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).
TIME
Narrator (voice)
2024
Jim Henson Idea Man
Jareth (archive footage)
2024
My Way
Self (archive footage)
2024
DEVO
Self (archive footage)
2024
Dear Bowie
David Bowie
2023
Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex
Self (archive footage)
2023
WHAM!
Self (archive footage)
2023
The Lost Weekend: A Love Story
Self (archive footage)
2023
LOLA
Self - Singer (archive footage)
2023
Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV
Self (archive footage)
2023
Moonage Daydream
Self (archive footage)
2022
Freddie Mercury: The Final Act
Self
2022
Mickey: The Story of a Mouse
Self (archive footage)
2022
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self
2021
The Velvet Underground
Self (voice)
2021
David Bowie: Out of this World
Self
2021
Zappa
Self (archive footage)
2020
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2020 Inductions
Self (archive footage)
2020
Françoise Hardy : tant de belles choses
Self
2020
WBCN and the American Revolution
Self
2019
Der Reichstag
Self (archive footage)
2017
Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait
Self (archive footage)
2017
Bowie at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2017
Bowie: The Man Who Changed the World
Self (archive footage)
2016
David Bowie: The Man Who Stole the World
Self (archive footage)
2016
Burden
Self (archive footage)
2016
Night Flight: Born Again
Self
2016
David Bowie I Love You (Since I Was Six)
Self
2016
David Bowie: Sound and Vision
Self
2016
David Bowie: Starman
Self
2016
Let's Dance: Bowie Down Under
Self
2015
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Phillip Jeffries
2014
David Bowie Is Happening Now
Self (archive footage)
2013
The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
2013
Vanilla Ice Archive
Self (archive footage)
2012
David Bowie & The Story of Ziggy Stardust
Self / Ziggy Stardust (archive footage)
2012
The Love We Make
Self
2011
Acoustic at the BBC
Self
2011
Bowie, Iggy & Lou 1971-1973: The Sacred Triangle
Self (archive footage)
2010
Bandslam
David Bowie
2009
David Bowie: VH1 Storytellers
Self
2009
August
Cyrus Ogilvie
2008
David Gilmour - Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine
Self
2007
David Gilmour: Remember That Night - Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Self - Guest Artist
2007
Arthur and the Invisibles
Maltazard (voice)
2006
The Prestige
Tesla
2006
David Bowie: Under Review 1976-79
Self
2006
Live Aid Against All Odds
Self
2005
Inside the Music
Self
2005
The Nomi Song
Self (archive footage)
2004
Bowie: A Reality Tour
Self
2004
Rockthology 2
2004
David Bowie - Sound and Vision
Self
2003
Queen: Greatest Video Hits 2
Self
2003
David Bowie: Live at Riverside Studios '03
Self
2003
The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch
Self - Interviewee
2003
Supergroups
Self
2002
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
Self - Narrator (voice)
2002
David Bowie: Live at Montreux
Self
2002
David Bowie: Best of Bowie
Self (archive footage)
2002
David Bowie: Live by Request
Self
2002
Classic Albums: Lou Reed - Transformer
Self
2001
The Concert for New York City
Self
2001
Zoolander
David Bowie
2001
Mr. Rice's Secret
Mr. William Rice
2000
Bowie at the BBC
Self - Vocals
2000
The Filth and the Fury
Self (archive footage)
2000
David Bowie - Live at The Elysee Montmartre Paris
Self
1999
Everybody Loves Sunshine
Bernie
1999
Gunslinger's Revenge
Jack Sikora
1998
In Stillness and in Silence (Sacred)
Self
1998
Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart
Self
1998
Goldie: When Saturn Returns
Self
1998
A Bing Crosby Christmas
Self (archive footage)
1998
Nine Inch Nails: Closure
Self (uncredited)
1997
David Bowie - Live from the 10th spot
Self
1997
David Bowie: Earthling On TV
Self
1997
David Bowie Birthday Celebration Live in NYC
Self
1997
David Bowie & Friends: A Very Special Birthday Celebration
Self
1997
David Bowie: An Earthling at 50
Self - Interviewee
1997
Basquiat
Andy Warhol
1996
David Bowie: Rockpalast
Self
1996
The History of Rock 'n' Roll
Self
1995
David Bowie: Black Tie White Noise
Self
1993
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
Self
1992
Queen: Greatest Flix II
Self (archive footage)
1991
The Linguini Incident
