David Bowie
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- January 8, 1947
- Died
- January 10, 2016 (aged 69)
- Birthplace
- London, England, UK
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).
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Are We Not Men?
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie - PNE Live Rehearsal 1976
Movie · as Self - Vocals, Saxophone
David Bowie: Day-In Day-Out
Movie
David Bowie – A Legend in Review
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: “STAGE“
Movie
David Bowie: You're Not Alone
Movie · as Himself
Twiggy
Movie · as (archival footage)
Enigma
Movie · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bowie: The Final Act
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
TIME
Movie · as Narrator (voice)
David Bowie: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (2024 Dolby Atmos Mix)
Movie · as Guitar, Saxophone, Vocals
Luther: Never Too Much
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Can Creativity Save the World?
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
DEVO
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Placebo: This Search for Meaning
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Jim Henson Idea Man
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Eno
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Hits That Missed at the BBC
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 1 ep
Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
WHAM!
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
LOLA
Movie · as Self - Singer (archive footage)
Dear Bowie
Movie · as David Bowie
The Lost Weekend: A Love Story
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Thriller 40
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Moonage Daydream
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Mickey: The Story of a Mouse
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Freddie Mercury: The Final Act
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 1 ep
The Velvet Underground
Movie · as Self (voice)
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Out of this World
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: London Boy
Movie · as Self
Moby Doc
Movie · as Self
The Dancing Man of L.A.
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
This Is Pop
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 2 eps
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 3 eps
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Inductions
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Zappa
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Lindsay Dances - Theatre and life according to Lindsay Kemp
Movie · as Self
The BRITs at 40
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
70 Years of Youth Revolt
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 1 ep
WBCN and the American Revolution
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Finding Fame
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
My Music: A Classic Christmas
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Bowie: Glastonbury 2000
Movie · as Self - Vocals
Why Are We Creative?
Movie · as Self
Freddie Mercury: The King of Queen
Movie · as Self - Singer
BowieNext - Nascita di una galassia
Movie
Der Reichstag
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Bowie at the BBC
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Beside Bowie - The Mick Ronson Story
Movie · as Self - Narrator (voice)
David Bowie: The Last Five Years
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA
Movie · as Jack Celliers (archive footage)
Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock
Movie · as Self - Musician (archive footage)
Glam Rock at the BBC
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Bowie: The Man Who Changed the World
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie I Love You (Since I Was Six)
Movie · as Self
Burden
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Night Flight: Born Again
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Sound and Vision
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Starman
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: The Man Who Stole the World
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Gaga for Dada: The Original Art Rebels
Movie · as Self
The Dada Principle
Movie · as Self
David Bowie - In His Own Words
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: The Berlin Briefings
Movie
Gimme Danger
Movie · as archive footage
Let's Dance: Bowie Down Under
Movie · as Self
B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin 1979-1989
Movie · as Self
Wilde Jahre West-Berlin
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: On the Rock Trail
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Movie · as Phillip Jeffries
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Soul Boys of the Western World
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
I Am Divine
Movie · as Self (archive)
David Bowie Is Happening Now
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
Movie
David Bowie: Five Years
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Discovering Music
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 1 ep
The Frame
TV · as John Blaylock · 1 ep
David Bowie & The Story of Ziggy Stardust
Movie · as Self / Ziggy Stardust (archive footage)
Vanilla Ice Archive
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Clockwork Orange County
Movie · as Self
The Genius of David Bowie
Movie · as Self - Performer (archive footage)
David Bowie - The Calm Before The Storm: Under Review 1969 - 1971
Movie · as Self - Singer, songwriter
Personne ne bouge !
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Love We Make
Movie · as Self
Acoustic at the BBC
Movie · as Self
Bowie, Iggy & Lou 1971-1973: The Sacred Triangle
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Rare and Unseen
Movie · as Self
Let’s Spend the Night Together: Confessions of Rock’s Greatest Groupies
Movie · as archive footage
Bandslam
Movie · as David Bowie
David Bowie: VH1 Storytellers
Movie · as Self
Krautrock: The Rebirth of Germany
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Number One!
