12 famous actors who are also writers; From Tom Hanks to Channing Tatum

Charso Press: Actors are storytellers before anything else. Their job is to bring a character to life in cinema or television or even on the theater stage and play a role in a larger narrative while helping to tell that character’s story. Besides, writing is just as creative a job as acting, so it shouldn’t be surprising that actors are writers. Many famous people these days have stopped telling stories on screen and cinema screens and have turned to telling stories on paper. Some of these actors are novice writers, but others have shown great growth in writing. Ironically, the books of some of these actors and writers have been so successful that they have also had a movie adaptation.

The works of these writer actors include telling their own story as a celebrity, creatively trying to write novel ideas, writing heartfelt stories for children and teenagers, or simply trying to make a difference by expressing their point of view. Anyway, among the books of these 12 actors and writers, there is a book for everyone with any taste. In addition to all this, some of these actors who have turned to writing have been so successful that they can call writing their second career.

Although there are more actor-writers who could have been on this list, we decided to include a hand-picked group of those with notable contributions. In the following, we will introduce you to 12 actors who have written successful books.

1. Sean Penn; “Bob Hani” book collectionThe Bob Honey)

Throughout his career, Sean Penn has gained acclaim for his roles in dramas such as Dead Man Walking, Mystic River, and Milk, and for his performance in two films. He also won an Oscar. What many people may not know about Sean Penn is the fact that he published books. In 2018, he published his first novel, Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff. This satirical novel tells the story of a murderer who targets elderly people using a sledgehammer. Despite some praise from celebrities and well-known authors, reviews of the book were generally negative, with The Guardian describing it as “stupid on so many levels”.

2. Hilary duff; “Elixir” trilogy (The Elixir) and a book for children and teenagers

Hilary Duff is an actress who first made a name for herself as a child star; The most important role he played at that time was playing the main role of the popular Disney series, “Lizzie McGuire”. He has also appeared in films such as “Agent Cody Banks” and “Cheaper by the Dozen”. But if his name and face are familiar to you, you probably know him from the spin-off series “How I Met Your Mother”, that is, the series “How I Met Your Father”. However, acting is not Hilary Duff’s only art. In 2010, he published his first novel, the first volume of the Elixir trilogy, which became a New York Times bestseller. After “Elixir”, this actress-author published the book “Devoted” in 2011 and the book “True” in 2013. These 3 books form the “Elixir” trilogy. She has also published a children’s book, My Little Brave Girl, inspired by her own experience as a mother.

3. Tom Hanks; The story collection “Strange Typewriter”Uncommon Type) and the novel “Making another important masterpiece of cinema” (The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece)

Tom Hanks, who is a national capital for Americans, is actually one of the most recognizable figures on the planet. But this acclaimed and admired actor, in addition to acting in almost 60 films during his more than 40-year career, has found enough free time to pick up a pen and write. In 2017, Tuck Hanks released a collection of his 17 short stories titledStrange typewriter” Published. This story was inspired by Hanks’ fascination with old typewriters; This fascination is so great that he has more than 50 of them to date. After the buzz that the book “Strange Typewriter” created, he also published his first novel. Tom Hanks wrote the novel “Making Another Cinematic Masterpiece” during the Covid-19 pandemic.

4. Carrie Fisher; The novel “Postcards from the edge of the abyss”Postcards from the Edge)

The late Carrie Fisher is another actor turned writer. It is interesting that the novel of this actor-writer, a novel that is more or less considered his own biography, “Postcards from the Edge of the Abyss”, got a movie adaptation, the screenplay of which was written by Carrie Fisher himself. In this book, Fisher explores her personal battles with addiction through her protagonist, Susan Weil. Both the novel and the film adaptation (starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine) were critically acclaimed. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times Magazine, Fisher described his writing as “a colorful way of expressing brown or gray depressions”; A phrase that aptly describes his extraordinary and healing novel.

5. Channing Tatum; “Sparkla” books collection (The Sparkella)

When you think of Hollywood star Channing Tatum, you probably think of him dancing in skimpy clothes in the Magic Mike movies or beating up someone in action movies he’s starred in. What you probably don’t think about, and it doesn’t even cross your mind, is that Channing Tatum is a writer among actors and writes for children and teenagers. It may be difficult for the audience of his films to believe this, but it is true. Tatum published the book “The One and Only Sparkella” in 2021; A picture book for children about the love between a father and daughter. Obviously, this book was inspired by Channing Tatum’s own relationship with his daughter. The book was followed by a sequel, The One and Only Sparkella Makes a Plan, and a third volume, The One and Only Sparkella and the Big Lie. To the surprise of some of his fans, all of Channing Tatum’s books have received positive reviews.

