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Ken Russell

Born · July 3, 1927

Died · November 27, 2011 (84 years old)

Known For: Directing

Place of Birth: Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK

Bio

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."

Known for

Tommy

Tommy

The Russia House

The Russia House

The Lair of the White Worm

The Lair of the White Worm

Gothic

Gothic

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

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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