David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), 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 characterised 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).
Acted in
Twiggy
2025
as (archival footage)
Eno
2024
as Self (archive footage)
TIME
2024
as HIMSELF
Jim Henson Idea Man
2024
as Jareth (archive footage)
My Way
2024
as Self (archive footage)
Hits That Missed at the BBC
2024
as Self (archive footage)
Devo
2024
as Self (archive footage)
Dear Bowie
2023
as David Bowie
Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex
2023
as Self (archive footage)
WHAM!
2023
as Self (archive footage)
The Lost Weekend: A Love Story
2023
as Self (archive footage)
LOLA
2023
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV
2023
as Self (archive footage)
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Moonage Daydream
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Freddie Mercury: The Final Act
2022
as Self
Mickey: The Story of a Mouse
2022
as Self (archive footage)
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2021
as Self
The Velvet Underground
2021
as Self (voice)
Moby Doc
2021
as Self
The Dancing Man of L.A.
2021
as Self (archive footage)
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
2021
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Out of this World
2021
as Self
This Is Pop
2021
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: London Boy
2021
as Self
Zappa
2020
as Self (archive footage)
70 Years of Youth Revolt
2020
as Self (archive footage)
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Inductions
2020
as Self (archive footage)
Françoise Hardy : tant de belles choses
2020
Lindsay Dances - Theatre and life according to Lindsay Kemp
2020
as Self
My Music: A Classic Christmas
2019
as Self (archive footage)
The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story
2019
as Self (archive footage)
WBCN and the American Revolution
2019
as Self
David Bowie: Finding Fame
2019
as Self (archive footage)
Glastonbury 2000
2018
as Self - Vocals
David Bowie: Glastonbury 2000
2018
as Self
Why Are We Creative?: The Centipede's Dilemma
2018
as Self
Freddie Mercury: The King of Queen
2018
as Singer
Der Reichstag
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda
2017
as Jack Celliers (archive footage)
Glam Rock at the BBC
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock
2017
as Self - Musician (archive footage)
Beside Bowie: The Mick Ronson Story
2017
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Bowie at the BBC
2017
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: The Last Five Years
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Gaga for Dada: The Original Art Rebels
2016
as Self
Bowie: The Man Who Changed the World
2016
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: The Man Who Stole the World
2016
as Self (archive footage)
Burden
2016
as Self (archive footage)
Night Flight: Born Again
2016
as Self
Das Prinzip Dada
2016
as Self
David Bowie I Love You (Since I Was Six)
2016
as Self
David Bowie: Sound and Vision
2016
as Self
David Bowie: Starman
2016
as Self
David Bowie: On the Rock Trail
2015
as Self (archive footage)
Let's Dance: Bowie Down Under
2015
as Self
B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin 1979-1989
2015
as Self
Wilde Jahre West-Berlin
2015
as Self
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
2014
as Self (archive footage)
Soul Boys of the Western World
2014
as Self (archive footage)
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
2014
as Phillip Jeffries
David Bowie Is Happening Now
2013
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Five Years
2013
as Self (archive footage)
The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
2013
David Bowie - The Calm Before The Storm: Under Review 1969 - 1971
2012
as Self - Singer, songwriter
Vanilla Ice Archive
2012
as Self (archive footage)
Clockwork Orange County
2012
as Self
David Bowie at the BBC
2012
as self (performer)
David Bowie & The Story of Ziggy Stardust
2012
as Self / Ziggy Stardust (archive footage)
The Genius of David Bowie
2012
as Self - Performer (archive footage)
The Love We Make
2011
as Self
Acoustic at the BBC
2011
as Self
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
2010
as Self
The Sacred Triangle: Bowie, Iggy & Lou 1971-1973
2010
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Rare and Unseen
2010
as Self
Krautrock: The Rebirth of Germany
2009
as Self (archive footage)
Bandslam
2009
as David Bowie
David Bowie: VH1 Storytellers
2009
as Self
Kings of Glam
2008
as Self (archive footage)
August
2008
as Cyrus Ogilvie
SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis
2007
as Lord Royal Highness
David Gilmour - Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine
2007
as Self
David Gilmour - Remember That Night
2007
as Self - Guest Artist
David Bowie - The Plastic Soul Review
2007
as Self - Singer, Songwriter
David bowie - Up Close and Personal
2007
as Self - Singer, Songwriter
Seven Ages of Rock
2007
as Self
Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
2007
as Self
David Bowie - Music in Review
2007
as Self - Singer, Songwriter
Arthur and the Invisibles
2006
as Maltazard (voice)
The Prestige
2006
as Tesla
David Bowie - Total Rock Review
2006
as Self
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: Million Sellers
2006
as Self
David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust
2006
as Self - Singer, Songwriter
Best of Bowie
2006
David Bowie: Under Review 1976-79
2006
as Self
The Work of Director Mark Romanek
2005
as Self (archive footage)
TV Party
2005
as Self
Extras
2005
as David Bowie
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
2005
as Self
Live Aid Against All Odds
2005
as Self
Inside the Music
2005
as Self
Live Aid
2004
as Self
The Nomi Song
2004
as Self (archive footage)
Bowie: A Reality Tour
2004
as Self
Rockthology 2
2004
Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis
2004
as Self (archive footage)
Pixies: Gouge
2004
as Self
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
2003
as Self
Queen: Greatest Video Hits 2
2003
as Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
2003
as Self
The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch
2003
as Self - Interviewee
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
2003
as Self
Supergroups
2002
as Self
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
2002
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Hr. Vinterberg & Mr. Bowie
2002
as Self
David Bowie: Live at Montreux
2002
as Self
David Bowie: Live Olympia Paris
2002
as Self
David Bowie: Best of Bowie
2002
as Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Live by Request
2002
as Self
David Bowie - Heathen
2002
Queen - The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert 10th Anniversary Documentary
2002
as Self
David Bowie - Live at Hammersmith Studios in London
2002
as Self
Classic Albums: Lou Reed - Transformer
2001
as Self
The Concert for New York City
2001
as Self
Zoolander
2001
as David Bowie
Mr. Rice's Secret
2000
as Mr. William Rice
David Bowie: Live BBC Radio Theatre
2000
as Self
Bowie at the BBC
2000
as Self
David Bowie: Roseland Ballroom, NYC
2000
as Self
The Filth and the Fury
2000
as Self (archive footage)
The Ten Commandments of Creativity
2000
as Self
David Bowie - Live at The Elysee Montmartre Paris
1999
as Self
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
1999
as Self
Where Are They Now?
