David Bowie
Known for: Acting
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).
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest
1975
Series
Top of the Pops
Self (archive footage)
1964
Series
Twin Peaks
Phillip Jeffries (archive footage)
1990
Series
Die Harald Schmidt Show
Self
1995
Series
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003
Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Musical Guest
1993
Series
Champs-Elysées
Self
1982
Series
Omnibus
Self
1967
Series
Omnibus
1967
Series
MTV Video Music Awards
Self
1984
Series
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
1968
Series
Sacrée soirée
Self (Clip) (archive footage)
1987
Series
Sacrée soirée
Self - Tin Machine
1987
Series
Wetten, dass..?
Self
1981
Series
Exclusiv - Das Star-Magazin
self
1994
Series
Theatre 625
1964
Series
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self
1975
Film
Thriller 40
Self (archive footage)
2023
Series
SpongeBob SquarePants
Lord Royal Highness (voice)
1999
Film
The Prestige
Tesla
2006
Series
Parkinson
Self
1998
Series
The Hunger
The Host
1997
Series
Extras
David Bowie
2005
Series
Dream On
Sir Roland Moorecock
1990
Series
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Self - Guest
2001
Where Are They Now?
Self
1999
Series
The BRIT Awards
Self
1977
Film
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Phillip Jeffries
1992
Film
Labyrinth
Jareth
1986
Film
Arthur and the Invisibles
Maltazard (voice)
2006
Système 2
Self
1975
ECHO-Verleihung
Self
1992
Film
Zoolander
David Bowie
2001
Series
Cher
Self
1975
Series
The Frame
John Blaylock
2013
Series
Musikladen
Self
1972
Series
Auf los geht's los
Self
1977
Series
This Is Pop
Self (archive footage)
2021
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
Self
1966
Series
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
Self (archive footage)
2022
Series
Ready Steady Go!
Self
1963
Series
Seven Ages of Rock
Self
2007
Film
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
Celliers
1983
Film
Into the Night
Colin Morris
1985
Film
The Hunger
John Blaylock
1983
Film
The Last Temptation of Christ
Pontius Pilatus
1988
Series
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
Self (archive footage)
2021
Film
Christiane F.
David Bowie
1981
Film
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self
2021
Unsere kleine Show - Musik zur blauen Stunde
Self
1969
Series
Personne ne bouge !
Self
2012
Series
70 Years of Youth Revolt
Self (archive footage)
2020
Film
Basquiat
Andy Warhol
1996
Film
Yellowbeard
The Shark (uncredited)
1983
Film
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Phillip Jeffries
2014
Film
The Man Who Fell to Earth
Thomas Jerome Newton
1976
Film
Jim Henson Idea Man
Self (archive footage)
2024
Film
Absolute Beginners
Vendice Partners
1986
Film
The Concert for New York City
Self
2001
Film
TV Party
Self
2005
Film
Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA
Jack Celliers (archive footage)
2017
Film
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
Self
1999
Full Stretch
David Bowie
1993
Film
Live Aid
Self
1985
Film
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Self (archive footage)
2025
Film
Moonage Daydream
Self (archive footage)
2022
Film
SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis
Lord Royal Highness
2007
Film
Zappa
Self (archive footage)
2020
Film
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
Self
2003
Film
Bowie: The Final Act
Self (archive footage)
2025
Film
WHAM!
Self (archive footage)
2023
Vanilla Ice Archive
Self (archive footage)
2012
Film
DEVO
Self (archive footage)
2024
Film
Group Madness
Self
1983
Film
August
Cyrus Ogilvie
2008
Film
Bandslam
David Bowie
2009
Film
The Linguini Incident
Monte
1991
Film
Why Are We Creative?
Self
2018
Film
I Am Divine
Self (archive)
2014
Film
The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story
Self (archive footage)
2019
Film
Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary
Self
1986
Film
The Velvet Underground
Self (voice)
2021
Film
The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money
Self
1996
Film
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Self
2003
Film
Twiggy
(archival footage)
2025
Film
David Bowie: The Last Five Years
Self (archive footage)
2017
Film
The Nomi Song
Self (archive footage)
2004
Film
Imagine: John Lennon
Self
1988
Film
LOLA
Self - Singer (archive footage)
2023
Film
Soul Boys of the Western World
Self (archive footage)
2014
Film
Can Creativity Save the World?
