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John Waters

John Waters

Director · Born April 22, 1946 · Baltimore, Maryland, USA

IMDb

Highest rated as cast or director

Biography

John Samuel Waters Jr. (born April 22, 1946) is an American filmmaker, writer, actor, and artist. He rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films, including Multiple Maniacs (1970), Pink Flamingos (1972) and Female Trouble (1974). Waters wrote and directed the comedy film Hairspray (1988), which was later adapted into a hit Broadway musical and a 2007 musical film. Other films he has written and directed include Desperate Living (1977), Polyester (1981), Cry-Baby (1990), Serial Mom (1994), Pecker (1998), and Cecil B. Demented (2000). His films contain elements of post-modern comedy and surrealism. As an actor, Waters has appeared in Sweet and Lowdown (1999), 'Til Death Do Us Part (2007), Mangus! (2011), Excision (2012), Suburban Gothic (2014), and has appeared in the Child's Play franchise with Seed of Chucky (2004) and third season of the television series Chucky (2024). He hosted and produced the television series John Waters Presents Movies That Will Corrupt You (2006). Throughout his career, Waters has often collaborated with actor and drag queen Divine and his regular cast of the Dreamlanders. More recently, he performs in his touring one-man show This Filthy World. Waters also works as a visual artist and across different media, such as installations, photography, and sculpture. The audiobooks he narrated for his books Carsick and Mr. Know-It-All were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2015 and 2020, respectively. In 2018, Waters was named an officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in France. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.

Directed 20

2010s

  1. 2019

    30/30 Vision: Three Decades of Strand Releasing

    Director

  2. 2015

    Kiddie Flamingos

    Director

1980s

  1. 1988

    Hairspray

    Director

    77
  2. 1982

    Nuart Theatre No Smoking PSA

    Director

  3. 1981

    Polyester

    Director

    75

1970s

  1. 1977

    Desperate Living

    Director

    69
  2. 1976

    Female Trouble

    Director

  3. 1972

    Pink Flamingos

    Director

    62
  4. 1970

    The Diane Linkletter Story

    Director

  5. Multiple Maniacs

    Director

    74

1960s

  1. 1969

    Mondo Trasho

    Director

  2. 1968

    Eat Your Makeup

    Director

  3. Dorothy, the Kansas City Pot Head

    Director

  4. 1964

    Hag in a Black Leather Jacket

    Director

No release date

  1. Liarmouth: A Feel-Bad Romance

    Director

Acted in 65

2010s

  1. 2018

    Mugworth

    Sir Butler

  2. Liverspots and Astronots

    O-Dor · 21 episodes

  3. Female Trouble: On-Set Footage

    Movie

  4. 2017

    FEUD

    William Castle · 1 episode

    81
  5. 2016

    Search Party

    Sheffield · 2 episodes

    74
  6. 2015

    Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip

    First Class Passenger

    41

  7. The 1000 Eyes of Dr Maddin

    Movie

  8. 2014

    Suburban Gothic

    Cornelius

    57

  9. Clarence

    Captain Tom (voice) · 1 episode

    72
  10. 2013

    The Blacklist

    John Waters · 1 episode

    78
  11. 2012

    Excision

    William

    68
  12. 2011

    American Horror Story

    Mr. Phibes · 6 episodes

    80

  13. Mangus!

    Jesus Christ

  14. 2010

    Fish Hooks

    The Yeti Lobster (voice), Ezekiel Freshwater / Hair Man (voice) · 1 episode

    54

  15. Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore

    Movie

2000s

  1. 2007

    Hairspray

    Flasher

    75

  2. Each Time I Kill

    Movie Watcher

  3. 'Til Death Do Us Part

    TV

  4. 2006

    Mommie Dearest: Joan Lives On

    Movie

  5. The Henry Rollins Show

    TV

  6. Footlight Parade: Music for the Decades

    Movie

  7. Meet The Kuchar Brothers

    Movie

  8. I, of the Cyclops

    Movie

  9. 2005

    My Name Is Earl

    Walter Hamerick · 1 episode

    77
  10. 2004

    Seed of Chucky

    Pete Peters

    47
  11. 2003

    Abby Singer

    John Waters (uncredited)

  12. 2002

    Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat

    The Reverend

  13. 2000

    Welcome to Hollywood

    John Waters

  14. Cecil B. Demented

    Reporter

    60

1980s

  1. 1989

    The Simpsons

    John (voice) · 1 episode

    84

  2. Homer and Eddie

    Robber #1

  3. 1988

    Hairspray

    Dr. Fredrickson

    77

  4. Way USA!

    Movie

  5. 1987

    21 Jump Street

    Mr. Bean · 1 episode

    72
  6. 1986

    Something Wild

    Used Car Guy

    74
  7. 1985

    The Ballad of Sexual Dependency

    Movie

1960s

  1. 1969

    Mondo Trasho

    Reporter (voice) (uncredited)

No release date

  1. Baltigore

    The Broker

Wrote 20

2010s

  1. 2016

    Hairspray Live!

