About

Known credits:
194
Birthday:
1927-07-03
Place of birth:
Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
Website:
N/A

Ken Russell

Overview

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."

Known for

Acting
2025 Twiggy Actor (archival footage) N/A
N/A
2022 The Who: One Band's Explosive Story Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2012 Director of Devils Actor Self N/A
N/A
2012 Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil Actor Self (archive footage) 59
Average
2012 The Devils Original on-set footage Actor N/A
N/A
2010 Mr. Nice Actor Russell Miegs 59
Average
2010 The Aristofrogs Actor N/A
N/A
2009 Boudica Bites Back Actor Roman Senator N/A
N/A
2007 A Kitten for Hitler Actor Santa 58
Average
2007 10 Best Elgar Actor Self (archive footage) N/A
N/A
2006 The Real Blue Nuns Actor Self 59
Average
2006 Trapped Ashes Actor Dr. Lucy 58
Average
2006 Brothers of the Head Actor Himself 58
Average
2005 Colour Me Kubrick Actor The Man In Nightgown 58
Average
2004 Revenge of the Elephant Man Actor N/A
N/A
2002 Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devils Actor Self 59
Average
2002 The Fall of the Louse of Usher Actor Dr. Calahari 58
Average
2000 The Real Oliver Reed Actor Self N/A
N/A
2000 Lion's Mouth Actor Ken N/A
N/A
1997 Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Song Actor Himself 59
Average
1996 In Search of Dracula Actor Self N/A
N/A
1996 Tales of Erotica Actor 58
Average
1995 Empire of the Censors Actor Self 59
Average
1995 Music for the Movies: Georges Delerue Actor Self N/A
N/A
1995 The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch Actor Mr. Kirsch 58
Average
1993 Lady Chatterley Actor Sir Michael Reid 68
Fair
1992 The Secret Life of Arnold Bax Actor Sir Arnold Bax 59
Average
1991 Whore Actor Waiter (uncredited) 57
Average
1990 The Russia House Actor Walter 59
Average
1989 A British Picture Actor 59
Average
1988 The Lair of the White Worm Actor Police Radio (voice) (uncredited) 58
Average
1988 Salome's Last Dance Actor Cappadocian 59
Average
1988 Ken Russell's ABC of British Music Actor Himself N/A
N/A
1987 Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russell Actor N/A
N/A
1986 Gothic Actor Tourist 58
Average
1986 A Turnip Head’s Guide To The British Cinema Actor Self N/A
N/A
1983 Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait Actor Self 59
Average
1979 The Kids Are Alright Actor 59
Average
1977 Valentino Actor Rex Ingram (uncredited) 58
Average
1975 Tommy Actor Cripple (uncredited) 61
Fair
1972 Savage Messiah Actor Passenger getting off train in station (uncredited) 59
Average
1968 Song of Summer Actor Priest 59
Average
1966 Don’t Shoot the Composer Actor Himself N/A
N/A
1966 Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World Actor Captain Patterson 58
Average
1966 Russell at Work Actor N/A
N/A
1961 Walk With The Damned Actor Hood N/A
N/A
PuzzleFace Actor god N/A
N/A

