Our Favorite Celebs Have Been Hiding These Talents From Us This Whole Time

Emily Izsak|celebrity|24 Oct 2018

We all have our special talents. Some people can sing, or dance, or play an instrument, and it makes them unique and special. Some celebrities took these talents and turned them into a whole career!

However, just because they're famous doesn't mean that they're a one-trick pony. Many of these celebrities have some hidden talents you probably never knew about.

Bob Barker Will Kick Your Butt

94-year-old game show host Bob Barker is known for his work on The Price is Right, but don't be fooled by his kind persona. If he needs to, he can kick some serious butt. Barker trained and earned a black belt in karate with none other than the famed martial artist Chuck Norris.

What's more, Barker practices the sport every day. If it helps you reach the ripe old age of 94, then sign us up. We are in. We also love Barker for his dedication to animal rights! He works with groups like United Activists for Animal Rights and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Geena Davis Has A Mean Shot

It looks like Thelma is just as talented as Louise. Actress Geena Davis is so good at archery that she very nearly made the United State's Women's Archery team in the 2000 Summer Olympics. She was one of 300 women who tried out to make the prestigious games and while she placed in at 24th, she didn't quite qualify.

However, Geena did jump in as a wild-card entry at the Sydney International Golden Arrow competition. When asked about her love of the sport in 1999, she revealed that she had only picked up a bow two years previously.

Mike Tyson Loves Pigeons

He's one of the most famous boxers in the world, but Mike Tyson has a softer side to him that most people aren't aware of. His first fight was when he was age 11, after a local bully killed one of his beloved pet pigeons.

Throughout his life, he has worked with pigeon charities and races them competitively, even making a documentary about the winged sport in 2011 called Taking on Tyson. The controversial boxer retired from boxing in the mid-2000s, with a record of 50 wins and 6 losses.

Bob Dylan Likes To Weld

There are fewer artists more mysterious than the ever-brooding Bob Dylan. Throughout his music career he's often been hailed as moody and shies away from too much publicity, so it only makes sense that the King of Cool has an odd hobby.

Not only is he an artist and has held several exhibitions of his paintings, but he also likes to weld stuff. In 2013 the Halcyon Gallery in London displayed "Mood Swings," a display of several wrought iron gates Dylan had made himself. "I've been around iron all my life ever since I was a kid," he said.

Jennifer Garner Plays The Sax

Jennifer Garner has starred in a plethora of hit movies, including the teen smash 13 Going On 30, but her first love was the saxophone.

Garner picked up the instrument in her childhood, played in her high school marching band and has been in love with it ever since. She has showcased her musical talents on a few occasions, including in a clip for Vanity Fair, where she plays 'Mary Had a Little Lamb'. Jennifer also busted out the brass on the Donny & Marie show in 2000, playing a rendition of 'Make the World Go Away'. Bravo, Jen.

Justin Bieber Is A Rubik's Cube King

Bieber may be known for his good-boy-gone-bad image and his on-off romance with Selena Gomez, but don't think his talents stop on the stage. Biebs can outsmart the best of us with his Rubik's Cube game, putting one together in less than two minutes.

That definitely puts us to shame, when the majority of people can't figure it out at all. The singer has demonstrated this niche skill on a variety of shows throughout his career, in his movie Never Say Never and more recently, in his Carpool Karaoke appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Susan Sarandon Will Beat You At Ping Pong

Is there anything Susan Sarandon can't do? Not only did she gift us with one of the most iconic screen duos of all time, Thelma and Louise, and more recently portray a spot on version of Bette Davis in The Feud, but as it turns out she is a champion ping pong player too.

Sarandon is so good at the table-top sport that she even founded an international chain of table tennis clubs and bars in 2009, called SPiN. There are now seven locations around the U.S and Canada.

Christina Hendricks Plays The Accordion

Christina Hendricks is best known for her portrayal of no-nonsense Joan in the hit series Mad Men. The role earned her a variety of awards and also saw her rise to the top of many 'hottest female' lists. In the series, you can see Joan playing the accordion, and as it turns out, Christina wasn't pretending.

In reality, she loves playing the old-fashioned instrument and makes sure she keeps up with practicing regularly. "You can get so much out of it," she said. "It's like a one-man band."

Heidi Klum Is A World Class Painter

Model Heidi Klum has made a living from her striking looks, but she's creative off-camera, too. The 44-year-old is an avid painter, having had several of her works appear in art magazines in the U.S. After 9/11, she also created a sculpture which she named 'Dogs with Butterflies' to pay tribute to the role of rescue dogs in the wake of September 11.

