By Lizerne Guiting

Ben Affleck stars in and directs his latest film Argo, a suspense thriller based on actual events during the height of the Iranian revolution.With two solid efforts (The Town, Gone Baby Gone) already under his belt, we expect Argo to be a worthy followup. Let's look at 16 other actors turned directors who've wowed audiences behind the camera as well as in front of it.

Sean Penn

It wasn't long before this Fast Times At Ridgemont High star ventured into more dramatic fare, proving he was a tour de force in The Thin Red Line and Dead Man Walking, as well as 2008's biographical drama, Milk. His directing efforts have themes just as intense and tragic, including the critically acclaimed Into The Wild.

Mel Gibson

Known for his candid acting as well as his unreserved outspokenness, Gibson's passionate performances pack plenty of punch. Before directing and starring in Braveheart, he entertained auds with action franchises Lethal Weapon and Mad Max. He went on to direct Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto, which were both foreign language films.

Jon Favreau

Before directing, Favreau generated laughs on TV and in films such as Very Bad Things and Swingers, and continued his collaboration with Vince Vaughn directing him in Made.Elf in 2003 marked his breakthrough and five years later he teamed with Robert Downey Jr. for the superhero blockbuster Iron Man, which received rave reviews.

George Clooney

From the hit TV series E/R to Batman & Robin to the animated Fantastic Mr. Fox, Clooney has just about done it all. He's directed Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, an entertaining crime caper biography, and Good Night, and Good Luck, a dramatic look at broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow, and gave us one of 2011's best political dramas, The Ides of March.

Penny Marshall

The younger sister of Gary Marshall was married to Rob Reiner (also on this list) for 10 years, but she soon made a name for herself in a long list of TV credits, including '70s sitcoms Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley. Penny went on to direct Big, becoming the first woman whose film grossed more than $100 million at the U.S. box office. Her success continued with Oscar contenders Awakenings and A League of Their Own.

Rob Reiner

Still known to his fans as "Meathead" on '70s sitcom All in the Family, Reiner smoothly transitioned into directing feature films in the '80s beginning with music mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. He made a name for himself with films such as Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery and A Few Good Men.

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner's most memorable acting credits include Dances With Wolves, The Untouchables, The Bodyguard, Field of Dreams, and JFK, among many others. Although his directorial efforts have been slim (and included a Razzie Award), his debut Dances With Wolves won a whopping seven Oscars. Dances With Wolves and Field of Dreams are also on AFI's list of 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All time.

Barbra Streisand

Who knew that the Funny Girl star with a powerhouse voice had a knack for working behind the camera? Streisand took on a man's world by producing, starring in and directing Yentl (not unlike her titular character). Female filmmakers in the '80s were a rarity, and there were even fewer actresses turned directors, but Streisand proved it could be done. All of her feature-directed films received Oscar nods!

Kenneth Branagh

The works of Shakespeare abound on Branagh's early filmography, including Henry V and Hamlet, both of which he directed and starred in. Besides Shakespeare, he's also known for his adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. In the last 10 years, he's taken on a variety of projects – like a role as a professor in Harry Potter, Sir Laurence Olivier in My Week With Marilyn, and directing Marvel's Thor.

Robert Redford

Redford cemented his name in Hollywood with stellar films Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and Out of Africa to name a few. His directorial debut Ordinary People garnered four Oscars as well as his subsequent works: A River Runs Through It, Quiz Show, The Horse Whisperer. In addition to his cinematic slate, his legacy continues through his founding of the Sundance Festival and advocacy of independent film.

Warren Beatty

Before the big screen, Beatty already had a wealth of TV roles. His first commercial film success came from Bonnie and Clyde, which he also produced and starred in. Screenwriting proved to be a strong suit, and the films he had most control over (acting, writing, and directing) became his most critically acclaimed, including Heaven Can Wait, Reds and Dick Tracy.

Clint Eastwood

Eastwood redefined the Western genre and is one of those rare Hollywood icons who got his start acting in classics like A Fistful of Dollars, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and Dirty Harry. He's consistently made films of caliber on both sides of the camera having directed more than 30 films to date, including the Oscar-winning Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, and Unforgiven.

Ron Howard

This TV actor (The Andy Griffith Show, Happy Days) found his calling as a director in his 20s, jump-starting his career with Grand Theft Auto, and hasn't gone back to acting since, except for an occasional cameo or voice role. He has an impressive oeuvre to date with A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13, as well as equally entertaining crowd-pleasers Backdraft and Willow.

Woody Allen

Revered for portraying neurotic New Yorkers and crafting witty, comical stories, Allen is one of those Hollywood geniuses whose artistic talents flourish with complete creative control of his films. He started out writing comedy, then began acting, and soon after, directing. Two of his best works include Annie Hall, his first Oscar-winning film, and 2011's Midnight In Paris, which starred Owen Wilson as a writer who travels back in time to meet Hemingway, Picasso, and other artists.

Orson Welles

Welles technically didn't start out as an actor and turn into a director (he began acting, writing and directing all at the same time), but he was such a big contributor to Hollywood's cinematic landscape that we'd be crazy to exclude him from this list. Although his only film to ever receive an Oscar was Citizen Kane, it still stands the test of time at the #1 spot of AFI's 100 best American movies list.

Charles Chaplin

Chaplin started out as a stage performer as a boy and in his 20s launched his film career – acting, writing, and directing the majority of his films. He didn't have to say a word to prove he was a great entertainer. This silent film icon's most memorable character, The Little Tramp, was often a victim of circumstance, and recognizable by his trademark bowler hat, toothbrush mustache, large shoes and funny walk.