Actors Who Are Also Talented Musicians

Some performers are just as comfortable with a microphone, guitar, piano or drum kit as they are in front of a camera. These actors are best known for their work in film and television, but their musical careers show another side of their creativity. From alternative rock and metal to bluegrass, jazz, folk and synth-pop, these stars prove that their talents extend far beyond acting.

Here are well-known actors who have also made music, joined bands, released albums or performed on stage as serious musicians.

Keanu Reeves

Birthdate: Sept. 2, 1964

Bands: Dogstar

Bottom Line: Keanu Reeves

Best known for blockbuster roles in “John Wick” and “The Matrix,” Keanu Reeves has also built a genuine music career as the bassist for Dogstar. The alternative rock band formed in the early 1990s and featured Reeves on bass, Robert Mailhouse on drums and Gregg Miller on lead vocals and guitar.

Dogstar developed a loyal following and released two albums: “Our Little Visionary” in 1996 and “Happy Ending” in 2000. After stepping away from music for many years, the band returned in 2023 with “Somewhere Between the Power Lines and the Palm Trees,” giving longtime fans a fresh reminder that Reeves’ artistic range goes well beyond acting.

Ryan Gosling

Birthdate: Nov. 12, 1980

Bands: Dead Man’s Bones

Bottom Line: Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling impressed audiences with his performance as Ken in “Barbie,” especially with the song “I’m Just Ken,” which reached No. 5 on Billboard’s Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. Long before that, however, Gosling had already shown his musical ability as a young performer on Disney Channel’s “The Mickey Mouse Club,” where singing and dancing were part of the job.

In 2009, Gosling released a much darker and more atmospheric album with his friend Zach Shields under the name Dead Man’s Bones. Their self-titled record blended gothic folk, lo-fi textures and haunting arrangements, with help from the children’s choir of Los Angeles’ Silverlake Conservatory. The album remains the band’s only release so far, but it stands as one of the more distinctive actor-led music projects.

Joe Pesci

Birthdate: Feb. 9, 1943

Bands: Joey Dee and the Starliters

Bottom Line: Joe Pesci

Joe Pesci is famous for tough, unforgettable roles in “Goodfellas,” “Raging Bull,” “Casino” and “The Irishman,” but music was one of his earliest passions. Pesci played guitar for Joey Dee and the Starliters, the group known for the 1961 hit “Peppermint Twist.” Jimi Hendrix also played guitar with the band at a different point in its history.

After his time with the Starliters, Pesci recorded as a solo artist under the name Joe Ritchie. His debut album, “Little Joe Sure Can Sing!,” was released in 1968. He later focused on acting for decades before returning to music with “Vincent Laguardia Gambini Sings Just for You,” inspired by his character from “My Cousin Vinny.” His later album, “Pesci… Still Singing,” was released in 2019.

Jason Schwartzman

Birthdate: June 26, 1980

Bands: Phantom Planet

Bottom Line: Jason Schwartzman

Jason Schwartzman is closely associated with Wes Anderson films, including “Asteroid City,” “The French Dispatch,” “The Darjeeling Limited,” “Moonrise Kingdom” and “Rushmore.” But before many viewers knew him as an actor, he was also active in music.

Schwartzman was the original drummer for Phantom Planet, the band best known for “California,” which became the theme song for “The O.C.” He later released solo music under the name Coconut Records. His 2007 album “Nighttiming” included guest appearances from Zooey Deschanel and Kirsten Dunst. In addition to performing, Schwartzman has also composed music for film projects.

Jared Leto

Birthdate: Dec. 26, 1971

Bands: Thirty Seconds to Mars

Bottom Line: Jared Leto

Jared Leto is one of the most commercially successful actor-musicians. He formed Thirty Seconds to Mars with his brother Shannon Leto in 1998 and became the band’s frontman.

The group’s second album, “A Beautiful Lie,” sold 5 million copies and helped establish Thirty Seconds to Mars as a major alternative rock act. The band continued to find success on the alternative charts, and its album “It’s the End of the World but It’s a Beautiful Day” was set for release in September 2023.

Jada Pinkett Smith

Birthdate: Sept. 18, 1971

Bands: Wicked Wisdom

Bottom Line: Jada Pinkett Smith

Will Smith’s music career with DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince is widely known, but Jada Pinkett Smith also has a strong musical background. She was the lead singer of Wicked Wisdom, a metal band founded in 2002.

Wicked Wisdom combined elements of nu-metal and alternative metal, and the band’s powerful performances helped it earn appearances at major music festivals and on tours. In 2021, Wicked Wisdom reunited for a Mother’s Day episode of “Red Table Talk,” with Willow Smith, Jada’s daughter, taking lead vocals.

Maya Rudolph

Birthdate: July 27, 1972

Bands: The Rentals

Bottom Line: Maya Rudolph

Maya Rudolph comes from a musical family. Her mother was Minnie Riperton, the singer behind the 1975 hit “Lovin’ You.” Although Rudolph became famous through comedy and “Saturday Night Live,” music has remained an important part of her creative life.

