David Bowie
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).
Born: 08 January 1947 • Died: 10 January 2016
Played In
Bowie: The Final Act
Self (archive footage)
Twiggy
(archival footage)
Enigma
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Self (archive footage)
Placebo: This Search for Meaning
Self (archive footage)
Luther: Never Too Much
Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (2024 Dolby Atmos Mix)
Guitar, Saxophone, Vocals
TIME
Narrator (voice)
Jim Henson Idea Man
Self (archive footage)
Can Creativity Save the World?
Self
Hits That Missed at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
DEVO
Self (archive footage)
Eno
Self (archive footage)
Dear Bowie
David Bowie
Thriller 40
Self (archive footage)
AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex
Self (archive footage)
WHAM!
Self (archive footage)
The Lost Weekend: A Love Story
Self (archive footage)
LOLA
Self - Singer (archive footage)
Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV
Self (archive footage)
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
Self (archive footage)
Moonage Daydream
Self (archive footage)
Freddie Mercury: The Final Act
Self (archive footage)
Mickey: The Story of a Mouse
Self (archive footage)
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self
The Velvet Underground
Self (voice)
The Magic Voices of Pop
Self (archive)
Moby Doc
Self
The Dancing Man of L.A.
Self (archive footage)
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Out of this World
Self
This Is Pop
Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: London Boy
Self
Zappa
Self (archive footage)
70 Years of Youth Revolt
Self (archive footage)
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Inductions
Self (archive footage)
Lindsay Dances - Theatre and life according to Lindsay Kemp
Self
The BRITs at 40
Self (archive footage)
My Music: A Classic Christmas
Self (archive footage)
The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story
Self (archive footage)
WBCN and the American Revolution
Self
David Bowie: Finding Fame
Self (archive footage)
Bowie: Glastonbury 2000
Self - Vocals
Why Are We Creative?
Self
BowieNext - Nascita di una galassia
Freddie Mercury: The King of Queen
Self - Singer
Der Reichstag
Self (archive footage)
Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA
Jack Celliers (archive footage)
Glam Rock at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock
Self - Musician (archive footage)
Beside Bowie - The Mick Ronson Story
Self - Narrator (voice)
Bowie at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: The Last Five Years
Self (archive footage)
Gaga for Dada: The Original Art Rebels
Self
Gimme Danger
archive footage
David Bowie: The Berlin Briefings
Bowie: The Man Who Changed the World
Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: The Man Who Stole the World
Self (archive footage)
Burden
Self (archive footage)
Night Flight: Born Again
Self
David Bowie - In His Own Words
Self (archive footage)
The Dada Principle
Self
David Bowie I Love You (Since I Was Six)
Self
David Bowie: Sound and Vision
Self
David Bowie: Starman
Self
David Bowie: On the Rock Trail
Self (archive footage)
Let's Dance: Bowie Down Under
Self
B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin 1979-1989
Self
Wilde Jahre West-Berlin
Self
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Self (archive footage)
Soul Boys of the Western World
Self (archive footage)
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Phillip Jeffries
I Am Divine
Self (archive)
David Bowie Is Happening Now
Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Five Years
Self (archive footage)
The Frame
John Blaylock
The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
Discovering Music
Self (archive footage)
David Bowie - The Calm Before The Storm: Under Review 1969 - 1971
Self - Singer, songwriter
Vanilla Ice Archive
Self (archive footage)
Clockwork Orange County
Self
David Bowie & The Story of Ziggy Stardust
Self / Ziggy Stardust (archive footage)
The Genius of David Bowie
Self - Performer (archive footage)
Personne ne bouge !
Self
The Love We Make
Self
Acoustic at the BBC
Self
Let’s Spend the Night Together: Confessions of Rock’s Greatest Groupies
archive footage
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
Self
Bowie, Iggy & Lou 1971-1973: The Sacred Triangle
Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Rare and Unseen
Self
Krautrock: The Rebirth of Germany
Self (archive footage)
Bandslam
David Bowie
David Bowie: VH1 Storytellers
Self
Kings of Glam
Self (archive footage)
August
Cyrus Ogilvie
SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis
Lord Royal Highness
David Gilmour - Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine
Self
David Gilmour: Remember That Night - Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Self - Guest Artist
David Bowie - The Plastic Soul Review
Self - Singer, Songwriter
David bowie - Up Close and Personal
Self - Singer, Songwriter
Seven Ages of Rock
Self
Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
Self
David Bowie - Music in Review
Self - Singer, Songwriter
Arthur and the Invisibles
Maltazard (voice)
The Prestige
Tesla
David Bowie - Total Rock Review
Self
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: Million Sellers
Self
David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust
Self - Singer, Songwriter
Best of Bowie
David Bowie: Under Review 1976-79
Self
The Work of Director Mark Romanek
Self (archive footage)
TV Party
Self
Extras
David Bowie
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Self
Live Aid Against All Odds
Self
Françoise Hardy : Tant de belles choses...