6. Bella Thorne; “Fall of Autumn” books collectionThe Autumn Falls)

Bella Thorne, film and television actress, is another star who started her career on the Disney network. Between 2010 and 2013, she played the role of Sissy Jones in the comedy series “Shake it Up” and later starred in films such as “The DUFF”, “Amityville” and “Infamous”. Payment role. In addition to acting, he is also a singer and has released 2 albums to date. But Bella Thorne’s talents do not end in these two areas. He is considered one of the actors and writers of Hollywood. In 2014, he published his first novel called “Autumn Fall”; The book “Autumn Fall” is a teenage story in the fantasy genre. In this book, we follow the story of a teenage girl who realizes that if she writes down her wishes, they will come true. The “Fall Season” series received generally positive reviews, with many praising Bella Thorne’s sophisticated writing style. Two other volumes of this collection have been published with the names “Autumn’s Kiss” and “Autumn’s Wish”.

7. Steve Martin; The novel “The Salesman’s Girl” (Shopgirl) and the rest of the novels

The legendary Steve Martin has made a name for himself not only as a stand-up comedian and actor, but also as a masterful writer. He has published several works, including a memoir (autobiography), several plays, and the novel “The Salesman’s Girl” which was published in 2001. This novel has also been adapted into a movie, in which Steve Martin himself is present along with actors such as Claire Danes and Jason Schwartzman. He also wrote the New York Times bestseller The Pleasure of My Company. The book “An Object of Beauty” is also one of his recent works. Steve Martin recently starred in the popular and brilliant series “Only Murders in the Building” (Only Murders in the Building), which has been released for 3 seasons.

8. Elizabeth Olsen; The novel “Hetty Harmony: The Concerned Detective”Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective)

When not working on a Marvel Cinematic Universe project, Emmy-nominated actress Elizabeth Olsen writes children’s and teen books with her husband, Robbie Arnett. They have published their first book, Hattie Harmony: The Concerned Detective. In this book, Hattie Harmony, the main character of the book, teaches both her friends in the story world and young readers how to overcome their anxiety in simple and everyday situations. Situations like catching the school bus or talking loudly in class. As it turns out, according to Olsen, this book is supposed to be the first volume in a series. In an interview with People magazine, Arendt and Olsen stated: “We hope Hattie Harmony will be a welcome reminder that it’s okay to speak up when we need help, and to always be kind to ourselves and those around us.

9. Ethan Hawke; The novel “Grey Wednesday” (Ash Wednesday) and the rest of the novels

Ethan Hawke is another actor and writer on our list who has published several works; Including the novels “The Hottest State”, “Grey Wednesday”, “Rules for a Knight” and “A Bright Ray of Darkness”. In addition to these novels, he wrote the novel Meadowlark, a crime story, with another author, Greg Roth. He has another collaboration with Greg Roth, the graphic novel “Indeh”. Huck is also an accomplished screenwriter and won two major awards for his work on the screenplay for Richard Linklater’s Before Midnight; It should be noted that this film was also nominated for an Oscar. Ethan Hawke’s latest performances include the series “Moon Knight” and the horror film “The Black Phone”.

10. Betty White; The book “If you ask me” (If You Ask Me) and the rest of the books

In addition to being a comedian, actress, animal rights activist, and a consummate role model, the late Betty White was also a noted author. White wrote several books during her career, including three memoirs, Betty White in Person, Here We Go Again: My Life in Television, and If ask me”; These 3 books are only a part of his writing career. In addition to her memoirs, Betty White has written several books about her love of animals, which explains why she remains a popular cultural figure.

11. Tina Fey; “President’s pants” (Bossypants)

If you love Tina Fey’s performances on Mean Girls, 30 Rock, and SNL, then you will most likely enjoy the book The Boss’s Pants. In this comedic autobiography, Fay discusses the highs and lows of her career and her experiences as a woman in a man’s world. Reading the book “Shalvar Raeesmaab” is a unique experience that makes you feel very close to this witty and intelligent comedian and writer. The award-winning audiobook “The Boss’s Pants” shows how much more powerful Fey’s writing and performance can be when they go hand in hand.

12. Hugh Larry; The novel “The Arms Dealer” (The Gun Seller)

You may know Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House from the popular medical drama series, House. However, this English actor has a much wider career. Many may be surprised to learn that outside of acting, the multi-talented Larry also writes and is the author of the 1996 thriller The Gunslinger. In addition to acting and writing, he is also a musician and has released two albums in the blues style.

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