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."
Known For

Agatha Christie's Marple

Waking the Dead

Lady Chatterley

Omnibus

Celebrity Big Brother

The South Bank Show

Frank Stubbs Promotes

The Lair of the White Worm
All Movies (51)
- Twiggy2025 · as (archival footage)
- The Who: One Band's Explosive Story2022 · as Self (archive footage)
- Director of Devils2012 · as Self
- Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil2012 · as Self (archive footage)
- The Devils Original on-set footage2012
- Mr. Nice2010 · as Russell Miegs
- The Aristofrogs2010
- Boudica Bites Back2009 · as Roman Senator
- A Kitten for Hitler2007 · as Santa
- 10 Best Elgar2007 · as Self (archive footage)
- The Real Blue Nuns2006 · as Self
- Trapped Ashes2006 · as Dr. Lucy (segment "The Girl with Golden Breasts")
- Brothers of the Head2006 · as Himself
- Colour Me Kubrick2005 · as The Man In Nightgown
- Revenge of the Elephant Man2004
- 100 Greatest Sexy Moments2003 · as Self
- Celebrity Naked Ambition2003 · as Self - Contributor
- Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devils2002 · as Self
- Elgar: Fantasy of a Composer on a Bicycle2002 · as Narrator (voice)
- The Fall of the Louse of Usher2002 · as Dr. Calahari
- The Real Oliver Reed2000 · as Self
- Lion's Mouth2000 · as Ken
- In Search of the English Folk Song1997 · as Self
- Vem Var Dracula1996 · as Self
- Tales of Erotica1996 · as Mr. Kirsch (segment 'The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch') (uncredited)
- Empire of the Censors1995 · as Self
- Music for the Movies: Georges Delerue1995 · as Self
- The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch1995 · as Mr. Kirsch
- Alice in Russialand1995
- The Secret Life of Arnold Bax1992 · as Sir Arnold Bax
- Whore1991 · as Waiter (uncredited)
- Road to Mandalay1991 · as Self
- The Russia House1990 · as Walter
- A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible1989
- The Lair of the White Worm1988 · as Police Radio (voice) (uncredited)
- Salome's Last Dance1988 · as Cappadocian
- Ken Russell's ABC of British Music1988 · as Himself
- Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russell1987
- Gothic1987 · as Tourist
- A Turnip Head's Guide To The British Cinema1986 · as Self
- Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait1984 · as Self
- The Who: The Kids Are Alright1979 · as Self
- Valentino1977 · as Rex Ingram (uncredited)
- Tommy1975 · as Cripple (uncredited)
- Savage Messiah1972 · as Passenger getting off train in station (uncredited)
- Song of Summer1968 · as Priest
- Don’t Shoot the Composer1966 · as Himself
- Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World1966 · as Captain Patterson
- Russell at Work1966
- Walk With The Damned1961 · as Hood
- PuzzleFace— · as god
All TV Shows (8)
- Agatha Christie's Marple2004 · as Rev Caleb Dane Calthrop
- Waking the Dead2001 · as Gerry Raistrick
- Celebrity Big Brother2001 · as Self
- Frank Stubbs Promotes1993 · as Self
- Lady Chatterley1993 · as Sir Michael Reid
- Plunder1990
- The South Bank Show1978 · as Self
- Omnibus1967 · as Self