Acting is a gateway to many different careers as it’s been found in the past, though some only take the actor up and up until they finally reach the pinnacle of their storied rise through the Hollywood ranks. While a large number of actors either retire, become executive producers, or go off on another direction and begin their own line of clothing, perfume, or some other risky venture, others seek to cement their legacy in the industry by becoming the person behind the camera. At this point in their career those that make this attempt have often experienced enough and learned volumes concerning the necessary elements of a film, and are therefore far more qualified than most.
Here are five actors that went on to become great directors
Mel Gibson
There’s been a great deal of controversy over Gibson’s words and actions in the recent past, but one thing that can be disputed is that the man can both act and direct in equal measure. While the days of “Lethal Weapon” and “Braveheart” have died down a bit, he’s still able to keep going strong as he continues to find new projects to direct his talent towards. While he still acts on occasion its more likely to see him, or not see him, directing the action from behind the camera.
Jon Favreau
He’s played the funny, out of luck character and the hard-nosed jerk in many of the films he’s starred in, but as a director Favreau has a vision that is quite unique and in fact managed to deliver “Iron Man” to an audience that instantly clamored for more. His status as a director has been cemented time and again by his several hits, and is in no danger of fading any time soon.
Ron Howard
Opie has certainly come a long way since the Mayberry days. Having been in the industry for so long it’s nearly impossible to forget his name or the contributions he’s made to Hollywood. His name is synonymous with blockbuster hits, and more than anything he’s excelled at being a director for so long that to imagine him as anything else seems more than a little ludicrous.
Charles Chaplin
Yet another driving force in Hollywood, Chaplin is perhaps one of the most influential presences that has ever been seen since the inception of the film industry. A perfectionist through and through, he demanded nothing but the best from his films and as a result was able to deliver the kind of high end entertainment that people enjoyed and demanded. His role within his films coupled with his utter devotion to the film itself was what made Chaplin one of the absolute greats in terms of how he conducted himself and what he eventually showed to his audiences.
Clint Eastwood
Sometimes it’s hard to equate the former Josey Wales with the man that sits behind the camera and delivers one masterpiece after another. Now in his eighties and rounding towards his nineties, Eastwood is able to show that he still has enough juice to keep up with the young up and coming directors. His films are not always the quickest-moving pieces, but they are without a doubt entertaining and soulful to a degree that a viewer will feel the emotions and passion that are included within each scene.
Honorable Mention
Ben Affleck’s making a strong case. People don’t realize that Ben Stiller is a solid director. Even George Clooney did one hell of a job.
Conclusion
There are a great many young directors that are on the rise, looking for a chance to show that they have what it takes to run with the more established crowd. Until they are ready however, the old guard is still on top and looking strong as they continue to produce movies that audiences can’t get enough of.
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