These actors have doubled as TV hosts

Terry Crews has amassed millions of fans throughout his career, and they likely all know him for something different. Whether it’s thanks to his football career, his role in White Chicks, his time on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, or his hosting duties for various shows like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and America’s Got Talent, Crews is a recognizable guy. 

When Jimmy Fallon left Saturday Night Live, he planned to act. And while he did star in a couple of comedic movies, like Fever Pitch across from Drew Barrymore, he eventually stumbled into something even he didn’t expect: hosting late-night television. After years as the host of The Tonight Show, Fallon is better known for his hosting work than his acting work. 

Jimmy Fallon blazed a trail for other former Saturday Night Live cast members to step into late-night television hosting gigs, and Seth Meyers followed in earnest. Thanks to his time hosting "Weekend Update," Meyers had already proven he had the skills to be a fantastic late-night host by the time he got his own gig. 

While Nick Cannon’s claim to fame these days might be the number of children he has, he also has plenty of professional credits. In addition to his acting gigs, Cannon has hosted many shows, most notably The Masked Singer, America’s Got Talent, and Wild ’n Out. 

Ellen DeGeneres started her career as a standup comic, and she eventually moved into film and television work, scoring her own sitcom in the mid-'90s. However, her most prolific work in television was her time spent hosting her eponymous daytime talk show, which lasted for 19 seasons. 

A talented singer and actress, Adrienne Bailon-Houghton made a throng of young fans when she became a member of The Cheetah Girls for three Disney Channel original movies. She had roles in other projects, too, but Bailon-Houghton found her footing when she began hosting television. Some of her credits include The Real and E! News. 

Drew Barrymore was once everybody’s favorite child actor and favorite rom-com star, but now she’s everybody’s favorite daytime talk show host. The Drew Barrymore Show has quickly become incredibly popular thanks to Barrymore’s authenticity and genuine interest in her guests’ lives. 

Garcelle Beauvais has been a working actress for years and made history as the first Black cast member of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Her time on Bravo also documented her work co-hosting The Real. Her stint on the talk show didn’t last long, though, as it was canceled shortly after she joined the panel. 

Whoopi Goldberg is a true legend. The EGOT winner has acted on stage and film, and for several years she’s been a co-host of The View, one of the most popular morning talk shows of all time. Her work on The View even earned her a Daytime Emmy Award, further cementing her status as one of the greatest entertainers ever. 

The world got to know Candace Cameron Bure as a child when she starred as DJ Tanner on Full House. As an adult, aside from reprising her role in the sitcom reboot Fuller House, most of her acting work has been in made-for-TV movies. She did, however, co-host The View for a short period. 

Known best for her work as the titular character in The Nanny and her iconic voice, Fran Drescher has had a long career in entertainment. Like many actors, Drescher garnered a slot for her self-titled talk show. Unfortunately, The Fran Drescher Show only ran for 16 episodes due to poor ratings. 

Arsenio Hall is an actor and comedian, but his work on The Arsenio Hall Show is so legendary it’s all some people know him for. Aside from hosting the late-night talk show, Hall can be found in Coming to America and its sequel, as well as episodes of various television shows. He also hosted a season of Star Search. 

Jenny McCarthy’s acting career started in the mid-'90s after she’d already become known for modeling. She’s also steadily woven hosting gigs into her career since her start, working for shows like Singled Out, The Jenny McCarthy Show, and The View. Though not a host, McCarthy is known for her work as a judge on The Masked Singer. 

Tamera Mowry will always be known for her work as one half of the twin duo on Sister, Sister, but she’s got several other credits to her name thanks to a long career in television. Mowry has hosted a variety of competition shows, but she’s best known as a host for her time on The Real.

Keke Palmer can do it all. She’s starred in television, film, and stage productions and hosted a little bit. Her hosting duties include Just Keke and Strahan, Sara and Keke, but her most famous hosting gig came from her episode of Saturday Night Live when she announced her pregnancy during her opening monologue. 

Rapper, singer, actress, and host are just a few of Queen Latifah’s titles. The star is an entertainment master, and she’s repeatedly proved herself. Queen Latifah hosted her own talk show and hosted multiple awards ceremonies, including the Grammy Awards and the NAACP Image Awards. 

When you’ve been working in entertainment for as long as Raven-Symoné, you try everything. The multi-hyphenate became well known for her role on The Cosby Show and later for her work on That’s So Raven, but she added host to her resume when she joined the panel of The View for a few seasons in the mid-2000s. 

Kelly Ripa has been hosting morning television for so long that it’s hard to remember she had a career as a soap opera star beforehand. In 2001, Ripa joined Regis Philbin as the co-host of Live!, and she’s had multiple co-hosts since Philbin’s departure, most recently her husband, Mark Conseulos. 

Olivia Munn’s acting credits include roles in shows like Greek, Chuck, and New Girl and parts in films like Deliver Us from Evil and Ride Along 2. In addition to her acting work, Munn has worked as a television host for programs like Attack of the Show! and the 23rd Critics Choice Awards ceremony. 

Valerie Bertinelli has lived quite a life. She was a child actor, was married to a rockstar, and has remained relevant in the entertainment industry into adulthood. In addition to her acting work, Bertinelli is known for being a cook and host on the Food Network for various programs, including her eponymous show Valerie’s Home Cooking.