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Fats Waller (1904–1943)

Soundtrack | Actor | Music Department

Thomas Waller was born in 1904. He was one of the most important pianist in the history of jazz. He studied piano with James P. Johnson, one of the masters of the stride piano in the 1920s. Fats began recording his first piano solos in 1923. He worked in the revue "Hot Chocolates" in the late 1920s as a composer... See full bio »

Born:

Thomas Wright Waller
in New York City, New York, USA

Died:

(age 39) in Kansas City, Missouri, USA
28 news articles »

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Filmography

Hide HideSoundtrack (98 titles)
2012 Beasts of the Southern Wild (performer: "It Will Have To Do Until the Real Thing Comes Along")
 
2009 He's Just Not That Into You (writer: "The Jitterbug Waltz" / as Thomas "Fats" Waller)
 
2009 An Evening with Eartha Kitt (TV documentary) (music: "Ain't Misbehavin'")
 
2008 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (writer: "AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'" / as Thomas 'Fats' Waller)
 
2008 Trying to Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon (documentary) (music: "The Joint Is Jumpin'" / lyrics: "The Joint Is Jumpin'")
 
2008 Sita Sings the Blues ("I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling" / as Thomas Waller)
 
2008 Be Kind Rewind (writer: "Ain't Misbehavin'" / as Thomas 'Fats' Waller / performer: "I Ain't Got Nobody", "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", "Your Feets Too Big")
 
2007 Sarah Vaughan: Live in '58 & '64 (video) (music: "Honeysuckle Rose" - uncredited)
 
2007 Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Movie (TV movie) (writer: "Intermission Music" - uncredited)
 
2007 Surf's Up (writer: "Honeysuckle Rose" / as Thomas "Fats" Waller)
 
2007 King of California (performer: "Let's Pretend There's A Moon")
 
2006 All the King's Men (writer: "If It Ain't Love" / as Thomas Waller)
 
2006 Shortbus (performer: "I Can't Give You Anything But Love")
 
2005 The White Countess (music: "That Rhythm Man" 1929 / as Thomas Waller)
 
2005 The Notorious Bettie Page (performer: " Do You Intend to Put an End to A Sweet Beginning Like This")
 
2005 The Perfect Man (writer: "Honeysuckle Rose" / as Thomas "Fats" Waller)
 
2005 Springet (writer: "Ain't Misbehavin'")
 
2004 The Aviator (music: "Ain't Cha Glad" 1933 / as Thomas Waller)
 
2004 Around the Bend (writer: "Hi Ho Silver")
 
1985-2004 Great Performances (TV series)
– Broadway's Lost Treasures II (2004) ("The Ladies Who Sing With the Band")
– The Best of Broadway (1985) (writer: "Cash For Your Trash")
 
2003 The Human Stain (music: "Honeysuckle Rose" 1929 / as Thomas 'Fats' Waller)
 
2003 Anything Else (writer: "Honeysuckle Rose")
 
2003 The Honeymooners (writer: "London Suite - Limehouse", "Your Feets Too Big" / performer: "London Suite - Limehouse", "Your Feets Too Big")
 
2002 Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven (Video Game) (writer: "Honeysuckle Rose")
 
2002 Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (music: "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" 1932 / as Thomas "Fats" Waller)
 
2002 Livshunger (TV series)
– Episode #1.4 (2002) (music: "AIN'T MISBEHAVIN" / as Thomas Fats Waller)
 
2001 Kate & Leopold (writer: "Honeysuckle Rose" / as Thomas Waller)
 
2001 The Cat's Meow (writer: "Wild Cat Blues" 1923 / as Thomas "Fats" Waller)
 
2001 Town & Country (music: "Ain't Misbehavin'" 1929 / as Thomas 'Fats' Waller)
 
2000 The Legend of Bagger Vance (performer: "My Best Wishes")
 
2000 My Dog Skip (writer: "Old Yazoo")
 
1999 The Story of Us (writer: "Keepin' Out Of Mishchief Now" / as Thomas 'Fats' Waller)
 
1999 Snow Falling on Cedars (performer: "I Used to Love You But It's All Over Now")
 
1999 The Cider House Rules (writer: "Alligator Crawl" / as Thomas 'Fats' Waller)
 
1999 Office Space (writer: "All That Meat and No Potatoes" 1941 / as Thomas 'Fats' Waller)
 
1998 Dancing at Lughnasa (writer: "I'm More Than Satisfied" 1927)
 
1989-1997 American Masters (TV series documentary)
– Vaudeville (1997) (writer: "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling" - uncredited / as Thomas Waller)
– Satchmo: The Life of Louis Armstrong (1989) (writer: "Black and Blue", "Ain't Misbehavin'" / music: "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now", "Blue Turning Grey Over You")
 
