History Main / ThePerformerKing

* In ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse2021'', Man-E-Faces was a one-man acting troupe for the royal court of Eternos before he was cast out by King Miro. Man-E eventually became the self proclaimed [[KingOfTheHomeless King of the Lower Ward]], providing for Eterno's downtrodden and frequently putting on plays for his "subjects" to roaring applause.

* When Dave from ''WesternAnimation/DaveTheBarbarian'' is temporarily made king of Udrogoth, he enacts laws that start of as well-liked but soon creates unrest in the citizens. While at first feeling vengeful for their insolence, he quickly decides that it would be better to win them back by inviting all of them to he one-person play "Oh Pastry". The play was so bad that when [[FluffyTheTerrible the Darklord Chuckles the Silly Piggie]] (having just usurped Dave) makes his first law that musical theater is banned, he is greeted with applause.

* Before every joke about UsefulNotes/BillClinton was related to his sexual improprieties, he was known for playing the Saxophone (though the jokes are more along the lines of how quickly it was that Bill was ready to pull it out and start a jam session with musicians and somehow not come off as TotallyRadical pandering or just that with the sax and sunglasses he looked the part of a jazz or blues musician and rarely about the quality of the music. Clinton was a really good player for a hobbyist), to the point that the theme song for ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' had a line about it in their ThemeSong (though this was more because "While Clinton plays the Sax" somewhat rhymes with "Animaniacs" when sung).

* The Troll Tribes in ''WesternAnimation/TrollsWorldTour'' each have a culture based around music, following this each of their tribal leaders also lead their villagers in group songs. Poppy is depicted as just the lead vocalist, while the other tribe leaders also actually play lead instruments, with Trollzart being a conductor of his symphony and Trollex DJing raves.

* Being the closest thing to a king in is the show, Asmodeus in ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'' is one of the Seven Embodiments of Sin and Ruler of the Lust Ring of Hell, and clearly loves to get up on stage in his own nightclub to perform bombastic, sexually charged song numbers.

* Two United States Presidents were in show business before holding elected office (UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan and UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump) and were household names before their career switch. In Reagan's case, most would agree he was a better Statesman than an Actor, even if they didn't agree with his policies. Some critics dismissed him as an actor playing the role of President, but he'd already been rather politically active during his acting career and had already served 2 terms of governor of California before running for President, so this didn't hold a lot of water. [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement Debates about Donald Trump's Hollywood vs. Washington career are less clear cut on the matter, and that's all we'll say about that, thank you.]]

* King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norodom_Sihanouk#Artistic_works actually directed and performed]] in films, as well as a singer and composer.

* Mettaton from ''Undertale'' can be this in one of the neutral endings.

* King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norodom_Sihanouk#Artistic_works actually directed and acted]] in films.
* Sihanouk's neighbor in Thailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was a jazz musician in his own right and even composed songs.

* Mettaton from ''VideoGame/Undertale'' can be this in one of the neutral endings.

* Roman Emperor UsefulNotes/{{Nero}} sang and acted on the stage, and also competed in gladiator races. Many old-school upper-crust Romans disapproved, believing that Nero was undermining the dignity of his office. (Pliny called him an "actor-emperor".)

* Two United States Presidents were in show business before holding elected office (UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan and UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump) and were household names before their career switch. In Regan's case, most would agree he was a better Statesman than an Actor, even if they didn't agree with his policies. [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement Debates about Donald Trump's Hollywood vs. Washington career are less clear cut on the matter, and that's all we'll say about that, thank you.]]
** The number of actors turned politician in non-presidential offices in America politics, plus the rise of career politicians behaving like celebrities has often led to jokingly calling Washington D.C. "Hollywood for Ugly People". The fact that the #Metoo movement caught a lot of politicians and celebrities in its accusations has led to some people pointing out that "Ugly" specifically means physically unattractive and not metaphorical in any context. Both cities are filled with that kind of ugly.

* PlayedForLaughs in ''Theater/{{Amadeus}}'' where, while Emperor Joseph II is enthusiastic about music, he himself is a DreadfulMusician. This leads to [[ActuallyThatsMyAssistant confusion]] when he meets Mozart, who accidentally bows to Baron Von Sweiten, and has to be pointed to the piano where the Emperor is playing a piece that Salieri wrote. Badly.

