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David Bowie

David Bowie

Actor · 1947–2016 · London, England, UK

IMDb

Highest rated as cast or director

Biography

David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie, was an English singer, songwriter and actor. He was a figure in popular music for over five decades, regarded by critics and musicians as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s. His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, his music and stagecraft significantly influencing popular music. During his lifetime, his record sales, estimated at 140 million worldwide, made him one of the world's best-selling music artists. In the UK, he was awarded nine platinum album certifications, eleven gold and eight silver, releasing eleven number-one albums. In the US, he received five platinum and seven gold certifications. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Born and raised in South London, Bowie developed an interest in music as a child, eventually studying art, music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963. “Space Oddity” became his first top-five entry on the UK Singles Chart after its release in July 1969. After a period of experimentation, he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with his flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The character was spearheaded by the success of his single “Starman” and album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which won him widespread popularity. In 1975, Bowie's style shifted radically towards a sound he characterized as “plastic soul,” initially alienating many of his UK devotees but garnering him his first major US crossover success with the number-one single “Fame” and the album Young Americans. In 1976, Bowie starred in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth and released Station to Station. The following year, he further confounded musical expectations with the electronic-inflected album Low (1977), the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno that would come to be known as the Berlin Trilogy. Heroes (1977) and Lodger (1979) followed; each album reached the UK top five and received lasting critical praise. After uneven commercial success in the late 1970s, Bowie had UK number ones with the 1980 single “Ashes to Ashes,” its parent album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), and “Under Pressure,” a 1981 collaboration with Queen. He then reached his commercial peak in 1983 with Let's Dance, with its title track topping both UK and US charts. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles, including industrial and jungle. Bowie also continued acting; his roles included Major Celliers in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), the Goblin King Jareth in Labyrinth (1986), Pontius Pilate in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige (2006), among other film and television appearances and cameos. He stopped concert touring after 2004 and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006. In 2013, Bowie returned from a decade-long recording hiatus with the release of The Next Day. He remained musically active until he died of liver cancer two days after the release of his final album, Blackstar (2016).

Acted in 60

2020s

  1. 2027

    David Bowie: “STAGE“

    Movie

  2. 2025

    Twiggy

    (archival footage)

  3. 2024

    David Bowie: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (2024 Dolby Atmos Mix)

    Guitar, Saxophone, Vocals

  4. 2023

    Dear Bowie

    David Bowie

2010s

  1. 2018

    BowieNext - Nascita di una galassia

    Movie

  2. 2017

    Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA

    Jack Celliers (archive footage)

    81
  3. 2016

    Gimme Danger

    archive footage

    76

  4. David Bowie: The Berlin Briefings

    Movie

  5. 2014

    Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces

    Phillip Jeffries

  6. 2013

    The Frame

    John Blaylock · 1 episode

  7. The Stars (Are Out Tonight)

    Movie

  8. 2010

    Let’s Spend the Night Together: Confessions of Rock’s Greatest Groupies

    archive footage

2000s

  1. 2009

    Bandslam

    David Bowie

    67
  2. 2008

    August

    Cyrus Ogilvie

  3. 2007

    SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis

    Lord Royal Highness

  4. 2006

    Arthur and the Invisibles

    Maltazard (voice)

    48

  5. The Prestige

    Tesla

    79

  6. Best of Bowie

    Movie

  7. 2005

    Extras

    David Bowie · 1 episode

    82
  8. 2002

    David Bowie - Best Of

    TV

  9. 2001

    Zoolander

    David Bowie

    63
  10. 2000

    Mr. Rice's Secret

    Mr. William Rice

1980s

  1. 1989

    Tin Machine - Live at Paradiso

    Movie

  2. 1988

    The Last Temptation of Christ

    Pontius Pilatus

    77

  3. Comic Relief

    TV

  4. 1986

    Labyrinth

    Jareth

    66

  5. Absolute Beginners

    Vendice Partners

  6. 1985

    David Bowie at Live Aid

    Movie

  7. Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto

    Celliers (archive footage)

  8. Into the Night

    Colin Morris

    54
  9. 1984

    David Bowie: Jazzin' for Blue Jean

    Vic / Screaming Lord Byron

  10. 1983

    David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Sydney

    Movie

  11. Yellowbeard

    The Shark (uncredited)

    47

  12. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

    Celliers

    71

  13. The Hunger

    John Blaylock

    62
  14. 1982

    Baal

    Baal

  15. 1981

    Christiane F.

    David Bowie

    72

1970s

  1. 1978

    Young Music Show

    TV

  2. Just a Gigolo

    Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski

    48

  3. David Bowie On Stage

    Movie

  4. 1976

    The Man Who Fell to Earth

    Thomas Jerome Newton

    72

1960s

  1. 1969

    The Virgin Soldiers

    Soldier

  2. The Image

    The Boy

  3. 1964

    Theatre 625

    TV · 5 Seasons · Drama

No release date

  1. David Bowie: Day-In Day-Out

    Movie

Sound 16

2010s

  1. 2019

    The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage!

