Top 20 Actors Who Tried and FAILED to Become Pop Stars

Most people know Tom Hardy for his transformative acting performances. From The Revenant to Mad Max: Fury Road, his intensity jumps off the screen. People might not know that Hardy also tried out hip-hop as a younger man. This includes an apparent recording deal and some unreleased tracks. Not only that, the actor seemed serious enough with his moniker Tommy No. 1. Given some of his more verbose and broader roles, the performer isnt a long shot as an emcee. Some of the work leaked online, but it hasnt inspired the man to go back to the rap world any time soon.

As a martial artist and an actor, Steven Seagal made a name for himself as a tough guy. Watching him in Above the Law, you dont see the guy becoming a singer any time soon. This didnt stop Seagal from releasing multiple albums. Well let you make up your own mind, but its fair to say that the world doesnt need more of his music. Some of his recordings need to be heard to be believed. Its strange to think that this actor collaborated with Stevie Wonder. He even tried his hand at blues, with his second record Mojo Priest exploring the genre to mixed results. Given his reputation for being difficult, wed rather move on than risk being beaten up.

He might be an Oscar-winner, but he also likes to sing. This goes back to his days in Australia under the name Russ le Roq or with his band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts. Hes even done some collaborations with the likes of Chrissie Hynde. As Javert in Les Misérables, Crowe showed off his voice to a wider audience. His performance received mixed reviews, just like some of his recording catalog. He hasnt received the same kind of attention for his music, but Crowe still likes to occasionally sing and perform live. Its safe to say that hell be better remembered for playing Maximus or starring in A Beautiful Mind.

As a supermodel, Naomi Campbell became hugely successful, well-known, and a groundbreaker in her industry. She also starred in a few iconic music videos such as George Michaels Freedom! 90. With all of her recognition, Campbell attempted her own music career. Her solo debut Baby Woman came out in 1994. The model made an attempt at R&B, but this didnt start another trend. She remains one of the more famous fashion icons regardless of her singing past. Starring in various films, she hasnt stopped branching out into other mediums. It just seems that singing was much more of a one-off idea for her.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Patrick Swayze appeared in blockbusters and cult-favorites. He also dabbled in some songwriting and singing. Creating the song Shes Like the Wind, the actor played a part in iconic music for Dirty Dancing. This wasnt his only successful attempt to get on a movie soundtrack either. Swayze did have a pretty decent voice to sell a ballad, but he didnt blossom into a pop idol. The heartthrob definitely stuck to what he did best in both classics and guilty pleasures. After his death in 2009, his beloved and surprisingly versatile career was cut short.

As a core member of the Gossip Girl cast, Leighton Meester became a TV star in 2007. Shes also released music and been featured as a guest on tracks. This includes the hit song Good Girls Go Bad by Cobra Starship. Its a catchy track full of late-2000s charm, with Meester adding to a fun performance. After other work with the likes of Robin Thicke, she put out her solo debut Heartstrings in 2014. The record appeared at 139 on the Billboard 200 and included a concert tour. She has yet to release another album, maintaining focus on her television and film ventures. When she lost her home in the 2025 California wildfires, the artist received support from fans that streamed her music catalog.

Starring in The Goonies and Stand by Me, Corey Feldman was among the best child actors of his day. He made classics during the 1980s before trying out music. Some of his output could be compared to the pop stylings of Michael Jackson. 1994 saw the release of his debut album Love Left, but this record didnt reinvigorate his career. People like Howard Stern made fun of him, making him out to be more of a novelty act. At the end of the day, Feldman kept trying music throughout the years as one of his passion projects. Unless youre a super fan, you likely prefer his work in any number of nostalgic favorites.

You know him best as a movie star across multiple decades. From Westerns to dramas, Clint Eastwood is one of the more identifiable men of the 20th century. He became better known after his work on Rawhide. Around the same time, he made a record serving up some Cowboy Favorites. With his interest in music, Eastwood was able to sing standards in his earlier career. He ended up with big opportunities in cinema rather than becoming a renowned crooner. That isnt to say he didnt sing on screen either. On top of that, the filmmaker contributes more than acting or directing to his projects. This includes writing music for Unforgiven or composing his Oscar-winning films like Million Dollar Baby.

As a child actor, Brie Larson started her career trying out a mix of music and films. Her teenage years included songs like She Said. With work at Disney and a solo album, it looked like she might head towards a more musical life. In the 2010s, she even got to play a musician in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. The actress ultimately found more interest and long-term success in movies. Her acting work quickly skyrocketed as she drew praise for indie films and won an Oscar for Room. Larson then entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Captain Marvel. Between her work as a superhero or in the Fast franchise, shes traded singles for blockbusters.

From SNL to big-screen comedies, Eddie Murphy blew up in the 1980s. He even teamed up with Rick James for Party All the Time. While it was a hit single, Murphys music career took a backseat to his comedy specials and movies like Beverly Hills Cop. He later collaborated with Michael Jackson on Whatzupwitu. Along with attempts at reggae, the comedian kept his musical projects eclectic and minimal. He also had a talent for singing and mimicking other artists. Considering his popularity on TV and in films, it was nearly impossible to ever match his Hollywood stardom as a musician.

