The brief life of Jean Michel Basquiat, a world renowned New York street artist struggling with fame, drugs and his identity.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 2 wins & 3 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Jeffrey Wright | ... |
Jean Michel Basquiat
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| Michael Wincott | ... |
Rene Ricard
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| Benicio Del Toro | ... |
Benny Dalmau
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| Claire Forlani | ... |
Gina Cardinale
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| David Bowie | ... |
Andy Warhol
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| Dennis Hopper | ... |
Bruno Bischofberger
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| Gary Oldman | ... |
Albert Milo
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| Christopher Walken | ... |
The Interviewer
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| Willem Dafoe | ... |
The Electrician
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Jean-Claude La Marre | ... |
Shenge
(as Jean Claude LaMarre)
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| Parker Posey | ... |
Mary Boone
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| Elina Löwensohn | ... |
Annina Nosei
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| Paul Bartel | ... |
Henry Geldzahler
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| Courtney Love | ... |
Big Pink
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| Tatum O'Neal | ... |
Cynthia Kruger
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Chuck Pfeiffer | ... |
Tom Kruger
(as Chuck Pfeifer)
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| Rockets Redglare | ... |
Rockets
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Esther G. Schnabel | ... |
Esther Milo
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Jack Schnabel | ... |
Jack Milo
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Lola Schnabel | ... |
Jacqueline Milo
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Peter McGough | ... |
Peter McGough
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| David McDermott | ... |
David McDermott
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| Michael Chow | ... |
Mr. Chow
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Stella Schnabel | ... |
Stella
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| Steven Randazzo | ... |
Maitre' d at Ballato's
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| Michael Badalucco | ... |
Counterman at Deli
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| Francis Dumaurier | ... |
Giorgio
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| Joseph R. Gannascoli | ... |
Guard at Hospital
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| Hope Clarke | ... |
Matilde
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Brian Wright | ... |
Young Jean Michel
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Tarmo Urb | ... |
Lech
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| Denise Burse | ... |
Mary on TV
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| Robert Alexander | ... |
Band Guy
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| Vincent Laresca | ... |
Vincent
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| Nemo | ... |
Nemo
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| Leonard Jackson | ... |
Jean Michel's Father
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Dave Shelley | ... |
Photographer
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| Frederick Weller | ... |
Frank
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| Rene Raymond Rivera | ... |
Juan
(as a different name)
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| Sam Rockwell | ... |
Thug
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| Ron Brice | ... |
Thug
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| William Seymour | ... |
Mr. Chow's Maitre' d
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Richard E. Butler | ... |
Medieval Villager
(as Richard Butler)
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Joe Glasco | ... |
Medieval Villager
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Steven Parenago | ... |
Medieval Villager
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Vladamir Parenago | ... |
Medieval Villager
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José Luis Ferrer | ... |
Medieval Villager
(as Jose Luis Ferrer)
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Irene Kiss | ... |
Medieval Villager
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Richard the Ox | ... |
Medieval Villager
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Julie Araskog | ... |
Julie (uncredited)
