Highest rated as cast or director
Biography
George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio. Noted for his innovative dramatic productions as well as his distinctive voice and personality, Welles is widely acknowledged as one of the most accomplished dramatic artists of the twentieth century, especially for his significant and influential early work—despite his notoriously contentious relationship with Hollywood. His distinctive directorial style featured layered, nonlinear narrative forms, innovative uses of lighting such as chiaroscuro, unique camera angles, sound techniques borrowed from radio, deep focus shots, and long takes. Welles's long career in film is noted for his struggle for artistic control in the face of pressure from studios. Many of his films were heavily edited and others left unreleased. He has been praised as a major creative force and as "the ultimate auteur." After directing a number of high-profile theatrical productions in his early twenties, including an innovative adaptation of Macbeth and The Cradle Will Rock, Welles found national and international fame as the director and narrator of a 1938 radio adaptation of H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds performed for the radio drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air. It was reported to have caused widespread panic when listeners thought that an invasion by extraterrestrial beings was occurring. Although these reports of panic were mostly false and overstated, they rocketed Welles to instant notoriety. Citizen Kane (1941), his first film with RKO, in which he starred in the role of Charles Foster Kane, is often considered the greatest film ever made. Several of his other films, including The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), The Lady from Shanghai (1947), Touch of Evil (1958), Chimes at Midnight (1965), and F for Fake (1974), are also widely considered to be masterpieces. In 2002, he was voted the greatest film director of all time in two separate British Film Institute polls among directors and critics, and a wide survey of critical consensus, best-of lists, and historical retrospectives calls him the most acclaimed director of all time. Andrew Sarris in his influential book of film criticism The American Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929–1968 included him in the "pantheon" of the 14 greatest film directors who had worked in the United States. Well known for his baritone voice, Welles was also an extremely well regarded actor and was voted number 16 in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Stars list of the greatest American film actors of all time. He was also a celebrated Shakespearean stage actor and an accomplished magician, starring in troop variety shows in the war years.
Directed 53
2020s
- 2020
Hopper/Welles
Director
2010s
- 2018
- 2013
Too Much Johnson
Director
2000s
- 2007
The Deep
Director
- 2005
Orson Welles Talks With Roger Hill
Director
- 2002
Filming 'The Trial'
Director
- 2000
Moby Dick
Director
1990s
- 1999
One Man Band
Director
- 1993
It's All True
Director
- 1992
Don Quixote
Director
1980s
- 1986
Unseen Lollo
Director
It's All True: Four Men on a Raft
Director
- 1985
The Dreamers
Director
Orson Welles' Magic Show
Director
- 1984
The Spirit of Charles Lindbergh
Director
1970s
- 1979
Filming Othello
Director
The Orson Welles Show
Director
- 1973
- 1970
An Evening with Orson Welles: The Golden Honeymoon
Director
An Evening with Orson Welles: The Happy Prince
Director
An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. I – Selections from George Ade, Thomas Wolfe, Mark Twain
Director
An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. II – Clarence Darrow