Klum is also an avid buyer of art, often spending thousands on a new piece for her home, or sharing pictures of her favorite artists on Instagram.

Kevin Bacon Knows How To Rock

He may be known primarily as an actor, but Footloose star Kevin Bacon has been in a band with his brother Michael since 1995. The pair performs under the name The Bacon Brothers and has composed songs for several movies and TV shows. While the band hasn't released anything official since 2014, they often get together for benefit concerts.

In the past, they have performed at the non-profit California Dream Week design contest which awards students with scholarships. To date, the duo has six albums under their belt, with plans to release more.

Kristen Stewart Can Juggle

Kristen Stewart is known more for her dramatic break-up with Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson than her acting talent, but there is something that the 27-year-old is unbeatable at – juggling. In 2010, when the Twilight saga was still a thing, Kristen made an appearance on Lopez Tonight to show host George Lopez her skills, and they were impressive.

It takes a lot of skill and coordination to accurately juggle, so Kristen, we salute you. If her career as an actress ever goes down the drain, at least she can join the circus!

Jason Lee Is Cooler Than You Think

British actor and comedian Ricky Gervais is the mastermind that brought us The Office. He has hit headlines numerous times over his close-to-the-knuckle jokes and controversial comedy. However, before he was making people laugh, he was trying his best to break into the music industry.

In the early 1980s, Ricky was part of a New Wave pop-duo called Seona Dancing. Although they tried their best, the pair weren't really that good. Their singles failed to chart in the U.S or the U.K, but they did have one hit in the Philippines with "More to Lose."

Ed O'Neill Would Win In A Fight

Ed O'Neill has made a living out of playing crotchety men, first as Al Bundy in Married with Children and more recently as Jay in the uber-successful Modern Family. In fact, he's been nominated for three Emmy Awards for the role.

Ed was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by John Milius, training for over 20 years with Rorion Gracie. He achieved black belt status in 2007 and has stated that gaining the accolade was "the greatest achievement of my life, apart from my children." He also appeared in the 2012 documentary, I Am Bruce Lee.

Ricky Gervais Can Belt A Tune

Vanilla Ice Has A Need For Speed

There was a time when Vanilla Ice had it all — hit records, money and his pick of women, but the Texan born rapper actually started out as a champion motocross racer, winning a ton of awards in the mid-1980s.

According to his biography, Ice believes he was always destined to be a motocross racer while music was just a hobby that happened to take off. After his music career died down a little, he then picked up jet skiing. Before long, he was ranked the 6th best jet ski racer in the world and had a sponsorship.

Colin Farrell Can Beat You In A Dance Off

Lovable Irish rouge and bad-boy actor Colin Farrell has made a name for himself in Hollywood, starring in blockbuster hits like S.W.A.T and Phonebooth – but acting is only his second love. Although he's a little embarrassed about it now, Farrell once taught line dancing classes in Ireland – and there are photos to prove it.

During an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in 2013, Fallon brought out a framed picture of the cowboy-hat-wearing, sleeveless shirt clad actor in his dancing prime. He also gave Ellen a class while visiting her show.

Harrison Ford Can Fly

Hans Solo could fly the Millennium Falcon, and as it turns out, Harrison Ford could probably take a good stab at it too. The 75-year-old actor is a licensed pilot of both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

In his locality of Jackson, Wyoming, Ford has helped the emergency services by providing assistance, in one instance rescuing a hiker who was overcome by dehydration. It hasn't all been smooth flying for Ford though, who broke his pelvis and ankle after crashing in 2015. It was his second crash.

Jack White Can Recover Your Couch

Musician Jack White is best known for his time in the band White Stripes. Although he went on to have a pretty successful solo career too, he came from humble beginnings. While he always knew he wanted to play music, he worked as a furniture upholsterer for a time.

White later admitted to sneaking CDs and tapes into the furniture he worked on, one of which was later discovered many years later hidden in a sofa. He later formed a band with another upholsterer – funnily enough – called The Upholsterers. That band never quite took off.

Pierce Brosnan Eats Fire

During a 2003 interview, James Bond alum Pierce Brosnan talked about his ability to eat fire after chance training he received in the late 1960s. "Some guy was teaching people to fire-eat. There was a big group of people in there so I thought I'd join in.

This guy was a street performer and he was teaching us how to put the flames across the chest so I went to the workshop and I learnt how to fire-eat. It's still [on my CV], absolutely." We certainly wouldn't expect anything less from 007.