    Songs

    76
  2. 2018

    Lazarus

    Original Music Composer, Music

  3. 2017

    Sound and Vision

    Sound

2000s

  1. 2001

    The Changing Same

    Music

1990s

  1. 1993

    The Buddha of Suburbia

    Music

1980s

  1. 1986

    When the Wind Blows

    Main Title Theme Composer

    79

  2. Labyrinth

    Songs

    66

  3. Absolute Beginners

    Songs

  4. 1983

    Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

    Songs, Sound Mixer

  5. 1982

    We Will Rock You

    Songs

  6. Cat People

    Theme Song Performance

    62

1970s

  1. 1979

    Radio On

    Songs

1960s

  1. 1969

    David Bowie: Love You Till Tuesday

    Music

Wrote 4

2010s

  1. 2018

    Lazarus

    Writer

2000s

  1. 2004

    Bowie: A Reality Tour

    Writer

1980s

  1. 1984

    David Bowie: Jazzin' for Blue Jean

    Writer

Other crew 3

2010s

  1. 2016

    Closer

    In Memory Of

1980s

  1. 1988

    David Bowie: Glass Spider

    Choreographer

Directed 3

2000s

  1. 2006

    Best of Bowie

    Director

  2. 2002

    David Bowie: Best of Bowie

    Director

1970s

  1. 1974

    Diamond Dogs Demo Video

    Director

Produced 2

2000s

  1. 2007

    Scott Walker: 30 Century Man

    Executive Producer

1990s

  1. 1994

    Magic Hunter

    Executive Producer

Appearances199

2020s

  1. 2025

    Bowie: The Final Act

    Self (archive footage)

    72

  2. Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror

    Self (archive footage)

  3. Enigma

    Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

  4. Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

    Self (archive footage)

    85
  5. 2024

    Placebo: This Search for Meaning

    Self (archive footage)

  6. Luther: Never Too Much

    Self (archive footage)

    84

  7. TIME

    Narrator (voice)

  8. Jim Henson Idea Man

    Self (archive footage)

    80

  9. Can Creativity Save the World?

    Self (archive footage)

  10. Hits That Missed at the BBC

    Self (archive footage) · 1 episode

  11. DEVO

    Self (archive footage)

    79

  12. Eno

    Self (archive footage)

  13. 2023

    Thriller 40

    Self (archive footage)

    81

  14. AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex

    Self (archive footage)

  15. WHAM!

    Self (archive footage)

    77

  16. The Lost Weekend: A Love Story

    Self (archive footage)

  17. LOLA

    Self - Singer (archive footage)

    73

  18. Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV

    Self (archive footage)

    75
  19. 2022

    Il était une fois Champs-Élysées

    Self (archive footage) · 1 episode

  20. Moonage Daydream

    Self (archive footage)

    80

  21. Freddie Mercury: The Final Act

    Self (archive footage)

    75

  22. Mickey: The Story of a Mouse

    Self (archive footage)

    73
  23. 2021

    2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

    Self

  24. The Velvet Underground

    Self (voice)

    80

  25. Moby Doc

    Self

  26. The Dancing Man of L.A.

    Self (archive footage)

  27. 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything

    Self (archive footage) · 3 episodes

    76

  28. David Bowie: Out of this World

    Self

  29. This Is Pop

    Self (archive footage) · 2 episodes

    66

  30. David Bowie: London Boy

    Self

  31. 2020

    Zappa

    Self (archive footage)

    79

  32. 70 Years of Youth Revolt

    Self (archive footage) · 1 episode

  33. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Inductions

    Self (archive footage)

  34. Lindsay Dances - Theatre and life according to Lindsay Kemp

    Self

  35. The BRITs at 40

    Self (archive footage)

2010s

  1. 2019

    My Music: A Classic Christmas

    Self (archive footage)

  2. The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story

    Self (archive footage)

  3. WBCN and the American Revolution

    Self

  4. David Bowie: Finding Fame

    Self (archive footage)

  5. 2018

    Bowie: Glastonbury 2000

    Self - Vocals

  6. Why Are We Creative?

    Self

    70

  7. Freddie Mercury: The King of Queen

    Self - Singer

  8. 2017

    Der Reichstag

    Self (archive footage)

  9. Glam Rock at the BBC

    Self (archive footage)

  10. Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock

    Self - Musician (archive footage)

    73

  11. Beside Bowie - The Mick Ronson Story

    Self - Narrator (voice)

  12. Bowie at the BBC

    Self (archive footage)

  13. David Bowie: The Last Five Years

    Self (archive footage)