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| Brian Donahue | ... |
Bigot at Barbetta (uncredited)
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| Vincent Gallo | ... |
Party Guest Vincent Gallo (uncredited)
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| Melody Krell | ... |
Waitress (uncredited)
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| Linda Larkin | ... |
Fan (uncredited)
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| Olatz López Garmendia | ... |
Christine (uncredited)
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| Jennifer Miro | ... |
Soho Art Gallery Guest (uncredited)
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Frank Mullaney | ... |
Videographer (uncredited)
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Paul Outlaw | ... |
Paul (uncredited)
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| John Romano | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Paul Sampson | ... |
Young Joe Dallesandro (uncredited)
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David Shiffman | ... |
Henry's date (uncredited)
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| Tom Urb | ... |
Chef at Leshko's Restaurant (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Julian Schnabel | ||
Written by
| Lech Majewski | ... | (story) |
| John F. Bowe | ... | (short story) |
| Julian Schnabel | ... | (written by) |
| Michael Holman | ... | (story development) |
Produced by
| Joseph Allen | ... | executive producer |
| Peter Brant | ... | executive producer |
| Jon Kilik | ... | producer |
| Lech Majewski | ... | co-producer (as Lech J. Majewski) |
| Randy Ostrow | ... | producer |
| Sigurjon Sighvatsson | ... | producer |
| Michiyo Yoshizaki | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| John Cale | ||
| Julian Schnabel | ||
Cinematography by
| Ron Fortunato | ||
Editing by
| Michael Berenbaum | ||
Editorial Department
| Nick Dibeneditto | ... | negative cutter: N & D Film & Video (as Nick DiBeneditto) |
| Earl Dittebrandt | ... | first assistant editor |
| Vida Fitzgerald | ... | apprentice editor |
| Jay Kessel | ... | additional assistant editor |
| Nancy Novack | ... | additional assistant editor |
| John J. Richardson III | ... | apprentice editor |
| Tom Salvatore | ... | color timer |
| Seth I. Shire | ... | assistant post-production supervisor (as Seth Shire) |
| John Dowdell | ... | hd colorist (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Sheila Jaffe | ||
| Georgianne Walken | ||
Production Design by
| Dan Leigh | ||
Art Direction by
| C.J. Simpson | ||
Set Decoration by
| Susan Bode | ||
Costume Design by
| John Dunn | ||
Makeup Department
| Jennifer Aspinall | ... | key makeup artist |
| Mary A. D'Angelo | ... | additional hair stylist (as Mary D'Angelo) |
| Wayne Herndon | ... | key hair stylist |
| Nina Port | ... | additional makeup artist |
| Yuseff | ... | hair consultant |
| Linda Grimes | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Adam Brightman | ... | unit production manager |
| Michael Jackman | ... | post-production supervisor (as Michael A. Jackman) |
| Desirée Jellerette | ... | post-production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Michael Holman | ... | second unit director |
| Lisa Janowski | ... | second assistant director |
| Jonathan Starch | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Nelson Belen | ... | art production assistant |
| Doug Bleier | ... | carpenter |
| Greg Bogin | ... | fine art coordinator |
| Glen Bowen | ... | third construction grip (as Glenn Bowen) |
| Marshall Carbee | ... | scenic |
| Rossana Fiore | ... | on-set scenic |
| Christine Frankeberger | ... | additional set decorator (as Chris Frankenberger) |
| Gary Grill | ... | construction foreman |
| Joanna Hartell | ... | shop manager |
| Eryka Seimona Henderson | ... | art department coordinator |
| Eugene J. Hines | ... | carpenter (as Eugene Hines) |
| Helen Imatome | ... | art department intern |
| Dominique Joseph | ... | art department intern |
| Nancy Karp | ... | art department intern |
| Ruth Katz | ... | lead set dresser |
| Tyler Kim | ... | property master (as Tyler H. Kim) |
| Gordon Krause | ... | shop foreman |
| Victor Littlejohn | ... | set dresser |
| Brick Mason | ... | storyboard artist |
| Lou Miller | ... | carpenter |
| Nick Miller | ... | construction coordinator |
| Cho Moon | ... | art department intern (as Moon Cho) |
| Christine Moosher | ... | assistant property master |
| Jimmy Mulligan | ... | art department intern |
| Rex North | ... | second construction grip |
| Sean O'Brien | ... | key construction grip (as Sean O'Brian) |
| Gregg Pallini | ... | art department intern |
| Willie Roache | ... | set dresser (as Willie Vee Roache) |
| Eric Stepper | ... | property master |
