Entertainers Who Also Play Musical Instruments Quiz

Answer: clarinet

Spielberg's mother was a concert pianist who likely encouraged his interest in music. Fortunately for the entertainment world, he decided to become a producer. Most of his well-known films incorporate science fiction elements (e.g. "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", "Jurassic Park", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and the 2005 version of "War of the Worlds").

He also dabbled in television with the series "Amazing Stories". It is alleged that he composed the themes for some of his productions on his clarinet.

Answer: saxophone

When attending Carroll College, MacMurray was pursuing a career in music and played saxophone with several local bands, including Gus Arnheim and his Coconut Grove Orchestra. He even recorded a vocal "All I Want Is Just One Girl" in 1930. He gradually drifted into acting and was in the Broadway play "Three's a Crowd".

He had a long, productive career in movies playing everything from a greedy conniver in "Double Indemnity" to a good-natured inventor in "The Absent-Minded Professor". His last major role was playing a TV dad in the long running sit-com, "My Three Sons".

Answer: drums

Gary is a man of many talents, but is best known for playing the shy, gullible Company Clerk, Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly, in the long-running TV military dramedy, "M*A*S*H"; a role he first played in the 1970 theatrical movie. Despite having a deformed left hand, he is an excellent drummer and fronted his own musical trio "The We Three".

He is also a wildlife rehabilitator, painter and songwriter, winning the ASCAP Award for Excellence three times.

Answer: cello

Morey, a Chicago native, started in vaudeville with his piano-playing brother. His father was a concert violinist who wanted Morey to pursue a classical music career. While working in a speakeasy, he survived a gangland shootout and decided to seek a less dangerous venue. Moving to California, he became a comedy writer for Fanny Brice, Will Rogers and Jimmy Durante and earned the nickname The Human Joke Machine.

He also wrote the popular 1940s song "Rum and Coca-Cola". After having an eponymous TV show, he was tapped to be a co-star on the 5-season "Dick Van Dyke Show" playing (what else?) a comedy writer.

He occasionally demonstrated his musical talent on the TV shows and in his stand-up routines. After "TDVDS", he remained active in entertainment, mostly doing TV guest spots and voice-overs until his death in 1996.

Answer: French horn

Ewan was born in Scotland to parents who were both teachers. At age 16, he left school with his parents' blessing and began acting in the Perth Repertory Theatre. He studied for three years at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama. His first major role was on the TV series "Lipstick on Your Collar" and he also portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first three "Star Wars" episodes series.

He was awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2013. There are videos of McGregor playing the French horn on the Internet.

Answer: trumpet

Gere started out to be a Methodist minister, but began acting on the stage in the Seattle and Provincetown areas. He started his movie career in the mid-1970s. He was "People" magazine's Sexiest Man Alive in 1999. Some of his most well-known films are "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982), "Pretty Woman" (1990) and "Runaway Bride" (1999).

He is an ardent activist and supports human rights, mainly in Asia. He is an accomplished trumpeter and actually got to play the that instrument in "The Cotton Club" (1984).

He so impressed director Francis Ford Coppola, that no dubbing was needed.

Answer: banjo

Steve is an actor, musician, writer and producer. He began working at Disneyland and part-time at a magic shop, learning a few tricks to demonstrate to customers. At one time, he considered becoming a college professor, but got a break in show business writing for "The Smother's Brothers Comedy Hour".

He received exposure on "Saturday Night Live" where he was a frequent guest which led to more prominent movie roles; many of which were re-makes of older movies. Some of his films include "Three Amigos!", "Parenthood" and "Father of the Bride".

He has also recorded albums of his music performances and there are many Internet photos and clips of him playing the banjo.

Answer: accordion

Jimmy Stewart was one of America's best liked and prolific movie stars. As well as movies, he acted on the stage, radio and television, performing in over 90 roles. He started out studying to be an architect at Princeton, but became interested in acting through the university's drama club.

He was also an accomplished pilot and flew missions in WW2. Nominated five times for an Academy Award, he only won once for his role as a society reporter in "The Philadelphia Story". He remained active until the early 1990s and was also a port, philanthropist and activist.

There is an interview on the Internet where Stewart discusses his talents on the accordion with Johnny Carson a well as numerous photos of him playing.

Answer: piano

Clint graduated from high school at age 19 and attended Los Angeles City College where he dropped out after two semesters to pursue an acting career. Starting in several B movies, he got a break when cast as Rowdy Yates on the long running TV western "Rawhide".

After that, he did some spaghetti westerns. His first American movie role was in "Hang 'Em High" (1968). He was mainly an western/action/adventure star in over 60 movie and TV roles. He also directed and dabbled in politics, being elected mayor of Carmel, California from 1986-88.

He won Academy Awards for "Unforgiven" (1992), and "Million Dollar Baby" (2005). Eastwood enjoys playing the blues on the piano, clips of which can be viewed on the Internet.

Answer: tuba

Nicknamed the Queen of Soul, Aretha was born to a preacher father and a piano playing mother. According to the book "Aretha Franklin: Singer", she joined a school band as a child wanting to play the flute, but was too late get what she wanted and was given the only instrument left - a tuba.

After her mother's death when Aretha was 10 years old, she began to sing gospel music and gravitated to soul. She has received many music awards for her recordings. She also received an honorary degree from Harvard University in 2014.