10 Actors Who Have Songs Named After Them
Music and movies have always shared a quiet understanding. Sometimes a name in a lyric does more than reference a person.
It captures a feeling, locks in an era, or taps into a presence too big to fit on screen alone.
That’s when a song stops sounding like a track and starts feeling like a moment you already lived.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for entertainment and cultural commentary about music references to well-known actors, based on publicly documented song titles, release information, and credited recordings.
10. Marilyn Monroe
Pharrell Williams released a song titled “Marilyn Monroe” in 2014, named for the actress.
Her image has always symbolized beauty and vulnerability rolled into one unforgettable package. The song captures that duality, blending modern beats with timeless Hollywood mystique.
Monroe’s influence stretches far beyond her film roles. When a producer like Pharrell nods to her legacy, it reminds us that some stars never really fade.
9. James Dean
In 1974, Eagles released a song that permanently tied Dean’s name to rock and roll mythology.
That brief yet blazing career turned James Dean into a lasting symbol of youthful rebellion.
Across just three films, cultural icon status arrived long before a tragic death at twenty-four. Matching that legacy, the track’s melancholy tone reflects the arc of a life that burned fast and bright.
Taken together, the story serves as a reminder that legends sometimes rise in only a handful of years.
8. Grace Kelly
Back in 2007, a quirky pop anthem arrived that borrowed Kelly’s name to make a pointed statement about identity. Rather than focusing on the actress herself, the song used her image as shorthand for reinvention and a refusal to stay inside any preset mold.
That reference worked because Grace Kelly’s journey from Hollywood royalty to actual royalty already carried instant cultural weight.
Behind it all sat Mika’s own frustration with executives eager to reshape him, with her name serving as the perfect metaphor for pushing back.
7. Bette Davis
Kim Carnes turned Davis’s legendary gaze into a chart-topping hit in 1981.
The song became one of the biggest singles of the decade.
Davis herself loved the tribute, even sending Carnes a thank-you note. Those eyes had launched a thousand movie moments, and now they powered a synth-pop anthem that dominated radio. Talk about a second act.
6. Steve McQueen
Sheryl Crow released “Steve McQueen” as a 2002 single co-written with John Shanks. On screen, the video tipped its hat to iconic film moments, moving easily between roaring car chases and stretches of hushed intensity.
That image worked because Steve McQueen embodied a version of masculinity that balanced toughness with vulnerability, a tension mirrored in the lyrics.
Even now, his name alone still summons motorcycles and movie magic that somehow feel untouched by time.
5. Clark Gable
The Postal Service included a track named after Gable on their 2003 album, blending indie-electronic vibes with old Hollywood glamour. Gable’s status as the ultimate leading man made him a natural fit for a song about longing and unattainable ideals.
His role in Gone with the Wind cemented his place in film history.
The song’s dreamy production mirrors the way we romanticize stars from another era.
4. Ingrid Bergman
Billy Bragg and Wilco recorded Woody Guthrie’s “Ingrid Bergman” for Mermaid Avenue (released in 1998). Grace and talent defined Ingrid Bergman, securing her place among cinema’s most cherished figures.
That recording landed on Mermaid Avenue, a project built to give Guthrie’s unheard words a voice.
Hearing her name woven into song now feels like a quiet love letter to an earlier era of filmmaking and artistry.
3. Clara Bow
2024 saw Taylor Swift release a song honoring Clara Bow, the original It Girl of the silent film era.
Bow’s arc of fame, scrutiny, and hard-earned resilience echoes experiences Swift has faced under a modern spotlight. Connections emerge between two women navigating public fascination while guarding private struggle.
For many listeners, Bow’s legacy had drifted out of view, yet Swift’s tribute gently pulled her back into conversation with empathy and care.
2. Greta Garbo
In 1983, Stevie Nicks released “Garbo” as the B-side to “Stand Back,” and the song references Greta Garbo. That choice made sense given how Greta Garbo’s fierce devotion to privacy only deepened public fascination.
Pulling from that aura, Nicks shaped a song steeped in mystery, letting it feel haunting and intimate at the same time.
Chart success never followed, yet the track endures as a fan favorite for those who admire how old Hollywood threads its way through her music.
1. Marlon Brando
Russ Le Roq (a stage name used by Russell Crowe) released the 1982 single “I Just Wanna Be Like Marlon Brando.
Brando redefined acting with his raw, emotional approach that felt revolutionary at the time. The song captured the universal dream of embodying that kind of magnetic presence and talent.
Even decades later, Brando’s name remains shorthand for greatness in performance and an unforgettable screen presence.
