Top Musicians Turned Actors on Satellite TV
For anyone who has ever seen Glitter, it's pretty obvious that any musician or singer turned actor runs the risk of setting him or herself up for a great big flop. Recovering from a career move like that can find one banished from HD TVs around the globe. Once in a while, the worlds of cinema and music collide, forming a respectful bond, and allowing for great things to happen on the screen. The occasional singer turned actor, that does it well, might not be quite so rare as everyone thinks. Setting the record straight, here are some of the top singer to actor transitions, or at least trysts, to catch on your satellite TV movie channels this year.
There's nothing like taking country music and translating it to the screen. At least that's what classic country artist Dwight Yoakam figured when he was making hits like The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005), Panic Room (2002), Four Christmases (2008), Wedding Crashers (2005), and The Last Rites of Ransom Pride (2009). That's a pretty impressive list, but then again, country does have that ballad story-telling style to it anyway.
Ruling the 1980s, David Bowie also made his mark on the 2000s and the 1990s with films like The Prestige (2006), Labyrinth (1986), Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983), and Basquiat (1996). Hailed for a fantastic performance in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, it's too bad most of the world only remembers him from the puppet heavy, dark children's classic Labyrinth- all though it is an all time personal favorite and satellite TV 80s classic. Taking his gritty style up a notch, Tom Waits has made some stellar appearances himself in movies like The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)- a high definition spectacle for the soul and must-see on the big screen, Coffee and Cigarettes (2003), and Dracula (1992).
Ruling the worlds of rap and hip hop, the world has Queen Latifah, making her mark on many modern movies, and musicals, with titles like Valentine's Day (2010), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), Hairspray (2007), Stranger than Fiction (2006), and Chicago (2002) to her credit. Likewise, not so successful rapper Will Smith went on to star in Hollywood hits like I am Legend (2007), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), Ali (2001), Men in Black (1997), Independence Day (1996), and who could forget The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (1990-1996) his break-through television series. A little less on the mainstream side, Mos Def has lent his talents to some great films and shows like Be Kind Rewind (2008), Chappelle's Show (2003-2006), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), The Italian Job (2003), Monster's Ball (2001), and Bamboozled (2000) a provocative Spike Lee film worth watching.
On to Caucasian cross-over rappers, Eminem proved he could do it with 8 Mile (2002), and Mark Wahlberg has had more than a little success in acting with films like The Lovely Bones (2009), The Departed (2006), Four Brothers (2005), I Heart Huckabees (2004), The Italian Job (2003), and Boogie Nights (1997). Not exactly a rapper, but Meat Loaf gets in there too with roles in Fight Club (1999), and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).
Kicking it old school are some classic singer turned actors like Cher in Tea with Mussolini (1999), Moonstruck (1987), and Mermaids (1990), Frank Sinatra in From Here to Eternity, The Manchurian Candidate, On the Town, and Ocean's 11, and Barbara Streisand in Meet the Fockers (2004), The Prince of Tides (1991), The Way We Were (1973), Hello, Dolly! (1969), and Funny Girl (1968).
There's nothing like taking country music and translating it to the screen. At least that's what classic country artist Dwight Yoakam figured when he was making hits like The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005), Panic Room (2002), Four Christmases (2008), Wedding Crashers (2005), and The Last Rites of Ransom Pride (2009). That's a pretty impressive list, but then again, country does have that ballad story-telling style to it anyway.
Ruling the 1980s, David Bowie also made his mark on the 2000s and the 1990s with films like The Prestige (2006), Labyrinth (1986), Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (1983), and Basquiat (1996). Hailed for a fantastic performance in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, it's too bad most of the world only remembers him from the puppet heavy, dark children's classic Labyrinth- all though it is an all time personal favorite and satellite TV 80s classic. Taking his gritty style up a notch, Tom Waits has made some stellar appearances himself in movies like The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)- a high definition spectacle for the soul and must-see on the big screen, Coffee and Cigarettes (2003), and Dracula (1992).
Ruling the worlds of rap and hip hop, the world has Queen Latifah, making her mark on many modern movies, and musicals, with titles like Valentine's Day (2010), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), Hairspray (2007), Stranger than Fiction (2006), and Chicago (2002) to her credit. Likewise, not so successful rapper Will Smith went on to star in Hollywood hits like I am Legend (2007), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), Ali (2001), Men in Black (1997), Independence Day (1996), and who could forget The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (1990-1996) his break-through television series. A little less on the mainstream side, Mos Def has lent his talents to some great films and shows like Be Kind Rewind (2008), Chappelle's Show (2003-2006), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), The Italian Job (2003), Monster's Ball (2001), and Bamboozled (2000) a provocative Spike Lee film worth watching.
On to Caucasian cross-over rappers, Eminem proved he could do it with 8 Mile (2002), and Mark Wahlberg has had more than a little success in acting with films like The Lovely Bones (2009), The Departed (2006), Four Brothers (2005), I Heart Huckabees (2004), The Italian Job (2003), and Boogie Nights (1997). Not exactly a rapper, but Meat Loaf gets in there too with roles in Fight Club (1999), and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975).
Kicking it old school are some classic singer turned actors like Cher in Tea with Mussolini (1999), Moonstruck (1987), and Mermaids (1990), Frank Sinatra in From Here to Eternity, The Manchurian Candidate, On the Town, and Ocean's 11, and Barbara Streisand in Meet the Fockers (2004), The Prince of Tides (1991), The Way We Were (1973), Hello, Dolly! (1969), and Funny Girl (1968).
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