In the realm of show business, we often come across famous individuals on our screens who excel in acting, presenting, and comedy.
What’s fascinating is that many of these highly acclaimed male TV and film stars possess talents beyond their primary vocations. They have surprised their fans by embarking on musical endeavors, reinventing themselves as musicians later in their careers.
Having achieved remarkable success in their respective fields, numerous Hollywood actors, small-screen stars, and even celebrity chefs have shifted their focus to the realm of music. Some have released successful studio albums, while others have ventured into live performances, captivating audiences with their renditions of beloved classics.
For the most part, these multi-talented individuals have enjoyed fruitful tours and achieved significant album sales. However, they are cognizant that their existing fanbases may have played a role in their musical triumphs.
Some, like Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr., have openly expressed their concerns about being labeled as mere “celebrity singer-songwriter wannabes” while they pursue their musical aspirations.
In this article, FEMAIL delves deeper into the music careers of men who have chosen to chase their dreams later in life, shedding light on their journeys and accomplishments.
Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe, a renowned actor who has gained recognition for his performances in Hollywood blockbusters such as Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, and Robin Hood, is among the notable individuals who achieved success in the film and TV industries before venturing into the realm of music.
With his remarkable acting abilities, Crowe has received accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and multiple Golden Globes throughout his career. He has graced the silver screen in notable films like Gladiator, where he earned his Oscar, as well as A Beautiful Mind and Robin Hood.
However, in 2011, Crowe decided to explore the world of musicals and took on the role of Javert, the antagonistic police officer, in Les Misérables. This character required him to showcase his singing abilities onscreen, marking the first time he displayed his vocal talents.
The response to his singing performance was mixed, with varying reviews from critics and audiences alike.
While the Guardian praised Russell Crowe’s performance in Les Misérables as his most vulnerable and relatable to date, the Independent had a contrasting opinion, suggesting that even with a good song, his singing abilities fell short.
Nevertheless, it seems that the critics may have been proven wrong. In recent years, the 59-year-old actor has embarked on global music tours, showcasing his talents as a singer and guitarist in various music venues.
This is not Crowe’s first venture into the music scene. He was a founding member of the Australian rock band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts back in 1992 and collaborated on multiple studio albums with them.
However, in more recent times, Crowe has chosen to pursue a solo career. Currently, he is captivating audiences and selling out venues across Italy with his Indoor Garden Party tour.
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp, known for his roles in independent films, gained widespread fame when he took on the iconic character of Captain Jack Sparrow in The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. However, in recent years, the 59-year-old actor’s career has experienced a decline, partly due to the allegations of physical abuse made against him by his ex-wife, Amber Heard, during their relationship.
In a highly publicized and televised court battle, Depp sued Heard for defamation, vehemently denying the accusations. Eventually, the court ruled in his favor, concluding that he had not abused his ex-wife. The trial captivated global attention and became a major topic of discussion.
During and after this intense legal ordeal, Depp sought solace and release by channeling his energy into live performances on stage. These performances took place in various locations worldwide, allowing him to let off steam and express himself artistically.
During the period when the jury in the US was deliberating over the defamation trial, Johnny Depp traveled to London where he took the stage at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, performing alongside Jeff Beck. His performance garnered him a standing ovation from the audience.
Following this, Depp collaborated with Beck on the album titled 18. While the Royal Albert Hall audience was impressed by Depp’s musical abilities, critics expressed their skepticism.
The Guardian described the album as a monotonous exhibition of overwhelming self-pity, suggesting that its success and sold-out shows were largely due to Depp’s devoted fans attending to see their idol perform alongside Beck.
In the opinion of critic Michael Hann, the two tracks that Depp wrote were the weakest on the album.
It is worth noting that this collaboration is not Depp’s first venture into the world of music. Prior to his acting career, he actually joined a band called The Kids when he dropped out of high school at the age of 15. The band had the opportunity to open for renowned acts such as The Ramones and Iggy Pop.
Depp’s musical inclination was further showcased when he portrayed the character of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Tim Burton’s musical adaptation of Sweeney Todd.
Bradley Walsh
Bradley Walsh can do a little bit of everything, apparently. Best known these days for presenting The Chase on ITV and regularly succumbing to uncontrollable fits of the giggles, he has previously also lent his hand to acting, comedy – and music.
In 2016 the star, 63, released his first studio album Chasing Dreams, which outsold artists including Zayn Malik and Blossoms.
The swing-style album, which featured covers of well-known songs such as Smile and Fly Me to the Moon, was followed by Walsh’s second album, When You’re Smiling, the following year.
Speaking to the Guardian about the rip-roaring success of his first album, Walsh remained humble.
He said: ‘I just laughed when I found out, I thought it was hysterical. I am probably the oldest new artist Sony has ever signed.’
Walsh also added that music mogul Simon Cowell congratulated him on his success.
Throughout his career, Walsh dipped his toes into the music world, and was called upon to host a revival of ITV’s variety show Sunday Night At The London Palladium in 2014 – and he had enormous shoes to fill, as the previous host had been the late Sir Bruce Forsyth.