Self
2024
Film
Gunslinger's Revenge
Jack Sikora
1998
Film
Mickey: The Story of a Mouse
Self (archive footage)
2022
Film
The Love We Make
Self
2011
Series
Hits That Missed at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2024
Film
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
Self
1992
Film
Freddie Mercury: The Final Act
Self (archive footage)
2022
Film
Enigma
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2025
Film
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Self
2005
Film
Gimme Danger
archive footage
2016
Film
Can't Buy Me Lunch: Another Look at The Rutles
Self - Interviewee
2003
Series
Young Music Show
1978
Film
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
Self
1980
Film
Freddie Mercury: The King of Queen
Self - Singer
2018
Film
The World of Jim Henson
Jareth (archive footage)
1994
Film
B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin 1979-1989
Self
2015
Film
Cool Cats: 25 Years of Rock 'n' Roll Style
Self (archive footage)
1983
Film
Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV
Self (archive footage)
2023
Film
The Filth and the Fury
Self (archive footage)
2000
Film
Bowie: The Man Who Changed the World
Self (archive footage)
2016
Film
Live Aid
Self
2004
Film
Baal
Baal
1982
Film
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
Celliers (archive footage)
1985
Film
The BRITs at 40
Self (archive footage)
2020
Film
David Bowie Is Happening Now
Self (archive footage)
2013
Film
The Oshima Gang
Self
1983
Series
David Bowie - Best Of
2002
Film
David Bowie - The Plastic Soul Review
Self - Singer, Songwriter
2007
Film
Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis
Self (archive footage)
2004
Film
Inside the Labyrinth
Self
1986
Film
Mr. Rice's Secret
Mr. William Rice
2000
Film
Just a Gigolo
Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski
1978
Film
The Lost Weekend: A Love Story
Self (archive footage)
2023
Series
Discovering Music
Self (archive footage)
2013
Film
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Self (archive footage)
2014
Film
The Dancing Man of L.A.
Self (archive footage)
2021
Film
Tina Turner: Private Dancer Tour
Self
1985
Film
Queen - The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert 10th Anniversary Documentary
Self
2002
Film
David Bowie: Five Years
Self (archive footage)
2013
Film
Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock
Self - Musician (archive footage)
2017
Film
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Self / Ziggy Stardust
1983
Film
The Virgin Soldiers
Soldier
1969
Film
The Ten Commandments of Creativity
Self
2000
Film
The Image
The Boy
1969
Film
David Bowie & The Story of Ziggy Stardust
Self / Ziggy Stardust (archive footage)
2012
Film
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
Self - Narrator (voice)
2002
Film
Queen: Champions of the World
Self
1995
Film
Best of Bowie
2006
Film
David Bowie: VH1 Storytellers
Self
2009
Film
Video AID
Self
1985
Film
The Work of Director Mark Romanek
Self (archive footage)
2005
Film
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Inductions
Self (archive footage)
2020
Film
A Bing Crosby Christmas
Self (archive footage)
1998
Film
David Bowie: Reality Live
Self
2003
Film
Kings of Glam
Self (archive footage)
2008
Film
The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
2013
Film
My Music: A Classic Christmas
Self (archive footage)
2019
Film
David Bowie - Music in Review
Self - Singer, Songwriter
2007
Film
Live Aid Against All Odds
Self
2005
Film
Night Flight: Born Again
Self
2016
Film
Acoustic at the BBC
Self
2011
Film
Burden
Self (archive footage)
2016
Film
Bowie, Iggy & Lou 1971-1973: The Sacred Triangle
Self (archive footage)
2010
Film
Luther: Never Too Much
Self (archive footage)
2024
Film
AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex
Self (archive footage)
2023
Film
WBCN and the American Revolution
Self
2019
Film
David Bowie: Cracked Actor
Self
1975
Film
Der Reichstag
Self (archive footage)
2017
Film
David Bowie: Roseland Ballroom, NYC
Self
2000
Film
David Gilmour: Remember That Night - Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Self - Guest Artist
2007
Film
TIME
Narrator (voice)
2024
Film
David Bowie On Stage: Live in Japan
Self
1978
Film
Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas
Self
1977
Film
Nine Inch Nails: Closure
Self
1997
Film
Night Lunch
Self
1975
Film
Beside Bowie - The Mick Ronson Story
Self - Narrator (voice)
2017
Film
Gay! Gay! Hollywood
1994
Film
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Self
2003
Film
Clockwork Orange County
Self
2012
Film
Ed Sullivan Presents: Rock 'N' Roll Revolution: The British Invade America, America Fights Back
Self (archive footage)
2003
Film
David Bowie: Glass Spider
Self
1988
Film
Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
Self
2007
Film
Let’s Spend the Night Together: Confessions of Rock’s Greatest Groupies
archive footage
2010
Film
Everybody Loves Sunshine
Bernie
1999
Film
Classic Albums: Lou Reed - Transformer
Self
2001
Film
Wilde Jahre West-Berlin
Self
2015
Film
Dear Bowie
David Bowie
2023
Film
David Bowie: Live at Beat Club Musikladen
Self - Keyboard, Vocals
1978
Film
David Bowie: Jazzin' for Blue Jean
Vic / Screaming Lord Byron
1984
Film
David Bowie: The 1980 Floor Show
Self
1973
Film
Placebo: This Search for Meaning
Self (archive footage)
2024
Film
Gaga for Dada: The Original Art Rebels
Self
2016
Film
David Bowie: Live at Riverside Studios '03
Self
2003
Film
Moby Doc
Self
2021
Film
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
Self
2010
Film
Tina Turner: The Girl from Nutbush
1993
Film
David Bowie - Total Rock Review
Self
2006
Film
David Bowie: Rockpalast
Self
1996
Film
Ricochet
Self
1984
Film
David Bowie: Day-In Day-Out
Film
Bowie: A Reality Tour
Self
2004
Film
Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart
Self
1998
Film
The Dada Principle
Self
2016
Film
Eno
Self (archive footage)
2024
Film
Krautrock: The Rebirth of Germany
Self (archive footage)
2009
Film
Are We Not Men?
