Richard Starkey, MBE (born 7 July 1940), better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer-songwriter, and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in August 1962, taking the place of Pete Best. In addition to his contribution as drummer, Starr featured as lead vocals on a number of successful Beatles songs (in particular, "With a Little Help from My Friends", "Yellow Submarine", and The Beatles version of "Act Naturally"), as co-writer with the song "What Goes On" and primary writer with "Don't Pass Me By" and "Octopus's Garden".
As drummer for The Beatles, Starr was musically creative, and his contribution to the band's music has received high praise from notable drummers in more recent times. Starr described himself as "your basic offbeat drummer with funny fills", technically limited by being a left-handed person playing a right-handed kit. Drummer Steve Smith said that Starr's popularity "brought forth a new paradigm" where "we started to see the drummer as an equal participant in the compositional aspect" and that Starr "composed unique, stylistic drum parts for The Beatles songs". In 2011, Starr was picked as the fifth-best drummer of all-time by Rolling Stone readers, behind drummers such as John Bonham, Keith Moon and Neil Peart.
Starr is the most documented and critically acclaimed actor-Beatle, playing a central role in several Beatles films, and appearing in numerous other movies, both during and after his career with The Beatles. After The Beatles' break-up in 1970, Starr achieved solo musical success with several singles and albums, and recorded with each of his fellow ex-Beatles as they too developed their post-Beatle musical careers. He has also been featured in a number of TV documentaries, hosted TV shows, and narrated the first two series of the children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. He currently tours with the All-Starr Band.
Known For
Now and Then - The Last Beatles Song
Self
2023
The Beatles and the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2023
Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex
Self
2023
Reinventing Elvis: The 68' Comeback
Self (archive footage)
2023
Paul Newman: The Restless
Self (archive footage)
2023
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2023
Louder Than Rock
Self (archive footage)
2023
Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock 'n' Roll
Self
2023
The Lost Weekend: A Love Story
Self (archive footage)
2023
Let There Be Drums!
Self
2022
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band: Live at the Greek Theater 2019
Himself
2022
The Beatles: Get Back - The Rooftop Concert
Self (archive footage)
2022
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
2022
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self
2021
The Beatles and India
Self (archive footage)
2021
The Beatles: Let It Be
2021
Jealous Guy: The Assassination of John Lennon
Self (archive footage)
2020
Zappa
Self (archive footage)
2020
Paul McCartney: Wings of a Beatle
Self (archive footage)
2019
Manson: Music From an Unsound Mind
Self (archive footage)
2019
Understanding Lennon/McCartney
Self (archival footage)
2018
The Beatles – Ready Steady Go!
Self
2018
Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars
Self
2018
Take Your Pills
Self (archive footage)
2018
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
Larry the Dwarf (archive footage)
2016
Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape
Self (archive footage)
2016
Beatles chronology (1962-1970)
Self (archive footage)
2016
Good Ol' Freda
Self
2013
Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO
Self
2012
Produced By George Martin
Self
2012
The Beatles: In Chicago 1964-1966
Self
2012
Beatles Stories
Self (archive footage)
2011
The Beatles - Unsurpassed Promos
Self (archive footage)
2011
The Beatles: A Magical History Tour
Self (archive footage)
2010
Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)
Self (archive footage)
2010
All You Need Is Klaus
Self
2010
The 4 Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Starring The Beatles
Self (archive footage)
2010
Paul McCartney Really Is Dead: The Last Testament of George Harrison
Self (archive footage)
2010
John Lennon: Love Is All You Need
Self (archive footage)
2010
Thomas & Friends - The Best of Thomas
Narrator
2010
A Concert by the Lake
Himself
2010
The Beatles: The Mini Documentaries
Self
2009
The Beatles on Record
Self
2009
The Beatles: Parting Ways
Self
2009
All Together Now
Self
2008
Classic Albums: John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band
Self
2008
Rare and Unseen: The Beatles
Self (archive footage)
2008
Composing the Beatles Songbook: Lennon & McCartney 1966-1970
Self (archive footage)
2008
The Beatles: Help!
Self (archive footage)
2007
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
Self
2007
The Beatles Explosion
Self (archive footage)
2007
Ringo Starr and the Roundheads - Live
himself
2005
The Beatles: Love Me Do - A Documentary
Self (archive footage)
2005
The Beatles: Watching Rainbows
Self (archive footage)
2004
Brian Epstein: Inside the Fifth Beatle
Self (archive footage)
2004
Inside John Lennon - Unauthorized
Self (archive footage)
2003
Radio
Stinger the Mascot (uncredited)
2003
Concert for George
Self
2003
Paul McCartney: Back in the U.S.
