Musicians-turned-actors of the '80s
Last month, we lampooned "Actors Turned Musicians of the '80s." And thanks largely to the one-two sucker-punch of Michael J. Fox and Crispin Glover, there was was much rejoicing and frivolity. So much in fact, we decided a sequel was needed.
So now we bring you ... "Musicians Turned Actors of the '80s." (Pause for appreciative gasp from readers who are suddenly now just seeing the genius in all of this.)
Oh, there are plenty of choose from, but as always, we want YOUR PICKS for the best and worst musicians-turned-actors of the '80s. There's one big guideline to follow: Though the musician doesn't have to be exclusively an '80s one, the acting work needs to have occurred in the '80s.
Here are a couple names to get the brain cells moving again:
BRAVO!!: David Bowie comes to mind first. Absolute Beginners, Labyrinth, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, The Hunger, The Last Temptation of Christ. Bowie had it going ON in the '80s.
GRAB A TOMATO: Poor Neil Diamond. Great performer, but nearly unwatchable in The Jazz Singer. (And yet, I watch it every time it's on TV. So who's the bigger loser? ... Please don't answer.)
ON THE FENCE: Rick Springfield! Yes, he was just a teen singer from Australia at one point in time. That all changed in the '80s. But General Hospital and Hard To Hold? Thankfully he's a semi-handsome guy, right?
DON'T EVEN MENTION...: You want to scream Madonna at me, don't you? You're just going for the cheap reaction. Well, it doesn't get much cheaper than Shanghai Surprise, Who's That Girl and even the somewhat dreadful Desperately Seeking Susan. (Best ... Will Patton ... movie ... ever!)
OK, so start firing off your nominees -- good, bad or Madonna-esque. We'll be back in a few weeks with a killer podcast on the subject.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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Was Rex SMith mentioned? And would he qualify? I have no idea what he was first: Actor to singer; or singer to actor. I realize his start was in the 70's, but he carried over into the 80's.
Posted by: Marissa | January 13, 2009 at 06:49 PM
I second the Deborah Harry mention. She was also in the awesome, visionary, freaked-out, Cronenberg ca-lassic Videodrome.
Spearsy, didn't we already cover this topic?
Posted by: Kevy Metal | January 13, 2009 at 05:38 PM
Debra, Disorderlies is a great movie, and can I borrow your Fat Boys cassette? I would throw that in my boom box and show my old school break dancing moves.
Posted by: Neil | January 13, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Yep, I do. Sorry OldSchool.
Posted by: Dr. Dim | January 13, 2009 at 02:34 PM
Damn, Dr. Dim, yep you do!
Posted by: OldSchool | January 13, 2009 at 01:45 PM
OldSchool - Fat Boys also starred in their own vehicle called "Disorderlies" (I actually have the soundtrack on cassette...still - sad, I know).
Posted by: Debra | January 13, 2009 at 01:04 PM
OldSchool, I hate to seem snarky, but I just can't help it. Half your list was already posted by me. The Wiz is from 1979. And Barbara Streisand's acting career started in the '60's!
I'm sorry to be so snippy and I sure hope more do come to your mind. That haven't already been listed, that is.
Damn! Again I apologize. I sound like such a jerk.
Posted by: Dr. Dim | January 13, 2009 at 11:10 AM
I think most of these have been metioned, but I have to go with:
Prince - Purple Rain, Under the Cherry Moon
Morris Day - Purple Rain
Sting - Dune
Phil Collins - Buster
Cher - Moonstruck, Mask
Michael Jackson - The Wiz
Dolly Parton - 9 to 5
Run DMC, Fat Boys, Shelia E & Kurtis Blow - Krush Groove
Barbara Streisand - Yentl, etc.
Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway - The Blues Brothers (yeah, this one is a stretch)
I am sure more will come to mind later...
Posted by: OldSchool | January 13, 2009 at 09:05 AM
I think I'm gonna have to go with Cher overall - I think she was a better actor than singer anyway.
Posted by: Debra | January 13, 2009 at 08:48 AM
Flea's a good one Marissa. I'd forgotten about him in BTTF. Anthony Kiedis was also in Point Break, but that was post-80s.
We've almost forgotten Susanna Hoffs in The Allnighter.
Steve's favorite, Bryan Adams was in Pink Cadillac.
And I just had a duh moment, hello -- Janet Jackson!
Posted by: 80sfan | January 13, 2009 at 08:22 AM
I'm drawing a blank. How sad. Oscar Winning CHER! Sheesh, with the outfit she wore to the Academy Awards, how could that have slipped my mind?
Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers was in "Back to the Future III" and I've seen him in other bit roles. Was he an actor before he got all freaky with RHC?
Posted by: Marissa | January 13, 2009 at 08:02 AM
Rupert Everett who turned actor started out singing in the 80s check out "Generation Of Loneliness".
Also
Ricky Gervais was in Seona Dancing.
Posted by: Dj Wave | January 13, 2009 at 07:53 AM
Unfortunately we are focusing on just those who acted in the 80s, otherwise Jon Bon Jovi would make the list.