* Roman Emperor Nero sang and acted on the stage, and also competed in gladiator races. Many old-school upper-crust Romans disapproved, believing that Nero was undermining the dignity of his office. (Pliny called him an "actor-emperor".)
* Henry the 8th (him with the wives) was a musician, writer, accomplished sportsman in various fields, and was well regarded as intensely charismatic and entertaining to be around... at least in his youth, as he infamously declined into a [[GrumpyOldMan bitter]], [[FatBastard fat]], [[IWasQuiteALooker ugly]] and [[TheBluebeard paranoid psychopath]] as he aged.
* Before every joke about UsefulNotes/BillClinton was related to his sexual improprieties, he was known for playing the Saxophone (though the jokes are more along the lines of how quickly it was that Bill was ready to pull it out and start a jam session with musicians and somehow not come off as TotallyRadical pandering or just that with the sax and sunglasses he looked the part of a jazz or blues musician and rarely about the quality of the music. Clinton was a really good player for a hobbyist), to the point that the theme song for ''WesternAnimation/Animaniacs'' had a line about it in their ThemeSong (though this was more because "While Clinton plays the Sax" somewhat rhymes with "Animaniacs" when sung).
* Two United States Presidents were in show business before holding elected office (UsefulNotes/Ronald Regan and UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump) and were household names before their career switch. In Regan's case, most would agree he was a better Statesman than an Actor, even if they didn't agree with his policies. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement Debates about Donald Trump's Hollywood vs. Washington career are less clear cut on the matter, and that's all we'll say about that, thank you.]]
** The number of actors turned politician in non-presidential offices in America politics, plus the rise of career politicians behaving like celebrities has often led to jokingly calling Washington D.C. "Hollywood for Ugly People". The fact that the #Metoo movement caught a lot of politicians and celebrities in it's accusations has led to some people pointing out that "Ugly" specifically mean physically unattractive and not metaphorical in any context. Both cities are filled with that kind of ugly.

-->'''[[Creator/MelBrooks Louis XVI]]''', “[[Film/HistoryOfTheWorldPartOne It’s Good to be the King]]”

[[YeOldeButcheredeEnglishe Ye olde]] eras gone by could be rather miserable--the people at the bottom [[TheDungAges wallowing in their own filth]] and working day and night, the people at the top held by TheChainsOfCommanding, and everyone else... well, there wasn't anyone else.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Film -- Animation]]

** Mance Rayder, aka The King [[GrimUpNorth Beyond the Wall]] is a talented musician who also happens to be badass enough to unite the fractious wildling clans into a single force and a capable military commander.

[[folder:Live-Action Series]]

* {{Series/Galavant}} has a straight example and a subversion. The old rulers of Valencia used to hold events where they led their people in hours-long sessions of improvisational theater. The new conqueror Richard makes a few attempts to do something similar to help his popularity in the kingdom, but both his standup (where he mostly made jokes about how easy to conquer they were) and the ball he throws (with music provided by his executioners) fall completely flat.

[[folder:TabletopGames]]

[[folder:Theatre]]

[[folder:Film - Animation]]

* In ''Theatre/{{Starmites}}'', Diva, the queen of the Banshees, enjoys performing, using her Banshees as her backup singers.
* PlayedForLaughs in ''Theater/{{Amadeus}}'' where while Emperor Joseph II is enthusiastic about music, he himself is a DreadfulMusician. This leads to [[ActuallyThatsMyAssistant confusion]] when he meets Mozart, who accidentally bows to Baron Von Sweiten, and has to be pointed to the piano where the Emperor is playing a piece that Salieri wrote. Badly.

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': Marceline is often referenced as "Marceline the Vampire Queen" and usually found writing songs and performing them publicly on her bass. While she is no queen to vampires (having exterminated all of the other vampires centuries prior), her father is the Ruler of the Nightosphere, so the trope still technically applies.
** Flame Princess takes up rapping, jamming with Finn in "Bun Bun", with Neptr in the talent show in "The Music Hole" and rapping for the right to rule her kingdom in "Son of Rap Bear."

* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E7HorsePlay Horse Play]]", Equestria's ruler - Princess Celestia - loves theater and always dreamed of acting in a play, even though her royal duties have never allowed her to take the time to do this. On learning this, her former student Twilight decides to give her the starring role in a play she had been writing about Celestia's own early life and ascent to rulership. Celestia is overjoyed, and takes to the role with gusto... until it turns out that Celestia is [[BadBadActing an incredibly bad actress]].

* The French king LouisXIV (the Sun King) was well known for participating in ballets and theater in his youth, and was quite good at it by all accounts.