
Thomas A. Edison
- Known for
- Production
- Born
- February 11, 1847
- Died
- October 18, 1931
- Birthplace
- Milan, Ohio, USA
Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman who has been described as America's greatest inventor. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. These inventions, which include the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the long-lasting, practical electric light bulb, have had a widespread impact on the modern industrialized world. He was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of organized science and teamwork to the process of invention, working with many researchers and employees. He established the first industrial research laboratory. Edison was raised in the American Midwest; early in his career he worked as a telegraph operator, which inspired some of his earliest inventions. In 1876, he established his first laboratory facility in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where many of his early inventions were developed. He later established a botanic laboratory in Fort Myers, Florida in collaboration with businessmen Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, and a laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey that featured the world's first film studio, the Black Maria. He was a prolific inventor, holding 1,093 US patents in his name, as well as patents in other countries. Edison married twice and fathered six children. He died in 1931 of the complications of diabetes.
Filmography

EQUITY 6928 2026
as Self (Archive)

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound 2019
as Self (voice) (archive footage)

The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley 2019
as Self (archive footage)

Edison 2015
as Himself (archive footage)

The Extraordinary Voyage 2011
as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)

Murnau, Borzage and Fox 2008
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Edison: The Invention of the Movies 2005
as Himself (archive footage)

Naqoyqatsi 2002
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Star Power: The Creation Of United Artists 1998
as Self (archive footage)

The Shadow of Hate: A History of Intolerance in America 1995
as Self (archive footage)

The Crash of 1929 1990
as Self (archive footage)

Before the Nickelodeon: The Cinema of Edwin S. Porter 1982
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Wizard Who Spat on the Floor 1972
as Himself (Archival Footage)

Los ojos del siglo (Volumen I) 1957
as Él mismo (material de archivo)

The Golden Twenties 1950
as Self (archive footage)

Okay for Sound 1946
Actor

The Film That Was Lost 1942
as Self (archive footage)

Guests at the Presentation of Kodacolor at the Home of Mr. George Eastman, Rochester, N.Y. 1928
Actor

A Day with Thomas A. Edison 1922
as Self

Censorship and Its Absurdities 1915
Producer

The Patchwork Girl of Oz 1914
Producer
- Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie 1914
Producer
- The Old Violin
The Old Violin 1914
Producer
- The Birth of the Telephone
The Birth of the Telephone 1914
Producer

Nursery Favorites 1913
Producer

The Politician 1913
Producer

The Deaf Mute 1913
Producer

The Old Guard 1913
Producer
- A Minstrel Show
A Minstrel Show 1913
Producer
- Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar 1913
Producer

Jack's Joke 1913
Producer

The Musical Blacksmiths 1913
Producer

The Edison Kinetophone 1913
Producer

The Five Bachelors 1913
Producer
- Votes for Women
Votes for Women 1913
Producer
- The Irish Policeman
The Irish Policeman 1913
Producer
- Her Redemption
Her Redemption 1913
Producer
- The Spanish Cavalier
The Spanish Cavalier 1912
Producer
- Lucia di Lammermoor
Lucia di Lammermoor 1911
Producer

Frankenstein 1910
Producer

Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) 1909
Producer

Meeting of the Motion Pictures Patents Company 1909
as Himself, Producer
- Parsifal
Parsifal 1904
Producer
- Canoeing on the Charles River, Boston, Mass.
Canoeing on the Charles River, Boston, Mass. 1904
Producer
- Inter-Collegiate Athletic Association Championships
Inter-Collegiate Athletic Association Championships 1904
Producer

Chicago-Michigan Football Game 1903
Producer

A Jewish Dance at Jerusalem 1903
Producer

Skyscrapers of New York City, from the North River 1903
Producer

Electrocuting an Elephant 1903
Producer

Skiing Scene in Quebec 1902
Producer
- Cutting and Canaling Ice
Cutting and Canaling Ice 1902
Executive Producer

Arrival of the Governor General, Lord Minto, at Quebec 1902
Producer

Pan-American Exposition by Night 1901
Producer

President McKinley Taking the Oath 1901
Producer

2nd Special Service Battalion, Canadian Infantry, Parade and Embarkation 1899
Producer

New York Police Parade, June 1st, 1899 1899
Producer

Bicycle Trick Riding, No. 2 1899
Producer

General Lee's Procession, Havana 1899
Producer

Parade of Marines, U.S. Cruiser, 'Brooklyn' 1898
Producer
- Little Mischief
Little Mischief 1898
Executive Producer

The Passion Play of Oberammergau 1898
Producer
- Alciede Capitane
Alciede Capitane 1898
Producer

Launch of Surf Boat 1897
Producer
- Rescue - Resuscitation
Rescue - Resuscitation 1897
Producer

Launch of Life Boat 1897
Producer

Capsize of Lifeboat 1897
Producer

Admiral Cigarette 1897
Producer

Mr. Edison at Work in His Chemical Laboratory 1897
Actor
- Pillow Fight
Pillow Fight 1897
Executive Producer, Producer

Serpentine Dance - Annabelle 1897
Producer
- American Falls, from Incline R.R.
American Falls, from Incline R.R. 1896
Producer

American Falls from Above, American Side 1896
Executive Producer

Cock Fight 1896
Producer
- Starting for the Fire
Starting for the Fire 1896
Producer
- East Side Drive, No. 1
East Side Drive, No. 1 1896
Executive Producer

Fatima's Coochee-Coochee Dance 1896
Producer

The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots 1895
Producer

Indian War Council 1894
Producer

Corbett and Courtney Before the Kinetograph 1894
Producer

Imperial Japanese Dance 1894
Producer

Annie Oakley 1894
Producer

Sioux Ghost Dance 1894
Producer

Dickson Experimental Sound Film 1894
Executive Producer

Blacksmith Scene 1893
Producer
- Early Edison Camera Tests
Early Edison Camera Tests 1891
Producer
Credits from TMDB.