Director
An Evening with Orson Welles: Two Wise Old Men – Socrates and Noah
Director
An Evening with Orson Welles: My Little Boy
Director
The Merchant of Venice (Rushes)
Director
1960s
- 1969
The Merchant of Venice
Director
- 1968
The Immortal Story
Director
Vienna
Director
- 1965
- 1964
In the Land of Don Quixote
Director
- 1962
- 1961
Tempo
Director
- 1960
Five Columns on the Front Page: Hong Kong as seen by Orson Welles
Director
1950s
- 1958
The Fountain of Youth
Director
Orson Welles at Large: Portrait of Gina
Director
Colgate Theatre
Director
- 1955
The Land of the Basques
Director
Around the World with Orson Welles
Director
Moby Dick—Rehearsed
Director
Orson Welles' Sketch Book
Director
- 1951
- 1950
The Miracle of St. Anne
Director
1940s
- 1949
- 1948
- 1947
- 1946
- 1942
- 1941
1930s
- 1934
The Hearts of Age
Director
- 1933
Twelfth Night
Director
Acted in 136
2020s
- 2025
WeirdWorld
Troy2000 (Archive footage)
- 2024
The Battle of Grovers Mill
Radio Host (voice) (archival footage)
- 2023
From Introduction to Orson Welles’s Falstaff: Chimes at Midnight
Falstaff
Looking Back Before You Leap
General Zaroff (voice)
- 2021
My Guest is Orson Welles
Movie
2010s
- 2019
Emergency: Donald Trump’s "Touch of Evil"
(archive footage)
- 2018
- 2016
Embers & Dust
Professor Richard Pierson / Self (voice) (archive sound)
- 2013
Too Much Johnson
Keystone Kop (uncredited)
- 2012
Magic Mirror Maze
Movie
- 2010
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
Genghis Khan / Bayan (archive footage)
2000s
- 2009
Lucifer et moi
(archive footage 1982)
- 2007
The Deep
Russ Brewer
- 2005
Orson Welles Talks With Roger Hill
(Self)
Orson Welles Uncut
Movie
- 2004
The Hitch Hiker
Ronald Adams
- 2002
The Movie Movie (An Excerpt)
(archive footage)
- 2000
Moby Dick
Captain Ahab / Starbuck / Ishmael (archive footage)
1990s
- 1999
One Man Band
Presenter / Various
According to Occam's Razor
Movie
Hi-Fi
Movie
- 1993
Rosabella - La storia italiana di Orson Welles
Movie
1980s
- 1988
On the tracks of a filmmaker
Orson Welles
- 1987
- 1986
- 1985
Scene of the Crime
TV
The Dreamers
Marcus Kleek
- 1984
Where Is Parsifal?
Klingsor
- 1983
The Witching
Mr. Cato
Can She Bake a Cherry Pie?
Magician (uncredited)
Hot Money
Sheriff Paisley
- 1982
Wagner e Venezia
Richard Wagner (voice)
- 1981
The Man Who Saw Tomorrow
Presenter / Narrator (voice)
- 1980
1970s
- 1979
- 1978
- 1977
It Happened One Christmas
Henry F. Potter
Hot Tomorrows
Parklawn Mortuary (voice)
- 1976
- 1974
- 1973
- 1972
The Man Who Came to Dinner
Sheridan Whiteside
Necromancy
Mr. Cato
Malpertuis
Cassavius
- 1971
A Safe Place
The Magician
Sentinels of Silence
Movie
- 1970
An Evening with Orson Welles: The Golden Honeymoon
Movie
An Evening with Orson Welles: The Happy Prince
Movie
An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. I – Selections from George Ade, Thomas Wolfe, Mark Twain
Movie
An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. II – Clarence Darrow
Movie
An Evening with Orson Welles: Two Wise Old Men – Socrates and Noah
Movie
An Evening with Orson Welles: My Little Boy
Movie
Upon This Rock
Michelangelo (voice)
The Merchant of Venice (Rushes)
Shylock
1960s
- 1969
The Merchant of Venice
Shylock
Twelve Plus One
Markan
The Southern Star
Plankett
The Fight for Rome II - The Betrayal
Justinian
- 1968
The Fight for Rome
Justinian
The Immortal Story
Charles Clay
House of Cards
Leschenhaut
Oedipus the King
Tiresias
- 1967
I'll Never Forget What's'isname
Jonathan Lute
The Sailor from Gibraltar
Louis de Mozambique
- 1966
- 1965
Marco the Magnificent
Akerman, Marco's Teacher
Profile No. 6: Orson Welles
Movie
- 1963
The V.I.P.s
Max Buda
La ricotta
Movie
Ro.Go.Pa.G.
