Ken Russell
Born
July 3, 1927
Died
November 27, 2011 (84 years old)
Known For
Directing
Place of Birth
Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
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."
Twiggy
(archival footage)
2025
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story
Self (archive footage)
2022
Director of Devils
Self
2012
Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil
Self (archive footage)
2012
The Devils Original on-set footage
2012
Mr. Nice
Russell Miegs
2010
The Aristofrogs
2010
Boudica Bites Back
Roman Senator
2009
A Kitten for Hitler
Santa
2007
10 Best Elgar
Self (archive footage)
2007
The Real Blue Nuns
Self
2006
Trapped Ashes
Dr. Lucy (segment "The Girl with Golden Breasts")
2006
Brothers of the Head
Himself
2006
Colour Me Kubrick
The Man In Nightgown
2005
Agatha Christie's Marple
Rev Caleb Dane Calthrop · (1 episode)
2004
Revenge of the Elephant Man
2004
100 Greatest Sexy Moments
Self
2003
Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devils
Self
2002
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle
Narrator (voice)
2002
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
Dr. Calahari
2002
Waking the Dead
Gerry Raistrick · (1 episode)
2001
Celebrity Big Brother
Self · (1 episode)
2001
The Real Oliver Reed
Self
2000
Lion's Mouth
Ken
2000
Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Song
Himself
1997
Vem Var Dracula
Self
1996
Tales of Erotica
1996
Empire of the Censors
Self
1995
Music for the Movies: Georges Delerue
Self
1995
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch
Mr. Kirsch
1995
Alice in Russialand
1995
Frank Stubbs Promotes
Self · (1 episode)
1993
Lady Chatterley
Sir Michael Reid · (4 episodes)
1993
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax
Sir Arnold Bax
1992
Whore
Waiter (uncredited)
1991
The Russia House
Walter
1990
Plunder
(1 episode)
1990
A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible
1989
The Lair of the White Worm
Police Radio (voice) (uncredited)
1988
Salome's Last Dance
Cappadocian
1988
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music
Himself
1988
Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russell
1987
Gothic
Tourist
1987
A Turnip Head’s Guide To The British Cinema
Self
1986
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait
Self
1983
The Who: The Kids Are Alright
1979
The South Bank Show
Self · (1 episode)
1978
Valentino
Rex Ingram (uncredited)
1977
Tommy
Cripple (uncredited)
1975
Savage Messiah
Passenger getting off train in station (uncredited)
1972
Song of Summer
Priest
1968
Omnibus
Self · (3 episodes)
1967
Don’t Shoot the Composer
Himself
1966
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Captain Patterson
1966
Russell at Work
1966
Walk With The Damned
Hood
1961
PuzzleFace
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