In the 1990s, Rudolph was a member of The Rentals, an alternative band started by one of the members of Weezer. She later became one of the vocalists for Princess, a Prince tribute band, showing that her musical interests are just as lively and varied as her comedy career.

Zooey Deschanel

Birthdate: Jan. 17, 1980

Bands: She & Him

Bottom Line: Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel’s music career is a major part of her public identity. In 2006, she teamed up with M. Ward to form the folk duo She & Him. Their sound is known for warm melodies, vintage-inspired arrangements and Deschanel’s soulful, offbeat vocal style.

In addition to original albums, She & Him released several Christmas records and “Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson” in 2022. Deschanel’s music has helped define her as more than an actress, making her one of the most recognizable actor-musicians of her generation.

Kevin Bacon

Birthdate: July 8, 1958

Bands: The Bacon Brothers

Bottom Line: Kevin Bacon

Kevin Bacon formed the folk-rock band The Bacon Brothers with his brother Michael in the mid-1990s. While Kevin is best known for acting, the band has been an ongoing musical outlet for both brothers.

Their album “Erato” was released in 2022. Proceeds from their single “Philly Thing” supported Rock to the Future, a nonprofit organization that provides student-driven music programs for children in Philadelphia.

Scarlett Johansson

Birthdate: Nov. 22, 1984

Bands: Pete Yorn, solo artist

Bottom Line: Scarlett Johansson

Before becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Scarlett Johansson trained as a singer. She released her debut album, “Anywhere I Lay My Head,” in 2008. The record featured mostly her interpretations of songs by Tom Waits.

Johansson followed that with “Break Up,” a 2009 collaboration with indie musician Pete Yorn that explored love and heartbreak. In 2015, she formed an all-girl, new wave-inspired band called The Singles. Because another band already used that name, the project later changed its name and reformed as Sugar for Sugar with a similar sound.

Michael Shannon

Birthdate: Aug. 7, 1974

Bands: Corporal

Bottom Line: Michael Shannon

Michael Shannon is known for playing intense characters, including real-life musicians Conway Twitty and Kim Fowley. Fowley was also the manager of The Runaways. Shannon did not need to look far for musical inspiration, because he is a musician himself.

In 2002, Shannon formed the alternative band Corporal, which released its self-titled debut album in 2010. He also periodically gathers musicians to perform full albums live. His set lists have included The Smiths’ “The Queen Is Dead,” David Bowie’s “Scary Monsters” and R.E.M.’s “Murmur.”

Steve Martin

Birthdate: Aug. 14, 1945

Bands: Steep Canyon Rangers

Bottom Line: Steve Martin

Steve Martin often used the banjo in his comedy, but his musicianship is far more than a comic prop. The “Only Murders in the Building” actor and legendary comedian is an accomplished banjo player with major recognition in bluegrass and roots music.

Martin has won five Grammy Awards, including Best Bluegrass Album in 2010 for “The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo” and Best American Roots Song for the 2013 track “Love Has Come for You,” recorded with Edie Brickell and the Steep Canyon Rangers. In 2010, he created the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass, an annual award with a $50,000 prize.

Fred Armisen

Birthdate: Dec. 4, 1966

Bands: Trenchmouth

Bottom Line: Fred Armisen

Fred Armisen often displayed his musical skills during his time on “Saturday Night Live,” but his music background predates much of his comedy fame. He co-founded the post-punk band Trenchmouth and has continued to blend music and comedy throughout his career.

Armisen also created the fictional 1970s yacht rock band Blue Jean Committee with Bill Hader for “Documentary Now.” He frequently demonstrates his drumming and musical knowledge on talk shows, and in 2018 he released the Netflix special “Standup for Drummers,” a comedy performance centered on musicianship.

Jeff Goldblum

Birthdate: Oct. 22, 1952

Bands: Jeff Goldblum & the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra

Bottom Line: Jeff Goldblum

Jeff Goldblum, known for films such as “Jurassic Park,” “The Fly” and “Independence Day,” is also the leader of a jazz group called Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra.

Goldblum performs on piano and is known for improvising, interacting with bandmates and engaging the audience during shows. The group has also appeared on late-night television and toured in the United States, giving fans another way to experience Goldblum’s distinctive personality and creative style.

Ricky Gervais

Birthdate: June 25, 1961

Bands: Seona Dancing

Bottom Line: Ricky Gervais

Before Ricky Gervais became famous for comedy and television, he was the lead vocalist of the new wave band Seona Dancing in the 1980s. His vocal performance was polished, and the band’s synth-pop style reflected the sound of the era.

Seona Dancing released several singles, including “More to Lose” and “Bitter Heart.” The group found an audience in the Philippines but did not achieve major commercial success elsewhere. Even so, Gervais’ early music career remains a fascinating chapter in the life of one of television’s most recognizable comedians.