What do some of our favorite actors have in common? Aside from their (obvious) chops, many great actors fill in more than one puzzle piece on set. Here are 10 famous actors who stretch their wings in front of and behind the camera, directing, writing, and even producing their own material. If you’re hoping to add some new titles to your résumé, take these awesome examples as inspiration.
Ben Affleck
Affleck shot to super-fame in the 1990s when he co-wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for “Good Will Hunting” with fellow actor Matt Damon. After years of major film roles, Affleck’s writing bug is still going strong. The star wrote and directed “Gone Baby Gone” in 2007 and “The Town” in 2010, and has several more projects (including “Live by Night” and a new “Batman” film) in his near future.
Woody Allen
One of the most famous director-actor-writers in the world, Allen made his career with films like “Annie Hall” and “Manhattan,” which he co-wrote and directed while playing starring roles that fit his neurotic New Yorker type. Allen’s directing career has spanned decades, though he has not acted in one of his own films since 2012’s “To Rome with Love.”
Joel Edgerton
This versatile performer has acted in dozens of films including “Warrior,” “The Great Gatsby” and “Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones,” but recently rose to critical acclaim as director, writer, producer, and star of edge-of-your-seat thriller “The Gift.” Edgerton wows the film’s audiences as a creepy, sensitive neighbor named Gordo, a role that seems, well, written for him.
Christopher Guest
This prolific actor-director-writer never plays the same role twice; he proved his filmmaking chops—and created a whole comedic genre—with films including “Waiting for Guffman,” “Best in Show,” and “ A Mighty Wind.” Guest not only co-wrote and directed the comedic masterpieces, but gifted audiences with his own hilarious and over-the-top characters.
Desiree Akhavan
Though she identifies as a filmmaker first and an actor second, Akhavan made her career co-starring in, co-writing and co-directing the popular webseries “The Slope.” She made international waves last year with indie hit “Appropriate Behavior,” in which she stars as bi-sexual, heartbroken Iranian-American Brooklynite Shirin.
Billy Bob Thornton
Thornton is highly respected for his acting performances alone, but earned extra credit (and a screenwriting Oscar) as the writer, director, and star of 1996’s “Sling Blade.” He wore multiple hats again with 2001’s “Daddy and Them,” and later with 2012’s “Jayne Mansfield’s Car.”
George Clooney
As if he hadn’t overachieved enough, Clooney earned triple-threat status with 2005’s “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Based on the true story of Edward R. Murrow, Clooney stars as dedicated 1950s news producer Fred Friendly and earned critical acclaim for his acting, writing, and directing work on the film. Clooney returned to both sides of the camera in 2011 with political drama “The Ides of March.”
Lake Bell
A star of hit dramas including “The Practice” and “Boston Legal,” and comedies like “Childrens Hospital” and “Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp,” Bell’s versatility extends beyond her acting. Bell made her critically acclaimed feature film directing and writing debut with 2013’s “In a World,” in which she stars as a would-be movie trailer voiceover actor.
Edward Burns
Burns took the indie world by storm as the director, writer, producer, and star of 1995’s “The Brothers McMullen”—which he cast via Backstage—and is currently in production on TNT’s new show “Public Morals.” Other projects helmed by the modern-day renaissance man include “No Looking Back,” “Sidewalks of New York,” and “Ash Wednesday.”
Orson Welles
With over 100 films to his name, Orson Welles was without question a grandfather of modern-day filmmaking. The legendary actor, director, and writer is possibly best known for 1941’s “Citizen Kane,” which is frequently recognized as one of the greatest films of all time. Welles had a huge impact on the film noir genre as a writer-director, and made equal waves as an actor on stage, television, radio, and in film.
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