Directing
2009 Boudica Bites Back Directing Director N/A
N/A
2007 A Kitten for Hitler Directing Director 58
Average
2007 Watch the Birdie Directing Director N/A
N/A
2006 Trapped Ashes Directing Director 58
Average
2006 Charlotte Brontë Enters the Big Brother House Directing Director N/A
N/A
2005 The Miner's Picnic by Ken Russell Directing Director N/A
N/A
2004 Revenge of the Elephant Man Directing Director N/A
N/A
2002 Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle Directing Director 59
Average
2002 The Fall of the Louse of Usher Directing Director 58
Average
2000 Lion's Mouth Directing Director N/A
N/A
1998 Dogboys Directing Director 58
Average
1997 Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Song Directing Director 59
Average
1996 Mindbender Directing Director 58
Average
1996 Tales of Erotica Directing Director 58
Average
1995 Treasure Island Directing Director 58
Average
1995 The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch Directing Director 58
Average
1995 Alice in Russialand Directing Director N/A
N/A
1993 The Mystery of Dr Martinu Directing Director 59
Average
1993 Lady Chatterley Directing Director 68
Fair
1992 The Secret Life of Arnold Bax Directing Director 59
Average
1991 Prisoner of Honor Directing Director 59
Average
1991 Whore Directing Director 57
Average
1990 Women and Men: Stories of Seduction Directing Director 58
Average
1990 The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner Directing Director 58
Average
1989 Pandora's Box: It's All Coming Back to Me Now Directing Director N/A
N/A
1989 The Rainbow Directing Director 58
Average
1989 A British Picture Directing Director 59
Average
1989 Il Mefistofele Directing Director 58
Average
1988 The Lair of the White Worm Directing Director 58
Average
1988 Salome's Last Dance Directing Director 59
Average
1988 Ken Russell's ABC of British Music Directing Director N/A
N/A
1987 Aria Directing Director 58
Average
1986 Gothic Directing Director 58
Average
1985 Faust Directing Director 59
Average
1984 Crimes of Passion Directing Director 59
Average
1983 The Planets Directing Director 59
Average
1983 Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait Directing Director 59
Average
1980 Altered States Directing Director 63
Fair
1978 Clouds of Glory Directing Director 69
Fair
1977 Valentino Directing Director 58
Average
1975 Lisztomania Directing Director 58
Average
1975 Tommy Directing Director 61
Fair
1974 Mahler Directing Director 59
Average
1972 Savage Messiah Directing Director 59
Average
1971 The Boy Friend Directing Director 59
Average
1971 The Devils Directing Director 65
Fair
1971 The Music Lovers Directing Director 59
Average
1970 Dance of the Seven Veils Directing Director 59
Average
1969 Women in Love Directing Director 59
Average
1968 Song of Summer Directing Director 59
Average
1967 Dante's Inferno Directing Director 59
Average
1967 Billion Dollar Brain Directing Director 58
Average
1966 Don’t Shoot the Composer Directing Director N/A
N/A
1966 Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World Directing Director 58
Average
1965 Always on Sunday Directing Director 58
Average
1965 The Debussy Film Directing Director 59
Average
1964 The Diary of a Nobody Directing Director N/A
N/A
1964 Bartók Directing Director 59
Average
1964 French Dressing Directing Director 58
Average
1962 Elgar: Portrait of a Composer Directing Director 59
Average
1962 Mr Chesher’s Traction Engines Directing Director N/A
N/A
1962 The Preservation Man Directing Director N/A
N/A
1962 Monitor: Pop Goes the Easel Directing Director N/A
N/A
1962 Pop Goes the Easel Directing Director 59
Average
1962 The Lonely Shore Directing Director N/A
N/A
1961 London Moods Directing Director 59
Average
1961 Old Battersea House Directing Director N/A
N/A
1961 Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weill Directing Director 59
Average
1961 Prokofiev Directing Director 59
Average
1961 Antonio Gaudí Directing Director 59
Average
1960 The Light Fantastic Directing Director 59
Average
1960 Shelagh Delaney's Salford Directing Director 58
Average
1960 A House in Bayswater Directing Director 58
Average
1960 The Miners' Picnic Directing Director N/A
N/A
1960 Journey Into a Lost World Directing Director N/A
N/A
1959 Scottish Painters Directing Director N/A
N/A
1959 Portrait of a Goon Directing Director N/A
N/A
1959 From Spain to Streatham Directing Director 59
Average
1959 Variations on a Mechanical Theme Directing Director 59
Average
1959 Gordon Jacob Directing Director N/A
N/A
1959 John Betjeman: A Poet in London Directing Director N/A
N/A
1958 Amelia and the Angel Directing Director 59
Average
1958 Lourdes Directing Director N/A
N/A
1956 Peepshow Directing Director 59
Average
1956 Knights on Bikes Directing Director 59
Average
Cliff Richard: She's So Beautiful Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
2009 Boudica Bites Back Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
2007 A Kitten for Hitler Writing Writer 58
Average
2006 Charlotte Brontë Enters the Big Brother House Writing Writer N/A
N/A
2004 Revenge of the Elephant Man Writing Writer N/A
N/A
2002 The Fall of the Louse of Usher Writing Writer 58
Average
2000 Lion's Mouth Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1997 Ken Russell: In Search of the English Folk Song Writing Writer 59
Average
1996 Mindbender Writing Writer 58
Average
1995 Treasure Island Writing Teleplay 58
Average
1995 The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch Writing Writer 58
Average
1993 The Mystery of Dr Martinu Writing Writer 59
Average
1993 Lady Chatterley Writing Writer 68
Fair
1992 The Secret Life of Arnold Bax Writing Writer 59
Average
1991 Whore Writing Screenplay 57
Average
1990 The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner Writing Writer 58
Average
1989 The Rainbow Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1989 A British Picture Writing Writer 59
Average
1988 The Lair of the White Worm Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1988 Salome's Last Dance Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1988 Ken Russell's ABC of British Music Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1987 Aria Writing Writer 58
Average
1983 Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait Writing Writer 59
Average
1978 Clouds of Glory Writing Writer 69
Fair
1977 Valentino Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1975 Lisztomania Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1975 Tommy Writing Screenplay 61
Fair
1974 Mahler Writing Writer 59
Average
1971 The Boy Friend Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1971 The Devils Writing Screenplay 65
Fair
1970 Dance of the Seven Veils Writing Writer 59
Average
1968 Song of Summer Writing Writer 59
Average
1966 Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World Writing Writer 58
Average
1965 Always on Sunday Writing Scenario Writer 58
Average
1965 The Debussy Film Writing Scenario Writer 59
Average
1964 The Diary of a Nobody Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1964 Bartók Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1962 Elgar: Portrait of a Composer Writing Writer 59
Average
1960 A House in Bayswater Writing Writer 58
Average
1958 Amelia and the Angel Writing Story 59
Average
1958 Amelia and the Angel Writing Writer 59
Average

Production
2006 Charlotte Brontë Enters the Big Brother House Production Producer N/A
N/A
2004 Revenge of the Elephant Man Production Producer N/A
N/A
2002 The Fall of the Louse of Usher Production Producer 58
Average
1998 Dogboys Production Producer 58
Average
1989 The Rainbow Production Producer 58
Average
1988 The Lair of the White Worm Production Producer 58
Average
1983 Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait Production Producer 59
Average
1975 Tommy Production Producer 61
Fair
1972 Savage Messiah Production Producer 59
Average
1971 The Boy Friend Production Producer 59
Average
1971 The Devils Production Producer 65
Fair
1971 The Music Lovers Production Producer 59
Average
1966 Don’t Shoot the Composer Production Producer N/A
N/A
1965 Always on Sunday Production Producer 58
Average

Camera
2006 Charlotte Brontë Enters the Big Brother House Camera Director of Photography N/A
N/A
1991 Whore Camera Camera Operator 57
Average

Crew
2016 Kitsune Crew Thanks 59
Average
2006 Charlotte Brontë Enters the Big Brother House Crew Choreographer N/A
N/A
2002 The Fall of the Louse of Usher Crew Cinematography 58
Average
1958 Amelia and the Angel Crew Cinematography 59
Average

Editing
2002 The Fall of the Louse of Usher Editing Editor 58
Average