This Legendary '60s Rock Star, With Major No. 1 Hit Song, Had Nearly 20-Year Acting Career
Most people know Ringo Starr as the iconic drummer from the globally renowned rock and roll band, The Beatles. What many people might not know is that Starr actually had an acting career that is commonly forgotten by the media.
Despite being a musician first, Starr began dabbling in the film industry during his time with the Beatles. In the '60s and early '70s, he appeared in four films with the band, portraying fictional versions of himself in A Hard Day's Night (1964), Help! (1965), Magical Mystery Tour (1967), and Let It Be (1970).
Among all the members' performances, Starr was often cited as the best actor in the group, notably being referred to as a "natural" by professionals in the film industry. Director Richard Lester even called him a "superb actor" after A Hard Day's Night premiered. Following the Beatles' split in the early '70s, Starr began exploring his acting prowess more, appearing in films unrelated to his involvement with the band.
Some of his most defining roles include, the protagonist in the Spaghetti Western Blindman (1971), a teddy boy in That'll Be the Day (1973), the pope in Lisztomania (1975) and a caveman in Caveman (1981). These roles helped to establish him as a diverse entertainer and an actor capable of engaging audiences with both comedic and dramatic roles.
Throughout his nearly 20-year acting career, Starr has portrayed over 12 distinct roles. Of his various roles, three were voice-acted. From 1984 to 1986, he voiced the narrator for the children's television series Thomas & Friends, and starred as Mr. Conductor on Shining Time Station in 1989, a series associated with the Thomas & Friends franchise.
His most recent film endeavor was in 2014, when he was featured in the special of the animated series, ThePowerpuff Girls as Fibonacci Sequins. Despite pop culture's lack of acknowledgement for Starr's acting projects, he persevered as an actively diverse entertainer.
To this day, Starr continues to pursue a solo music career. Throughout his life, he has achieved two No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, topping the chart in 1973 with his song "Photograph" and in 1974 with his cover of Johnny Burnette's song "You're Sixteen."
Starr's continuous passion and exploration for all kinds of entertainment mediums has solidified his legacy as one of the industry's most iconic figures.
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This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 10:28 AM.