How Well Are Actors-Turned-DJs Rocking the Party?
Austin “Chumlee” Russell
Best known as: Co-host of the History Channel show Pawn Stars, where his goofball comic charm has made him a breakout star.
Years DJ’ing: Since early 2015
How’s it going? After taking lessons at a “DJ institute” called Blend and practicing “for, like, a month straight,” Chumlee made his debut in February at Vegas’ Ghostbar Dayclub; his rider for the show requested five Nerf guns, Girl Scout cookies and “beautiful waitresses to take me to the stage.”
Kristian Nairn
Best known as: Hodor, the lovable gentle giant on Game of Thrones.
Years DJ’ing: 12
How’s it going? Nairn, who grew up in Northern Ireland, was a fixture on the Belfast DJ scene years before he started acting. “I’m shooting emotional laser beams out into the crowd,” he’s said of his DJ sets. Recently, Nairn embarked on the Rave of Thrones Tour, which promised “the deepest house from all seven kingdoms” and asked attendees to show up in GoT-themed costumes.
Nick Hogan
Best known as: The son of WWE legend Hulk Hogan and co-star of the late-’00s reality-TV show Hogan Knows Best.
Years DJ’ing: 5
How’s it going? Hogan was training to follow in his father’s legendary footsteps and get in the ring, but a shoulder injury eventually pushed him into DJ’ing. In 2014, he released the single “Everybody’s Doing It.” A video for the song shows footage of people partying during DJ sets at Hogan’s Beach, a Tampa Bay club and seafood restaurant owned by his family.
RJ Mitte
Best known as: The award-winning actor who portrayed Walt Jr., Walter White‘s disabled son on Breaking Bad.
Years DJ’ing: “The last little bit”
How’s it going? Mitte debuted on the decks with this year’s five-city Breaking Beats Tour, playing a set that ranged from deep house to hip-hop. Though he has admitted he’s “not a professional,” he said, “I can match up beats fairly decently.” Mitte isn’t the first Breaking Bad alum to break a beat; in 2013, actor Aaron Paul released a house anthem called “Dance Bitch.”