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Ken Russell (I) (1927–2011)

Director | Writer | Actor

Ken Russell tried several professions, before choosing to become a film director. He was a still photographer, a dancer and even served in the army, but it was film that was to be Mr. Russell's destiny. He began by making several short films, and those paved the way for his brilliant television films of the sixties that are acclaimed for his attention to detail and opulent visuals... See full bio »

Born:

Henry Kenneth Alfred Russell
in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK

Died:

(age 84) in Lymington, Hampshire, England, UK
Ken Russell Ken Russell and Roger Daltrey Vanessa Redgrave, Ken Russell and Shade Rupe Keith Carradine, Ken Russell and Lee Godart Ken Russell Ken Russell
10 photos | 4 videos | 423 news articles »

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Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 11 nominations See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideDirector (72 titles)
2009 Boudica Bites Back (short)
 
2007 A Kitten for Hitler (short)
 
2006 Trapped Ashes (segment "The Girl With Golden Breasts")
 
2006 Sarah Brightman: Diva - The Video Collection (video) (videos "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again")
 
2004 Revenge of the Elephant Man (short)
 
2002 The Fall of the Louse of Usher: A Gothic Tale for the 21st Century
 
2002 Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle (TV documentary)
 
2000 Lion's Mouth (short)
 
1998 Dogboys (TV movie)
 
1997 Ken Russell 'In Search of the English Folk Song' (documentary)
 
1996 Mindbender (TV movie)
 
1996 Tales of Erotica (segment "Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch, The")
 
1995 Treasure Island (TV movie)
 
1995 Alice in Russialand (TV movie)
 
1995 Classic Widows (TV documentary)
 
1995 The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch (short)
 
1993 Lady Chatterley (TV series)
– Episode #1.4 (1993)
– Episode #1.3 (1993)
– Episode #1.2 (1993)
– Episode #1.1 (1993)
 
1993 The Mystery of Dr Martinu (TV movie)
 
1992 The Secret Life of Arnold Bax (TV movie)
 
1992 Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Premiere Collection Encore (video) (segment "The Phantom of the Opera")
 
1991 Prisoner of Honor (TV movie)
 
1991 Whore
 
1991 Road to Mandalay (TV documentary)
 
1990 Women and Men: Stories of Seduction (TV movie) (segment "Dusk Before Fireworks")
 
1990 The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner (TV movie)
 
1989 The Rainbow
 
1989 Méphistophélès (TV movie)
 
1989 A British Picture (TV movie)
 
1988 The Lair of the White Worm
 
1988 Salome's Last Dance
 
1988 Ken Russell's ABC of British Music (TV documentary)
 
1987 Aria (segment "Nessun dorma")
 
1986 Gothic
 
1985 Faust (TV movie)
 
1984 Crimes of Passion
 
1984 The South Bank Show (TV series documentary)
– Vaughn Williams: A Symphonic Portrait (1984)
 
1983 The Planets (TV documentary)
 
1980 Altered States
 
1978 ITV Sunday Night Drama (TV series)
– Clouds of Glory: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1978)
– Clouds of Glory: William and Dorothy (1978)
 
1977 Valentino
 
1975 Lisztomania
 
1975 Tommy
 
1974 Mahler
 
1972 Savage Messiah
 
1971 The Boy Friend
 
1971 The Devils
 
1970 The Music Lovers
 
1967-1970 Omnibus (TV series documentary)
– Dance of the Seven Veils (1970)
– Song of Summer: Frederick Delius (1968)
– The Ken Russell Festival: Part 2 - The Dotty World of James Lloyd/Always on Sunday (1968)
– The Ken Russell Festival: Part 1 - A House in Bayswater/Prokofiev (1968)
– Dante's Inferno (1967)
 
1969 Women in Love
 
1967 Billion Dollar Brain
 
1966 Sunday Night (TV series documentary)
– Don't Shoot the Composer (1966)
 
1966 Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World (TV documentary)
 
1959-1965 Monitor (TV series documentary)
– Always on Sunday (1965)
– The Debussy Film (1965)
– The Dotty World of James Lloyd (1964)
– Bartok (1964)
– Watch the Birdie (1963)
See all 17 episodes »
 
1964 Six (TV series)
– The Diary of a Nobody: The Domestic Jottings of a City Clerk (1964)
 
1964 Diary of a Nobody (TV short)
 
1964 French Dressing (as Kenneth Russell)
 
1964 Lonely Shore (TV movie)
 
1962 Preservation Man (TV movie)
 
1962 Mr. Chesher's Traction Engines (TV movie)
 
1961 London Moods (TV documentary short)
 
1961 Antonio Gaudi (TV documentary short)
 
1960 Shelagh Delaney's Salford (TV documentary short)
 
1960 A House in Bayswater (documentary short)
 
1960 Architecture of Entertainment (TV documentary short)
 
1960 Cranko at Work (TV documentary short)
 
1959 Guitar Craze (TV short)
 
1959 Amelia and the Angel (short)
 
1959 Poet's London (TV documentary short)
 
1959 Portrait of a Goon (TV documentary short)
 
1958 Lourdes (short)
 
1956 Peepshow (short)
 
1956 Knights on Bikes (short) (incompleted)
 
Show ShowWriter (33 titles)
2009 Boudica Bites Back (short)
 
