Grass.
Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are some of Johnny Depp’s biggest hits that brought him fame. But Depp was not always an actor. Before making a name in Hollywood, he was a musician, playing for bands like The Kids and Rock City Angels. After joining the movie industry, he continued to hone his musical side. Over the years, Depp has played sessions as a guitarist and formed the band Hollywood Vamp
ires with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry. He has also continued collaborating with artists like Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Marilyn Manson, Shane MacGowan, Jeff Beck and bands like Oasis and Aerosmith.
Russell Crowe made his name in Hollywood with movies like The Insider, Les Miserables, A Beautiful Mind, Romper Stomper, and The Gladiator. These movies won him several accolades, including an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, and a British Academy Film Award. Throughout his extremely busy and successful film career, Crowe didn’t leave his music. He has composed and performed alongside talented artists in multiple bands, starting with Roman Antix, which he co-founded with a friend. This rock band later evolved into 30 Odd Foot of Grunts (TOFOG) and then The Ordinary Fear of God, retaining its acronym. Indoor Garden Party is Crowe’s latest band, in which he’s currently more active. His most notable pieces over the years include I Just Wanna Be Like Marlon Brando, Raewyn, and My Hand, My Heart.
Juliette Lewis has been Hollywood’s “it girl” since the 90s. Her portrayal of offbeat characters in generally heavy films makes her a genius actor. Lewis’s talent has extended on the stage as well, where she has been a part of a band called Juliette and the Licks. The band was first active from 2003 to 2009, when it released two albums, You’re Speaking My Language and Four On The Floor, and an EP called …Like a Bolt of Lightning. When the band broke up in 2009, Lewis kickstarted her solo music career, with the album Terra Incognita. Rumor has it that the band is getting back together and working on a new album, so watch out for some fun new rock music coming your way!
Although Christopher Keith Irvine (better known as Chris Jericho or C-Man) made his career as a wrestler on WWE and the like, his prowess isn’t limited to the ring. Apart from being one of the best wrestlers of his time, Jericho has appeared in movies like Android Apocalypse, Albino Farm, and Nine Legends. Quite in line with his on-screen appearances, Jericho is also a power to be reckoned with on stage, where he moonlights as the lead singer of the metal band Fozzy.
Best known for her roles in the movies Idiocracy, Bridesmaids, Grown Ups, and Sisters and television shows like The Good Place, Maya Rudolph is a brilliant comedian and actor. Staying true to her roots (as the daughter of singer Minnie Ripperton and composer Richard Rudolph), she also has a lot of musical talent, a fact that was noticeable to all when she played keyboard and sang for the band The Rentals in the 90s. Over the years, though, her work as an actor has taken precedence over her singing career.
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