Monte
1991
David Bowie: Live At The Tokyo Dome
Self
1990
Tin Machine - Live at Paradiso
1989
Imagine: John Lennon
Self
1988
The Last Temptation of Christ
Pontius Pilatus
1988
David Bowie: Glass Spider
Self
1988
Inside the Labyrinth
Self
1986
Labyrinth
Jareth
1986
Absolute Beginners
Vendice Partners
1986
Live Aid
Self
1985
David Bowie at Live Aid
1985
Tina Turner: Private Dancer Tour
Self
1985
Into the Night
Colin Morris
1985
Video AID
Self
1985
David Bowie: Jazzin' for Blue Jean
Vic / Screaming Lord Byron
1984
David Bowie: The Serious Moonlight Tour
Self
1984
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight
Self - Lead Vocals / Guitar
1984
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Self / Ziggy Stardust
1983
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Sydney
1983
David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Montreal
Self
1983
Yellowbeard
The Shark (uncredited)
1983
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
Celliers
1983
The Hunger
John Blaylock
1983
Cool Cats: 25 Years of Rock 'n' Roll Style
Self (archive footage)
1983
Baal
Baal
1982
Christiane F.
David Bowie
1981
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
Self
1980
David Bowie On Stage: Live in Japan
Self
1978
Just a Gigolo
Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski
1978
David Bowie: Live at Beat Club Musikladen
Self - Keyboard, Vocals
1978
David Bowie On Stage
1978
Fame
Himself (voice)
1976
The Man Who Fell to Earth
Thomas Jerome Newton
1976
David Bowie: Cracked Actor
Self
1975
The 1980 Floor Show
Self
1973
The Looking Glass Murders
Cloud
1970
The Image
The Boy
1969
Are We Not Men?
Self (archive footage)
Twiggy
(archival footage)
2025
Enigma
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2025
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Self (archive footage)
2025
Luther: Never Too Much
Self (archive footage)
2024
David Bowie: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (2024 Dolby Atmos Mix)
Guitar, Saxophone, Vocals
2024
Can Creativity Save the World?
Self
2024
Hits That Missed at the BBC
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2024
Thriller 40
Self (archive footage)
2023
Il était une fois Champs-Élysées
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2022
Moby Doc
Self
2021
The Dancing Man of L.A.
Self (archive footage)
2021
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
Self (archive footage) · (3 episodes)
2021
This Is Pop
Self (archive footage) · (2 episodes)
2021
David Bowie: London Boy
Self
2021
70 Years of Youth Revolt
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2020
Lindsay Dances - Theatre and life according to Lindsay Kemp
Self
2020
The BRITs at 40
Self (archive footage)
2020
My Music: A Classic Christmas
Self (archive footage)
2019
The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story
Self (archive footage)
2019
David Bowie: Finding Fame
Self (archive footage)
2019
Moonage Ice Cream
Self (Archival/Voice)
2019
Bowie: Glastonbury 2000
Self - Vocals
2018
Why Are We Creative?
Self
2018
Freddie Mercury: The King of Queen
Singer
2018
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda
Jack Celliers (archive footage)
2017
Glam Rock at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2017
Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock
Self - Musician (archive footage)
2017
Beside Bowie - The Mick Ronson Story
Self - Narrator (voice)
2017
David Bowie: The Last Five Years
Self (archive footage)
2017
Gaga for Dada: The Original Art Rebels
Self
2016
David Bowie - In His Own Words
Self (archive footage)
2016
Das Prinzip Dada
Self
2016
David Bowie: On the Rock Trail
Self (archive footage)
2015
Blackstar
2015
B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin 1979-1989
Self
2015
Wilde Jahre West-Berlin
Self
2015
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Self (archive footage)
2014
Soul Boys of the Western World
Self (archive footage)
2014
David Bowie: Five Years
Self (archive footage)
2013
The Frame
John Blaylock · (1 episode)
2013
David Bowie - The Calm Before The Storm: Under Review 1969 - 1971
Self - Singer, songwriter
2012
Clockwork Orange County
Self
2012
The Genius of David Bowie
Self - Performer (archive footage)
2012
Personne ne bouge!