1997 Lolita (performer: "You're My Dish")
 
1995 Cold Comfort Farm (TV movie) (writer: "I'm More Than Satisfied" / as Waller)
 
1994 Bullets Over Broadway ("That Jungle Jamboree" / as Thomas 'Fats' Waller)
 
1994 Ain't Misbehavin (TV series)
 
1994 Cari fottutissimi amici (writer: "NUMB FUMBLIN" / performer: "NUMB FUMBLIN")
 
1992 Ciao, Professore! ("Ain't Misbehavin" / as Waller)
 
1992 American Heart (writer: "I'm Crazy 'bout My Baby" / as Waller)
 
1992 Mr. Saturday Night (writer: "Ain't Misbehavin'" / as Thomas 'Fats' Waller)
 
1991 Curly Sue (writer: "Yacht Club Swing" / as Thomas 'Fats' Waller)
 
1991 The Marrying Man (writer: "HONEYSUCKLE ROSE" / as Thomas Waller)
 
1991 Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection (video) (performer: "Your Feet's Too Big")
 
1990 The Russia House (writer: "Ain't Misbehavin'" / as Thomas "Fats" Waller)
 
1989 In Country (writer: "Ain't Misbehavin'")
 
1988 Mr. Fixit (short) (writer: "The Jitterbug Waltz")
 
1987 Designing Women (TV series)
– 101 Ways to Decorate a Gas Station (1987) ("Ain't Misbehavin'")
 
1986 Soul Man (" What Did I Do to Be So Black and Blue" / as Thomas Waller)
 
1983 Zelig (music: "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling" 1929 / as Thomas 'Fats' Waller)
 
1983 Your Feet's Too Big (short) (performer: "Your Feet's Too Big")
 
1983 Good-bye Cruel World (music: "Ain't Misbehavin' I'm Savin' My Love for You" / as Thomas Waller)
 
1980 Rough Cut (writer: "Ain't Misbehavin'" - uncredited)
 
1976-1978 The Muppet Show (TV series)
– Harry Belafonte (1978) (music: "Honeysuckle Rose" - uncredited)
– Connie Stevens (1976) (writer: "Ain't Misbehavin'")
 
1978 Interiors (writer: "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" 1932)
 
1978 The Cheap Detective (music: "Ain't Misbehavin'")
 
1977 New York, New York (music: "Honeysuckle Rose" - uncredited)
 
1975 Lucky Lady (music: "Ain't Misbehavin'")
 
1974 That's Entertainment! (documentary) (music: "Honeysuckle Rose" 1929 - uncredited)
 
1973 An Evening with Marlene Dietrich (documentary) (music: "Honeysuckle Rose")
 
1961 Peter Gunn (TV series)
– The Most Deadly Angel (1961) (writer: "Honeysuckle Rose")
 
1956 Cool and Groovy (short) (music: "Honeysuckle Rose")
 
1956 The Jimmy Durante Show (TV series)
– Episode #2.23 (1956) (music: "Ain't Misbehavin'")
 
1955 The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (TV series)
– The Musical Version (1955) (music: "Ain't Misbehavin'" - uncredited)
 
1955 Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (writer: "Ain't Misbehavin'")
 
1955 Ain't Misbehavin' (music: "AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'")
 
1955 To Paris with Love (music: "Honeysuckle Rose" - uncredited)
 
1952 Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder (music: "Ain't Misbehavin")
 
