Actors Who Became Directors

Back when actors started gaining control of their careers, producing and sometimes even directing their own movies, established studio execs heaved heavy sighs and muttered, “The lunatics are taking over the asylum.”

History has proved the naysayers wrong. Then again, not always. An actor directing himself in a feature film faces temptations that tickle every ounce of ego. In the current Tropic Thunder, Robert Downey Jr. has the most interesting and controversial role. But Ben Stiller gets the most close-ups and is usually placed in the center of the frame. Stiller, you see, is director, co-writer and co-producer of the film as well as being one of its stars.

Maybe he thought Iron Man would bomb and audiences wouldn’t want to look at Downey. Or maybe he was yielding to the self-protection that’s an evil necessity in the acting profession. If so, he wouldn’t be the first. Other examples:

George Clooney has been truly democratic behind the cameras. In Good Night, and Good Luck and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, he was one of the ensemble and allowed himself no favors that his characters didn’t deserve. In this year’s Leatherheads, he had the central role but willingly shared scenes with co-stars. Considering how the movie turned out, maybe he was being self-protective after all.

Pages: 1 2 3