Ken Russell
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- July 3, 1927
- Died
- November 27, 2011
- Birthplace
- Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
Henry Kenneth Alfred 'Ken' Russell (3 July 1927 – 27 November 2011) was an English film director. He is known for his pioneering work in television and film, and for his controversial style. He has been criticized as being over-obsessed with sexuality and the church. His subject matter is often about famous composers, or based on other works of art which he adapts loosely. Russell began directing for the BBC, where he did creative adaptations of composers' lives which were unusual for the time. He also directed many feature films independently and for studios. Among his best known works are the Oscar-winning romantic drama Women in Love (1969), the notoriously controversial psychological horror The Devils (1971), the rock musical Tommy (1975), and the science fiction film Altered States (1980). One noted admirer, British film critic Mark Kermode, attempting to sum up the director's achievement, called Russell; "somebody who proved that British cinema didn't have to be about kitchen-sink realism – it could be every bit as flamboyant as Fellini. He now makes very strange experimental films like Lion's Mouth and Revenge of the Elephant Man, and they are as edgy and out there as the work he made in the 1970s."
Filmography
- Mad Dad
Mad Dad TBA
as Self (archive footage)
PuzzleFace TBA
as god
Twiggy 2025
as (archival footage)
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story 2022
as Self (archive footage)
Kitsune 2016
Thanks
Director of Devils 2012
as Self
Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil 2012
as Self (archive footage)
- The Devils Original on-set footage
The Devils Original on-set footage 2012
Actor
Mr. Nice 2010
as Russell Miegs
- Boudica Bites Back
Boudica Bites Back 2009
as Roman Senator, Director, Screenplay
A Kitten for Hitler 2007
as Santa, Director, Writer
10 Best Elgar 2007
as Self (archive footage)
- Watch the Birdie
Watch the Birdie 2007
Director
The Real Blue Nuns 2006
as Self
Trapped Ashes 2006
as Dr. Lucy (segment "The Girl with Golden Breasts"), Director
Brothers of the Head 2006
as Himself
- Charlotte Brontë Enters the Big Brother House
Charlotte Brontë Enters the Big Brother House 2006
Producer, Director, Director of Photography, Writer, Choreographer
Colour Me Kubrick 2005
as The Man In Nightgown
- The Miners' Picnic by Ken Russell
The Miners' Picnic by Ken Russell 2005
Director
- Revenge of the Elephant Man
Revenge of the Elephant Man 2004
Actor, Producer, Director, Writer
100 Greatest Sexy Moments 2003
as Self
Celebrity Naked Ambition 2003
as Self - Contributor
Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devils 2002
as Self
Elgar: Fantasy on a Composer on a Bicycle 2002
as Narrator (voice), Director, Producer, Writer
The Fall of the Louse of Usher 2002
as Dr. Calahari, Director, Producer, Cinematography, Editor, Writer, Director of Photography
The Real Oliver Reed 2000
as Self
- Lion's Mouth
Lion's Mouth 2000
as Ken, Director, Screenplay
Dogboys 1998
Producer, Director
In Search of the English Folk Song 1997
as Self, Director, Writer
Mindbender 1996
Director, Writer
Tales of Erotica 1996
as Mr. Kirsch (segment 'The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch') (uncredited), Director, Writer
Treasure Island 1995
Director, Teleplay
- Empire of the Censors
Empire of the Censors 1995
as Self
Music for the Movies: Georges Delerue 1995
as Self
Alice in Russialand 1995
Actor, Director, Writer
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch 1995
as Mr. Kirsch, Director, Writer
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax 1992
as Sir Arnold Bax, Writer, Director
- The Mystery of Dr Martinu
The Mystery of Dr Martinu 1992
Writer, Director
Prisoner of Honor 1991
Director
Whore 1991
as Waiter (uncredited), Director, Screenplay, Camera Operator
- Road to Mandalay
Road to Mandalay 1991
as Self, Director, Writer
The Russia House 1990
as Walter
- The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner
The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner 1990
Director, Writer
Women and Men: Stories of Seduction 1990
Director
The Rainbow 1989
Screenplay, Director, Producer
A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible 1989
Actor, Director, Writer
Il Mefistofele 1989
Director
The Lair of the White Worm 1988
as Police Radio (voice) (uncredited), Director, Screenplay, Producer
Salome's Last Dance 1988
as Cappadocian, Director, Screenplay
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music 1988
as Himself, Writer, Director
Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russell 1987
Actor
Aria 1987
Director, Writer
Gothic 1987
as Tourist, Director
A Turnip Head's Guide To The British Cinema 1986
as Self
Faust 1985
Director
Crimes of Passion 1984
Director
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait 1984
as Self, Director, Producer, Writer
The Planets 1983
Director
Altered States 1980
Director
The Who: The Kids Are Alright 1979
as Self
Valentino 1977
as Rex Ingram (uncredited), Director, Screenplay
Lisztomania 1975
Director, Screenplay
Tommy 1975
as Cripple (uncredited), Director, Screenplay, Producer
Mahler 1974
Director, Writer
Savage Messiah 1972
as Passenger getting off train in station (uncredited), Director, Producer
The Boy Friend 1971
Director, Screenplay, Producer
The Devils 1971
Director, Screenplay, Producer
The Music Lovers 1971
Director, Producer
Dance of the Seven Veils 1970
Director, Writer
Women in Love 1969
Director
Song of Summer 1968
as Priest, Director, Writer
Dante's Inferno 1967
Director
Billion Dollar Brain 1967
Director
Don’t Shoot the Composer 1966
as Himself, Director, Producer
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World 1966
as Captain Patterson, Director, Writer
- Russell at Work
Russell at Work 1966
Actor
Always on Sunday 1965
Director, Scenario Writer, Producer
The Debussy Film 1965
Director, Scenario Writer
The Diary of a Nobody 1964
Director, Writer
Bela Bartók 1964
Director, Screenplay
French Dressing 1964
Director
Elgar 1962
Director, Writer
Mr Chesher’s Traction Engines 1962
Director
The Preservation Man 1962
Director
Pop Goes the Easel 1962
Director
The Lonely Shore 1962
Director
London Moods 1961
Director
- Old Battersea House
Old Battersea House 1961
Director
Walk With The Damned 1961
as Hood
Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weill 1961
Director
Prokofiev 1961
Director
Antonio Gaudí 1961
Director
The Light Fantastic 1960
Director
Shelagh Delaney's Salford 1960
Director
A House in Bayswater 1960
Director, Writer
A Bedlington Miners' Picnic 1960
Director
- Journey Into a Lost World
Journey Into a Lost World 1960
Director
Scottish Painters 1959
Director
Portrait of a Goon 1959
Director
From Spain to Streatham 1959
Director
Variations on a Mechanical Theme 1959
Director
Gordon Jacob 1959
Director
John Betjeman: A Poet in London 1959
Director
Amelia and the Angel 1958
Director, Story, Cinematography, Writer
- Lourdes
Lourdes 1958
Director
- Peepshow
Peepshow 1956
Director
- Knights on Bikes
Knights on Bikes 1956
Director
Credits from TMDB.