You already might know that many actors and actresses started their careers as musicians, some were doing good but preferred to switch to acting, and others preferred to do both. Yet, some are better in their music careers than filming! Let’s find out…
The well-known action Hollywood star is known for his love for blues. Willis has released three albums already and got a good critical reception as well as guest appearances in many soundtracks, but the most highlighted one was in 2008 ‘Free Willis’, which was featured in Blues Traveler ’s album, North Hollywood Shootout . Since 2015, Willis has not released new music albums, focusing instead on his acting career until his retirement in 2022 due to health issues.
It’s widely known about Depp that he is a very good guitarist and has performed with many rock icons on stage. For recordings, he played slide guitar in ‘Fade In-Out’ by Oasis in their album Be Here Now and ‘I Put a Spell on You’ by Shane MacGowan and many else. Also he was a member of the short-lived alternative rock band, P as the band released only a self-titled album. Since 2015, Depp has been active with the supergroup Hollywood Vampires, releasing their self-titled debut album in 2015 and Rise in 2019. As of 2025, the band has teased new developments, including a refreshed website in November 2025, though no new studio album has been confirmed yet.
Away from the legendary Eastwood film production and giant acting career, he was also fond of jazz, blues and classic R&B in addition to that, his love to play piano and composing many scores for films like; Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Flags of Our Fathers, Grace Is Gone, Changeling and many else. As well as many piano original compositions such as: In the Line of Fire . Eastwood have received many international music awards and awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the Berklee College of Music at the Monterey Jazz Festival . Since 2015, Eastwood continued composing film scores, including for American Sniper (2015) and Sully (2016), though his more recent directorial works like Cry Macho (2021) and Juror #2 (2024) featured scores by others.
He has two albums, which I am really in love with. He sings and plays piano, guitar, drums, harmonica and saxophone. His debut album Let Them Talk was strictly a blues album but he preferred to have his second one Didn’t It Rain to vary from R&B, blues, and jazz and tango styles. As of 2025, Laurie has not released additional studio albums beyond these two, focusing more on acting and other projects.
Sir Christopher Lee is the legendary film star that has a huge resume with notable works since mid-40s. In the 70s and Lee started to get involved with music industry as Guest appearances like: The Wicker Man soundtrack, The Rocky Horror Show and Manowar‘s eleventh studio album Battle Hymns MMXI in addition to that he released 4 albums, 3 EPs, 3 singles and several works with Rhapsody of Fire (formerly Rhapsody ). In 2010 He was honoured with the “Spirit of Metal” award within the Metal Hammer Golden God awards ceremony. Following his passing in 2015, no posthumous music releases have been issued, with his final works including the EP Metal Knight (2014).
It’s surprising that not many know that he is 30 Seconds to Mars lead singer, aside from being a good singer, he is also a songwriter and director, as well as playing guitars, bass guitar, piano and keyboards. Since 2015, the band has released two more studio albums: America (2018) and It’s the End of the World but It’s a Beautiful Day (2023).
Crowe started his singing career earlier than filming. In the 80s, he recorded ‘I Want To Be Like Marlon Brando’ and in the same era, he formed a band called Roman Antix , which later in the 90s evolved into the Australian rock band Odd Foot of Grunts (TOFOG), but disbanded in 2005. However, in the same year, he formed a band Russell Crowe & The Ordinary Fear of God that includes some members of his previous musical group and still active till now. Post-2005, Crowe has continued performing with various ensembles, including The Indoor Garden Party, but no major new studio albums have been released as of 2025, with his focus shifting more to acting and directing.
Believe me when I tell you that some don’t know that he is a musician even! In 1994 Jack Black and Kyle Gass formed the comedy rock band Tenacious D , they released 3 albums and got an international fame especially after their film The Pick of Destiny in 2006. The movie featured rock icons like Ronnie James Dio , Meat Loaf and Dave Grohl. Since 2006, Tenacious D has released additional albums including Rize of the Fenix (2012) and Post-Apocalypto (2018).
It may surprise you that the Iron Man sings, plays piano and keyboards. Downey sung in several soundtracks in his films. In 2004, he released an album called The Futurist , which nailed fine critical reviews by AllMusic , USA Today and Barnes & Nobles, the albums was mainly jazz and folk styles. As of 2025, Downey has not released new studio albums beyond The Futurist, though he has performed songs in films and events.
In the early 90s he started playing bass guitar with the grunge band, Dogstar . They released one EP and two albums and disbanded by 2002. The band reunited in 2020 and released their third studio album, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees, in 2023.
Come-on! Even if he is a hip-hop artist we cannot deny that he played an extraordinary role in the bibliographic film for the legendary Ray Charles . Foxx is really unique about his choices even in the hip-hop works, really, hard to call it cheap or commercial! Since 2015, Foxx released Hollywood: A Story of a Dozen Roses (2015) and, in 2025, Jamie Foxx Unleashed: Lost, Stolen and Leaked!
Actually, Ryan is from the rock duo band Dead Man’s Bones. The band have released a self-titled album in 2009 and the album was in collaboration with the Silverlake Conservatory Children’s Choir – which was co-founded in 2001 by the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. As of 2025, no additional albums have been released by Dead Man’s Bones, though Gosling has performed music in films like La La Land (2016) and Barbie (2023).
As she managed to start her cinematic career at a very young age, she is also into making sound tracks as she did for films like: Elf, Yes Man, (500) Days of Summer , besides appearance in many albums for artists and bands, the latest was in FALLINLOVE2NITE by Prince. With She & Him, Deschanel has released additional albums since 2013, including Classics (2014), Christmas Party (2016), and Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson (2022).
With a quite long film career since early the 70s, he formed a band with his brother and called it The Bacon Brothers. The band plays country and folk rock since mid-90s till now, and released 8 albums. Since 2015, The Bacon Brothers have released more albums, including a self-titled one in 2018, The Way We Love (2020), and Ballad Of The Brothers (2024).
Michael is the singer and guitarist of the alternative-grunge band Pagoda . The band released one demo and two albums. As of 2025, Pagoda has not released new albums beyond their self-titled debut (2007) and Rebirth (intended for 2009 but limited info on full release), with Pitt focusing on acting and other projects.
- Oh! You didn’t find your favorite Hollywood star in the music business? Maybe you can find it in part two soon…