Self (archive footage)
2002
Things They Said Today
Self (archive footage)
2002
The Beatles: A Celebration
Self (archive footage)
1999
Happy Birthday to John
Self
1997
The Beatles Unauthorized
Self (archive footage)
1996
Alf Bicknell's Beatles Diary
Self (archive footage)
1996
You Can't Do That! The Making of 'A Hard Day's Night'
Self
1995
A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa
Self (archive footage)
1993
The Making of Sgt. Pepper
Self
1992
Shining Time Station: 'Tis a Gift
Mr. Conductor
1990
One More Audience with Dame Edna Everage
Self (uncredited)
1988
Imagine: John Lennon
Self
1988
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
Self
1988
Jimi Plays Monterey
Self (archive footage)
1987
Video From Hell
Self
1987
Fun with the Fab Four
Self (archive footage)
1986
The Making of Sun City
Self
1985
Give My Regards to Broad Street
Ringo
1984
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
1982
Caveman
Atouk
1981
This Is Elvis
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1981
Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip
Self
1979
The Who: The Kids Are Alright
Himself
1979
The Last Waltz
Self
1978
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Self (archive footage)
1978
Sextette
Laslo Karolny
1978
The Beatles at Shea Stadium
Self
1977
Mighty Good: The Beatles
Self
1977
The Day the Music Died
Self
1977
Lisztomania
The Pope
1975
The Society of the Spectacle
Self (archive footage)
1974
Son of Dracula
Merlin, the Magician
1974
That'll Be The Day
Mike
1973
Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here
Self
1972
The Concert for Bangladesh
Self
1972
Weekend of a Champion
Self (uncredited)
1972
Frank Zappa filmt 200 Motels
Self
1971
Cilla in Scandinavia
Self
1971
Blindman
Candy
1971
200 Motels
Larry the Dwarf / Frank Zappa
1971
The Point
Narrator / Father (home video release) (voice)
1971
Let It Be
Self - The Beatles (uncredited)
1970
The Magic Christian
Youngman Grand, Esq.
1969
The Beatles: Something
Self
1969
Candy
Emmanuel
1968
The Beatles: Revolution
Self
1968
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
1968
Magical Mystery Tour
Self / Talkative Magician
1967
Our World
Self
1967
El Rey en Londres
Self (archive footage)
1966
The Beatles: in Japan (6/30/1966)
Self
1966
The Music of Lennon & McCartney
Self (archive footage)
1965
Help!
Ringo
1965
A Hard Day's Night
Ringo
1964
The Beatles: Live at the Washington Coliseum
Self
1964
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! The Beatles in New York
Self (archive footage)
1964
The Beatles Come to Town
Self
1963
The Beatles - In Germany 24-26 June, 1966
Self
The Beatles are Coming
Down The Mine: The Pilot Episode
Narrator (voice)
2025
The Beatles
Self (archive footage)
2025
Ringo & Friends at the Ryman
Self
2025
TWST / Things We Said Today
Self (archive footage)
2025
Beatles '64
Self
2024
Larger than Life: Reign of the Boybands
Self (archive footage)
2024
The Beatles - Live at The Empire Theatre Liverpool
1963
The Beatles - 1967-1970
Self (archive footage)
The Bannfoot Ferry
Self (archive footage)
2024
The Beach Boys
Self (archive footage)
2024
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (archive footage)
2022
The Beatles: 1964 US Tour Reconstruction
2022
If These Walls Could Sing
Self
2022
Ringo Starr: One of Them
Self (archive footage)
2022
The Sparks Brothers
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2021
Understanding McCartney
Self
2020
Året var 1967
Self (archive footage)
2017
Our Cilla
2015
Året var 1963
Self (archive footage)
2013
Palme
2012
The Beatles: The Complete Story
Self (Archive Footage)
2010
The Beatles: Turn Left at Greenland
self
2008
Composing the Beatles Songbook: Lennon and McCartney 1957 - 1965
Self (Archive Footage)
2008
To John With Love
Self
2006
The Beatles - Trilogy
Himself
2003
Elvis: King of Entertainment
Self (archive footage)
2002
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Self · (2 episodes)
2001
Ringo Starr: VH1 Storytellers
Self
1998
The Daily Show
Self · (3 episodes)
1996
George Harrison: Live at The Royal Albert Hall
1992
Thomas & Friends: Better Late Than Never
Narrator
1991
Thomas & Friends: Tenders & Turntables
Narrator
1990
Thomas & Friends: Thomas Breaks the Rules
Narrator
1990
Thomas & Friends: James Learns a Lesson
Narrator (voice)
1990
The Simpsons
Ringo Starr (voice) · (1 episode)
1989
Shining Time Station
Mr. Conductor · (21 episodes)
1989
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
(1 episode)
1988
Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends
Narrator
1985
Paul McCartney & Wings: Wings Over the World
Self
1979
Abbey Road
Self (audio)
1969
Beatles Electroniques
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1969
Shed 17
Edward (archive footage)
How much LSD did The Beatles do in the 1960s?