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 1 ep
August
Movie · as Cyrus Ogilvie
Kings of Glam
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
David Gilmour - Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine
Movie · as Self
David Gilmour: Remember That Night
Movie · as Self - Guest Artist
Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
Movie · as Self
SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis
Movie · as Lord Royal Highness
David Bowie - The Plastic Soul Review
Movie · as Self - Singer, Songwriter
David bowie - Up Close and Personal
Movie · as Self - Singer, Songwriter
David Bowie - Music in Review
Movie · as Self - Singer, Songwriter
Seven Ages of Rock
TV · as Self · 7 eps
The Prestige
Movie · as Tesla
Arthur and the Invisibles
Movie · as Maltazard (voice)
David Bowie: Under Review 1976-79
Movie · as Self
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: Million Sellers
Movie · as Self
David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust
Movie · as Self - Singer, Songwriter
David Bowie - Total Rock Review
Movie · as Self
Best of Bowie
Movie
Live Aid Against All Odds
Movie · as Self
Inside the Music
Movie · as Self
Françoise Hardy : Tant de belles choses...
Movie · as Self
TV Party
Movie · as Self
The Work of Director Mark Romanek
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Movie · as Self
Extras
TV · as David Bowie · 1 ep
Bowie: A Reality Tour
Movie · as Self
Rockthology 2
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Nomi Song
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Live Aid
Movie · as Self
Pixies: Gouge
Movie · as Self
The Making of Shrek 2
Movie · as Self
Can't Buy Me Lunch: Another Look at The Rutles
Movie · as Self - Interviewee
Queen: Greatest Video Hits 2
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Live at Riverside Studios '03
Movie · as Self
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Movie · as Self
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Movie · as Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Reality Live
Movie · as Self
Ed Sullivan Presents: Rock 'N' Roll Revolution: The British Invade America, America Fights Back
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Cher: The Farewell Tour
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
David Bowie: Live at Montreux
Movie · as Self
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
Movie · as Self - Narrator (voice)
David Bowie: Best of Bowie
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Live by Request
Movie · as Self
Supergroups
Movie · as Self
Queen - The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert 10th Anniversary Documentary
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Live Olympia Paris
Movie · as Self
Hr. Vinterberg & Mr. Bowie
Movie · as Self
David Bowie - Best Of
TV · 27 eps
Zoolander
Movie · as David Bowie
The Concert for New York City
Movie · as Self
Classic Albums: Lou Reed - Transformer
Movie · as Self
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep
The Filth and the Fury
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Mr. Rice's Secret
Movie · as Mr. William Rice
Bowie at the BBC
Movie · as Self - Vocals
The Ten Commandments of Creativity
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Roseland Ballroom, NYC
Movie · as Self
David Bowie - Live at The Elysee Montmartre Paris
Movie · as Self
Everybody Loves Sunshine
Movie · as Bernie
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
Movie · as Self
Where Are They Now?