1949 Community Sing 1655: June in January (short) (music: "Ain't Misbehavin'" / as Thomas Waller)
 
1948 A Song Is Born (music: "Stealin' Apples" 1936 - uncredited)
 
1948 You Were Meant for Me (music: "Ain't Misbehavin'" - uncredited)
 
1948 Killer Diller (music: "Ain't Misbehavin'")
 
1946 The Show-Off (writer: "Honeysuckle Rose")
 
1944 Atlantic City (writer: "AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'")
 
1943 Thousands Cheer (music: "Honeysuckle Rose" - uncredited)
 
1943 Stormy Weather (music: "Ain't Misbehavin'" 1929 - uncredited, "Moppin' and Boppin'" 1935 - uncredited / performer: "That Ain't Right" 1941 - uncredited, "Ain't Misbehavin'" 1929 - uncredited)
 
1943 Follow the Band (music: "Ain't Misbehavin'" - uncredited)
 
1943 Harry Parry and His Radio Rhythm Club Septet (short) (writer: "Honeysuckle Rose")
 
1941 Ain't Misbehavin' (short) (music: "Ain't Misbehavin'" / performer: "Ain't Misbehavin'")
 
1941 Your Feet's Too Big (short) (performer: "Your Feet's Too Big")
 
1941 The Joint Is Jumpin' (short) (writer: "The Joint Is Jumpin'" / as Thomas Waller / performer: "The Joint Is Jumpin'")
 
1941 Honeysuckle Rose (short) (music: "Honeysuckle Rose" / performer: "Honeysuckle Rose")
 
1940 Tin Pan Alley (music: "Honeysuckle Rose" 1929 / as Thomas Waller)
 
1936 King of Burlesque ("Too Good to Be True" 1935)
 
1935 Hooray for Love (performer: "I'm Livin' in a Great Big Way" 1935 - uncredited)
 
1933 Smash Your Baggage (short) (music: "Concentratin' on You" - uncredited)
 
1931 Angel Cake (short) (writer: "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling" - uncredited / as Thomas Waller)
 
1931 Sky High (short) (music: "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling" - uncredited)
 
1930 Elstree Calling (writer: "Ain't Misbehavin'")
 
1929 The Plasterers (short) (music: "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling")
 
1929 The Locked Door (writer: "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling" - uncredited)
 
1929 Applause (music: "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling")
 
1928 Walt Roesner and the Capitolians (short) (music: "I'm More Than Satisfied" - uncredited)
 
1928 Songs: I Wonder and I'm More Than Satisfied (short) (writer: "I'm More Than Satisfied" / as Thomas Waller)
 
Show ShowActor (3 titles)
1991 Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection (video)
 
1943 Stormy Weather
'Fats' Waller
 
1936 King of Burlesque
Ben
 
Show ShowMusic Department (1 title)
1970 Pausenkatzen (short) (music supervisor)
 
Show ShowComposer (1 title)
1957 Holiday (documentary short)
 
Show ShowSelf (6 titles)
1945 Ain't Misbehavin' (short)
Himself
 
1941 Ain't Misbehavin' (short)
Himself
 
1941 Your Feet's Too Big (short)
Himself
 
1941 Honeysuckle Rose (short)
Himself
 
1941 The Joint Is Jumpin' (short)
Himself/Singer/Piano
 
1935 Hooray for Love
Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (8 titles)
2006 How Music Works (TV series documentary)
 
2004 Harlem Renaissance (video documentary)
Himself
 
2003 Great Performances (TV series)
 
2002 It's Black Entertainment (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
2001 Jungle Jazz: Public Enemy #1 (documentary short)
Fats Waller
 
2001 Blues Odyssey (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1974 Ain't Misbehavin'
Himself
 
1944 Take It or Leave It
Herself: Clip from 'King of Burlesque' (uncredited)
 
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Personal Details

Other Works:

(October 1988) His musical, "Ain't Misbehavin," was performed at the Ambassador Theatre on Broadway in New York City with Nell Carter, Andrew De Shields, Armelia McQueen, Ken Page, and Charlaine Woodard in the cast. Richard Maltby Jr. Was director. See more »

Publicity Listings:

2 Print Biographies  | See more »

Height:

6' (1.83 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

One never knows, do one? See more »

Trivia:

Before his solo career, he played with many performers, from Erskine Tate to Bessie Smith. See more »

Star Sign:

Gemini