2004 Revenge of the Elephant Man (short)
 
2002 The Fall of the Louse of Usher: A Gothic Tale for the 21st Century
 
2000 Lion's Mouth (short)
 
1997 Ken Russell 'In Search of the English Folk Song' (documentary)
 
1996 Mindbender (TV movie)
 
1996 Tales of Erotica (segment "Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch, The")
 
1995 Treasure Island (TV movie) (screenplay)
 
1995 The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch (short)
 
1993 Lady Chatterley (TV series)
– Episode #1.4 (1993) (screenplay)
– Episode #1.3 (1993) (screenplay)
– Episode #1.2 (1993) (screenplay)
– Episode #1.1 (1993) (screenplay)
 
1992 The Secret Life of Arnold Bax (TV movie)
 
1991 Whore (screenplay)
 
1991 Road to Mandalay (TV documentary)
 
1990 The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner (TV movie)
 
1989 The Rainbow (screenplay)
 
1989 A British Picture (TV movie)
 
1988 The Lair of the White Worm (screenplay)
 
1988 Salome's Last Dance (writer)
 
1987 Aria (segment "Nessun dorma")
 
1978 ITV Sunday Night Drama (TV series)
– Clouds of Glory: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1978)
– Clouds of Glory: William and Dorothy (1978)
 
1977 Valentino (screenplay)
 
1975 Lisztomania
 
1975 Tommy (screenplay)
 
1974 Mahler
 
1971 The Boy Friend (screenplay)
 
1971 The Devils (screenplay)
 
1967-1970 Omnibus (TV series documentary)
– Dance of the Seven Veils (1970) (scenario and dialogue)
– Song of Summer: Frederick Delius (1968) (scenario)
– Dante's Inferno (1967) (scenario)
 
1966 Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World (TV documentary)
 
1962-1965 Monitor (TV series documentary)
– Always on Sunday (1965) (scenario)
– The Debussy Film (1965) (scenario)
– Bartok (1964) (scenario)
– Elgar (1962) (written by)
 
1964 Six (TV series)
– The Diary of a Nobody: The Domestic Jottings of a City Clerk (1964) (screenplay)
 
1964 Diary of a Nobody (TV short)
 
1960 A House in Bayswater (documentary short)
 
1959 Amelia and the Angel (short) (original idea / script / written by)
 
Show ShowActor (25 titles)
2011 Puzzleface (short)
God
 
2011/II Zero
Sam
 
2010 The Aristofrogs (short)
 
2010 Mr. Nice
Russell Miegs
 
2009 Boudica Bites Back (short)
Roman Senator
 
2006 Trapped Ashes
Dr. Lucy (segment "The Girl with Golden Breasts")
 
2006 Agatha Christie Marple: The Moving Finger (TV movie)
Rev Caleb Dane Calthrop
 
2005 Color Me Kubrick
The Man in a Nightgown
 
2004 Revenge of the Elephant Man (short)
 
2003 Waking the Dead (TV series)
Gerry Raistrick
– Final Cut: Part 2 (2003) … Gerry Raistrick
 
2002 The Fall of the Louse of Usher: A Gothic Tale for the 21st Century
Dr. Calahari
 
2000 Lion's Mouth (short)
Ken the Clown
 
1996 Tales of Erotica
Mr. Kirsch (segment "Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch, The")
 
1995 The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch (short)
Mr. Kirsch
 
1993 Lady Chatterley (TV series)
Sir Michael Reid
– Episode #1.4 (1993) … Sir Michael Reid
– Episode #1.1 (1993) … Sir Michael Reid
 
1992 The Secret Life of Arnold Bax (TV movie)
Sir Arnold Bax
 
1991 Whore
Waiter
 
1990 The Russia House
Walter
 
1988 Salome's Last Dance
Cappadocian (as Alfred Russell) / Kenneth (as Alfred Russell)
 
1986 Gothic
Tourist (uncredited)
 
1977 Valentino
Rex Ingram (uncredited)
 
1975 Tommy
Cripple (uncredited)
 
1972 Savage Messiah
Passenger getting off train in station (uncredited)
 
1968 Omnibus (TV series documentary)
Priest
– Song of Summer: Frederick Delius (1968) … Priest (uncredited)
 
1962 Walk with the Damned
A Hood
 
Show ShowProducer (19 titles)
2013 Invasion of the Not Quite Dead (executive producer) (in production)
 
