Ken Russell
Personal Info
Known for
Directing
Gender
Male
Birthday
1927-07-03
Day of Death
2011-11-27 (84 years old)
Place of Birth
Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
Ken Russell
Biography
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.
He is best known for his Oscar-winning romantic drama Women in Love (1969), the notoriously controversial 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."
Acting
PuzzleFace
as god
(2025)
Twiggy
as (archival footage)
(2022)
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story
as Self (archive footage)
(2012)
Director of Devils
as Self
(2012)
Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil
as Self (archive footage)
(2012)
(2010)
Mr. Nice
as Russell Miegs
(2010)
(2009)
Boudica Bites Back
as Roman Senator
(2007)
A Kitten for Hitler
as Santa
(2007)
10 Best Elgar
as Self (archive footage)
(2006)
The Real Blue Nuns
as Self
(2006)
Trapped Ashes
as Dr. Lucy (segment "The Girl with Golden Breasts")
(2006)
Brothers of the Head
as Himself
(2005)
Colour Me Kubrick
as The Man In Nightgown
(2004)
(2002)
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
as Dr. Calahari
(2002)
(2002)
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle
as Narrator (voice)
(2000)
The Real Oliver Reed
as Self
(2000)
Lion's Mouth
as Ken
(1997)
(1996)
(1996)
Vem Var Dracula
as Self
(1995)
(1995)
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch
as Mr. Kirsch
(1995)
Empire of the Censors
as Self
(1995)
(1992)
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax
as Sir Arnold Bax
(1991)
Whore
as Waiter (uncredited)
(1990)
The Russia House
as Walter
(1989)
(1988)
Salome's Last Dance
as Cappadocian
(1988)
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music
as Himself
(1988)
The Lair of the White Worm
as Police Radio (voice) (uncredited)
(1987)
Gothic
as Tourist
(1987)
(1986)
(1983)
(1979)
(1977)
Valentino
as Rex Ingram (uncredited)
(1975)
Tommy
as Cripple (uncredited)
(1972)
Savage Messiah
as Passenger getting off train in station (uncredited)
(1968)
Song of Summer
as Priest
(1966)
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
as Captain Patterson
(1966)
Don’t Shoot the Composer
as Himself
(1966)
(1961)
Walk With The Damned
as Hood
Crew
(2016)
Kitsune
Thanks
(2009)
Boudica Bites Back
Director, Screenplay
(2007)
A Kitten for Hitler
Writer, Director
(2007)
Watch the Birdie
Director
(2006)
Trapped Ashes
Director
(2006)
Charlotte Brontë Enters the Big Brother House
Choreographer, Producer, Writer, Director of Photography, Director
(2005)
(2004)
Revenge of the Elephant Man
Writer, Director, Producer
(2002)
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
Director, Editor, Writer, Producer, Cinematography
(2002)
Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle
Director, Producer, Writer
(2000)
Lion's Mouth
Director, Screenplay
(1998)
Dogboys
Director, Producer
(1997)
Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Song
Director, Writer
(1996)
Tales of Erotica
Director
(1996)
Mindbender
Writer, Director
(1995)
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch
Director, Writer
(1995)
Alice in Russialand
Director
(1995)
Treasure Island
Director, Teleplay
(1993)
The Mystery of Dr Martinu
Writer, Director
(1992)
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax
Writer, Director
(1991)
Whore
Director, Screenplay, Camera Operator
(1991)
Prisoner of Honor
Director
(1990)
The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner
Director, Writer
(1990)
(1989)
The Rainbow
Screenplay, Director, Producer
(1989)
A British Picture
Director, Writer
(1989)
(1989)
Il Mefistofele
Director
(1988)
The Lair of the White Worm
Producer, Director, Screenplay
(1988)
Salome's Last Dance
Director, Screenplay
(1988)
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music
Writer, Director
(1987)
Gothic
Director
(1987)
Aria
Writer, Director
(1985)
Faust
Director
(1984)
Crimes of Passion
Director
(1983)
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait
Director, Producer, Writer
(1983)
The Planets
Director
(1980)
Altered States
Director
(1977)
Valentino
Director, Screenplay
(1975)
Tommy
Director, Screenplay, Producer
(1975)
Lisztomania
Director, Screenplay
(1974)
Mahler
Director, Writer
(1972)
Savage Messiah
Director, Producer
(1971)
The Devils
Director, Screenplay, Producer
(1971)
The Boy Friend
Director, Screenplay, Producer
(1971)
The Music Lovers
Director, Producer
(1970)
Dance of the Seven Veils
Director, Writer
(1969)
Women in Love
Director
(1968)
Song of Summer
Director, Writer
(1967)
Billion Dollar Brain
Director
(1967)
Dante's Inferno
Director
(1966)
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Director, Writer
(1966)
Don’t Shoot the Composer
Director, Producer
(1965)
The Debussy Film
Scenario Writer, Director
(1965)
Always on Sunday
Director, Scenario Writer, Producer
(1964)
French Dressing
Director
(1964)
The Diary of a Nobody
Director, Writer
(1964)
Bela Bartók
Director, Screenplay
(1962)
Elgar: Portrait of a Composer
Director, Writer
(1962)
Pop Goes the Easel
Director
(1962)
The Preservation Man
Director
(1962)
The Lonely Shore
Director
(1962)
Mr Chesher’s Traction Engines
Director
(1961)
London Moods
Director
(1961)
Antonio Gaudí
Director
(1961)
Old Battersea House
Director
(1961)
Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weill
Director
(1961)
Prokofiev
Director
(1960)
A House in Bayswater
Director, Writer
(1960)
The Light Fantastic
Director
(1960)
Shelagh Delaney's Salford
Director
(1960)
Journey Into a Lost World
Director
(1960)
A Bedlington Miners' Picnic
Director
(1959)
From Spain to Streatham
Director
(1959)
Gordon Jacob
Director
(1959)
Scottish Painters
Director
(1959)
Variations on a Mechanical Theme
Director
(1959)
John Betjeman: A Poet in London
Director
(1959)
Portrait of a Goon
Director
(1958)
Amelia and the Angel
Director, Story, Cinematography, Writer
(1958)
Lourdes
Director
(1956)
Knights on Bikes
Director
(1956)
Peepshow
Director