Ken Russell
Henry Kenneth Alfred "Ken" Russell (3 July 1927 – 27 November 2011) was an English film director. He is known for his pioneering work in television and film, and for his controversial style. He has been criticized as being over-obsessed with sexuality and the church. His subject matter is often about famous composers, or based on other works of art which he adapts loosely. Russell began directing for the BBC, where he did creative adaptations of composers' lives which were unusual for the time. He also directed many feature films independently and for studios.
He is best known for his Oscar-winning romantic drama Women in Love (1969), the notoriously controversial The Devils (1971), the rock musical Tommy (1975), and the science fiction film Altered States (1980).
One noted admirer, British film critic Mark Kermode, attempting to sum up the director's achievement, called Russell; "somebody who proved that British cinema didn't have to be about kitchen-sink realism – it could be every bit as flamboyant as Fellini. He now makes very strange experimental films like Lion's Mouth and Revenge of the Elephant Man, and they are as edgy and out there as the work he made in the 1970s."
Acted in
Twiggy
2025
as (archival footage)
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Director of Devils
2012
as Self
Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil
2012
as Self (archive footage)
The Devils Original on-set footage
2012
Mr. Nice
2010
as Russell Miegs
The Aristofrogs
2010
Boudica Bites Back
2009
as Roman Senator
A Kitten for Hitler
2007
as Santa
10 Best Elgar
2007
as Self (archive footage)
The Real Blue Nuns
2006
as Self
Trapped Ashes
2006
as Dr. Lucy (segment "The Girl with Golden Breasts")
Brothers of the Head
2006
as Himself
Colour Me Kubrick
2005
as The Man In Nightgown
Agatha Christie's Marple
2004
as Rev Caleb Dane Calthrop
Revenge of the Elephant Man
2004
Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devils
2002
as Self
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle
2002
as Narrator (voice)
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
2002
as Dr. Calahari
Waking the Dead
2001
as Gerry Raistrick
Celebrity Big Brother
2001
as Self
The Real Oliver Reed
2000
as Self
Lion's Mouth
2000
as Ken
Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Song
1997
as Himself
In Search of Dracula
1996
as Self
Tales of Erotica
1996
Empire of the Censors
1995
as Self
Music for the Movies: Georges Delerue
1995
as Self
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch
1995
as Mr. Kirsch
Frank Stubbs Promotes
1993
as Self
Lady Chatterley
1993
as Sir Michael Reid
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax
1992
as Sir Arnold Bax
Whore
1991
as Waiter (uncredited)
The Russia House
1990
as Walter
Plunder
1990
A British Picture
1989
The Lair of the White Worm
1988
as Police Radio (voice) (uncredited)
Salome's Last Dance
1988
as Cappadocian
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music
1988
as Himself
Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russell
1987
Gothic
1986
as Tourist
A Turnip Head’s Guide To The British Cinema
1986
as Self
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait
1983
as Self
The Kids Are Alright
1979
The South Bank Show
1978
as Self
Valentino
1977
as Rex Ingram (uncredited)
Tommy
1975
as Cripple (uncredited)
Savage Messiah
1972
as Passenger getting off train in station (uncredited)
Song of Summer
1968
as Priest
Don’t Shoot the Composer
1966
as Himself
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
1966
as Captain Patterson
Russell at Work
1966
Walk With The Damned
1961
as Hood
PuzzleFace
as god