---
name: "David Bowie"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-bowie"
fi1m_id: "david-bowie"
imdb_id: "nm0000309"
tmdb_id: 7487
wikidata_id: "Q5383"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "8 January 1947"
died: "10 January 2016"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 79
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-07T11:54:25.152544+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# David Bowie

## Identity

David Bowie

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-bowie
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** david-bowie
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000309
- **TMDB ID:** 7487
- **Wikidata ID:** Q5383
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5383, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000309/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7487

Actor. Born 8 January 1947 in London, England, UK. Died 10 January 2016.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 8 January 1947, London, England, UK
- **Died:** 10 January 2016
- **Active:** 1976–2022
- **Also known as:** David Robert Jones , Tin Machine, David Jones, Davie Jones, Ziggy Stardust
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 9: 5 acting, 1 producing, 2 crew, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [B.B. King](https://film.one/person/b-b-king.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 82 (1), 1980s 74 (1), 1990s 74 (1), 2000s 76 (4), 2020s 76 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 68 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 2, Drama 2, Fantasy 2, Science Fiction 2, Adventure 1, Family 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $183m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5383, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000309/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7487

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Man Who Fell to Earth*](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-fell-to-earth.md) (82), [*Scott Walker: 30 Century Man*](https://film.one/film/scott-walker-30-century-man.md) (67)
- **Netflix:** [*Moonage Daydream*](https://film.one/film/moonage-daydream.md) (78), [*WHAM!*](https://film.one/film/wham.md) (75)
- **Disney+:** [*Labyrinth*](https://film.one/film/labyrinth.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on David Bowie

> David Bowie is an actor we value for his strangeness and his willingness to take it seriously. *Labyrinth* makes a virtue of his stiffness: he treats being the Goblin King as an entirely reasonable occupation.

In *Labyrinth* (1986), David Bowie plays Jareth as though being surrounded by puppets were an ordinary condition of royal life. We laughed at his seriousness, because he never treats the creatures as something he has been asked to humour. There is stiffness in the performance, but it gives the Goblin King a useful air of expecting to be obeyed. Jim Henson gets something valuable from that stiffness: Bowie belongs in this peculiar company without needing to seem friendly.

The casting had an earlier, more explicitly otherworldly precedent in Nicolas Roeg’s *The Man Who Fell to Earth* (1976), his first major film role, as the alien visitor Thomas Jerome Newton. Leading parts followed in *The Hunger* (1983) and Nagisa Oshima’s *Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence* (1983), but after the mid-1980s his appearances became occasional, often supporting parts or cameos. It is worth keeping that small, unevenly spaced body of work in proportion. We need not turn every appearance into a major performance to recognise how well directors could use his unusual presence.

The songs have a proper place in Henson’s *Labyrinth*: Bowie wrote them, and they give the film a welcome change of pace. His commitment keeps the musical passages from feeling like interruptions arranged for a famous guest. That matters in a film whose story already wanders and whose tone does not always settle. He cannot solve those problems, and the middle stretch still asks for patience. The puppets remain as important to the pleasure as their king.

Christopher Nolan’s *The Prestige* (2006) gives Bowie a supporting part as Tesla. Nolan specifically sought him for the role, another instance of a director finding a use for his unusual presence. It is the stronger film, despite its fussy explanations, but the gripping professional rivalry belongs chiefly to Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale. For Bowie, choose *Labyrinth*, and forgive Henson the time it sometimes takes to get to the next good scene.

## Biography

David Bowie (born David Robert Jones) was an English actor and musician. He appeared in numerous films and television productions, often in supporting or cameo roles.

His acting credits include Nikola Tesla in *The Prestige* (2006), Jareth in *Labyrinth* (1986), John Blaylock in *The Hunger* (1983), Pontius Pilate in *The Last Temptation of Christ* (1988), and Phillip Jeffries in *Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me* (1992). He also provided voice work as Maltazard in *Arthur and the Invisibles* (2006) and Lord Royal Highness in *SpongeBob SquarePants* (2007), and appeared as himself in *Zoolander* (2001) and *Christiane F.* (1981).

Bowie died in 2016.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (9)

### Performed in (5) — the average rests on these

- *The Prestige* (2006), Fi1m 82, as Tesla — [page](https://film.one/film/the-prestige.md)
- *Extras* (2005), Fi1m 81, as David Bowie — [page](https://film.one/tv/extras.md)
- *Zoolander* (2001), Fi1m 74, as David Bowie — [page](https://film.one/film/zoolander.md)
- *Labyrinth* (1986), Fi1m 74, as Jareth — [page](https://film.one/film/labyrinth.md)
- *The Man Who Fell to Earth* (1976), Fi1m 82, as Thomas Jerome Newton — [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-fell-to-earth.md)

### Produced (1)

- *Scott Walker: 30 Century Man* (2007), Fi1m 67, as Self — [page](https://film.one/film/scott-walker-30-century-man.md)

