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David Bowie
Acting
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 certificatio…
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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).
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BODY OF WORK
David Bowie's Filmography
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Bowie: The Final Act
as Self (archive footage)
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror
as Self (archive footage)
Twiggy
as (archival footage)
Enigma
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
as Self (archive footage)
Placebo: This Search for Meaning
as Self (archive footage)
Luther: Never Too Much
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (2024 Dolby Atmos Mix)
as Guitar, Saxophone, Vocals
TIME
as Narrator (voice)
Jim Henson Idea Man
as Self (archive footage)
Can Creativity Save the World?
as Self (archive footage)
DEVO
as Self (archive footage)
Eno
as Self (archive footage)
Dear Bowie
as David Bowie
Thriller 40
as Self (archive footage)
AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex
as Self (archive footage)
WHAM!
as Self (archive footage)
The Lost Weekend: A Love Story
as Self (archive footage)
LOLA
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV
as Self (archive footage)
Moonage Daydream
as Self (archive footage)
Freddie Mercury: The Final Act
as Self (archive footage)
Mickey: The Story of a Mouse
as Self (archive footage)
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
as Self
The Velvet Underground
as Self (voice)
Moby Doc
as Self
The Dancing Man of L.A.
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Out of this World
as Self
David Bowie: London Boy
as Self
Zappa
as Self (archive footage)
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Inductions
as Self (archive footage)
Lindsay Dances - Theatre and life according to Lindsay Kemp
as Self
The BRITs at 40
as Self (archive footage)
My Music: A Classic Christmas
as Self (archive footage)
The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story
as Self (archive footage)
WBCN and the American Revolution
as Self
David Bowie: Finding Fame
as Self (archive footage)
Bowie: Glastonbury 2000
as Self - Vocals
Why Are We Creative?
as Self
BowieNext - Nascita di una galassia
Freddie Mercury: The King of Queen
as Self - Singer
Der Reichstag
as Self (archive footage)
Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA
as Jack Celliers (archive footage)
Glam Rock at the BBC
as Self (archive footage)
Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock
as Self - Musician (archive footage)
Beside Bowie - The Mick Ronson Story
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Bowie at the BBC
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: The Last Five Years
as Self (archive footage)
Gaga for Dada: The Original Art Rebels
as Self
Gimme Danger
as archive footage
David Bowie: The Berlin Briefings
Bowie: The Man Who Changed the World
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: The Man Who Stole the World
as Self (archive footage)
Burden
as Self (archive footage)
Night Flight: Born Again
as Self
David Bowie - In His Own Words
as Self (archive footage)
The Dada Principle
as Self
David Bowie I Love You (Since I Was Six)
as Self
David Bowie: Sound and Vision
as Self
David Bowie: Starman
as Self
David Bowie: On the Rock Trail
as Self (archive footage)
Let's Dance: Bowie Down Under
as Self
B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin 1979-1989
as Self
Wilde Jahre West-Berlin
as Self
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
as Self (archive footage)
Soul Boys of the Western World
as Self (archive footage)
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
as Phillip Jeffries
I Am Divine
as Self (archive)
David Bowie Is Happening Now
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Five Years
as Self (archive footage)
The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
David Bowie - The Calm Before The Storm: Under Review 1969 - 1971
as Self - Singer, songwriter
No Poster
Vanilla Ice Archive
as Self (archive footage)
Clockwork Orange County
as Self
David Bowie & The Story of Ziggy Stardust
as Self / Ziggy Stardust (archive footage)
The Genius of David Bowie
as Self - Performer (archive footage)
The Love We Make
as Self
Acoustic at the BBC
as Self
Let’s Spend the Night Together: Confessions of Rock’s Greatest Groupies
as archive footage
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
as Self
Bowie, Iggy & Lou 1971-1973: The Sacred Triangle
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Rare and Unseen
as Self
Krautrock: The Rebirth of Germany
as Self (archive footage)
Bandslam
as David Bowie
David Bowie: VH1 Storytellers
as Self
Kings of Glam
as Self (archive footage)
August
as Cyrus Ogilvie
SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis
as Lord Royal Highness
David Gilmour - Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine
as Self
David Gilmour: Remember That Night
as Self - Guest Artist
David Bowie - The Plastic Soul Review
as Self - Singer, Songwriter
David bowie - Up Close and Personal
as Self - Singer, Songwriter
Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
as Self
David Bowie - Music in Review
as Self - Singer, Songwriter
Arthur and the Invisibles
as Maltazard (voice)
The Prestige
as Tesla
David Bowie - Total Rock Review
as Self
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: Million Sellers
as Self
David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust
as Self - Singer, Songwriter
Best of Bowie
David Bowie: Under Review 1976-79
as Self
The Work of Director Mark Romanek
as Self (archive footage)
TV Party
as Self
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
as Self
Live Aid Against All Odds
as Self
Françoise Hardy : Tant de belles choses...
