David Bowie filmography

Bowie attending the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009

The late English musician and actor David Bowie held leading roles in several feature films, including The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) (for which he won a Saturn Award for Best Actor), Just a Gigolo (1978), Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), The Hunger (1983), and Labyrinth (1986). Films in which he appeared in a supporting role or cameo include The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) and Zoolander (2001).

Bowie also appeared on several television series including Extras, Dream On, and the horror anthology series The Hunger. He won a Daytime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Special Class Special in 2003 for Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s with David Bowie (AMC).

Bowie was featured in a number of documentaries, films, and videos focusing on his career. He also appeared frequently in documentaries about other musicians.

Filmography

As actor

^[1]

Year	Title	Role	Medium	Notes
1968	Theatre 625	Unidentified	Television series	Season 5, Episode 22, "The Pistol Shot"; episode now lost.[2] Bowie appears dancing with Hermione Farthingale in a scene choreographed by Lindsay Kemp.[3]
1969	The Image	The Boy	Short film
1969	The Virgin Soldiers	Soldier (uncredited)	Feature film	Appears briefly as a soldier being escorted out from behind a bar
1970	Pierrot in Turquoise or The Looking Glass Murders	Cloud	Television film	A reduced-quality print was included as an extra on the 2005 DVD release of Bowie's promotional film Love You Till Tuesday[4]
1976	The Man Who Fell to Earth	Thomas Jerome Newton	Feature film	Saturn Award for Best Actor
1978	Just a Gigolo	Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski	Feature film
1981	Christiane F. (Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo)	Himself	Feature film	Cameo, performing at a concert in the film
1982	The Snowman	Older James	Television film (animated/ live action)	Appears in introduction of re-released version
	Baal	Baal	Television film
1983	Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence	Maj. Jack 'Strafer' Celliers	Feature film
	The Hunger	John	Feature film	Unrelated to 1999-2000 television series The Hunger in which he also appeared
	Yellowbeard	The Shark (uncredited)	Feature film
1984	Jazzin' for Blue Jean	Screamin' Lord Byron / Vic	Short film	Promotional film for his single "Blue Jean". Later included on the 2002 DVD compilation Best of Bowie as a hidden easter egg.
1985	Into the Night	Colin Morris	Feature film
1986	Labyrinth	Jareth the Goblin King	Feature film
	Absolute Beginners	Vendice Partners	Feature film
1988	The Last Temptation of Christ	Pontius Pilate	Feature film
1991	Dream On	Sir Roland Moorecock	Television series	Guest appearance on Season 2, Episode 1, "The Second Greatest Story Ever Told"
	The Linguini Incident	Monte	Feature film
1992	Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me	Phillip Jeffries	Feature film
1993	Full Stretch	Himself	Television series	Guest appearance on Season 1, Episode 1, "Ivory Tower"
1996	Basquiat	Andy Warhol	Feature film
1998	Gunslinger's Revenge (original Italian title: Il mio West)	Jack Sikora	Feature film
1999	Everybody Loves Sunshine	Bernie	Feature film	Released in USA as B.U.S.T.E.D.
	Omikron: The Nomad Soul	Boz / The Dreamers	Video game	Voice only
1999–2000	The Hunger	The Host / Julian Priest	Television series	Season 2, multiple episodes; unrelated to 1983 film The Hunger in which he also appeared
2000	Empty	Man	Short film	Four-minute short film produced by Tony Oursler, in which Bowie's disembodied head provided narration[5]
	Mr. Rice's Secret	William Rice	Feature film
2001	Zoolander	Himself	Feature film	Cameo; nominated for MTV Movie Award
2005	Nathan Barley	Himself	Television series	Cameo in pilot episode, which was not broadcast, but was later included on the October 2005 DVD release of the series
2006	Extras	Himself	Television series	Guest appearance, Series 2, Episode 2, "David Bowie"
	The Prestige	Nikola Tesla	Feature film
2007	Arthur and the Invisibles	Emperor Maltazard	Feature film (animated/ live action)	Voice only (English version)
	SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis	Lord Royal Highness (L.R.H)	Television film (animated)	Voice only; based on animated TV series SpongeBob SquarePants
2008	August	Cyrus Ogilvie	Feature film
2009	Bandslam	Himself	Feature film	Cameo

As subject of documentary or video

This list contains documentaries and videos that have been officially released as films, television broadcasts and/or home video, ordered by date filmed. Bootlegs and privately distributed videos are not included. The list is selective, particularly with respect to television performances and interviews. A more complete list can be found in Nicholas Pegg's The Complete David Bowie (Titan, 2004, revised and updated 2011).

