have their ever been any succesful directors turned actors

[acab]

Orson Welles could be one.

[lilmac]

Werner Herzog

[The Movie Man]

Sydney Pollack, extremely talented, unfortunately passed in 2008.

He was one I was going to mention. I liked him. On others above, I would say no to rob reiner, actor first. Hitchcock as he just did cameos and most didn't speak. QT, no as he was a director from the start.

[The Movie Man]

Here's an oldie but a goodies. Mel Brooks.Like Allen he stared in his own movies, but I don't think he did it big to later in his career.

Edited January 7, 2013 by Movie Man

[dashrendar44]

Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Studios fame. Since his second movie as a director, he starred in them and for other directors like Crank: High Voltage.

Edited January 7, 2013 by dashrendar44

[The Movie Man]

Orson Welles could be one.

well, he also was an actor from the start, like Woody Allen, directing and starring in his earliest movies.