| Michael Stockton | ... | scenic charge (as Michael Wright Stockton) |
| Anne Wenniger | ... | assistant property master |
Sound Department
| Ed Barteski | ... | assistant sound editor (as Ed Barteski Jr.) |
| Louis Bertini | ... | dialogue editor |
| David Boulton | ... | adr engineer (as David Bolton) |
| Allan Byer | ... | sound mixer |
| Bradford L. Hohle | ... | stereo sound consultant: Dolby |
| George A. Lara | ... | foley recordist |
| Linda Murphy | ... | boom operator |
| Tom Nelson | ... | additional sound mixer |
| Bitty O'Sullivan-Smith | ... | dialogue editor |
| John Poyner | ... | adr editor: UK |
| Ira Spiegel | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Dominick Tavella | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Brian Vancho | ... | foley artist |
| Randell Vandegrift | ... | adr editor: Los Angeles (as Randy Vandergrift) |
| Peter Waggoner | ... | adr engineer |
| John Wall | ... | sound recording engineer |
| Tim J. Carroll | ... | stereo sound consultant: Dolby (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Randall Balsmeyer | ... | visual effects supervisor (as Randy Balsmeyer) |
| Janos Pilenyi | ... | titles and optical effects (as Janos O. Pilenyi) |
Stunts
| Jeff Ward | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Richard E. Butler | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Myles Aronowitz | ... | still photographer |
| Beverly Cable | ... | generator operator (as Beverly Jones) |
| Andrew Casey | ... | camera operator (as Andrew W. Casey) / steadicam operator (as Andrew W. Casey) |
| John Ford | ... | grip |
| Thomas Ford | ... | best boy electric (as Tom Ford) |
| Joseph E. Gallagher | ... | first assistant camera |
| Haddon Hufford | ... | dolly grip |
| Robert Ippolito | ... | best boy grip (as Robert J. Ippolito) |
| Lindsay Jamieson | ... | second assistant camera (as E. Lindsay Jamieson) |
| Eric M. Klein | ... | grip (as Eric Klein) |
| Eric Liebowitz | ... | still photographer (as Eric S. Liebowitz) |
| Dave Lowry | ... | key grip (as David Lowry) |
| Gerry Lowry | ... | rigging grip (as Jerry Lowry) |
| Robert Merk | ... | third electrician (as Rob Merk) |
| John Mitchell | ... | fourth electrician |
| Trip Morey III | ... | camera production assistant (as Trip Morey) |
| Joseph Sciretta | ... | electrician |
| Robert Sciretta | ... | gaffer |
| Prashant Gupta | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Byron Crystal | ... | extras casting |
| Karen E. Etcoff | ... | extras casting |
| David H. Kramer | ... | adr voice casting (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Mark Burchard | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Anne Disano | ... | assistant to costume designer |
| Anne Gorman | ... | wardrobe |
| Barrett Hong | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Laura Solin-Valdina | ... | costumer (as Laura R. Solin) |
Location Management
| Shannon Causey | ... | location assistant (as Shannon Bowen) |
| Lys Hopper | ... | location manager |
| Lauren Klain | ... | location intern |
| Isabelle Kostic Crosley | ... | location scout |
| Nectarios Leonidas | ... | location intern |
| Terry 't-bone' Rhodes | ... | assistant location manager (as Terry Rhodes) |
| Adrian Sas | ... | location intern |
| Greg Schnabel | ... | location coordinator |
| Christopher Tarantino | ... | location intern (as Chris Tarantino) |
Music Department
| Susan Jacobs | ... | music supervisor |
| Michael Lang | ... | music consultant |
| Bill Laswell | ... | composer: additional music |
| Jim Leavitt | ... | music researcher |
| Martha Mooke | ... | musician |
| Patrick Mullins | ... | music editor |
| Dave Soldier | ... | music arranger (as David Soldier) |
| Paul Boschi | ... | soundtrack coordinator (uncredited) |
| Brian Eno | ... | soundtrack album producer (uncredited) |
| Joe Strummer | ... | soundtrack producer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Mary Gambardella | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| John Buchman | ... | driver (as John Buckman) |
| Jim Clark | ... | driver |
| Richard Hubca | ... | driver |
| Paul Kane | ... | driver |
| John Miale | ... | driver (as John J. Miale) |
| Jimmy Nugent | ... | transportation captain (as Jim Nugent) |
| Charles White | ... | driver |
| Erik W. Wickstrom | ... | driver |
Additional Crew
| Ernest Arbucci | ... | production intern |
| Adrienne Asterita | ... | production intern |
| Timothy Aten | ... | production intern (as Tim Aten) |
| Sirad Balducci | ... | production coordinator |
| Teresa Bianchi | ... | production intern |
| Dan Bollinger | ... | assistant post-production accountant |
| Maximillian Chow | ... | production intern |
| Lisa Cofini | ... | post-production accountant |
| Cydney Cort | ... | assistant: Mr. Schnabel |