as Self
Inside the Music
as Self
Live Aid
as Self
The Nomi Song
as Self (archive footage)
Bowie: A Reality Tour
as Self
Rockthology 2
as Self (archive footage)
Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis
as Self (archive footage)
Pixies: Gouge
as Self
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
as Self
Queen: Greatest Video Hits 2
as Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
as Self
David Bowie: Live at Riverside Studios '03
as Self
Ed Sullivan Presents: Rock 'N' Roll Revolution: The British Invade America, America Fights Back
as Self (archive footage)
Can't Buy Me Lunch: Another Look at The Rutles
as Self - Interviewee
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
as Self
Cher: The Farewell Tour
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Reality Live
as Self
Supergroups
as Self
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Hr. Vinterberg & Mr. Bowie
as Self
David Bowie: Live at Montreux
as Self
David Bowie: Live Olympia Paris
as Self
David Bowie: Best of Bowie
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Live by Request
as Self
Queen - The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert 10th Anniversary Documentary
as Self
Classic Albums: Lou Reed - Transformer
as Self
The Concert for New York City
as Self
Zoolander
as David Bowie
Mr. Rice's Secret
as Mr. William Rice
Bowie at the BBC
as Self - Vocals
David Bowie: Roseland Ballroom, NYC
as Self
The Filth and the Fury
as Self (archive footage)
The Ten Commandments of Creativity
as Self
David Bowie - Live at The Elysee Montmartre Paris
as Self
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
as Self
Everybody Loves Sunshine
as Bernie
Gunslinger's Revenge
as Jack Sikora
In Stillness and in Silence (Sacred)
as Self
Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart
as Self
A Bing Crosby Christmas
as Self (archive footage)
Goldie: When Saturn Returns
as Self
Nine Inch Nails: Closure
as Self
David Bowie - Live from the 10th spot
as Self
David Bowie: Earthling On TV
as Self
David Bowie Birthday Celebration Live in NYC
as Self
David Bowie & Friends: A Very Special Birthday Celebration
as Self
David Bowie: An Earthling at 50
as Self - Interviewee
The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money
as Self
Basquiat
as Andy Warhol
David Bowie - Kremlin Palace Moscow
as self
David Bowie: The Making of "1.Outside"
as Self
Nine Inch Nails & David Bowie: Dissonance
as Self
Queen: Champions of the World
as Self
The World of Jim Henson
as Jareth (archive footage)
Gay! Gay! Hollywood
Tina Turner: The Girl from Nutbush
David Bowie: Black Tie White Noise
as Self
Blast 'Em
as Self (uncredited)
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
as Phillip Jeffries
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
as Self
Queen: Greatest Flix II
as Self (archive footage)
The Linguini Incident
as Monte
Lennon: A Tribute
David Bowie: Live At The Tokyo Dome
as Self
Tin Machine - Live at Paradiso
Imagine: John Lennon
as Self
The Last Temptation of Christ
as Pontius Pilatus
David Bowie: Glass Spider
as Self
Inside the Labyrinth
as Self
Labyrinth
as Jareth
Absolute Beginners
as Vendice Partners
Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary
as Self
Live Aid
as Self
David Bowie at Live Aid
Tina Turner: Private Dancer Tour
as Self
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
as Celliers (archive footage)
Into the Night
as Colin Morris
Video AID
as Self
David Bowie: Jazzin' for Blue Jean
as Vic / Screaming Lord Byron
Ricochet
as Self
David Bowie: The Serious Moonlight Tour
as Self
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight
as Self - Lead Vocals / Guitar
The Oshima Gang
as Self
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
as Self / Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Sydney
No Poster
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Montreal
as Self
Yellowbeard
as The Shark (uncredited)
Group Madness
as Self
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
as Celliers
The Hunger
as John Blaylock
Cool Cats: 25 Years of Rock 'n' Roll Style
as Self (archive footage)
Baal
as Baal
Christiane F.
as David Bowie
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
as Self
David Bowie On Stage: Live in Japan
as Self
Just a Gigolo
as Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski
David Bowie: Live at Beat Club Musikladen
as Self - Keyboard, Vocals
David Bowie On Stage
David Bowie: Musikladen Extra
as Self - Keyboard, Vocals
Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas
as Self
The Man Who Fell to Earth
as Thomas Jerome Newton
Night Lunch
as Self
David Bowie: Cracked Actor
as Self
Diamond Dogs Demo Video
as Self / Harpie
David Bowie: The 1980 Floor Show
as Self
No Poster
The Looking Glass Murders
as Cloud
The Virgin Soldiers
as Soldier
The Image
as The Boy
David Bowie: Love You Till Tuesday
as Self
NBC television special: The Pursuit of Pleasure
as Self
The Making of Shrek 2
as Self
David Bowie – A Legend in Review
as Self
David Bowie - PNE Live Rehearsal 1976
as Self - Vocals, Saxophone
David Bowie: Day-In Day-Out
Are We Not Men?
as Self (archive footage)