The 'Director' (segment "La ricotta")
- 1962
- 1961
The Tartars
Burundai
- 1960
Austerlitz
Robert Fulton
An Arabian Night
Storyteller
Crack in the Mirror
Hagolin / Lamerciere
1950s
- 1959
Ferry to Hong Kong
Captain Hart
- 1958
The Roots of Heaven
Cy Sedgewick
The Fountain of Youth
the narrator
Colgate Theatre
TV
South Seas Adventure
Supplemental Narrator (voice)
- 1957
Man in the Shadow
Virgil Renchler
- 1956
- 1955
Moby Dick—Rehearsed
An Actor Manager /Father Mapple /Ahab
Three Cases of Murder
Lord Mountdrago ("Lord Mountdrago" segment)
- 1954
Trouble in the Glen
Sanin Cejador y Mengues
- 1953
King Lear
King Lear
Man, Beast and Virtue
Captain Perella, the Beast
- 1952
Trent's Last Case
Sigsbee Manderson
- 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Sheridan Whiteside · 1 episode
- 1950
The Black Rose
Bayan
The Miracle of St. Anne
The Director
1940s
- 1949
Prince of Foxes
Cesare Borgia
- 1948
- 1947
- 1946
- 1944
- 1943
Journey into Fear
Colonel Haki
- 1941
- 1940
1930s
- 1934
The Hearts of Age
Death
Wrote 54
2020s
- 2024
The Battle of Grovers Mill
Original Story
2010s
- 2018
- 2013
Too Much Johnson
Screenplay
2000s
- 2007
The Deep
Screenplay
The Hitchhiker
Original Concept
- 2002
The Magnificent Ambersons
Original Film Writer
- 2000
Moby Dick
Theatre Play
1990s
- 1999
One Man Band
Writer
- 1997
The Big Brass Ring
Writer
- 1992
Don Quixote
Screenplay
1980s
- 1986
Unseen Lollo
Writer
It's All True: Four Men on a Raft
Writer
- 1985
The Dreamers
Writer
Orson Welles' Magic Show
Writer
1970s
- 1979
Filming Othello
Writer
The Orson Welles Show
Writer
- 1978
Orson Welles at The Magic Castle
Writer
- 1976
NBC: The First Fifty Years
Writer
- 1973
- 1972
- 1970
An Evening with Orson Welles: The Golden Honeymoon
Writer
An Evening with Orson Welles: The Happy Prince
Writer
An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. I – Selections from George Ade, Thomas Wolfe, Mark Twain
Writer
An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. II – Clarence Darrow
Writer
An Evening with Orson Welles: Two Wise Old Men – Socrates and Noah
Writer
An Evening with Orson Welles: My Little Boy
Writer
1960s
- 1969
The Merchant of Venice
Screenplay
- 1968
The Immortal Story
Screenplay
Vienna
Writer
- 1966
- 1965
- 1962
- 1961
Tempo
Writer
1950s
- 1958
The Fountain of Youth
Writer
Orson Welles at Large: Portrait of Gina
Writer
Colgate Theatre
Screenplay
- 1955
Around the World with Orson Welles
Writer
Moby Dick—Rehearsed
Writer
Orson Welles' Sketch Book
Writer
- 1951
- 1950
The Miracle of St. Anne
Writer
1940s
- 1948
- 1947
- 1946
- 1943
Journey into Fear
Screenplay
- 1942
- 1941
1930s
- 1934
The Hearts of Age
Writer
- 1933
Twelfth Night
Adaptation
Produced 25
2010s
- 2013
Too Much Johnson
Producer
2000s
- 2007
The Deep
Producer
- 2002
Filming 'The Trial'
Producer
1990s
- 1992
Don Quixote
Producer
1980s
- 1985
Orson Welles' Magic Show
Producer
1970s
- 1971
Freedom River
Producer
- 1970
An Evening with Orson Welles: The Golden Honeymoon
Producer
An Evening with Orson Welles: The Happy Prince
Producer
An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. I – Selections from George Ade, Thomas Wolfe, Mark Twain