2004 Revenge of the Elephant Man (short) (producer)
 
2002 The Fall of the Louse of Usher: A Gothic Tale for the 21st Century (producer)
 
1998 Dogboys (TV movie) (producer)
 
1989 The Rainbow (producer)
 
1988 The Lair of the White Worm (producer)
 
1988 Ken Russell's ABC of British Music (TV documentary) (producer)
 
1984 The South Bank Show (TV series documentary) (producer - 1 episode)
– Vaughn Williams: A Symphonic Portrait (1984) (producer)
 
1983 The Planets (TV documentary) (producer)
 
1975 Tommy (producer)
 
1972 Savage Messiah (producer)
 
1971 The Boy Friend (producer)
 
1971 The Devils (producer)
 
1970 The Music Lovers (producer)
 
1967-1970 Omnibus (TV series documentary) (producer - 3 episodes)
– Dance of the Seven Veils (1970) (producer)
– Song of Summer: Frederick Delius (1968) (producer)
– Dante's Inferno (1967) (producer)
 
1966 Sunday Night (TV series documentary) (producer - 1 episode)
– Don't Shoot the Composer (1966) (producer)
 
1966 Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World (TV documentary) (producer)
 
1965 Monitor (TV series documentary) (producer - 2 episodes)
– Always on Sunday (1965) (producer)
– The Debussy Film (1965) (producer)
 
1960 A House in Bayswater (documentary short) (producer)
 
Show ShowCamera and Electrical Department (4 titles)
1995 Classic Widows (TV documentary) (camera operator - as Alf Russell)
 
1993 Lady Chatterley (TV series) (camera operator - 4 episodes)
– Episode #1.4 (1993) (camera operator - as Alfred Russell)
– Episode #1.3 (1993) (camera operator - as Alfred Russell)
– Episode #1.2 (1993) (camera operator - as Alfred Russell)
– Episode #1.1 (1993) (camera operator - as Alfred Russell)
 
1991 Whore (camera operator - as Alf Russell)
 
1990 The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner (TV movie) (camera operator - as Alf Russell)
 
Show ShowCinematographer (3 titles)
Show ShowEditor (2 titles)
Show ShowMiscellaneous Crew (2 titles)
1989 Méphistophélès (TV movie) (staged by)
 
1985 Faust (TV movie) (directed for stage: Production)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (2 titles)
1977 Valentino (lyrics: "The Sheik of Araby")
 
1975 Lisztomania (lyrics: "Excelsior Song")
 
Show ShowSound Department (1 title)
2000 Lion's Mouth (short) (supervising sound editor)
 
Show ShowThanks (3 titles)
2013 Spidarlings (in memory of) (filming)
 
2011 Special Collector's Edition (TV series) (in memory of - 1 episode)
– Drácula: Un muerto muy contento y feliz (2011) (in memory of)
 
2001 Sanitarium (video) (thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (67 titles)
2012 Living the Life (TV series)
Himself
– Sir Peter Blake and Ken Russell (2012) … Himself
 
2011 Celebrity Naked Ambition (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2010 Newsnight (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 28 October 2010 (2010) … Himself
 
2010 In the House with Peter Bart & Peter Guber (TV series)
– Emilio Estevez/Jeremy Renner/Ken Russell (2010)
 
2009 Rich Man, Poor Man: Ben Dover Straightens Up (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2009 Composing Aria (video documentary)
Himself
 
1984-2007 The South Bank Show (TV series documentary)
Himself
– The Nutcracker Story (2007) … Himself
– Little Britain (2005) … Himself
– Vaughn Williams: A Symphonic Portrait (1984) … Himself
 
2007 The Most Annoying Pop Songs.... We Hate to Love (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Episode #1.2 (2007) … Himself
– Episode #1.1 (2007) … Himself
 
2007 British Film Forever (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself
– Magic, Murder and Monsters: The Story of British Horror and Fantasy (2007) … Himself
– Longing, Loving and Leg-Overs: The Story of British Romance (2007) … Himself
 
2007 Channel 4 News (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 30 July 2007 (2007) … Himself
 
2007 The Sunday Programme (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 3 June 2007 (2007) … Himself
 
2007 The Return of 'Allo 'Allo! (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2007 5 News (TV series)
Himself - BAFTA Guest
– Episode dated 12 February 2007 (2007) … Himself - BAFTA Guest
 
2007 Celebrity Big Brother's Big Mouth (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 28 January 2007 (2007) … Himself
– Episode dated 9 January 2007 (2007) … Himself
 
2007 Celebrity Big Brother (TV series)
Himself
– Day 25 (2007) … Himself
– Day 5 (2007) … Himself
– Day 4 (2007) … Himself
– Day 3 (2007) … Himself
– Episode #5.4 (2007) … Himself
See all 8 episodes »
 