Self · (1 episode)
2012
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
Self
2010
David Bowie: Rare and Unseen
Self
2010
Krautrock: The Rebirth of Germany
Self (archive footage)
2009
Kings of Glam
Self (archive footage)
2008
David Bowie - The Plastic Soul Review
Self - Singer, Songwriter
2007
David bowie - Up Close and Personal
Self - Singer, Songwriter
2007
Seven Ages of Rock
Self · (7 episodes)
2007
SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis
Lord Royal Highness
2007
Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
Self
2007
David Bowie - Music in Review
Self - Singer, Songwriter
2007
David Bowie - Total Rock Review
Self
2006
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: Million Sellers
Self
2006
David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust
Self - Singer, Songwriter
2006
Best of Bowie
2006
The Work of Director Mark Romanek
Self (archive footage)
2005
TV Party
Self
2005
Extras
David Bowie · (1 episode)
2005
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Self
2005
Live Aid
Self
2004
Superstar in a Housedress: The Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis
Self (archive footage)
2004
Pixies: Gouge
Self
2004
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
Self
2003
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Self
2003
David Bowie Reality Live
Self
2003
David Bowie - Best Of
(27 episodes)
2002
Hr. Vinterberg & Mr. Bowie
Self
2002
David Bowie: Live Olympia Paris
Self
2002
Queen - The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert 10th Anniversary Documentary
Self
2002
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2001
David Bowie: Roseland Ballroom, NYC
Self
2000
The Ten Commandments of Creativity
Self
2000
Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special
Self
1999
Where Are They Now?
Self · (1 episode)
1999
Parkinson
Self · (2 episodes)
1998
The Hunger
The Host · (25 episodes)
1997
The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money
Self
1996
David Bowie - Kremlin Palace Moscow
self
1996
Die Harald Schmidt Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1995
The Making of the 'Outside' Album
Self
1995
Nine Inch Nails & David Bowie: Dissonance
Self
1995
The World of Jim Henson
Jareth (archive footage)
1994
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Musical Guest · (1 episode)
1993
Full Stretch
David Bowie · (1 episode)
1993
ECHO-Verleihung
Self · (1 episode)
1992
Dream On
Sir Roland Moorecock · (2 episodes)
1990
Twin Peaks
Phillip Jeffries (archive footage) · (1 episode)
1990
The Snowman
Older James (re-released version) (uncredited)
1984
MTV Video Music Awards
Self · (2 episodes)
1984
Champs-Elysées
Self · (2 episodes)
1982
Wetten, dass..?
Self · (1 episode)
1981
Young Music Show
(1 episode)
1978
David Bowie: Musikladen Extra
Self - Keyboard, Vocals
1978
David Bowie - PNE Live Rehearsal 1976
Self - Vocals, Saxophone
Exclusiv - Das Star-Magazin
self · (1 episode)
1994
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Phillip Jeffries
1992
Sacrée soirée
Self (Clip) (archive footage) · (1 episode)
1987
Sacrée soirée
Self - Tin Machine · (1 episode)
1987
Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes All-Star 50th Anniversary
Self
1986
Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto
Celliers (archive footage)
1985
Ricochet
Self
1984
The Oshima Gang
Self
1983
Group Madness
Self
1983
Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas
Self
1977
Auf los geht's los
Self · (1 episode)
1977
Night Lunch
Self
1975
Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest · (3 episodes)
1975
Cher
Self · (1 episode)
1975
Système 2
Self · (1 episode)
1975
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self · (2 episodes)
1975
Diamond Dogs Demo Video
Self / Harpie
1974
Musikladen
Self · (1 episode)
1972
The Virgin Soldiers
Soldier
1969
David Bowie: Love You Till Tuesday
Self
1969
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
Self · (1 episode)
1966
Discovering Music
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
Unsere kleine Show
Self · (1 episode)
1969
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1968
Omnibus
Self · (1 episode)
1967
NBC television special: The Pursuit of Pleasure
Self
1967
Ready Steady Go!
Self · (1 episode)
1963
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (1 episode)
1962