I am surprised no one has mentioned Huey Lewis in Back to the Future or Deborah Harry in Hairspray.
And is there no denying that Cher is the best musician turned actor?
Posted by: 80sfan | January 13, 2009 at 07:19 AM
Dbuggd, I'm not a fan of Sting's acting either, but he was fantastic in a movie called "Stormy Monday" (1988). He played a jazz club owner that Tommy Lee Jones was trying to muscle in on. Sean Bean and Melanie Griffith were in the movie too.
Posted by: Bassnote | January 12, 2009 at 11:23 PM
I watched Meat Loaf on biography yesterday and he did a lot more movies than I thought he did.
Posted by: SpecialK | January 12, 2009 at 07:26 PM
by the way, joe strummer did a few movies in the 80s. john doe from x was been in a ton of movies including salvadore and road house.
Posted by: don in tulsa | January 12, 2009 at 07:09 PM
dammit bassnote, you beat me to lee ving.
Posted by: don in tulsa | January 12, 2009 at 07:06 PM
gene simmons of KISS, he did quite a few movies back in the 80s(runaway, never too young to die, wanted dead or alive, trick or treat). he even did some tv. he was on the first episode of season two of chase's fav show, miami vice.
Posted by: CHAD | January 12, 2009 at 06:39 PM
How 'bout Sting in Dune? Or Sting in The Bride with Jennifer Beals? I love Sting, but not a fan of his acting.
However, he was good in Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels.... but that wasn't an 80s movie.
Posted by: Dbuggd | January 12, 2009 at 06:09 PM
Spearsy,
Re: Rick, your spell-check must be broken, that's mega-handsome, right?
Did anybody see Peter Gabriel at The Golden Globes last night? He looked so sour that he lost out to The Boss.
Posted by: Cat | January 12, 2009 at 05:13 PM
So are we talking significant roles in movies, one-liners, cameos, or does anything go for this list?
Posted by: Debra | January 12, 2009 at 05:04 PM
Marilyn Chambers turned.....
Traci Lords turned.....
(darn I miss the 80's)
Zeka turned...
sorry wrong blog....I thought I was commenting about 80's porn stars turned movie star
my bad,
MinA
Posted by: | January 12, 2009 at 04:58 PM
Michael Jackson and Diana Ross were both in the movie version of "The Wiz." Lee Ving from the band Fear has been in dozens of movies including "Streets Of Fire" and "Clue". Phil Collins also had a cameo roll in Steven Speilberg's "Hook." Let's not forget the lovely E.G. (Elizabeth) Daily was in "Valley Girl" and also "Streets Of Fire."
Posted by: Bassnote | January 12, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Let's not forget 80's one-hit wonder Billy Vera, and his epic turn as "Pinky Caruthers" in "Buckaroo Banzai".
Memorable (and possibly only) line: "Sorry, John. Everybody 'need see' Buckaroo. Later."
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | January 12, 2009 at 04:50 PM
I am going to say Michael Jackson as Captain EO. I loved that ride, and Jackson was a pretty decent actor from what I can recall. I also liked Devo in the movie "Human Highway", also starring Neil Young. Devo does a great job of desposing of nuclear waste.
Posted by: Neil | January 12, 2009 at 04:47 PM
The Ramones?
Rock and Roll High School?
Sir Bob Geldoff, played Pink in The Wall
Posted by: crocket | January 12, 2009 at 04:46 PM
Ok, here's a few...
Prince - 'Purple Rain', 'Under a Cherry Moon'
Morris Day - 'Purple Rain', episode of '227'
Joan Jett - 'Light of Day'
Cher - 'Silkwood', 'Mask', Moonstruck'
Tom Waits - 'The Outsiders', 'Rumble Fish', 'Iron Weed'
Just for Sean, who loves this guy...
Phil Collins - 'Maimi Vice', 'Buster'
I also would have socked Sean with the Kemp brother of Spandau Ballet, but 'The Krays' came out in 1990. Damn!
Posted by: Dr. Dim | January 12, 2009 at 04:45 PM
Who doesn't like Morris Day?
Mentioning Broad Street reminds me of Tracy Ullman. Was she known as an actress before that "They Don't Know" song?
Dolly Parton.
Posted by: Walter Cox | January 12, 2009 at 04:42 PM
I'm not sure what he was first, musician or actor, but I thought it is worth mentioning Bill Paxton. His band Martini Ranch made one album and an amusing western-themed video for the single "Reach" (directed by James "I'm on top of the World!" Cameron).
Posted by: Kevy Metal | January 12, 2009 at 04:33 PM
One actor turned musician was Bruce Willis, glad he went back to acting.
And I almost forgot about Eddie Murphy and his Party All the Time. Stick with 48 Hours, Eddie.
A musician turned actor, HMMMM! What about Sir Paul McCartney in Give My Regards to Broad Street. Good album, horrible film.
Posted by: sparky | January 12, 2009 at 04:29 PM