### Crew (2)

- *Moonage Daydream* (2022), Fi1m 78, as Self (archive footage) — [page](https://film.one/film/moonage-daydream.md)
- *The Buddha of Suburbia* (1993), Fi1m 74, Music — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-buddha-of-suburbia.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *WHAM!* (2023), Fi1m 75, as Self (archive footage) — [page](https://film.one/film/wham.md)

## Complete filmography (82)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Looking for Laurie* (2026), as Songs
- *Tribute to David Bowie - Heroes Never Die* (2026), Original Music Composer, Author, Compositor
- *Twiggy* (2025), as (archival footage)
- *David Bowie: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (2024 Dolby Atmos Mix)* (2024), as Guitar, Saxophone, Vocals
- *TIME* (2024), as Narrator (voice)
- *Dear Bowie* (2023), as David Bowie
- *Moonage Daydream* (2022), Music — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/moonage-daydream.md)
- *The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage!* (2019), as Songs
- *BowieNext - Nascita di una galassia* (2018), Actor
- *Lazarus* (2018), Original Music Composer, Writer, Music
- *Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA* (2017), as Jack Celliers (archive footage)
- *Sound and Vision* (2017), Sound
- *Shot! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock* (2017), Thanks
- *David Bowie: The Berlin Briefings* (2016), Actor
- *Closer* (2016), In Memory Of
- *Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces* (2014), as Phillip Jeffries
- *The Stars (Are Out Tonight)* (2013), Actor
- *Bandslam* (2009), as David Bowie
- *August* (2008), as Cyrus Ogilvie
- *SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis* (2007), as Lord Royal Highness
- *Journey Through the Labyrinth* (2007), Thanks
- *Scott Walker: 30 Century Man* (2007), Executive Producer — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/scott-walker-30-century-man.md)
- *Arthur and the Invisibles* (2006), as Maltazard (voice)
- *The Prestige* (2006), as Tesla — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-prestige.md)
- *Best of Bowie* (2006), Director
- *Tráiler para amantes de lo prohibido!* (2005), Thanks
- *Extras* (2005), series, as David Bowie — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/extras.md)
- *Bowie: A Reality Tour* (2004), Writer
- *David Bowie - Best Of* (2002), series, Actor
- *David Bowie: Best of Bowie* (2002), Director
- *The Changing Same* (2001), Music
- *Zoolander* (2001), as David Bowie — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/zoolander.md)
- *Mr. Rice's Secret* (2000), as Mr. William Rice
- *SpongeBob SquarePants* (1999), series, as Lord Royal Highness (voice)
- *Everybody Loves Sunshine* (1999), as Bernie
- *Gunslinger's Revenge* (1998), as Jack Sikora
- *The Hunger* (1997), series, as The Host
- *Basquiat* (1996), as Andy Warhol
- *TFI Friday* (1996), series, Actor
- *The World of Jim Henson* (1994), as Jareth (archive footage)
- *Magic Hunter* (1994), Executive Producer
- *Gay! Gay! Hollywood* (1994), Actor
- *The Buddha of Suburbia* (1993), series, Music — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-buddha-of-suburbia.md)
- *Tina Turner: The Girl from Nutbush* (1993), Actor
- *Full Stretch* (1993), series, as David Bowie
- *Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me* (1992), as Phillip Jeffries
- *The Linguini Incident* (1991), as Monte
- *Dream On* (1990), series, as Sir Roland Moorecock
- *Twin Peaks* (1990), series, as Phillip Jeffries (archive footage) — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/twin-peaks.md)
- *Tin Machine - Live at Paradiso* (1989), Actor
- *The Last Temptation of Christ* (1988), as Pontius Pilatus
- *David Bowie: Glass Spider* (1988), Choreographer
- *When the Wind Blows* (1986), Main Title Theme Composer
- *Labyrinth* (1986), as Jareth, Songs — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/labyrinth.md)
- *Absolute Beginners* (1986), as Vendice Partners, Songs
- *David Bowie at Live Aid* (1985), Actor
- *Tokyo Melody: A Film About Ryuichi Sakamoto* (1985), as Celliers (archive footage)
- *Into the Night* (1985), as Colin Morris
- *David Bowie: Jazzin' for Blue Jean* (1984), as Vic / Screaming Lord Byron · Writer
- *Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars* (1983), as Songs · Sound Mixer
- *David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Sydney* (1983), Actor
- *David Bowie: Serious Moonlight Montreal* (1983), Writer
- *Yellowbeard* (1983), as The Shark (uncredited)
- *Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence* (1983), as Celliers
- *The Hunger* (1983), as John Blaylock
- *We Will Rock You* (1982), as Songs
- *Cat People* (1982), as Theme Song Performance
- *Baal* (1982), as Baal
- *Christiane F.* (1981), as David Bowie
- *Radio On* (1979), as Songs
- *Young Music Show* (1978), series, Actor
- *Just a Gigolo* (1978), as Paul Ambrosius von Przygodski
- *David Bowie On Stage* (1978), Actor
- *The Man Who Fell to Earth* (1976), as Thomas Jerome Newton — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-fell-to-earth.md)