| Joe Dapello | ... | legal services: Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein & Selz (as Joseph Dapello esq.) |
| Valerie Darmour | ... | production intern |
| Robert Garlock | ... | publicist: PMK Public Relations |
| Hal Gross | ... | assistant auditor |
| Judy Janelli | ... | craft service |
| Zoe Kohlmayer | ... | production intern |
| Dylan Korelich | ... | set production assistant |
| Susan Labunski | ... | key set production assistant |
| Jane Marshall | ... | script review: Marshall/Plumb Research |
| Dean McCann | ... | set production assistant |
| Ross Miller | ... | insurance carrier: Disc Insurance |
| Kay O'Connell | ... | accounting production assistant |
| Linda Perkins | ... | set production assistant |
| Jeremy D. Pratt | ... | set production assistant (as Jeremy Pratt) |
| Sacha Quarles | ... | office production assistant |
| Dawn Murphy Riley | ... | production coordinator |
| Allison Russo | ... | set production assistant (as Alison Russo) |
| Amy Shultz | ... | insurance carrier: Disc Insurance |
| Lois Smith | ... | publicist: PMK Public Relations |
| Peter Soldinger | ... | production intern |
| Elizabeth Zagrany | ... | auditor (as Beth Zagrany) |
| Miles Ferguson | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Amy Israel | ... | studio executive (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Joe Glasco | ... | dedicatee |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Miramax (1996) (United States) (theatrical)
- Guild Pathe Cinema (1996) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Kinowelt Filmverleih (1996) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Video Medien Pool (VMP) (1996) (Germany) (VHS)
- Ace Pictures (1997) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Becker Entertainment (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Pyramide Distribution (1997) (France) (theatrical)
- RCV Film Distribution (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Scandinavian Entertainment Group (1997) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Triangelfilm (1997) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- RCV Film Distribution (1997) (Netherlands) (video)
- Gativideo (1998) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Arthaus (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
- New Films International
- PlayArte Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
- RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
- Sandrews Video (1998) (Sweden) (VHS)
- The Criterion Channel (2023) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Basquiat tells the story of the meteoric rise of youthful artist Jean Michel Basquiat. Starting out as a street artist, living in Thompkins Square Park in a cardboard box, Basquiat becomes a star and a part of Andy Warhol's art world circle. But success has a price, and Basquiat pays with friendships, love, and eventually, his life.
Written by Martin Lewison |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | In 1981, A Nineteen-Year-Old Unknown Graffiti Writer Took The New York Art World By Storm. The Rest Is Art History. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $3,300,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $83,863, 11 Aug 1996 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat refused to allow his works to be used, so the director, Julian Schnabel, personally painted the reproductions which are used throughout the film. See more » |
| Goofs | As Basquiat walks with Gina for the first time, a woman is seen behind them walking a dog on a retractable leash. Retractable leashes were not available in 1981. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Jack/Aladdin and the King of Thieves/Escape from L.A./Basquiat/The Pompatus of Love (1996). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Fairytale of New York See more » |
| Crazy Credits | At the very end of the credits, a short clip showing a surfer riding on a wave is displayed. It's very similar to the surfing/wave shots that Basquiat keeps seeing whenever he looks up to the sky during the movie, but it's in full color instead of being blue-tinted. See more » |
| Quotes |
Rene:
What is it about art anyway that we give it so much importance? Artists are respected by the poor because what they do is an honest way to get out of the slum using one's sheer self as the medium. The money earned, proof, pure and simple, of the value of that individual, the artist. The picture a mother's son does in jail hangs on her wall as proof that beauty is possible even in the most wretched. And this is a much different idea than fancier notion that art is a scam and a ripoff. But you can never explain to someone who uses God's gift to enslave, that you have used God's gift to be free. See more » |