Producer
An Evening with Orson Welles: American Heritage, Vol. II – Clarence Darrow
Producer
An Evening with Orson Welles: Two Wise Old Men – Socrates and Noah
Producer
An Evening with Orson Welles: My Little Boy
Producer
1960s
- 1969
The Merchant of Venice
Producer
- 1968
Vienna
Producer
- 1964
In the Land of Don Quixote
Producer
1950s
- 1958
The Fountain of Youth
Producer
Colgate Theatre
Producer
- 1955
- 1951
1940s
- 1948
- 1947
- 1943
Journey into Fear
Producer
- 1942
- 1941
Edited 12
2010s
- 2018
- 2013
Too Much Johnson
Editor
2000s
- 2000
Moby Dick
Editor
1990s
- 1999
One Man Band
Editor
- 1992
Don Quixote
Editor
1970s
- 1975
3 A.M.
Editorial Services, Editor
- 1973
- 1970
An Evening with Orson Welles: The Golden Honeymoon
Editor
1960s
- 1969
The Merchant of Venice
Editor
- 1964
In the Land of Don Quixote
Editor
- 1962
1950s
- 1955
Sound 7
2010s
- 2019
Halston
Theme Song Performance
- 2016
Passage to Mars
Theme Song Performance
- 2012
1960s
- 1964
1950s
- 1958
The Fountain of Youth
Music Arranger
Colgate Theatre
Music Arranger
- 1955
Three Cases of Murder
Theme Song Performance
Created 5
1980s
- 1985
Scene of the Crime
Creator
1970s
- 1973
1960s
- 1964
In the Land of Don Quixote
Creator
1950s
- 1955
Around the World with Orson Welles
Creator
Orson Welles' Sketch Book
Creator
Costume and makeup 4
1960s
- 1965
1950s
- 1955
1940s
- 1948
1930s
- 1933
Twelfth Night
Costume Design
Art department 3
1950s
- 1958
The Fountain of Youth
Production Design
- 1955
1940s
- 1948
Camera 3
1960s
- 1964
In the Land of Don Quixote
Additional Camera
1930s
- 1933
Twelfth Night
Director of Photography
Other crew 2
1980s
- 1982
Trick or Treats
Other
Appearances177
2020s
- 2028
Charmed Lives: A Family Romance
Self (archive footage)
- 2026
War of the Worlds
narrator
The Making Of
Self (archival)
Proust Palimpsesto: Pastiches e Misturas
Self / The Director / Sir John Falstaff (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2025
Titanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck
Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
Human Nature in Eleven Parts
Narrator "The Scorpion and the Frog" (archive footage)
The Scorpion and the Frog
Narrator (archive footage)
- 2024
Othelo The Great
Self (archive footage)
Aliens Uncovered: Close Encounters
Self
- 2023
It's Pretty, but is it Art?
Self (voiceover)
- 2022
American: An Odyssey to 1947
Self (archive footage)
The Welles Raft
Himself (Archive Footage)
- 2021
Tall Tales: The Ireland of Orson Welles
Self
Parkinson at 50
Self (archive footage)
Morceaux de Cannes
Self (archive footage)
The Blinding of Isaac Woodard
Self (archive footage)
- 2020
Hopper/Welles
Self
2010s
- 2019
LIFE BEYOND
Self (voice) · 1 episode
- 2018
Jeanne Moreau: Free Spirit
Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- 2016
Decadence and Downfall: The Shah of Iran's Ultimate Party
Self (archive footage) (voice)
- 2015
This Is Orson Welles
Self
- 2014
Alfonso Sansone: Producer by Chance
Self (archive footage)
- 2013
- 2012
The Shadow Knows
Self (archive footage)
- 2011
Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure
Self
- 2010
Orson Welles: The Paris Interview
Himself
2000s
- 2007
- 2005
Lost in "The Thinking"
Self (archive footage)
Filmmakers vs. Tycoons
Self (archive footage)
The Other Side of Welles
Self (archive footage)
- 2004
- 2003
The Dominici Affair by Orson Welles
Self (archive footage)
- 2002
Filming 'The Trial'
Self
Heart of the Festival
Self (archive footage)
Lost in La Mancha
Self (archive footage)
- 2001
A Huey P. Newton Story
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Paranormal Peter Sellers
Self (Archive footage)
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 3
Narrator
- 2000
Orson Welles in the Land of Don Quixote
Self (Archive footage)
Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces
Self (archive footage)
1990s
- 1998
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self - Roaster (archive footage)
- 1997
It's All Brazil
Self (archive footage)
Who Is Henry Jaglom?