    Original Story

    72
  2. 2015

    Kiddie Flamingos

    Writer

2000s

  1. 2007

    Hairspray

    Original Film Writer

    75
  2. 2006

    This Filthy World

    Screenplay

  3. 2004

    A Dirty Shame

    Writer

    53
  4. 2000

    Cecil B. Demented

    Writer

    60

1970s

  1. 1977

    Desperate Living

    Writer

    69
  2. 1976

    Female Trouble

    Writer

  3. 1972

    Pink Flamingos

    Writer

    62
  4. 1970

    The Diane Linkletter Story

    Writer

  5. Multiple Maniacs

    Writer

    74

1960s

  1. 1969

    Mondo Trasho

    Writer

  2. 1968

    Eat Your Makeup

    Writer

  3. Dorothy, the Kansas City Pot Head

    Writer

  4. 1964

    Hag in a Black Leather Jacket

    Writer

Produced 11

1970s

  1. 1977

    Desperate Living

    Producer

    69
  2. 1976

    Female Trouble

    Producer

  3. 1972

    Pink Flamingos

    Producer

    62
  4. 1970

    The Diane Linkletter Story

    Producer

  5. Multiple Maniacs

    Producer

    74

1960s

  1. 1969

    Mondo Trasho

    Producer

  2. 1968

    Eat Your Makeup

    Producer

  3. 1964

    Hag in a Black Leather Jacket

    Producer

Camera 8

1970s

  1. 1977

    Desperate Living

    Additional Photography

    69
  2. 1976

    Female Trouble

    Director of Photography

  3. 1972

    Pink Flamingos

    Director of Photography

    62
  4. 1970

    The Diane Linkletter Story

    Director of Photography

  5. Multiple Maniacs

    Director of Photography

    74

1960s

  1. 1969

    Mondo Trasho

    Director of Photography

  2. 1968

    Eat Your Makeup

    Director of Photography

  3. 1964

    Hag in a Black Leather Jacket

    Director of Photography

Edited 7

1970s

  1. 1976

    Female Trouble

    Editor

  2. 1972

    Pink Flamingos

    Editor

    62
  3. 1970

    The Diane Linkletter Story

    Editor

  4. Multiple Maniacs

    Editor

    74

1960s

  1. 1969

    Mondo Trasho

    Editor

  2. 1968

    Eat Your Makeup

    Editor

  3. 1964

    Hag in a Black Leather Jacket

    Editor

Sound 2

1960s

  1. 1969

    Mondo Trasho

    Original Music Composer

Appearances120

2020s

  1. 2026

    Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World

    Self

  2. Return to Mortville

    Self

  3. Eddie Cochran: Don't Forget Me

    Self

  4. 2025

    TURA!

    Self

  5. Velvet Vision: The Story of James Bidgood and the Making of Pink Narcissus

    Self

  6. It's Dorothy!

    Self

  7. A Summer with Joe, Liz and Richard

    Self

  8. Everybody's Live with John Mulaney

    Self - Writer and Film Director · 1 episode

  9. 2024

    Doc of Chucky

    Self

  10. Scala!!!

    Self

  11. 2023

    Lynch/Oz

    Host (Chapter 3: 'Kindred') (voice)

  12. Little Richard: I Am Everything

    Self

    78
  13. 2022

    Don't Fall in Love with Yourself

    Self (Archival)

  14. Fragments of Paradise

    Self

  15. Living with Chucky

    Self

    65

  16. The Book of Harth

    Self

  17. Tell Me Iggy

    Self

  18. The Andy Warhol Diaries

    Self · 6 episodes

    74
  19. 2021

    Blood, Guts and Sunshine: The History of Horror Made in Florida

    Self [archival]

  20. The Velvet Underground

    Self

    80

  21. Pride

    Self · 6 episodes

    71
  22. 2020

    The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo

    Himself

  23. Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp

    Host

  24. Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi

    Host

  25. Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness

    Host

  26. Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time

    Self - Host · 3 episodes

2010s

  1. 2019

    30/30 Vision: Three Decades of Strand Releasing

    Self

  2. At the Video Store

    Self

  3. Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn

    Self

    67

  4. Sniffing Out ‘Polyester’

    Self

  5. 2018

    Explained

    Narrator (voice) · 1 episode

    78

  6. Sickies Making Films

    Self

  7. 2017

    Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution

    Self

  8. Mansfield 66/67

    Self

  9. 2016

    Wall Writers

    Narrator (voice)

  10. In Conversation With Director John Waters, Actress Kathleen Turner and Actress Mink Stole

    Self

  11. Whatever Happened to Gelitin

    Self

  12. The New Yorker Presents

    Self · 1 episode

  13. 2015

    Sympathy for the Devil: The True Story of The Process Church of the Final Judgment

    Self

  14. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

    Self - Guest · 1 episode

    69

  15. Seed Money: The Chuck Holmes Story

    Self

  16. Tab Hunter Confidential

    Self

    74
  17. 2014

    The Last Impresario

    Self

  18. I Am Divine

    Self

    78

  19. Late Night with Seth Meyers

    Self - Guest · 1 episode

    60

  20. HitRECord on TV with Joseph Gordon-Levitt

    Self · 1 episode

    76
  21. 2013

    Jingle Bell Rocks!