Self
Inside the Music
Self
Live Aid
Self
The Nomi Song
Self (archive footage)
Bowie: A Reality Tour
Self
Rockthology 2
Self (archive footage)
Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis
Self (archive footage)
Pixies: Gouge
Self
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Self
Queen: Greatest Video Hits 2
Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
Self
David Bowie: Live at Riverside Studios '03
Self
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
Ed Sullivan Presents: Rock 'N' Roll Revolution: The British Invade America, America Fights Back
Self (archive footage)
Can't Buy Me Lunch: Another Look at The Rutles
Self - Interviewee
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Self
David Bowie: Reality Live
Self
David Bowie - Best Of
Supergroups
Self
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
Self - Narrator (voice)
Hr. Vinterberg & Mr. Bowie
Self
David Bowie: Live at Montreux
Self
David Bowie: Live Olympia Paris
Self
David Bowie: Best of Bowie
Self (archive footage)
David Bowie: Live by Request
Self
Queen - The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert 10th Anniversary Documentary
Self
Classic Albums: Lou Reed - Transformer
Self
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Self - Guest
The Concert for New York City
Self
Zoolander
David Bowie
Mr. Rice's Secret
Mr. William Rice
Bowie at the BBC
Self - Vocals
David Bowie: Roseland Ballroom, NYC
Self
The Filth and the Fury
Self (archive footage)
The Ten Commandments of Creativity
Self
David Bowie - Live at The Elysee Montmartre Paris
Self
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
Self
Where Are They Now?
Self
SpongeBob SquarePants
Lord Royal Highness (voice)
Everybody Loves Sunshine
Bernie
Gunslinger's Revenge
Jack Sikora
In Stillness and in Silence (Sacred)
Self
Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart
Self
Parkinson
Self
Goldie: When Saturn Returns
Self
A Bing Crosby Christmas
Self (archive footage)
Nine Inch Nails: Closure
Self
David Bowie - Live from the 10th spot
Self
David Bowie: Earthling On TV
Self
The Hunger
The Host
David Bowie Birthday Celebration Live in NYC
Self
David Bowie & Friends: A Very Special Birthday Celebration
Self
David Bowie: An Earthling at 50
Self - Interviewee
The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money
Self
Basquiat
Andy Warhol
David Bowie - Kremlin Palace Moscow
self
David Bowie: Rockpalast
Self
Die Harald Schmidt Show
Self
David Bowie: The Making of "1.Outside"
Self
Nine Inch Nails & David Bowie: Dissonance
Self
Queen: Champions of the World
Self
The World of Jim Henson
Jareth (archive footage)
Exclusiv - Das Star-Magazin
self
Gay! Gay! Hollywood
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Musical Guest
Tina Turner: The Girl from Nutbush
David Bowie: Black Tie White Noise
Self
Full Stretch
David Bowie
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Phillip Jeffries
ECHO-Verleihung
Self
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
Self
Queen: Greatest Flix II
Self (archive footage)
The Linguini Incident
Monte
Dream On
Sir Roland Moorecock
Twin Peaks
Phillip Jeffries (archive footage)
David Bowie: Live At The Tokyo Dome
Self
Tin Machine - Live at Paradiso
Imagine: John Lennon
Self
The Last Temptation of Christ
Pontius Pilatus
David Bowie: Glass Spider
Self
Sacrée soirée
Self (Clip) (archive footage)
Sacrée soirée
Self - Tin Machine
Inside the Labyrinth
Self
Labyrinth
Jareth
Absolute Beginners
Vendice Partners
Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary
Self
Live Aid
Self
David Bowie at Live Aid
Tina Turner: Private Dancer Tour
Self
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
Celliers (archive footage)
Into the Night
Colin Morris
Video AID
Self
MTV Video Music Awards
Self
David Bowie: Jazzin' for Blue Jean
Vic / Screaming Lord Byron
Ricochet
Self
David Bowie: The Serious Moonlight Tour
Self
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight
Self - Lead Vocals / Guitar
The Oshima Gang
Self
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Self / Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Sydney
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Montreal
Self
Yellowbeard
The Shark (uncredited)
Group Madness
Self
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
Celliers
The Hunger
John Blaylock
Cool Cats: 25 Years of Rock 'n' Roll Style
Self (archive footage)
Baal
Baal
Champs-Elysées
Self
Christiane F.
David Bowie
Wetten, dass..?
Self
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
Self
David Bowie On Stage: Live in Japan
Self
Young Music Show
Just a Gigolo
Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski
David Bowie: Live at Beat Club Musikladen
Self - Keyboard, Vocals
David Bowie On Stage
David Bowie: Musikladen Extra
Self - Keyboard, Vocals
Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas
Self
The BRIT Awards
Self
Auf los geht's los
Self
Fame
Himself (voice)
The Man Who Fell to Earth
Thomas Jerome Newton
Night Lunch
Self
Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest
Cher
Self
David Bowie: Cracked Actor
Self
Système 2
Self
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self
Diamond Dogs Demo Video
Self / Harpie
David Bowie: The 1980 Floor Show
Self
Musikladen
Self
The Looking Glass Murders
Cloud
The Virgin Soldiers
Soldier
The Image
The Boy
Unsere kleine Show - Musik zur blauen Stunde
Self
David Bowie: Love You Till Tuesday
Self
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
Omnibus
Self
Omnibus
NBC television special: The Pursuit of Pleasure
Self
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
Self
Theatre 625
Top of the Pops
Self (archive footage)
Ready Steady Go!
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
Are We Not Men?
Self (archive footage)
David Bowie - PNE Live Rehearsal 1976
Self - Vocals, Saxophone
David Bowie: Day-In Day-Out