1999
as Self
Everybody Loves Sunshine
1999
as Bernie
Gunslinger's Revenge
1998
as Jack Sikora
In Stillness and in Silence (Sacred)
1998
as Self
Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart
1998
as Self
Goldie: When Saturn Returns
1998
as Self
A Bing Crosby Christmas
1998
as Self (archive footage)
Nine Inch Nails: Closure
1997
as Self (uncredited)
David Bowie - Live from the 10th spot
1997
as Self
David Bowie: Earthling On TV
1997
as Self
The Hunger
1997
as The Host
David Bowie Birthday Celebration Live in NYC
1997
as Self
David Bowie & Friends: A Very Special Birthday Celebration
1997
as Self
David Bowie: An Earthling at 50
1997
as Self - Interviewee
The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money
1996
as Self
Basquiat
1996
as Andy Warhol
David Bowie: Rockpalast
1996
as Self
Die Harald Schmidt Show
1995
as Self
The Making of the 'Outside' Album
1995
as Self
Nine Inch Nails & David Bowie: Dissonance
1995
as Self
The History of Rock 'n' Roll
1995
as Self
The World of Jim Henson
1994
as Jareth (archive footage)
David Bowie: Black Tie White Noise
1993
as Self
Full Stretch
1993
as David Bowie
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
1992
as Special Agent Phillip Jeffries
ECHO-Verleihung
1992
as Self
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
1992
as Self
Queen: Greatest Flix II
1991
as Self (archive footage)
The Linguini Incident
1991
as Monte
Dream On
1990
as Sir Roland Moorecock
Twin Peaks
1990
as Phillip Jeffries
Twin Peaks
1990
as Phillip Jeffries (archive footage)
David Bowie: Live At The Tokyo Dome
1990
as Self
Tin Machine - Live at Paradiso
1989
Imagine: John Lennon
1988
as Self
The Last Temptation of Christ
1988
as Pontius Pilatus
David Bowie: Glass Spider
1988
as Self
Inside the Labyrinth
1986
as Self
Labyrinth
1986
as Jareth
Absolute Beginners
1986
as Vendice Partners
Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes All-Star 50th Anniversary
1986
as Self
Live Aid
1985
as Self
David Bowie at Live Aid
1985
Tina Turner: Private Dancer Tour
1985
as Self
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
1985
as Celliers (archive footage)
Into the Night
1985
as Colin Morris
Video AID
1985
as Self
MTV Video Music Awards
1984
as Self
David Bowie: Jazzin' for Blue Jean
1984
as Vic / Screaming Lord Byron
Ricochet
1984
as Self
David Bowie: The Serious Moonlight Tour
1984
as Self
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight
1984
as Self - Lead Vocals / Guitar
The Oshima Gang
1983
as Self
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
1983
as Self / Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Sydney
1983
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Montreal
1983
as Self
Yellowbeard
1983
as The Shark (uncredited)
Group Madness
1983
as Self
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
1983
as Celliers
The Hunger
1983
as John Blaylock
Cool Cats: 25 Years of Rock 'n' Roll Style
1983
as Self (archive footage)
Baal
1982
as Baal
Christiane F.
1981
as David Bowie
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
1980
as Self
David Bowie On Stage: Live in Japan
1978
as Self
Young Music Show
1978
Just a Gigolo
1978
as Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski
David Bowie: Live at Beat Club Musikladen
1978
as Self - Keyboard, Vocals
David Bowie On Stage
1978
Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas
1977
as Self
Auf los geht's los
1977
as Self
Fame
1976
as Himself (voice)
The Man Who Fell to Earth
1976
as Thomas Jerome Newton
Night Lunch
1975
as Self
Cher
1975
as Self
Cracked Actor
1975
as Self
Système 2
1975
as Self
Diamond Dogs Demo Video
1974
as Self / Harpie
The 1980 Floor Show
1973
Musikladen
1972
as Self
Musikladen
1972
David Bowie - The Rise of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
1972
The Looking Glass Murders
1970
as Cloud
The Virgin Soldiers
1969
as Soldier
Unsere kleine Show
1969
as Self
David Bowie: Love You Till Tuesday
1969
as Self
The Image
1969
as The Boy
NBC television special: The Pursuit of Pleasure
1967
as Self
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
1966
as Self
Ready Steady Go!
1963
as Self
Are We Not Men?
as Self (archive footage)
Discovering Music
as Self (archive footage)
Personne ne bouge!
as Self