4 Famous Actors Who Moonlight as Musicians

Famous actors might be best known for their work on the screen and stage, but some of the biggest names out there have also tried their hand at producing music. And a few actors out there are actually quite talented as musicians. Let’s look at just a few examples of actors who moonlight as musicians!

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Russell Crowe

Famed actor Russell Crowe has been making music for quite some time. In fact, he was a musician before he was an actor. Crowe was part of the Australian band 30 Odd Foot Of Grunts in the 1990s. The band later evolved into Russell Crowe & The Ordinary Fear Of God, which had some success in the States. He would later form Indoor Garden Party, and recently released a song with Italian musician Zucchero. 

Kevin Bacon

This one warms my heart. I love to see siblings make music together. Kevin Bacon, though, isn’t exactly known for making music. Rather, he’s known for being one of the most prolific actors of his generation via roles in movies like Footloose and Diner. In the mid-1990s, Bacon formed the country rock band The Bacon Brothers with his bro Michael Bacon. Their music is quite good, and it makes sense that they are still producing music and performing live today.

Keanu Reeves

This is probably the most famous example of an actor-turned-musician on this list. And Keanu Reeves is quite a talented musician, in addition to being a legendary actor in film franchises like The Matrix and John Wick. Reeves’ band Dogstar formed back in the early 1990s, and they’ve since gotten back together in the 2020s. I love to see it; this alt-rock outfit is fantastic.

Jenny Lewis

Remember Jenny Lewis? This entry on our list of actors who opted for careers as musicians is best known for her roles in hit films like The Wizard and Troop Beverly Hills, as well as the series Pleasantville. After her time in Hollywood, Lewis went on to form the band Rilo Kiley with fellow child star Blake Sennett, who you might know from Boy Meets World. Rilo Kiley broke up in 2013 but recently got back together, and Lewis has also performed with The Postal Service.

Photo by Miikka Skaffari/FilmMagic

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