The Beatles - Live at Ed Sullivan Show
1965
The Beatles: Their Golden Age
Self
High in the Clouds
Roy (voice)
The Beatles: Get Back
Self (archive footage) · (3 episodes)
2021
McCartney 3, 2, 1
Self (archive footage) · (6 episodes)
2021
What Drives Us
Self
2021
This Is Pop
Self (archive footage) · (2 episodes)
2021
Meeting the Beatles in India
Self
2020
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show
Self - Host
2020
Mae West: Dirty Blonde
Self
2020
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
Self (archive footage)
2019
Deconstructing the Beatles' Abbey Road: Side 2
Self (archive footage)
2019
Echo in the Canyon
Self
2019
Deconstructing the Beatles' Abbey Road: Side 1
Self (archive footage)
2019
Elvis Presley: The Searcher
Self (archive footage) · (2 episodes)
2018
George Harrison - All Things Pass
Self (archive footage)
2018
How the Beatles Changed the World
Self (archive footage)
2017
Dark Glamour: The Blood and Guts of Hammer Productions
Self - Musician (archive footage)
2017
Sgt Pepper's Musical Revolution
Self (archive footage)
2017
It Was Fifty Years Ago Today! The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper & Beyond
Self
2017
Free to Rock
Self - The Beatles (archive footage)
2017
Deconstructing the Beatles' White Album
Self (archive footage)
2016
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
Self
2016
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
Ringo Starr
2016
Jim Carter: Lonnie Donegan and Me
Self
2016
The Nation's Favourite Beatles Number One
Self (archive footage)
2015
The Beatles 1
Self (archive footage)
2015
The Beatles 1+
Self (archive footage)
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (1 episode)
2015
In Their Own Words
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2015
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self
2015
The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles
Self
2014
The Powerpuff Girls: Dance Pantsed
Fibonacci Sequins (voice)
2014
Ringo Starr: A Lifetime of Peace and Love
Self
2014
Beatles på Sverigeturné
Self (archive footage)
2014
Ringo at the Ryman
himself
2013
Genius
Self (archive footage)
2012
Magical Mystery Tour Revisited
Self
2012
Becoming the Beatles
Self
2012
The Winged Beetle
Self
2012
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Self · (2 episodes)
2011
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 3
Self (archive footage)
2011
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 1
Self (archive footage)
2011
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 4
Self (archive footage)
2011
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 2
Self (archive footage)
2011
I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern
Self (archive footage)
2011
Conan
Self · (1 episode)
2010
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band Live at the Greek Theater
Self
2010
Ringo Starr 70th Birthday Bash Radio City NYC 7-07-10
2010
Thomas & Friends: The Greatest Stories
Narrator
2010
David Wants to Fly
2010
The Beatles: Fifty Fabulous Years
Self (archive footage)
2010
Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band: The Official BBC Children in Need Medley
Thomas the Tank Engine (voice)
2009
Oh My God
Self
2009
The Beatles: Here There and Everywhere
Self (archive footage)
2009
Live from the Artists Den
Self · (1 episode)
2009
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band Live 2006
Self
2008
Ringo Starr: Off the Record
Self
2008
The Beatles: Destination Hamburg
Self (archive footage)
2007
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream
Self
2007
The Beatles: Love
Self
2006
Doctor Who: Origins
Self (archive footage)
2006
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
Self
2006
George Harrison & Friends - The Concert for Bangladesh Revisited
Self
2005
The Beatles: Chronology Vol. 1 y 2
Self - Drums, Backing Vocals
2005
The Beatles: Get Back...Winter of Discontent
Self (archive footage)
2005
Beatles Biggest Secrets
Self (archive footage)
2004
20th Century Greats
Self (archive footage) · (4 episodes)
2004
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band: Tour 2003
Self
2004
The Beatles: Around the World
Self (archive footage)
2003
Beatles: The Journey
Self (archive footage)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Naqoyqatsi
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2002
Pet Star
Self - Judge · (1 episode)
2002
Beatles: Big Beat Box
Self (archive footage)
2001
The Best of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band So Far...