Self (archive footage)
Film
David Bowie: Finding Fame
Self (archive footage)
2019
Film
Goldie: When Saturn Returns
Self
1998
Film
The Magic Voices of Pop
Self (archive)
2021
Film
Françoise Hardy : Tant de belles choses...
Self
2005
Film
David Bowie: Live At The Tokyo Dome
Self
1990
Film
The Genius of David Bowie
Self - Performer (archive footage)
2012
Film
Nine Inch Nails & David Bowie: Dissonance
Self
1995
Film
David Bowie Birthday Celebration Live in NYC
Self
1997
Film
David Bowie: Best of Bowie
Self (archive footage)
2002
Film
David Bowie: Rare and Unseen
Self
2010
Film
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: Million Sellers
Self
2006
The Looking Glass Murders
Cloud
1970
Film
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight
Self - Lead Vocals / Guitar
1984
Film
Glam Rock at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2017
Film
David Bowie: An Earthling at 50
Self - Interviewee
1997
Film
David Bowie: London Boy
Self
2021
Film
Queen: Greatest Video Hits 2
Self
2003
Film
Inside the Music
Self
2005
Film
David Bowie: Out of this World
Self
2021
Film
David Bowie: Live Olympia Paris
Self
2002
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Montreal
Self
1983
Fame
Himself (voice)
1976
Film
Lindsay Dances - Theatre and life according to Lindsay Kemp
Self
2020
Film
David Bowie: Love You Till Tuesday
Self
1969
Film
Rockthology 2
Self (archive footage)
2004
Film
Pixies: Gouge
Self
2004
Film
Bowie at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2017
Film
NBC television special: The Pursuit of Pleasure
Self
1967
Film
David Bowie: Under Review 1976-79
Self
2006
Film
David Bowie & Friends: A Very Special Birthday Celebration
Self
1997
Film
Bowie at the BBC
Self - Vocals
2000
Film
David Bowie: The Serious Moonlight Tour
Self
1984
Film
In Stillness and in Silence (Sacred)
Self
1998
Film
Supergroups
Self
2002
Film
David Bowie - Live at The Elysee Montmartre Paris
Self
1999
Film
Hr. Vinterberg & Mr. Bowie
Self
2002
Film
Queen: Greatest Flix II
Self (archive footage)
1991
Film
Diamond Dogs Demo Video
Self / Harpie
1974
Film
David Bowie: The Making of "1.Outside"
Self
1995
Film
Bowie: Glastonbury 2000
Self - Vocals
2018
Film
David Bowie at Live Aid
1985
Film
David Bowie: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (2024 Dolby Atmos Mix)
Guitar, Saxophone, Vocals
2024
Film
BowieNext - Nascita di una galassia
2018
Film
David Bowie: Sound and Vision
Self
2016
Film
Tin Machine - Live at Paradiso
1989
Film
Let's Dance: Bowie Down Under
Self
2015
Film
David Gilmour - Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine
Self
2007
Film
David Bowie - Live from the 10th spot
Self
1997
Film
David bowie - Up Close and Personal
Self - Singer, Songwriter
2007
Film
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Sydney
1983
Film
David Bowie: Earthling On TV
Self
1997
Film
David Bowie: Black Tie White Noise
Self
1993
Film
David Bowie - Kremlin Palace Moscow
self
1996
Film
David Bowie: The Man Who Stole the World
Self (archive footage)
2016
Film
David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust
Self - Singer, Songwriter
2006
Film
David Bowie On Stage
1978
Film
David Bowie I Love You (Since I Was Six)
Self
2016
Film
David Bowie: On the Rock Trail
Self (archive footage)
2015
Film
David Bowie: The Berlin Briefings
2016
Film
David Bowie - In His Own Words
Self (archive footage)
2016
Film
David Bowie - The Calm Before The Storm: Under Review 1969 - 1971
Self - Singer, songwriter
2012
Film
David Bowie: Live at Montreux
Self
2002
Film
David Bowie: Live by Request
Self
2002
Film
David Bowie: Musikladen Extra
Self - Keyboard, Vocals
1978
Film
David Bowie: Starman
Self
2016
Film
David Bowie - PNE Live Rehearsal 1976
Self - Vocals, Saxophone