Self (archive footage)
Celebração - 100 Anos do Cinema Nacional
Self
- 1996
The Battle Over Citizen Kane
Self (archive footage)
- 1995
Orson Welles: The One-Man Band
Self (archive footage)
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
Self (archive footage)
- 1993
La Classe américaine
Self (archive footage)
It's All True
Self
Working with Orson Welles
Himself (Archive Footage)
- 1992
Don Quixote
Self
- 1991
The Complete 'Citizen Kane'
Self (archive footage)
Empire of the Air: The Men Who Made Radio
Self - Professor in War of the Worlds Broadcast (archive sound)
- 1990
Welles' Language
Self (archive footage)
Rita Hayworth: Dancing Into the Dream
Self (archive footage)
1980s
- 1988
- 1986
Unseen Lollo
Himself
It's Not All True
Himself (archive footage)
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
Self (archive footage)
- 1985
Orson Welles' Magic Show
Self
- 1984
Almonds and Raisins
Narrator
The Road to Bresson
Self
The Last Sailors: The Final Days of Working Sail
Narrator
The Spirit of Charles Lindbergh
himself
- 1983
The Psychic Connection
Narrator
Orson Welles at the Cinémathèque Française
Himself
- 1982
Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady
Self
The Orson Welles Story
Self
Night of 100 Stars
Self
Doug Henning's World of Magic
Self - Special Guest
Let Poland Be Poland
Self
Magic with the Stars
Self - Host
The Quest for Fire Adventure
Narrator
- 1981
A Gift of Harvest
Narrator
Brasil
Self (archive footage)
Search for the Titanic
Self - Host
- 1980
The Greenstone
Narrator (voice)
1970s
- 1979
The New Media Bible: Book of Genesis
Narrator
Frank Sinatra: The First 40 Years
Self
Filming Othello
Host
The Orson Welles Show
Self
The Greatest Adventure--The Story of Man's Voyage to the Moon
Narrator
- 1978
A Woman Called Moses
Narrator (voice) · 2 episodes
Orson Welles at The Magic Castle
Self
The Late Great Planet Earth
Self
Mysterious Castles of Clay
Narrator
Caesar's Guide to Gaming with Orson Welles
Himself
- 1977
The Force Beyond
Himself (archive footage)
Tut: The Boy King
Himself - Host
The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here?
Self
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Narrator
From Fiber to Fabric: Wool's a Natural
Narrator
- 1976
NBC: The First Fifty Years
Self / Narrator
The New Deal for Artists
Narrator (voice)
Bugs Bunny Superstar
Narrator (voice)
- 1975
Doug Henning's World of Magic
Self · 1 episode
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi
Narrator / Nag / Chuchundra (voice)
Who's Out There?
Host
- 1974
The Challenge... A Tribute to Modern Art
Narrator
Letter to Jane: An Investigation About a Still
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1973
The Monkey's Paw
Host
The Cave
Narrator
- 1972
Jeanne Moreau : Vive le cinéma !
Self
- 1971
Directed by John Ford
Narrator (voice)
Flame of Persia
Narrator
Freedom River
Narrator
- 1970
Is It Always Right to Be Right?
Narrator
A Horse Called Nijinsky
Narrator
1960s
- 1969
Soft Self-Portrait of Salvador Dali
Narrator (voice)
To Build a Fire
Narrator (voice)
- 1968
Around the World of Mike Todd
Self - Narrator
Portrait: Orson Welles
Self
Vienna
Himself
- 1967
Beggars Would Ride
Narrator
Ten Days That Shook the World
Narrator
- 1966
Orson Welles in Spain
Himself
- 1965
Miss Goodall and the Wild Chimpanzees
Self - Narrator (voice)
Americans on Everest
Narrator- Self
A King's Story
Narrator
- 1964
Pour le plaisir
Self · 1 episode
The Finest Hours
Narrator (voice)
In the Land of Don Quixote
Himself · 9 episodes
- 1963
Hollywood and the Stars
Self (archive footage) · 1 episode
- 1962
- 1961
Tempo
Self · 1 episode
- 1960
Five Columns on the Front Page: Hong Kong as seen by Orson Welles
Self (narrator)
1950s
- 1959
High Journey
Narrator
- 1958
Orson Welles at Large: Portrait of Gina
Self - Host
- 1956
- 1955
The Land of the Basques
Himself
Around the World with Orson Welles
Host: Orson Welles · 7 episodes
Orson Welles' Sketch Book
Himself - Host · 7 episodes
- 1954
Reflets de Cannes
Self · 1 episode
- 1952
Return to Glennascaul
Narrator
- 1950
Disorder
Self
1940s
- 1948
- 1946
- 1944
Know Your Ally: Britain
Narrator/Bob (helpful taxi passenger)
- 1943
Show-Business at War
Self
- 1942
1930s
- 1937
- 1933
Twelfth Night
Narrator
Thanked in the credits8
2010s
- 2010
Dahmer vs. Gacy
Thanks
2000s
- 2001
1990s
- 1993
Historias Breves 0: Distant encounters
Thanks
1980s
- 1989
Continental
Thanks
- 1988
- 1985
- 1981
The War of the Worlds: Next Century
Thanks
1970s
- 1974
Crónicas fantásticas
Thanks