Famous Celebrities Who Played the Clarinet

Amanda Seyfried with her clarinet (photo from her Instagram @mingey)

We all know that the clarinet is the best instrument around, so it’s no surprise that these celebrities played (or still play!) the clarinet:

Woody Allen
John Candy
Gloria Estefan (she also played guitar!)
Sara Evans
Alan Greenspan
Alyson Hannigan
Samantha Irby
Jimmy Kimmel
Eva Longoria (she was also a drum major!)
Harpo Marx (check out this video of him goofing off with Benny Goodman and Reginald Kell)
Nicki Minaj
Christian Morin
Jenna Mourey aka Jenna Marbles
Julia Roberts (she also played oboe!)
Liev Schreiber
Amanda Seyfried
Steven Spielberg
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
And one more “celebrity” worth mentioning: Jeffrey Dahmer. Although he is more infamous than famous, I thought this is an interesting bit of trivia.

Don’t forget to check out my list of movies, shows, and series which feature the clarinet!

Know any other clarinet-playing celebrities? Leave a comment below so I can add them to the list! Maybe we can invite them to the next clarinet convention…?

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12 Comments

kyah

January 6, 2025 at 22:57 Reply

I love the clarinet i still plya it and i am in band i and i love to lren new music and i just had my first band cosrd it was the best

Wesley Parish

December 23, 2024 at 10:06 Reply

Interesting so many celebrities played the clarinet. I’ve been known to blow one – took me ages to get the hang of blowing long notes to train my embouchure, but eventually got there. (Though I play oboe in a concert/symphonic band … :) )

Robert bob

April 21, 2024 at 05:34 Reply

I Believe Elton John plays the Pink Oboe 🦇

David Ballengee

August 27, 2023 at 17:25 Reply

Did Steve Allen, who srarred as Benny Goodman in “The Benny Goodwin Story” actually know how to play the clarinet?

thomas frasca

April 16, 2023 at 19:29 Reply

Hi Jenny. Just wanted to throw in my two cents and add Elvis Presley to your list of clarinet players.

jennyclarinet

April 17, 2023 at 14:21 Reply

Thank you!
Gigi

May 26, 2023 at 11:41 Reply

Elvis presly did not play the clarient.

Alexis Sttoup

February 18, 2021 at 21:33 Reply

I didn’t know some of these played this instrument that is one of the best instruments in the band and I am a Bb clarinet.

jennyclarinet

February 20, 2021 at 15:28 Reply

In my opinion, the clarinet is definitely the best instrument, and it’s cool that so many celebrities have played (or play) it!