TV · as Self · 1 ep
SpongeBob SquarePants
TV · as Lord Royal Highness (voice) · 1 ep
Gunslinger's Revenge
Movie · as Jack Sikora
Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart
Movie · as Self
In Stillness and in Silence (Sacred)
Movie · as Self
Goldie: When Saturn Returns
Movie · as Self
A Bing Crosby Christmas
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Parkinson
TV · as Self - Guest / Performer · 2 eps
David Bowie: An Earthling at 50
Movie · as Self - Interviewee
David Bowie - Live from the 10th spot
Movie · as Self
Nine Inch Nails: Closure
Movie · as Self
David Bowie Birthday Celebration Live in NYC
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Earthling On TV
Movie · as Self
David Bowie & Friends: A Very Special Birthday Celebration
Movie · as Self
The Hunger
TV · as The Host · 22 eps
Basquiat
Movie · as Andy Warhol
The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money
Movie · as Self
David Bowie - Kremlin Palace Moscow
Movie · as self
TFI Friday
TV · 2 eps
Nine Inch Nails & David Bowie: Dissonance
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: The Making of "1.Outside"
Movie · as Self
Queen: Champions of the World
Movie · as Self
Die Harald Schmidt Show
TV · as Self · 2 eps
The World of Jim Henson
Movie · as Jareth (archive footage)
Gay! Gay! Hollywood
Movie
Exclusiv - Das Star-Magazin
TV · as self · 1 ep
David Bowie: Black Tie White Noise
Movie · as Self
Tina Turner: The Girl from Nutbush
Movie
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
TV · as Self - Musical Guest · 1 ep
Full Stretch
TV · as David Bowie · 1 ep
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
Movie · as Self
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Movie · as Phillip Jeffries
Blast 'Em
Movie · as Self (uncredited)
ECHO-Verleihung
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Later... with Jools Holland
TV · 3 eps
The Linguini Incident
Movie · as Monte
Queen: Greatest Flix II
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Live At The Tokyo Dome
Movie · as Self
Lennon: A Tribute
Movie
Dream On
TV · as Sir Roland Moorecock · 2 eps
Twin Peaks
TV · as Phillip Jeffries (archive footage) · 1 ep
Tin Machine - Live at Paradiso
Movie
The Last Temptation of Christ
Movie · as Pontius Pilatus
Imagine: John Lennon
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Glass Spider
Movie · as Self
Comic Relief
TV · 1 ep
Sacrée soirée
TV · as Self (Clip) (archive footage), Self - Tin Machine · 1 ep
Labyrinth
Movie · as Jareth
Absolute Beginners
Movie · as Vendice Partners
Inside the Labyrinth
Movie · as Self
Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary
Movie · as Self
Into the Night
Movie · as Colin Morris
Live Aid
Movie · as Self
Tina Turner: Private Dancer Tour
Movie · as Self
Video AID
Movie · as Self
David Bowie at Live Aid
Movie
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
Movie · as Celliers (archive footage)
David Bowie: The Serious Moonlight Tour
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight
Movie · as Self - Lead Vocals / Guitar
Ricochet
Movie · as Self
MTV Video Music Awards
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Yellowbeard
Movie · as The Shark (uncredited)
The Hunger
Movie · as John Blaylock
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
Movie · as Celliers
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Movie · as Self / Ziggy Stardust
Cool Cats: 25 Years of Rock 'n' Roll Style
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Montreal
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Sydney
Movie
Group Madness
Movie · as Self
The Oshima Gang
Movie · as Self
Baal
Movie · as Baal
Champs-Elysées
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Christiane F.
Movie · as David Bowie
Wetten, dass..?
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
Movie · as Self
Just a Gigolo
Movie · as Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski
David Bowie: Live at Beat Club Musikladen
Movie · as Self - Keyboard, Vocals
David Bowie On Stage
Movie
David Bowie On Stage: Live in Japan
Movie · as Self
David Bowie: Musikladen Extra
Movie · as Self - Keyboard, Vocals
Young Music Show
TV · 1 ep
Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas
Movie · as Self
Auf los geht's los
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The BRIT Awards
TV · as Self · 2 eps
The Man Who Fell to Earth
Movie · as Thomas Jerome Newton
David Bowie: Cracked Actor
Movie · as Self
Night Lunch
Movie · as Self
Cher
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Saturday Night Live
TV · as Self - Musical Guest · 3 eps
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Système 2
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Diamond Dogs Demo Video
Movie · as Self / Harpie
David Bowie: The 1980 Floor Show
Movie · as Self
Musikladen
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Looking Glass Murders
Movie · as Cloud
David Bowie: Love You Till Tuesday
Movie · as Self
The Image
Movie · as The Boy
The Virgin Soldiers
Movie · as Soldier
Unsere kleine Show - Musik zur blauen Stunde
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Dick Cavett Show
TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep
NBC television special: The Pursuit of Pleasure
Movie · as Self
Omnibus
TV · as Self · 1 ep
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Theatre 625
TV · 1 ep
Top of the Pops
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 1 ep
Ready Steady Go!
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV · as Self · 1 ep