    78
  14. 2016

    Gaga for Dada: The Original Art Rebels

    Self

  15. Bowie: The Man Who Changed the World

    Self (archive footage)

    54

  16. David Bowie: The Man Who Stole the World

    Self (archive footage)

  17. Burden

    Self (archive footage)

    74

  18. Night Flight: Born Again

    Self

  19. David Bowie - In His Own Words

    Self (archive footage)

  20. The Dada Principle

    Self

  21. David Bowie I Love You (Since I Was Six)

    Self

  22. David Bowie: Sound and Vision

    Self

  23. David Bowie: Starman

    Self

  24. 2015

    David Bowie: On the Rock Trail

    Self (archive footage)

  25. Let's Dance: Bowie Down Under

    Self

  26. B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin 1979-1989

    Self

    78

  27. Wilde Jahre West-Berlin

    Self

  28. 2014

    Bing Crosby: Rediscovered

    Self (archive footage)

  29. Soul Boys of the Western World

    Self (archive footage)

  30. I Am Divine

    Self (archive)

    78
  31. 2013

    David Bowie Is Happening Now

    Self (archive footage)

  32. David Bowie: Five Years

    Self (archive footage)

  33. Discovering Music

    Self (archive footage) · 1 episode

  34. 2012

    David Bowie - The Calm Before The Storm: Under Review 1969 - 1971

    Self - Singer, songwriter

  35. Clockwork Orange County

    Self

  36. David Bowie & The Story of Ziggy Stardust

    Self / Ziggy Stardust (archive footage)

  37. The Genius of David Bowie

    Self - Performer (archive footage)

  38. Personne ne bouge !

    Self · 1 episode

  39. 2011

    The Love We Make

    Self

  40. Acoustic at the BBC

    Self

  41. 2010

    Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials

    Self

  42. Bowie, Iggy & Lou 1971-1973: The Sacred Triangle

    Self (archive footage)

  43. David Bowie: Rare and Unseen

    Self

2000s

  1. 2009

    Krautrock: The Rebirth of Germany

    Self (archive footage)

  2. David Bowie: VH1 Storytellers

    Self

  3. 2008

    Kings of Glam

    Self (archive footage)

  4. 2007

    David Gilmour - Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine

    Self

  5. David Gilmour: Remember That Night

    Self - Guest Artist

  6. David Bowie - The Plastic Soul Review

    Self - Singer, Songwriter

  7. David bowie - Up Close and Personal

    Self - Singer, Songwriter

  8. Seven Ages of Rock

    Self · 7 episodes

  9. Scott Walker: 30 Century Man

    Self

  10. David Bowie - Music in Review

    Self - Singer, Songwriter

  11. 2006

    David Bowie - Total Rock Review

    Self

  12. The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: Million Sellers

    Self

  13. David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust

    Self - Singer, Songwriter

  14. David Bowie: Under Review 1976-79

    Self

  15. 2005

    The Work of Director Mark Romanek

    Self (archive footage)

  16. TV Party

    Self

  17. Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today

    Self

  18. Live Aid Against All Odds

    Self

  19. Françoise Hardy : Tant de belles choses...

    Self

  20. Inside the Music

    Self

  21. 2004

    Live Aid

    Self

  22. The Making of Shrek 2

    Self

  23. The Nomi Song

    Self (archive footage)

  24. Bowie: A Reality Tour

    Self

  25. Rockthology 2

    Self (archive footage)

  26. Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis

    Self (archive footage)

  27. Pixies: Gouge

    Self

  28. 2003

    David Bowie - Sound and Vision

    Self

  29. Queen: Greatest Video Hits 2

    Self

  30. Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special

    Self

  31. David Bowie: Live at Riverside Studios '03

    Self

  32. The Ellen DeGeneres Show

    Self · 1 episode

    63

  33. Ed Sullivan Presents: Rock 'N' Roll Revolution: The British Invade America, America Fights Back

    Self (archive footage)

  34. Can't Buy Me Lunch: Another Look at The Rutles

    Self - Interviewee

  35. Mayor of the Sunset Strip

    Self

  36. Cher: The Farewell Tour

    Self (archive footage)

  37. David Bowie: Reality Live

    Self

  38. 2002

    Supergroups

    Self

  39. Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s

    Self - Narrator (voice)

  40. Hr. Vinterberg & Mr. Bowie

    Self

  41. David Bowie: Live at Montreux

    Self

  42. David Bowie: Live Olympia Paris

    Self

  43. David Bowie: Best of Bowie

    Self (archive footage)

  44. David Bowie: Live by Request

    Self

  45. Queen - The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert 10th Anniversary Documentary

    Self

  46. 2001

    Classic Albums: Lou Reed - Transformer

    Self

  47. Friday Night with Jonathan Ross

    Self - Guest · 1 episode

    68

  48. The Concert for New York City

    Self

  49. 2000

    Bowie at the BBC

    Self - Vocals

  50. David Bowie: Roseland Ballroom, NYC

    Self

  51. The Filth and the Fury

    Self (archive footage)