2006 The Real Blue Nuns (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2006 Ballet Hell (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2005 Brothers of the Head
Himself
 
2004 X-Rated (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself
– The Scenes They Tried to Ban (2004) … Himself
– The Films That Shocked Britain (2004) … Himself
 
2004 Ken Russell on 'Tommy' (video documentary short)
 
2003 The 100 Greatest Musicals (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2003 Reflections on Golden Pond (video documentary short)
Himself
 
2003 100 Greatest Sexy Moments (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2003 Celebrity Naked Ambition (TV documentary)
Himself - Contributor
 
2002 Hell on Earth (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2001 Funny Turns (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Felicity Kendal: A Passage from India (2001) … Himself
 
2001 Art That Shook the World (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin (2001) … Himself
 
2001 Open House (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Valentines Special (2001) … Himself
 
2000 Legends (TV series documentary)
Himself
 
1999 For the Love of... (TV series)
Himself
– The '60s (1999) … Himself
 
1999 The Peculiar Memories of Bruce Robinson (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1998 Carry on Darkly (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1997 Light Lunch (TV series)
Himself
– A Quite Frightening Lunch (1997) … Himself
 
1997 Great Composers (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Mahler (1997) … Himself
 
1997 Ken Russell 'In Search of the English Folk Song' (documentary)
Presenter
 
1996 Això no és tot! (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 11 October 1996 (1996) … Himself
 
1996 In Search of Dracula with Jonathan Ross (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1996 A History of British Art (TV series documentary)
Music Hall performer
 
1995 Georges Delerue (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1995 Empire of the Censors (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1995 Classic Widows (TV documentary)
Himself/Interviewer
 
1994 Denton (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.27 (1994) … Himself
 
1993 Masterchef (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #4.8 (1993) … Himself
 
1991-1993 Without Walls (TV series documentary)
Himself
– The Obituary Show - Ken Russell (1993)
– J'accuse: Citizen Kane (1991) … Himself
 
1993 The Who's Tommy, the Amazing Journey (documentary)
Himself
 
1990 The Media Show (TV series)
Himself
– Sex and the Cinema (1990) … Himself
 
1990 Aspel & Company (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #7.3 (1990) … Himself
 
1989 Brit Awards 1989 (TV special)
Himself
 
1989 A British Picture (TV movie)
Himself
 
1987-1988 The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross (TV series)
Himself / Himself - Guest
– Episode #3.9 (1988) … Himself - Guest
– Episode #1.12 (1987) … Himself
 
1988 Ken Russell's ABC of British Music (TV documentary)
 
1983 Roger Daltrey (TV special)
Himself
 
1979 The Kids Are Alright (documentary)
Himself
 
1977 New York, New York (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 20 November 1977 (1977) … Himself
 
1977 All You Need Is Love (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Diamonds as Big as the Ritz: The Musical (1977) … Himself
 
1976 The Elstree Story (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1974 2nd House (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 5 January 1974 (1974) … Himself
 
1973 Ken Russell, with Colin Wilson (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1972 Film Night (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 9 September 1972 (1972) … Himself
 
1971 Omnibus; Russell's Progress (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1971 Omnibus (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Russell's Progress (1971) … Himself
 
1971 Aquarius (TV series)
Himself
– The Music Lovers (1971) … Himself
 
1971 Director of Devils (documentary short)
Himself
 
1971 All Talking... All Singing... All Dancing (documentary short)
Himself
 
1966 Sunday Night (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Don't Shoot the Composer (1966) … Himself
 
1966 Late Night Lineup (TV series)
– Russell at Work (1966)
 
1966 Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World (TV documentary)
Captain Patterson (cameo) (uncredited)
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (6 titles)
2012 The 84th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Memorial Tribute
 
2012 The Orange British Academy Film Awards (TV movie)
Himself - Memorial Tribute
 
2012 Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil (TV documentary)
Himself
 
2011 Días de cine (TV series)
 
2011 Time Shift (TV series documentary)
 
2007 SpaceDisco One
Ken Russell on 'Big Brother'
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1986) Music video: Directed "Nikita" for Elton John. See more »

Publicity Listings:

8 Print Biographies  | 6 Interviews  | 7 Articles  | 1 Magazine Cover Photo  | See more »

Official Sites:

Ken Russell Enterprises | See more »

Alternate Names:

Alfred Russell | Alf Russell | Kenneth Russell

Height:

5' 7½" (1.71 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

[concerning his style of biographical films] The whole idea had degenerated into a series of third-rate clichés. I wanted to dress people in old clothes and do it in a totally unreal way, and thus make it more real than ever, and in the process send up this new civil service/academic way of doing films. See more »

Trivia:

Was dubbed "England's Orson Welles" early in his career. See more »

Trademark:

Frequent use of mountains See more »

Star Sign:

Cancer