Year filmed	Year first released	Title	Medium	Releases				Notes
				Film	Television	VHS	DVD
1969	1984	Love You Till Tuesday[6]	Promotional film	–	–	1984	2005 (UK)	The film was unreleased until its 1984 video release. The 2005 DVD release contains the television film Pierrot in Turquoise (also known as The Looking Glass Murders) as an extra.
1973 (May)	1973	No official title shown in film; known as "David Bowie Special" or "Nationwide Report - David Bowie"[7]	Documentary film	–	1973 (BBC1, Nationwide)	–	–	This short 12-minute documentary was made for the BBC News TV programme Nationwide and narrated by Bernard Falk. No official home video release.
1973 (July)	1974	Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars[8][9]	Concert film	1979 (world premiere); 1983 (general cinema release); 2002 (re-release)	1974 (ABC, In Concert; short 60 min version)	1984	1998; 2003 (enhanced version)	The film screened a few times in 16 mm format before its 1979 world premiere. Video and DVD releases were under the title Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture. Jeff Beck appeared in the TV version, but not in other releases.
1973 (October)	1973	The 1980 Floor Show[10][11][12]	Promotional film/ concert film	–	1973 (NBC, The Midnight Special)	–	–	The film has been broadcast more than once on NBC since the first showing. Clips from the film were also shown on the UK television show Top of the Pops. Marianne Faithfull, The Troggs and Carmen also appeared. No official home video release.
1974	1975	Cracked Actor[13][14]	Documentary / concert film	–	1975 (BBC2)	–	–	The film was made for the BBC's Omnibus documentary series. No official home video release.
1978	1978	Live at the Beat Club[15][16]	Concert film	–	1978 (Radio Bremen, Musikladen)	–	–	Following its original broadcast, the film was shown in reruns on German TV and on VH1 in 2003. No official home video release.
1983	1984	Serious Moonlight[17]	Concert video	–	–	1984	1999 (unofficial release); 2006 (official release)	The 2006 release also includes an extended version of the film Ricochet as an extra.
1984	1985	Ricochet[18][19][20]	Documentary/ concert film	–	1986 (USA, Night Flight)	1985	2006 (extended version included as an extra on the Serious Moonlight DVD)	The film version originally aired on U.S. television and released on VHS was approximately 58 minutes long. The version released as an extra on the 2006 Serious Moonlight DVD is an extended version running approximately 78 minutes. The film has occasionally been screened since its TV and home video release.
1987	1988	Glass Spider[21]	Concert film	–	1988 (ABC special, David Bowie: Glass Spider Tour; short 50 min version)	1988	2001 (as Glass Spider Tour); re-released 2007	Peter Frampton and Charlie Sexton also appeared.
1991	1992	Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby[22]	Documentary/ concert film	–	–	1992	–	Alternate title is Tin Machine: Live at the Docks. The film shows a 1991 Tin Machine concert in Hamburg, a different performance from those used on the Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby album release. No official DVD release.
1993 or earlier	1993	Bowie – The Video Collection[23]	Music video compilation	–	Prior to the home video release, individual music videos had been broadcast on various TV programs and channels.	1993	–	Compilation of music videos from Bowie's career up to 1993. These videos were later included, along with new additional material, on the Best of Bowie DVD.
1993	1993	Black Tie White Noise[24]	Concert film/ documentary (interview)/ music video compilation (3 videos included at end)	–	–	1993	2005	Both the VHS release and the later DVD release contain live performance clips interspersed with interviews and followed by three music videos. The DVD contains additional chapter stops marking the start of the interviews.
1997	1997	David Bowie and Friends: A Very Special Birthday Concert[25]	Concert film	–	Broadcast as a pay-per-view television special in the U.S. in March 1997	–	–	Bowie's 50th birthday concert, filmed at Madison Square Garden. Frank Black, Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith, Lou Reed and Billy Corgan also perform. No official home video release.
1999	1999	VH1 Storytellers: David Bowie[26]	Concert film	–	1999 (VH1; VH1 Storytellers) (8 songs)	–	2009 (extended version, 12 songs)	The original VH1 broadcast contained performances of 8 songs. The 2009 DVD and iTunes release contains the original 8 songs, plus performances of 4 additional songs.
2002 or earlier	2002	Best of Bowie[27]	Concert film / music video/ documentary (interview) compilation	Includes a clip from previously released film Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.	Includes live clips that were broadcast on 1970s television shows The Old Grey Whistle Test, The Dick Cavett Show, TopPop, and Russell Harty Plus. Some individual music videos had also been broadcast on MTV, VH1 and other TV programs and channels.	Includes material from earlier VHS releases, including all the music videos from Bowie – The Video Collection (1993), and clips from Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture (1984) and Serious Moonlight (1984).	2002	DVD compilation of live concert clips and music videos, most of which were previously released in some form. Includes the videos from Bowie – The Video Collection (1993) along with additional videos, live performance clips, an interview and an advertisement. Also contains the promotional film Jazzin' for Blue Jean. Some material is accessible only via Easter eggs.
2003	2003	Reality album bonus DVD[27]	Concert film	–	–	–	2003	Contains live in-studio performances of all Reality album tracks. DVD was released as a bonus with special tour edition of Reality album.
2003	2004	A Reality Tour[27]	Concert film	–	–	–	2004	Film of a live concert from the 2003–2004 Reality Tour.

As himself in other documentaries

This list is selective. For a more complete list, see Nicholas Pegg's The Complete David Bowie.