  52. The Ten Commandments of Creativity

    Self

1990s

  1. 1999

    David Bowie - Live at The Elysee Montmartre Paris

    Self

  2. Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special

    Self

  3. 1998

    In Stillness and in Silence (Sacred)

    Self

  4. Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart

    Self

  5. Parkinson

    Self - Guest / Performer · 2 episodes

  6. Goldie: When Saturn Returns

    Self

  7. A Bing Crosby Christmas

    Self (archive footage)

  8. 1997

    Nine Inch Nails: Closure

    Self

  9. David Bowie - Live from the 10th spot

    Self

  10. David Bowie: Earthling On TV

    Self

  11. David Bowie Birthday Celebration Live in NYC

    Self

  12. David Bowie & Friends: A Very Special Birthday Celebration

    Self

  13. David Bowie: An Earthling at 50

    Self - Interviewee

  14. 1996

    The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money

    Self

  15. David Bowie - Kremlin Palace Moscow

    self

  16. 1995

    Die Harald Schmidt Show

    Self · 2 episodes

    76

  17. David Bowie: The Making of "1.Outside"

    Self

  18. Nine Inch Nails & David Bowie: Dissonance

    Self

  19. Queen: Champions of the World

    Self

  20. 1994

    Exclusiv - Das Star-Magazin

    self · 1 episode

  21. 1993

    Late Night with Conan O'Brien

    Self - Musical Guest · 1 episode

    79

  22. David Bowie: Black Tie White Noise

    Self

  23. 1992

    Blast 'Em

    Self (uncredited)

  24. The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert

    Self

    86
  25. 1991

    Queen: Greatest Flix II

    Self (archive footage)

  26. 1990

    David Bowie: Live At The Tokyo Dome

    Self

1980s

  1. 1988

    Imagine: John Lennon

    Self

  2. David Bowie: Glass Spider

    Self

  3. 1987

    Sacrée soirée

    Self (Clip) (archive footage), Self - Tin Machine · 1 episode

  4. 1986

    Inside the Labyrinth

    Self

    75

  5. Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary

    Self

  6. 1985

    Live Aid

    Self

  7. Tina Turner: Private Dancer Tour

    Self

  8. Video AID

    Self

  9. 1984

    MTV Video Music Awards

    Self · 2 episodes

  10. Ricochet

    Self

  11. David Bowie: The Serious Moonlight Tour

    Self

  12. David Bowie: Serious Moonlight

    Self - Lead Vocals / Guitar

  13. 1983

    The Oshima Gang

    Self

  14. Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

    Self / Ziggy Stardust

  15. Group Madness

    Self

  16. Cool Cats: 25 Years of Rock 'n' Roll Style

    Self (archive footage)

  17. 1982

    Champs-Elysées

    Self · 2 episodes

  18. 1981

    Wetten, dass..?

    Self · 1 episode

    60
  19. 1980

    The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's

    Self

1970s

  1. 1978

    David Bowie On Stage: Live in Japan

    Self

  2. David Bowie: Live at Beat Club Musikladen

    Self - Keyboard, Vocals

  3. David Bowie: Musikladen Extra

    Self - Keyboard, Vocals

  4. 1977

    Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas

    Self

  5. The BRIT Awards

    Self · 2 episodes

  6. Auf los geht's los

    Self · 1 episode

  7. 1975

    Night Lunch

    Self

  8. Saturday Night Live

    Self - Musical Guest · 3 episodes

    77

  9. Cher

    Self · 1 episode

  10. David Bowie: Cracked Actor

    Self

  11. Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

    Self · 2 episodes

  12. 1974

    Diamond Dogs Demo Video

    Self / Harpie

  13. 1973

    David Bowie: The 1980 Floor Show

    Self

  14. 1972

    Musikladen

    Self · 1 episode

1960s

  1. 1969

    David Bowie: Love You Till Tuesday

    Self

  2. 1968

    The Dick Cavett Show

    Self - Guest · 1 episode

    79
  3. 1967

    Omnibus

    Self · 1 episode

  4. NBC television special: The Pursuit of Pleasure

    Self

  5. 1964

    Top of the Pops

    Self (archive footage) · 1 episode

    68
  6. 1963

    Ready Steady Go!

    Self · 1 episode

  7. 1962

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    Self · 1 episode

    82

No release date

  1. Are We Not Men?

    Self (archive footage)

  2. David Bowie - PNE Live Rehearsal 1976

    Self - Vocals, Saxophone

  3. David Bowie – A Legend in Review

    Self

Thanked in the credits3

2000s

  1. 2007

    Journey Through the Labyrinth

    Thanks

  2. 2005

    Tráiler para amantes de lo prohibido!

    Thanks