Himself
2001
Thomas & Friends: Best of Percy
Narrator
2001
Wingspan
Self (archive footage)
2001
The Paranormal Peter Sellers
Self (Archive footage)
2001
Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepytime Tales
Self - The Beatles (archive footage) (uncredited)
1999
The Early Show
Self · (1 episode)
1999
Television: The First Fifty Years
Self – The Beatles (archive footage)
1999
Ringo Starr And His Fourth All Starr Band
Self
1998
Paul McCartney: In the World Tonight
Self
1997
Classic Albums
Self · (1 episode)
1997
The Beatles Story
Self (archive footage)
1996
The Beatles Anthology
Self · (3 episodes)
1995
The Shnookums and Meat Funny Cartoon Show
(1 episode)
1995
TOTP2
Self · (1 episode)
1994
The Beatles In Australia: 30th Anniversary
Self (archive footage)
1994
Ready Steady Go! The Beatles Live
Self
1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1993
Ringo Starr Going Home
Self - Host
1993
Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show'
Self (archive footage)
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(2 episodes)
1992
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
Narrator (Voice) · (1 episode)
1992
The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit
Self (archive footage)
1991
Thomas & Friends: Thomas Gets Tricked
Narrator
1990
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band
Self
1990
Walking After Midnight
Self
1988
The Return of Bruno
Ringo Starr
1987
American Masters
Self · (1 episode)
1986
Rock 'N' Roll Goldmine: The Sixties
Self
1986
Alice in Wonderland
Mock Turtle · (1 episode)
1985
An Audience with Billy Connolly
Self - Audience Member (uncredited)
1985
Carl Perkins & Friends: Blue Suede Shoes - A Rockabilly Session
Self
1985
British Rock: The First Wave
Self (archive footage)
1985
Water
Himself - The Singing Rebels' Band
1985
Willie and The Poor Boys - The Movie
The Janitor
1985
Thomas & Friends
Narrator (Voice) · (52 episodes)
1984
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Self (uncredited)
1983
Princess Daisy
Robin Valerian · (2 episodes)
1983
The Compleat Beatles
Self (archive footage)
1982
Timewatch
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
1982
Paul McCartney - Take It Away
1982
The Cooler
Prisoner / Cowboy
1982
Wetten, dass..?
Self · (1 episode)
1981
Ringo
Ringo Starr / Ognir Rrats
1978
An Audience with...
Self · (2 episodes)
1978
Please Turn the Page
Self · (1 episode)
1977
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1975
Braverman's Condensed Cream of the Beatles
Self (archive footage)
1974
Marc Bolan & T. Rex - Born to Boogie
Self
1973
Did Somebody Drop His Mouse?
Himself
1972
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self · (1 episode)
1971
Treffpunkte
Self · (1 episode)
1970
Will the Real Mr Sellers.....?
1969
24 Hours: The World of John and Yoko
Self (archive footage)
1969
Muhammad Ali, the Greatest
Self
1969
Monty Python's Flying Circus
(1 episode)
1969
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Self - Drums
1969
The Beatles - The Get Back Chronicles 1969 Volume Two
Self (archive footage)
1969
The Beatles - The Get Back Chronicles 1969 Volume Three
Self (archive footage)
1969
The Beatles - The Get Back Chronicles 1969 Volume One
Self (archive footage)
1969
The Beatles Mod Odyssey
Self
1968
The Beatles: Hey Jude
Self
1968
Yellow Submarine
Ringo (uncredited)
1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self · (1 episode)
1968
Omnibus
Self · (1 episode)
1967
All You Need Is Love
Self
1967
Monument
Self (archive footage)
1967
The Beatles: Live at Circus-Krone-Bau, Munich, Germany
Self - The Beatles
1966
The Beatles: in Japan (7/1/1966)
Self - Drums, Backing Vocals
1966
Reflections on Love
Self (archive footage)
1966
The Beatles: Live in Paris
Self
1965
The Beatles
Self (vocals musical segments) (uncredited) · (52 episodes)
1965
Doctor Who: The Chase
Self (archive footage)
1965
Pop Gear
Self
1965
What's Happening! The Beatles in the USA
Self - The Beatles Member
1964
The Beatles: Live in The Netherlands
Self
1964
The Beatles Sing for Shell
Self
1964
The Beatles in Australia
Self
1964
Around the Beatles
Self
1964
Top of the Pops
(2 episodes)
1964
Top of the Pops
Self · (2 episodes)
1964
The Mersey Sound
Self
1963
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
1961
Morecambe & Wise
Self · (1 episode)
1961
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (1 episode)
1948