Tom Petty

Biography

Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was the leader and frontman of the rock bands Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch and a member of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys. He was also a successful solo artist. Over the course of his career, Petty sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. His hit singles with the Heartbreakers include "American Girl" (1976), "Don't Do Me Like That" (1979), "Refugee" (1980), "The Waiting" (1981), "Don't Come Around Here No More" (1985) and "Learning to Fly" (1991). Petty's solo hits include "I Won't Back Down" (1989), "Free Fallin'" (1989), and "You Don't Know How It Feels" (1994). Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Petty was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year in February 2017 for his contributions to music and for his philanthropy. He also acted; he had a recurring role as the voice of Lucky Kleinschmidt in the animated comedy series King of the Hill from 2004 to the show's conclusion in 2009. Petty died of an accidental drug overdose in 2017 at the age of 66, one week after the end of the Heartbreakers' 40th Anniversary Tour. On December 4, 2023, Petty's song "Love Is a Long Road" was used in the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, which is considered one of the most anticipated video games ever made. This trailer gained over 90 million YouTube views within the first 24 hours. Because of this immense bump in popularity, the song itself gained nearly 1 million YouTube views in the same time span, gained a 36,979% increase on Spotify, had almost 250,000 searches on Shazam, and ranked second on the worldwide iTunes chart.

Known For

The Simpsons

Saturday Night Live

Late Show with David Letterman

King of the Hill

King of the Hill

King of the Hill

MTV Video Music Awards

The Larry Sanders Show

All Movies (51)

• Fame and Fentanyl2025 · as Self (archive footage)
• Heartbreakers Beach Party2024 · as Self
• Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts2021 · as Self
• Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free2021 · as Himself (archive footage)
• Echo in the Canyon2019 · as Self
• Elvis Presley: The Searcher2018
• Night Flight: Born Again2016 · as Self
• $aving Dat Money2015 · as Self
• It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC2015 · as Self (archive footage)
• Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl - Unraveled2014 · as Self
• Sound City2013 · as Self
• Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO2012 · as Self
• Mike Campbell: The Guitars2012 · as Self
• Classic Albums: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes2010 · as Self
• The Best Of Sound Stage2008
• Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Live from Gatorville2008
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream2007 · as Self
• The True History Of The Traveling Wilburys2007 · as Self
• Crystal Visions: The Very Best of Stevie Nicks2007
• Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: 30th Anniversary Concert2006 · as himself
• Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today2005 · as Self
• Tom Petty & Heartbreakers - Free Fallin'2005 · as Lead Vocals / Guitar
• Live Aid2004 · as Self
• Concert for George2003 · as Self
• Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Live at the Olympic (The Last DJ)2003 · as Singer, Guitar
• Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers: Live in Concert2003 · as vocals, guitar
• America | A Tribute to Heroes2001 · as Self - Performer
• Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - High Grass Dogs - Live from the Fillmore1999 · as Himself
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: VH1 Storytellers1999 · as Self
• Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live at the Docks, Hamburg1999 · as himself
• The Postman1997 · as Bridge City Mayor
• Wired for Sound: A Guitar Odyssey1997 · as Self
• Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: Playback1995 · as Self
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: 400 Days1995 · as Self
• Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times1995 · as Self
• Tom Petty: Going Home1994 · as Self
• Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration1993 · as Self
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Take the Highway Live1992 · as Self
• Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - A Bunch Of Videos And Some Other Stuff1989 · as Self
• Made in Heaven1987 · as Stanky
• Hard to Handle: Bob Dylan in Concert1986 · as Self
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Pack Up the Plantation - Live!1986
• Bridge School Benefit Concert 19861986 · as Self
• Live Aid1985 · as Self
• The Everly Brothers: Songs of Innocence and Experience1984 · as Self
• No Nukes1980 · as Self
• Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Rock Goes to College1980 · as Performer
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - The Old Grey Whistle Test1978
• FM1978 · as Self
• Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live at Rockpalast1977
• Tom Petty - Mojo Tour 2010—

All TV Shows (21)

• Elvis Presley: The Searcher2018 · as Self
• The Defiant Ones2017 · as Self
• Soundbreaking2016 · as Self
• George Harrison: Living in the Material World2011 · as Self
• Soundstage2003 · as Self - vocals, guitar
• Behind the Music1997 · as Self
• Classic Albums1997 · as Self
• King of the Hill1997 · as Lucky (voice)
• King of the Hill1997 · as Lucky / Mud Dobber (voice)
• King of the Hill1997 · as Lucky (voice) (uncredited)
• The History of Rock 'n' Roll1995 · as Self
• Late Show with David Letterman1993 · as Self - Musical Guest
• The Larry Sanders Show1992 · as Tom Petty
• The Simpsons1989 · as Tom Petty (voice)
• It's Garry Shandling's Show1986 · as Tom Petty
• MTV Video Music Awards1984 · as Self
• Fridays1980 · as Self - Musical Guest
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Musical Guest
• Rockpalast1974
• The Old Grey Whistle Test1971
• Life, Death and Money— · as self - archival footage