From Guns N' Roses To Meridian Rock

Duff McKagan has been the bass player for the rock band Guns N' Roses (GNR) for more than a dozen years. The formerly hard-partying musician ran into some health problems in 1994, when his pancreas exploded. McKagan was completely laid up by the incident and found himself with hours of spare time on his hands. He started flipping through GNR's financial records and made a startling discovery: he couldn't understand any of it. "As a 30-year-old millionaire, how do I admit to somebody that I don't know what the [expletive] I'm doing?"

He started taking finance courses and it turned out that he had a knack for money management, even graduating with a business degree eventually. McKagan now operates Meridian Rock, a wealth management firm for musicians. That's quite a service for an iconic rocker to offer to up-and-coming musicians!

Sarah Michelle Gellar Has a Black Belt

Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar studied martial arts for her starring role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She was fully committed to Taekwondo and even earned a black belt. She played fourth at Taekwondo competition at Madison Square Garden.

Gellar also practiced gymnastics and kickboxing and competed in ice skating. Now her daughter Charlotte Grace practices martial arts. Gellar's husband posted a video of their five-year-old daughter practicing martial arts on Instagram.

David Beckham is an Amazing Chef

FOX via Getty Images

Soccer star David Beckham is now retired and has more time to do another thing he loves, cooking! Beckham took an Italian cooking class and spendings time in the kitchen at home, which he says relaxes him.

Beckham told The Times magazine, "I was obsessed with perfecting risotto because it is difficult: you have to constantly stir and add ingredients." Beckham is good friends with chef Gordon Ramsey. The two had a cook-off on The F Word TV series. (Ramsey won, but c'mon, that's pretty good.)

Will Ferrell Runs Marathons

Comedian Will Ferrell also has talents elsewhere. When the funnyman isn't cracking up the audience in one of his films, he also enjoys running. In fact, he's completed the 2003 Boston Marathon in 3 hours and 56 minutes.

Ferrell hilariously told Competitor Running, "People are terribly underwhelmed when they recognize me in a race. There's nothing funny going on. It's just a lot of silence and pain." Ferrell says he runs a four-to-six miles a few times a week.

Kaley Cuoco Is An Equestrian

Not only was The Big Bang actress Kaley Cuoco an amateur tennis player, she also competes in equestrian jumping events. She's been competing since she was a teenager and has a special love for horses. Cuoco owns several horses named Poker Face, Bobo, Shmooshy, Escarlata, and Nettypie,

She's engaged to Karl Cook, who is a professional equestrian and they are regularly spotted at horse events together. The couple also has an incredible barn with a stunning chandelier. She shares so many images of her horses on her Instagram you wouldn't know she's an actress!

Elijah Wood is a DJ and Owns a Record Label

This one may surprise you, but actor Elijah Wood is a DJ. Famous for his role as Frodo in Lord of the Rings, Wood also DJ's at events. He spun at Bushmills Live in 2012 and at the pre-Emmy party at The London West Hollywood Hotel.

Fans spread rumors that his DJ name is "DJ Frodo" but Wood says it's not true. The actor's love of music extends to producing, and he started a record label, Simian Records in 2005.

Nicole Richie Is A Fashion Designer

Most people know her for her reality TV series, and being the wife to musician Joel Madden, but Nicole Richie has a lot going on behind the scenes. Richie is a fashion designer and started her company House of Harlow in 2008.

Her brand includes jewelry, handbags, fragrance and maternity clothes. House of Harlow was named Brand of the Year and Richie "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Glamour magazine in 2010.

Patrick Dempsey Competes In Indy Car Racing

Actor Patrick Dempsey is most well-known for his role on Grey's Anatomy but he has more going for him than TV and film. Dempsey has consistently competed in racing cars throughout his acting career. He races in Indy Car and has competed in 24 Hours of Daytona, the Baja 1000, and 24 Hours of LeMans where he placed second.

He's competed in over 68 races and won the Fuji round of the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship. Dempsey races a Porsche 911 RSR and is heavily involved with the Porsche team.

Angelina Jolie Has Her Pilot's License

Angelina Jolie is the ultimate independent woman as a single mom to six kids, an accomplished actress, and a humanitarian working with the United Nations. That's why it comes as no surprise that Angelina Jolie also has her pilot's license.

Jolie received her pilot's license in 2004 and owns a Cirrus SR22-G2. She first took up the hobby when her son Maddox took an interest in planes at a young age. He's flying now, too!

Jason Statham is a World-Class Diver

Actor Jason Statham had a different career before he got into acting. Statham is a world-class diver and competed with the British national diving team. He competed in the 1990 Commonwealth Games in the 10 meter, 3 meter, and 1 meter. Statham first started diving when he was eleven-years-old after being inspired by a man diving in a hotel pool in Miami.

