Summary

While many theatre director like to at times take a abbreviated bend at motion-picture show acting , either for a small persona or a mum cameo , some find that they may have more presence in front of the television camera than behind it . Directors like Quintin Tarantino or David Lynch will use their prominent - than - lifespan personas to lend some personality to a scene , but they have limited range and will be in the first place commemorate as film producer and not histrion . These directors , on the other hand , have real dramatic chop shot .

Some role player , like Greta Gerwig , Elaine May , or Bradley Cooper , will graduate into the managing director ’s chair and find they are equally , if not more , talented at craft a picture show than staring in it . These are the director who have surprise people with their on - screen playing . Here are 10 famous director who are in secret sound actor .

Related:15 Actors That Never escape Their Most Famous Characters

Ben Affleck as Christian drumming his hand on the table while talking to Cynthia Addai-Robinson’s Marybeth in The Accountant 2

10Jon Favreau

Jon Favreau has a divers filmography as a director . From low - budget crime clowning to kick - starting the MCU , Favreau has not been tie down by musical genre or production size . However , from too soon on in his life history , it has been clear that Favreau ’s real strength lie in his likable on - screen image . While Favreau has n’t channelize a Marvel movie since 2010’sIron human beings 2 , his character of Happy Hogan on a regular basis crop up in and out of the picture show to provide some needed humanity to the crazy world of superheroes . His 2014 dramadyChefis a finely crafted movie , but his lead performance is what anchors the film , reach it real emotional weightiness and magical spell .

9Bennie Safdie

latterly , filmmakerBennie Safdie announced he would retire from directing , leaving the filmmaking twain he make with his pal Josh to focus alone on act . It will be a shame to see theUncut Gemsfilmmaker put down the camera , but based on his recent acting roles , it is an perceivable decision . Safdie has cleverly worked with some of the best living directors , already building an absolute knock - out filmography as an actor . His nuanced and heartbreaking take on California politician Joe Wachs inLicorice Pizzawas a stand - out among a sea of incredible supporting role , while this year alone , he has delivered two incredible performance inAre you There God it ’s Me , MargretandOppenheimer .

8Kenneth Branagh

Shakespeare fable and Academy Award victor Kenneth Branagh has always bounce between the worlds of acting and filmmaking , often staring in his own photographic film . He is not the most consistent managing director , as he will switch between acclaimed honour favorites likeBelfastto bizarre IP adjustment like the much - malignedArtemis Fowl . However , as an worker , Branagh is an absolute powerhouse , knowing how to fill a scene . He ’s always been fantastic in his Shakespeare adaption , but his work with other directors , like Christopher Nolan , show just how gifted an worker he is . Branagh has incredible cooking stove , as he can be the strong and charitable commander inDunkirkand just as easily bring the scene - chewing villain inTenet .

7John Huston

WithThe Maltese Falcon , The Treasure of the Sierra Madre , Key Largo , andThe African Queen , John Huston guide some of the big cinema of all clip , so it is saying a lot that he might have been a better actor than manager . Huston was doubtless a cap - gm smashing filmmaker , but he had his fair share of misses among his masterpieces . As an actor , however , Huston had a reliable dignity and bed how to slip a scene . His nefarious performance inChinatownis one of the most iconic and perfectly evil office ever put to picture , and even decades after his passing , Huston turned in an unbelievable operation in Orson Welles ' much - delayedThe Other Side of the Wind .

6Rob Reiner

In the 80 / early 90 , Rob Reiner made some of the best American studio apartment plastic film of the 10 . The Princess Bride , When Harry Met Sally , andStand by Meare rightfully classics that have stood the mental testing of time . However , the past few decennary have been much rough for Reiner as a filmmaker , and he has n’t bring off to stay as relevant as a film director liken to his acting . Being the son of comic Carl Reiner , the film maker has always had unbelievable comedic timing and can fit into almost any type of film or TV show . From guest appearances onNew Girlto incredible support roles like inThe Wolf of Wall Street , Reiner has been a dependable character role player for most half a century , and for good reason .

5Eli Roth

As a director , Eli Roth is very particular . He take in vehement and incredibly cruddy horror moving picture that the great unwashed tend to either beloved or hate . It is often difficult to tell whether he is in on the joke as his moving-picture show either take themselves too severely or not serious enough . This intemperately - to - post manner of speaking can be output as a movie maker but in reality reads as a durability in his play function . His grindhouse sensitivity feel right at berth in the creation of Tarantino’sInglourious Basterds , and even in his own picture , Roth seems to be the only one who understands the tint they should be going for .

4Garry Marshall

Much like Rob Reiner , Garry Marshall was a master in the earthly concern of drollery and would regularly go in front and behind the camera . WithPretty WomanandThe Princess Diariesmovies , he successfully made staple of the rom - com music genre , but his work as an worker is equally iconic . Marshall look in countless sitcoms , fromThe Dick Van Dyke ShowtoBoJack Horseman , lending his iconic vocalism and sense of humor every time . His pocket-size cameo inHocus Pocussteals the movie , showing just how curious he was .

3Spike Jones

It has been a X since Spike Jones made a narrative lineament film , and he seems to be in no rush to get back to the film director ’s seat . Jones broke out as a director with his collaborations with screenwriter Charlie Kaufman , but withWhere the Wild Things AreandHer , Jones shew he was an incredible movie maker all on his own . Then he seemingly got tired of making movies , opting to mostly verbatim music telecasting and stagecoach shows since . However , Jones has kept meddlesome represent , give small but memorable roles inBabylon , Girls , andThe Wolf of Wall Street . Jones ’s work with the Jackass crew also prove his incredible character work , as he can trick actual people into think he is an elderly cleaning woman identify Gloria .

2Sydney Pollack

Sydney Pollack was nominated for best conductor at the Oscars three times , winning once forOut of Africa . He is one of the most crucial and prolific filmmakers of his contemporaries , but his limited work as an role player is some of the most impressive a film maker has ever given . Pollack managed to shine in abbreviated role inTootsieandThe Sopranos , but his operation in Stanley Kubrick’sEyes Wide Shutis so nuanced and scary that he take the air aside with the total film . Pollack was not only a slap-up doer for a conductor but a great doer who just so happened to have great endowment as a movie maker .

1Tyler Perry

Best know for spell / directing and staring in his own films , often as the wacky character of Madea , Tyler Perry has shown much more range when he gives himself over to other directors who know how to utilise him . His roles inGone GirlandViceshow a naturalistic and human side to Perry that his broad comedies do n’t often show . He can even play threatening as he briefly played the villain in the Angelina Jolie thrillerThose Who Wish Me Dead . As a director , Perry clearly understands his audience and knows how to deliver , but as an actor , he is make much more interesting selection .

In a dusty landscape Finn stares out into the distance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

How Rachel Zegler’s

Eli Roth in Inglourious Basterds Kenneth Brannagh and Tyler Perry in Dont Look Up

Favreau and Johansson in the kitchen in Chef

Joel Wachs running for office in Licorice Pizza

Tenet Movie Kenneth Branagh

Noah Cross sitting at a table in Chinatown

Rob Reiner in This is Spinal Tap

Eli Roth Directing ‘The Green Inferno’

Garry Marshall in A League Of Their Own and The Odd Couple

Spike Jones behind the scenes directing Joaquin Phoenix on set of Her

Eyes Wide Shut

David Fincher Gone Girl Adds Tyler Perry