Jeff Goldblum
Best known for running from dinosaurs in the Jurassic Park trilogy, Jeff Goldblum has starred in some of the highest-grossing Hollywood films of all time. Another huge title to the 70-year-old actor’s name is the apocalypse blockbuster Independence Day.
However, Goldblum is also a pretty skilled jazz pianist and has played with his own jazz ensemble, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra.
In 2018, Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra released an album called The Capitol Studios Sessions, which jumped to Number 1 on the US Jazz Album Chart.
While Goldblum has long played the piano alongside acting (for more than 30 years) it is only later in life that he has carved out a second career as a jazz pianist in his new guise.
In fact, these days he is just as much known to some fans as for his piano playing as his acting. Speaking to the Evening Standard earlier this year, he revealed how he has tried to combine his musical talents with his acting roles throughout his time in music.
He said a turning point came during an appearance on the Graham Norton Show in 2017 when he offered to play accompanying piano for musician Gregory Porter’s performance.
Goldblum explained to the publication how he ensured he found time to practice playing the piano while filming.
‘I have a piano in my hotel room and an electric keyboard in my trailer so, when there’s a moment or two, I’m practicing and playing,’ he said.
He also explained that, while he had his heart set on acting from a young age, he kept up the piano because ‘I just love music’.
Hugh Laurie
Best known for playing loveable rogue genius Doctor House in the 2000s drama and making up 50% of the beloved comedy duo Fry and Laurie, few of Hugh Laurie’s fans knew he also possessed musical talents.
The actor, 63, released his first blues album, Let Them Talk, in 2011, which became one of the biggest-selling albums of the genre in the UK that year.
The 15-track album even featured some surprise guests – including the legendary Tom Jones on ‘Baby, Please Make a Change’.
Two years later, Laurie released his second studio album, Didn’t It Rain, and during promotional tours for the record, discussed his surprise that his debut album had done so well.
However, in an interview with the Guardian, Laurie revealed he didn’t read the reviews of Let Them Talk as he wanted to protect himself – which meant he also didn’t see any of the positive feedback it had received.
Laurie also revealed he was under no illusions that many people who went to see him perform onstage likely bought their tickets because he was already a big name.
He said: ‘I know that it did all right, and I was surprised by it. When people buy a ticket, that I sort of understand, it says my name on it and they’ve watched the television show, and they think: ‘Ah well, if nothing else, we’ll see the bloke off the TV’.’
Robert Downey Jr
Robert Downey Jr’s career has certainly had its ups and downs after the star rose to fame as part of the so-called Brat Pack in the 1980s, before a very public battle with addiction and even a spell in jail.
However, many may not know that the actor, best known for his role as Tony Stark in Ironman, released a blues album in 2004, the year after he got sober following a court-ordered rehabilitation program.
The Futurist, a 10-track album of songs largely written by Downey Jr himself, received mixed reviews in which some of his lyrics were labeled ‘obtuse’ but other critics said there was a ‘moody musicality’ to some of the tracks.
One of the album’s tracks, Broken, features at the end of a 2005 film in which the actor starred alongside Val Kilmer, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
When the Guardian interviewed the actor in 2005 at a London Hotel, he was labeled potentially ‘self-important’ because of the number of brooding portraits of himself which accompanied the debut album.
However, described as ‘reasonably friendly’ during the interaction, the actor revealed a heightened awareness of being seen as another actor-turned-musician.
He told the publication that while he was recording the album at a studio in his friend’s house, he could ‘feel the resentment’ from the sound engineers and was wary of being labeled a celebrity wannabe singer-songwriter banging out tracks’.
Following the release of The Futurist, he said he wasn’t going to give up acting but wanted to make more music after realizing his talents.
‘There’s no stopping the human spirit once you decide to dispel a belief you have about your own inabilities,’ he said.
James Martin
James Martin has been a beloved TV chef on our screens for decades after starting out as a competitive young kitchen whizz on the BBC’s Ready, Steady, Cook.
He went on to present Saturday Kitchen on the BBC for a decade, from 2006-2016 and later moved over to ITV where he presents Saturday Morning with James Martin from his home in Hampshire.
When he’s not presenting cooking shows, the proud Yorkshireman spends his time at his restaurants, The Kitchen at Chewton Glen, James Martin Manchester, and newly-acquired James Martin at The Lygon Arms in the picturesque town of Broadway in The Cotswolds.
During the summer months, Martin can be found touring the UK at food festivals, as well as CarFest (he is a self-confessed petrolhead).
In recent years and to the surprise of many fans of his cookery, Martin has also treated festivalgoers to musical performances with his group, the James Martin Band.
For the most part, the band performs covers of hits including Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ and Gimme Shelter, by the Rolling Stones.
Back in 2016 during his live cookery tour, the Manchester Evening News reviewed his performance in the city, in which he gave the audience an impromptu cover of Oasis’s Live Forever while on the Gallagher’s home turf.
Describing the performance as ‘unexpected’, critic Dianne Bourne wrote how the chef admitted he had spent nine weeks learning how to play the guitar so he could ‘give something back to the fans’.