Statham told IGN that diving "teaches you discipline, focus, and certainly keeps you out of trouble." He then got into sports modeling, which led to acting.

Sarah Jessica Parker is a Ballerina

Yep, Sex in the City starlette Sarah Jessica Parker grew up singing and dancing ballet. Her petite figure is ideal for a dancer. She studied ballet since the age of eight, taking two classes each week. She loved performing and was inspired by the older dancers she saw in the ballet company.

Parker is seen taking her daughters to New York City Ballet's Spring Gala. She’s also on the board of New York City Ballet, which is impressive!

Jerry Springer is a Lawyer and Politician

Not only does Jerry Springer have a law degree from Northwestern, but he held a job as a campaign aide to Robert Kennedy. After Kennedy was assassinated, Springer worked for a law firm in Cincinnati.

Springer ran for Congress in 1970 but didn't win the seat. The following year he was elected to the Cincinnati City Council. He still wanted to be involved with politics, but once The Jerry Springer Show took off, no one took him seriously, so he pulled his bid for the Senate race in 2000 and again in 2004.

The Rock is Really Good at Selfies

Everyone knows the actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is a world-class wrestler and some even know that he was a football player before that. But did you know that Johnson holds a Guinness world record? Yep, The Rock officially holds the world record for the most selfies taken in three minutes.

He successfully took 105 selfies in three minutes, with all of the images in focus, which was a requirement. While it's not the most impressive skill, he holds the title of selfie king.

Natalie Portman Can Speak Multiple Languages

Actress Natalie Portman is a well-educated woman. She graduated from Harvard with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 2003, opting to put her acting career on hold while she received her education, stating "I don't care if [college] ruins my career. I’d rather be smart than a movie star."

Portman also speaks several languages. Born in Jerusalem, she speaks Hebrew. She’s also fluent in French, Japanese, German, and Spanish! You have to admit that’s pretty amazing.

Hugh Jackman is a Fantastic Singer

X-Men actor Hugh Jackman is not only an action film star, he can sing, too. Jackman appeared in Broadway Theater in The Boy From Oz and earned a Tony Award for his performance.

Jackman also toured Australia singing Broadway musicals, including Les Miserables and has been accompanied by a 150-piece orchestra and back-up dancers. You'll never look at Wolverine the same way!

Clint Eastwood Plays the Piano

Actor Clint Eastwood has a hidden talent that he brings out every once in a while. Eastwood plays the piano very well and has a love of jazz. He's played the piano in a few scenes he’s filmed and sits down at the piano during downtime on set.

His friend said Eastwood, "would actually play the piano until his fingers were bleeding" and played ragtime piano at a bar in Oakland.

Joel McHale is a Talented Football Player

Comedian Joel McHale may not strike you as the athletic type, but he's actually a talented athlete. McHale was recruited to the rowing team of the University of Washington and played on the school’s football team.

McHale walked on as a tight end and even won a Rose Bowl ring when the Huskies defeated Michigan in 1992. We’re glad he switched careers because he is hilarious.

James Franco is a Professor

Could you imagine taking a course led by actor James Franco? He's studied at Columbia, NYU, and UCLA among other universities, and has taught at NYU, UCLA, and USC. He’s led a screenplay-writing class and has also taught creative writing.

Nicholas Curcio, who took one of his classes told LA Weekly, "He definitely cares a lot about teaching and it’s not just something he’s just doing. As a teacher he’s has office hours and is pretty normal."

Shaquille O'Neal is a Scholar

Shaquille O'Neal may have been one of the most dominating forces on the basketball court during his time in the NBA, but did you know that he completed college in his downtime? Shaq has a bachelor’s degree, an MBA, and worked in the Department of Human Resource Development at Barry University.

He says he chose to receive further education because "It’s just something to have on my resume for when I go back into reality. Someday I might have to put down a basketball and have a regular 9-to-5 like everybody else."

Drew Carey Can Bowl With the Best of Them

Actor, comedian, and host Drew Carey wears a lot of hats in the entertainment world, but did you know he's a solid bowler as well? He plays often and can be seen in the front row of PBA bowling competitions that are televised if you pay attention.

Carey has also participated in charity bowling matches and works bowling into his TV shows when possible. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, it’s his favorite past time.

Brooke Shields Can Ski Circles Around You

Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images

never seems to change! Shields is also an avid skier and has participated in celebrity ski events. She competed in the Second Annual Pepsi Celebrity Ski Invitational in 1988.

She's also been spotted on ski vacations and played a role in Chalet Girl, a comedy sports film that was shot on the slopes in Austria.