Tom Petty
Known for: Acting
Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was the leader and frontman of the rock bands Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch and a member of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys. He was also a successful solo artist. Over the course of his career, Petty sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. His hit singles with the Heartbreakers include "American Girl" (1976), "Don't Do Me Like That" (1979), "Refugee" (1980), "The Waiting" (1981), "Don't Come Around Here No More" (1985) and "Learning to Fly" (1991). Petty's solo hits include "I Won't Back Down" (1989), "Free Fallin'" (1989), and "You Don't Know How It Feels" (1994). Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Petty was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year in February 2017 for his contributions to music and for his philanthropy. He also acted; he had a recurring role as the voice of Lucky Kleinschmidt in the animated comedy series King of the Hill from 2004 to the show's conclusion in 2009. Petty died of an accidental drug overdose in 2017 at the age of 66, one week after the end of the Heartbreakers' 40th Anniversary Tour. On December 4, 2023, Petty's song "Love Is a Long Road" was used in the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, which is considered one of the most anticipated video games ever made. This trailer gained over 90 million YouTube views within the first 24 hours. Because of this immense bump in popularity, the song itself gained nearly 1 million YouTube views in the same time span, gained a 36,979% increase on Spotify, had almost 250,000 searches on Shazam, and ranked second on the worldwide iTunes chart.
Filmography
Series
The Simpsons
Tom Petty (voice)
1989
Series
King of the Hill
Lucky (voice)
1997
Series
King of the Hill
Lucky / Mud Dobber (voice)
1997
Series
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Musical Guest
1993
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest
1975
Series
The Larry Sanders Show
Tom Petty
1992
Series
MTV Video Music Awards
Self
1984
Series
Classic Albums
Self
1997
Series
Rockpalast
1974
Series
Behind the Music
Self
1997
Series
It's Garry Shandling's Show
Tom Petty
1986
Series
Fridays
Self - Musical Guest
1980
Film
The Postman
Bridge City Mayor
1997
Series
The Old Grey Whistle Test
1971
Series
Soundstage
Self - vocals, guitar
2003
Series
Soundbreaking
Self
2016
Series
The Defiant Ones
Self
2017
Film
Made in Heaven
Stanky
1987
Series
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Self
2011
Series
Elvis Presley: The Searcher
Self
2018
Film
America | A Tribute to Heroes
Self - Performer
2001
Series
The History of Rock 'n' Roll
Self
1995
Film
Live Aid
Self
1985
Film
Concert for George
Self
2003
Series
Life, Death and Money
self - archival footage
Tom Petty: Going Home
Self
1994
Film
Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
Self
1993
Film
Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO
Self
2012
Film
Elvis Presley: The Searcher
2018
Film
$aving Dat Money
Self
2015
Film
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Self
2005
Film
Night Flight: Born Again
Self
2016
Film
Sound City
Self
2013
Film
Echo in the Canyon
Self
2019
Film
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream
Self
2007
Film
Hard to Handle: Bob Dylan in Concert
Self
1986
Film
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Live at the Olympic (The Last DJ)
Singer, Guitar
2003
Film
Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free
Himself (archive footage)
2021
Film
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Live from Gatorville
2008
Film
No Nukes
Self
1980
Film
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers: Live in Concert
vocals, guitar
2003
Film
Live Aid
Self
2004
Fame and Fentanyl
Self (archive footage)
2025
Film
Heartbreakers Beach Party
Self
2024
Film
FM
Self
1978
Film
Bridge School Benefit Concert 1986
Self
1986
Film
The Best Of Sound Stage
2008
Film
Classic Albums: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes
Self
2010
Film
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live at the Docks, Hamburg
himself
1999
Film
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2015
Film
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Pack Up the Plantation - Live!
1986
Film
Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl - Unraveled
Self
2014
Film
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts
Self
2021
Film
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - High Grass Dogs - Live from the Fillmore
Himself
1999
Film
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Take the Highway Live
Self
1992
Film
Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
Self
1995
Film
The Everly Brothers: Songs of Innocence and Experience
Self
1984
Film
The True History Of The Traveling Wilburys
Self
2007
Film
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: Playback
Self
1995
Film
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: 30th Anniversary Concert
himself
2006
Film
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - A Bunch Of Videos And Some Other Stuff
Self
1989
Film
Wired for Sound: A Guitar Odyssey
Self
1997
Film
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: 400 Days
Self
1995
Film
Crystal Visions: The Very Best of Stevie Nicks
2007
Mike Campbell: The Guitars
Self
2012
Film
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Rock Goes to College
Performer
1980
Film
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - The Old Grey Whistle Test
1978
Film
Tom Petty - Mojo Tour 2010
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers - Free Fallin'
Lead Vocals / Guitar
2005
Film
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: VH1 Storytellers
Self
1999