Top Ten Actors Who Became Directors
The Top Ten
1 Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr. is an American actor, film director, producer, musician, and political figure.
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr. is an American actor, film director, producer, musician, and political figure. My third favorite actor
2 Sean Penn
Sean Justin Penn is an American actor, filmmaker, and political activist. He has won two Academy Awards, for his roles in the mystery drama Mystic River and the biopic Milk.
Sean Justin Penn is an American actor, filmmaker, and political activist. He has won two Academy Awards, for his roles in the mystery drama Mystic River and the biopic Milk.
3 Mel Gibson
Mel Colmcille Gerard Gibson AO is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his action hero roles, namely his breakout role as Max Rockatansky in the first three films in the Mad Max post-apocalyptic action series, and as Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon buddy cop film series.
Mel Colmcille Gerard Gibson AO is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his action hero roles, namely his breakout role as Max Rockatansky in the first three films in the Mad Max post-apocalyptic action series, and as Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon buddy cop film series.
4 Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford Jr., known professionally as Robert Redford, is an American actor, director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, and philanthropist.
Charles Robert Redford Jr., known professionally as Robert Redford, is an American actor, director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, and philanthropist.
5 John Stockwell
His best known acting role was in Christine in 1983 but eventually became a director. Probably because his other starring roles were in crappy films.
6 Jodie Foster
Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster is an American actress, director and producer who has worked in films and on television. She has often been cited as one of the best actresses of her generation.
Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster is an American actress, director and producer who has worked in films and on television. She has often been cited as one of the best actresses of her generation.
7 Ben Stiller
Benjamin Edward Meara "Ben" Stiller is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is well known for his roles in various comedies including There's Something About Mary, Zoolander, DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story, and Tropic Thunder.
Benjamin Edward Meara "Ben" Stiller is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is well known for his roles in various comedies including There's Something About Mary, Zoolander, DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story, and Tropic Thunder.
8 Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE (16 April 1889 – 25 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the silent era. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry.
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE (16 April 1889 – 25 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the silent era. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry.
9 Woody Allen
Heywood "Woody" Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American film director, writer, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades and multiple Academy Award-winning films. He began his career writing material for television in the 1950s, mainly Your Show of ...read more.
Heywood "Woody" Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American film director, writer, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades and multiple Academy Award-winning films. He began his career writing material for television in the 1950s, mainly Your Show of ...read more.
10 Jack Nicholson
John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American actor and filmmaker, who has performed for over 60 years. Nicholson is known for playing a wide range of starring or supporting roles, including satirical comedy, romance and dark portrayals of antiheroes and psychopathic characters. In many ...read more.
John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American actor and filmmaker, who has performed for over 60 years. Nicholson is known for playing a wide range of starring or supporting roles, including satirical comedy, romance and dark portrayals of antiheroes and psychopathic characters. In many ...read more.The Contenders
11 Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, and producer.
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, and producer.
12 Ron Howard
Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of The Twilight Zone. He gained national attention for playing young Opie Taylor, the ...read more.
Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He first came to prominence as a child actor, guest-starring in several television series, including an episode of The Twilight Zone. He gained national attention for playing young Opie Taylor, the ...read more.
13 Danny Devito
Daniel Michael "Danny" DeVito Jr. is an American actor and filmmaker. He gained prominence for his portrayal of the taxi dispatcher Louie De Palma in the television series Taxi, which won him a Golden Globe and an Emmy.
Daniel Michael "Danny" DeVito Jr. is an American actor and filmmaker. He gained prominence for his portrayal of the taxi dispatcher Louie De Palma in the television series Taxi, which won him a Golden Globe and an Emmy.
14 Al Pacino
Alfredo James "Al" (April 25, 1940) Pacino is an American actor and filmmaker. Pacino has had a career spanning more than five decades, during which time he has received numerous accolades and honors.
Alfredo James "Al" (April 25, 1940) Pacino is an American actor and filmmaker. Pacino has had a career spanning more than five decades, during which time he has received numerous accolades and honors.
15 Warren Beatty
Henry Warren Beatty is an American actor and filmmaker. He has been nominated for fourteen Academy Awards – four for Best Actor, four for Best Picture, two for Best Director, three for Original Screenplay, and one for Adapted Screenplay – winning Best Director for Reds.
Henry Warren Beatty is an American actor and filmmaker. He has been nominated for fourteen Academy Awards – four for Best Actor, four for Best Picture, two for Best Director, three for Original Screenplay, and one for Adapted Screenplay – winning Best Director for Reds.
16 Ben Affleck
Benjamin Geza Affleck-Boldt is an American actor and filmmaker. His accolades include two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Benjamin Geza Affleck-Boldt is an American actor and filmmaker. His accolades include two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
17 Sofia Coppola
Sofia Carmina Coppola is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and former actress. She is the daughter of director, producer, and screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola, and made her film debut as an infant in her father's acclaimed crime drama film, The Godfather.
Sofia Carmina Coppola is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and former actress. She is the daughter of director, producer, and screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola, and made her film debut as an infant in her father's acclaimed crime drama film, The Godfather.
18 Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee (November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist, martial arts instructor, actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that is often ...read more.
Bruce Lee (November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist, martial arts instructor, actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that is often ...read more.
19 Jackie Chan
Chan Kong-sang known professionally as Jackie Chan, is a Hong Kong martial artist, actor, film director, producer, stuntman, and singer. He is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts, which he typically performs himself, in the cinematic ...read more.
Chan Kong-sang known professionally as Jackie Chan, is a Hong Kong martial artist, actor, film director, producer, stuntman, and singer. He is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts, which he typically performs himself, in the cinematic ...read more.
20 Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks (born Melvin Kaminsky; June 28, 1926) is an American actor, comedian, film producer, director and screenwriter. With a career spanning over 7 decades he is known as a creator of broad film farces and comedic parodies. Brooks began his career as a comic and a writer for Sid Caesar's variety ...read more.
Mel Brooks (born Melvin Kaminsky; June 28, 1926) is an American actor, comedian, film producer, director and screenwriter. With a career spanning over 7 decades he is known as a creator of broad film farces and comedic parodies. Brooks began his career as a comic and a writer for Sid Caesar's variety ...read more.
21 Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds (February 11, 1936 - September 6, 2018) was an American actor, director and producer. He has starred in many films, such as Deliverance, The Longest Yard, Smokey and the Bandit and Boogie Nights, in which he was nominated for his first Academy Award.
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds (February 11, 1936 - September 6, 2018) was an American actor, director and producer. He has starred in many films, such as Deliverance, The Longest Yard, Smokey and the Bandit and Boogie Nights, in which he was nominated for his first Academy Award.
22 Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, professional racing driver and team owner, environmentalist, activist and philanthropist.
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, professional racing driver and team owner, environmentalist, activist and philanthropist.
23 Meg Ryan
Margaret Mary Emily Anne "Meg" Hyra, known professionally as Meg Ryan, is an American actress and producer.
Margaret Mary Emily Anne "Meg" Hyra, known professionally as Meg Ryan, is an American actress and producer.
24 Charles Laughton
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