12 Times Criminal Activity Launched an Entertainment Career
20th Century Studios, HBO
Inspiration can come from anywhere, and these former criminals or one-time mistake makers are living proof. Whether they needed a little time in the clink to get their literal act together, or they finally realized that we’re all suckers for true crime stories, these baddies spun their illegal doings into legal (and fruitful) careers.
We do love a touch of the naughty stuff, don’t we? We’re pretty sure the people who’ve had real-life encounters with gang members or the mafia wouldn’t describe them as “cool,” but from the safety of our couch, mob movies and gangster rap are pretty awesome. “Safety” seems to be the stand-out word there.
As outsiders with no real grasp of the actual dangers involved, that life just seems so enticing. Like, they don’t care about the law?! That’s wild stuff right there. Better yet, these specific career crooks lived to tell the tale. Even better yet, there just so happens to be a huge market for those tales. Here are 12 times criminal activity launched an entertainment career.
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And Leonardo DiCaprio played him in a movie, so he’ll always have that.
Sometimes, all it takes is showing up for someone.
20th Century Studios
From a murder trial to an ABC game show host. Snoop came a long way.
Norman Reedus’ worst day ended on a high note.
AMC
‘The Wire’ needed realism, and got it in droves.
HBO
Hmm, there seems to be a market for this.
If he didn’t cooperate with the FBI, he’d be in jail for life.
My dad was a famous mobster! Give me money for it!
Regan Media
His successful YouTube channel inspired other mobsters to start channels of their own.
This stunt driver got her chops evading the cops.
With all that down time, Capone-N-Noreaga got to writin’.
Warner Bros. Records
Well, that’s one way to get famous.
Junji Kurokawa/AFP