In both TV and movies, Alyssa Milano made her mark as an actress. If you know her from Whos the Boss?, you might still not know about her work in music. Shes not the only actress to try out a pop career, but few try one in a different country like Japan. A younger Milano released several records far away from the American market. This might be why you have trouble remembering her songs. Between 1989 and 1992, she released four albums on the label Pony Canyon Inc. She had a hold on Japanese audiences until returning to her acting work. Instead of making another record, she went on to work on series like Charmed.

She was a massively successful star in her younger days, starring in everything from The Parent Trap to Mean Girls. Lindsay Lohan also made a momentary splash with her music. Her album Speak did platinum numbers and her follow-up A Little More Personal (Raw) went gold. She carried her screen stardom into the recording industry, but it wasnt meant to last. The actress mentioned that she took a break to leave room for her sisters music. Lohans personal struggles didnt help either, with her professional career taking a turn. More recently, shes put out rom-coms and even recorded covers like Jingle Bell Rock.

On Knight Rider, David Hasselhoff became something of a household name. He also spent the 1980s becoming a European pop star. While he didnt break records in America, he certainly struck a chord in Germany. Hasselhoff kept on acting in other big TV series like Baywatch. Throughout the years, the actor both put out more music and lampooned his own image. Hes seemingly embraced his position in pop culture, for all of the highs or lows that he mightve represented. Over a dozen albums later, the artist seems to have cashed in on 1980s nostalgia. He even made an appearance on the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 soundtrack.

After working as a young actor, Scarlett Johansson became a leading star in the 2000s. Her role in Lost in Translation garnered her further acclaim, while films like Match Point showed her range. Johansson was no stranger to music either with her appearance in a Justin Timberlake video. In 2008, she released her debut Anywhere I Lay My Head. It charted in several countries and featured covers of Tom Waits songs. She followed that up with an album alongside Pete Yorn. In both cases, the artist showed promise regardless of reviews or record sales. The performer then became Black Widow and churned out a prolific decade of acting. Even if she isnt a pop idol, she sang on soundtracks like The Jungle Book.

Before his great work as a mainstream actor, Joe Pesci was a musician and singer. He even knew members of the Four Seasons, but he was much more talented as a screen performer. Pesci connected with Martin Scorsese and started a fruitful partnership that lasted multiple films. The actor had another album in the 1990s, with some entertaining attempts at rapping. He didnt act much in the 2000s, but he also seemed prepared to make something of a comeback. He eventually released a third record in 2019 that went largely under the radar. That same year, he returned to work with Scorsese and received an Oscar nomination for The Irishman.

For most of her life, Jennifer Love Hewitt has been on one screen or another. This includes TV shows like Party of Five or cult classics like Cant Hardly Wait. As a kid, the actress made a record for Japanese company Meldac. She then started an American recording career as her acting took off even further. Going from pure pop to a more mature sound, she released three more studio albums including the moderately successful BareNaked. Each step of the way, her acting work won out in terms of attention and popularity. Shes released songs for some of her projects, but Hewitt has merely dabbled in music since her last album.

You know him from Miami Vice, but Don Johnson has much more up his sleeve. This includes an attempt as a pop singer. His single Heartbeat has an energy thats reminiscent of other hits from the decade. Johnson has his share of charisma, but he always seemed more at home on TV. The artist even did a duet with the one and only Barbra Streisand. He might have had some wins as a vocalist, but theyve mostly taken a back seat to his acting. Youre now more likely to find him in a film rather than worrying about his singing. Looking back, his two solo albums feel more like relics from the 1980s pop and rock genres.

In the 1990s, Gwyneth Paltrow climbed the entertainment ladder with a wide range of roles. Her Oscar win for Shakespeare in Love made her a major Hollywood A-lister, while Iron Man landed her in the MCU. Her brief foray into music was sandwiched between multiple successes. Duets gave her a chance to partner with Huey Lewis, but years later Country Strong gave her an opportunity to try out country music. Not only did she star in blockbusters, she also did well with businesses like Goop. Her singing didnt last, but she was clearly busy earning money elsewhere.

No matter how many ways you look at it, William Shatner will always be Captain Kirk. The Star Trek actor has made a name for himself across several mediums, but music is not necessarily his best. Shatner doesnt sing so much as he delivers a dramatic reading of the lyrics. He put out The Transformed Man in the late sixties, starting a trend of strange recordings. After Star Trek films and other TV work, the performer returned to the studio. Hes been prolific during the 21st century, but his work behind the microphone doesnt hold a candle to his acting. This doesnt mean that his version of Rocket Man is any less entertaining though.

Through all of his ups and downs, Robert Downey Jr. came out the other side as a bona fide star. He continues to prove that hes a versatile performer. While attempting a career comeback, Downey Jr. also put out one solo album in 2004. It wasnt the first time hed sung, but he mostly did so on movie and TV soundtracks. His song Man Like Me reached no. 39 on the Billboard US Adult Contemporary charts. The single and album didnt resonate as much as one might have hoped. Within a few years, the actor was well on his way to Hollywood royalty. His roles in Iron Man and an Oscar for Oppenheimer surely lessened the blow.


Did we forget another actor that attempted a side-gig as a would-be musician? Let us know in the comments below.