    Self

  22. Paul Bowles: The Cage Door Is Always Open

    Self

  23. The Sarnos: A Life in Dirty Movies

    Self

  24. 2012

    Frankenstein: A Modern Myth

    Self - Director

  25. Mansome

    Self

  26. Finding Your Roots

    Self · 1 episode

    80
  27. 2011

    The Advocate for Fagdom

    Self

  28. Blank City

    Self

  29. These Amazing Shadows

    Self

  30. 2010

    William S. Burroughs: A Man Within

    Self

  31. Beautiful Darling

    Self

  32. The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special - In 3D! On Ice!

    Self

2000s

  1. 2009

    It Came from Kuchar

    Self

  2. Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

    Self - Guest · 1 episode

    54

  3. For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism

    Self

  4. RuPaul's Drag Race

    Self - Guest Judge, Self - Special Guest · 1 episode

    82
  5. 2008

    The Wild World of Ted V. Mikels

    Narrator

  6. Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press

    Self

  7. Starz Inside: In the Gutter

    Self

  8. New Line Cinema: The First Generation and the Next Generation

    Self

  9. Coven of the Heathenites

    Self

  10. 2007

    365 Day Project

    Self

  11. You Can’t Stop the Beat: The Long Journey of "Hairspray"

    Self

  12. The Roots of 'Hairspray'

    Self

  13. Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story

    Self

    82

  14. The Junior Defenders

    Narrator

  15. Jessica the Hippo

    Narrator (Voice)

  16. Indie Sex

    Self · 1 episode

  17. Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis

    Self

  18. The Graham Norton Show

    Self - Guest · 2 episodes

    81

  19. Here’s Looking at You, Boy

    Self

  20. 2006

    This Filthy World

    Self

  21. Jackass Number Two

    Self

    68

  22. This Film Is Not Yet Rated

    Self - Director of 'A Dirty Shame'

  23. I Love the '70s: Volume 2

    Self · 10 episodes

  24. Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream

    Self

  25. 42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage

    Self

  26. (buz'be bur'kle) n. A Study in Style

    Self

  27. Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea

    Self - Narrator (voice)

  28. Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema

    Self

  29. That Man: Peter Berlin

    Self

  30. 2005

    The Colbert Report

    Self - Guest · 2 episodes

    80

  31. It Came from... Baltimore!!

    Self

  32. All the Dirt on 'A Dirty Shame'

    Self

  33. Inside Deep Throat

    Self

    69
  34. 2004

    Thinking XXX

    Self

    59

  35. Closer Than That: A Documentary on Low

    Himself

  36. 2003

    Real Time with Bill Maher

    Self - Guest · 9 episodes

    69

  37. A History of Sex

    Self

  38. 2002

    The Cockettes

    Self

  39. 2001

    Memories of Oz

    Self

  40. 2000

    Pie in the Sky: The Brigid Berlin Story

    Self

  41. Divine Trash

    Self

1990s

  1. 1999

    In Bad Taste

    Self

  2. Yesterday's Tomorrows

    Self

  3. Forever Hollywood

    Self

  4. 1998

    The Roseanne Show

    Self - Guest · 1 episode

  5. So Graham Norton

    Self - Guest · 1 episode

  6. 1997

    The View

    Self · 1 episode

    29

  7. Anthem

    Self

  8. 1996

    The Daily Show

    Self - Guest, Self · 2 episodes

    78

  9. Film Independent Spirit Awards

    Self - Host · 1 episode

  10. 1993

    The Big Wet

    Narrator

  11. Late Show with David Letterman

    Self - Guest · 1 episode

    69

  12. Growing Up with John Waters

    Self

1980s

  1. 1988

    The Incredibly Strange Film Show

    Self · 2 episodes

  2. 1982

    Nuart Theatre No Smoking PSA

    Self

  3. Late Night with David Letterman

    Self - Guest · 6 episodes

    71

1970s

  1. 1976

    Edith's Shopping Bag

    Self

  2. 1975

    Saturday Night Live

    Self (uncredited) · 1 episode

    77

  3. Love Letter to Edie

    Self

No release date

  1. Mary Woronov: Cult Queen

    Self

  2. The Brandon Novak Story

    Self

Thanked in the credits8

2020s

  1. 2025

    Room Temperature

    Thanks

  2. Marisa y Gomoso

    Thanks

2010s

  1. 2019

    Sniffing Out ‘Polyester’

    Thanks

  2. Permanent Green Light

    Thanks

  3. 2010

    Putty Hill

    Thanks

1990s

  1. 1998

    Whipped

    Thanks

  2. 1991

    Poison

    Thanks

    67