- *Diamond Dogs Demo Video* (1974), Director
- *The Looking Glass Murders* (1970), as Cloud · Writer
- *The Virgin Soldiers* (1969), as Soldier
- *The Image* (1969), as The Boy
- *David Bowie: Love You Till Tuesday* (1969), Music
- *Omnibus* (1967), series, Actor
- *Theatre 625* (1964), series, Actor
- *David Bowie: Day-In Day-Out*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![David Bowie](https://film.one/media/person/99192/gallery-0308386396dc.jpg) David Bowie — Adam Bielawski, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/David-Bowie_Chicago_2002-08-08_photoby_Adam-Bielawski-cropped.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Books at W.H. Smith, Enfield, London. (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/99192/gallery-88d691a8c12c.jpg) Books at W.H. Smith, Enfield, London. (2018) — Philafrenzy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Adult_colouring_books%2C_W.H._Smith%2C_Enfield.jpg/1280px-Adult_colouring_books%2C_W.H._Smith%2C_Enfield.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![500px provided description: David Bowie [#show ,#rock ,#concert ,#music ,#live ,#guitar ,#performance ,#stage ,#gig ,#band ,#musician ,#singer ,#live music ,#bo](https://film.one/media/person/99192/gallery-f743ae8c5c8a.jpg) 500px provided description: David Bowie [#show ,#rock ,#concert ,#music ,#live ,#guitar ,#performance ,#stage ,#gig ,#band ,#musician ,#singer ,#live music ,#bo — Roger Woolman, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/David_Bowie_%28135687113%29.jpeg/1280px-David_Bowie_%28135687113%29.jpeg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![500px provided description: David Bowie [#show ,#rock ,#concert ,#music ,#live ,#guitar ,#performance ,#stage ,#gig ,#band ,#musician ,#singer ,#live music ,#bo](https://film.one/media/person/99192/gallery-fbb20e74a3c5.jpg) 500px provided description: David Bowie [#show ,#rock ,#concert ,#music ,#live ,#guitar ,#performance ,#stage ,#gig ,#band ,#musician ,#singer ,#live music ,#bo — Roger Woolman, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/David_Bowie_%28135687113%29_%28cropped%29.jpeg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![David Bowie](https://film.one/media/person/99192/gallery-520553c246f2.jpg) David Bowie — Image via TMDB
- ![David Bowie](https://film.one/media/person/99192/gallery-dfbeb039928d.jpg) David Bowie — Image via TMDB
- ![David Bowie](https://film.one/media/person/99192/gallery-7e817168c391.jpg) David Bowie — Image via TMDB
- ![500px provided description: David Bowie [#show ,#rock ,#concert ,#music ,#live ,#guitar ,#performance ,#stage ,#gig ,#band ,#musician ,#singer ,#live music ,#bo](https://film.one/media/person/99192/gallery-67ad2d76db13.jpg) 500px provided description: David Bowie [#show ,#rock ,#concert ,#music ,#live ,#guitar ,#performance ,#stage ,#gig ,#band ,#musician ,#singer ,#live music ,#bo — Roger Woolman, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/David_Bowie_%28135687113%29_%28cropped_2%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![David Bowie performing at the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park music festival in Nürburgring, Germany on June 7, 1987](https://film.one/media/person/99192/gallery-c35dbe92d712.jpg) David Bowie performing at the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park music festival in Nürburgring, Germany on June 7, 1987 — Elmar J. Lordemann (de:User:Jo Atmon), CC BY-SA 2.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/David_Bowie_%281987%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![David Bowie](https://film.one/media/person/99192/gallery-92c1bc5ad264.jpg) David Bowie — Image via TMDB
- ![David Bowie](https://film.one/media/person/99192/gallery-63bf773f0cef.jpg) David Bowie — Image via TMDB
- ![David Bowie](https://film.one/media/person/99192/gallery-37815e2d72c1.jpg) David Bowie — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 10 won

- Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame 2013: Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame (won)
- Webby Lifetime Achievement Award 2007: Webby Lifetime Achievement Award (won)
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award 2006: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (won)
- Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time 2004: Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (won)
- Great Britons 2002: Great Britons (won)
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire 2000: Commander of the Order of the British Empire (won)
- Grammy Hall of Fame 1998: Grammy Hall of Fame (won), for *The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars*
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame 1997: star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (won)
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1996: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (won)
- Saturn Awards 1976: Best Actor (won), for *The Man Who Fell to Earth*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/david-bowie