• Group Madness: The Making of Yellowbeard (1983)
• Cool Cats: Twenty-Five Years of Rock 'N' Roll Style (1983)
• Queen: The Magic Years (1987)
• Imagine: John Lennon (1988)
• Superstar: The Life and Times of Andy Warhol (1990)
• Travelling Light (1992)
• Inspirations (1997)
• Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart (1998)
• Mayor of the Sunset Strip (2003)
• Scott Walker: 30 Century Man (2006)

As producer

• Büvös vadász (1994) (aka Magic Hunter)
• Passaggio per il paradiso (1998) (aka Gentle Into the Night or Passage to Paradise)
• Scott Walker: 30 Century Man (2006)

References

1. Leigh, Wendy (2014). Bowie: The Biography. New York City: Gallery Books. pp. 303–306. ISBN 978-1-4767-6707-9.
2. "Lost UK TV Shows Search Engine: Missing or Incomplete Episodes for Programme Theatre 625". Lostshows.com. Kaleidoscope Research Guides. 2016. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
3. Buckley, David (1999). Strange Fascination: David Bowie: The Definitive Story. London: Virgin Books. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-7535-1002-5.
4. Pegg, Nicholas (2004). The Complete David Bowie (2011 ed.). London: Titan Books. p. PT1950 (Ebook). ISBN 978-0857682901.
5. Ford, Chris (2016-01-15). "David Bowie, Actor: A Complete Look at His Film and TV Career". ultimateclassicrock.com. Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
6. Pegg, p. 521.
7. West, K. (2002-10-31). "BBC TV: David Bowie Special". 5years.com. The Ziggy Stardust Companion. Archived from the original on 2003-02-03. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
8. West, K. (2007-01-18). "Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture (Movie/Video/DVD)". 5years.com. The Ziggy Stardust Companion. Archived from the original on 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
9. "Superstar David Bowie will perform...". The Sun Telegram. San Bernardino County, California. 1974-10-20. p. TV Week–16 – via Newspapers.com. (subscription required (help)).
10. Metzger, Richard (2013-05-15). "Ziggy Stardust's Last Stand: David Bowie's '1980 Floor Show' Midnight Special". Dangerous Minds. Richard Metzger. Archived from the original on 2013-06-08. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
11. West, K. (2007-01-20). "The 1980 Floor Show (18-20 October 1973)". 5years.com. The Ziggy Stardust Companion. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2008-01-15. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
12. West, K. (2002-10-28). "The 1980 Floor Show". 5years.com. The Ziggy Stardust Companion. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2008-07-05. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
13. Wright, Julie Lobalzo (2015-03-27). "Chapter 13: David Bowie: The Extraordinary Rock Star as Film Star". In Devereux, Eoin; Dillane, Aileen; Power, Martin J. David Bowie: Critical Perspectives. London: Routledge. p. 238. ISBN 978-0415745727.
14. Stark, Tanja (2015-03-27). "Chapter 5: 'Crashing Out with Sylvian': David Bowie, Carl Jung, and the Unconscious". In Devereux, Eoin; Dillane, Aileen; Power, Martin J. David Bowie: Critical Perspectives. London: Routledge. p. 108. ISBN 978-0415745727.
15. Pegg, p. PT2171 (Ebook).
16. "The Bits Flew Far and Wide". bowiewonderworld.com. David Bowie Wonderworld (Paul Kinder). 2003-09-03. Archived from the original on 2016-01-11. Retrieved 2016-02-02. Upcoming David Bowie specials on VH1 in the UK on Thursday 18th September are...David Bowie at the Beat Club Special (Musikladen from 1978), VH1, UK, at 9:00 pm GMT
17. Pegg, p. PT1896 (Ebook).
18. Greco, Nicholas P. (2015). David Bowie in Darkness: A Study of '1. Outside' and the Late Career. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co. pp. 12–17. ISBN 978-0-7864-9410-1.
19. "David Bowie — Ricochet". Discogs. Zink Media, Inc. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
20. "NUS Centre for the Arts, Events Calendar: [Malaya Black & White Film Screening] Ricochet (David Bowie, 1984)". nus.edu.sg. National University of Singapore. 2015-04-15. Archived from the original on 2016-02-02. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
21. Buckley, David (2015). David Bowie: The Music and the Changes. London: Omnibus Press. p. PT173 (Ebook). ISBN 9781783236176.
22. Pegg, p. 538.
23. Pegg, p. 528.
24. Buckley, The Music and the Changes, p. PT172 (Ebook)
25. "David Bowie's Acclaimed 50th Birthday Concert to Air as a Television Pay Per View Event Debuting Saturday, March 8" (Press release). DavidBowie.com. 1997-02-26. Archived from the original on 2016-02-02. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
26. Pegg, p. PT1781 (Ebook).
27. Buckley, David (1999). Strange Fascination: David Bowie: The Definitive Story (2005, revised & updated ed.). London: Virgin Book. p. 548. ISBN 9780753504574.