Cast & creator
Ken Russell
Best known for The South Bank Show, The South Bank Show, The South Bank Show
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."
Also known as: Alfred Russell, Alf Russell
196
film credits
21
television credits
59
1956–2025 · acting roles
6.3
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (217)
Showing 217 of 217 credits
The South Bank Show
Self
1978The South Bank Show
1978The South Bank Show
Director
1978
Waking the Dead
Gerry Raistrick
2001
Celebrity Big Brother
Self
2001
Omnibus
Self
1967
Agatha Christie's Marple
Rev Caleb Dane Calthrop
2004Film '72
Self
1971
Lady Chatterley
Sir Michael Reid
1993Lady Chatterley
Writer
1993Lady Chatterley
Director
1993Lady Chatterley
Creator
1993
Frank Stubbs Promotes
Self
1993
The Devils
Director
1971The Devils
Screenplay
1971The Devils
Producer
1971
Monitor
Director
1958Monitor
Writer
1958
The Lair of the White Worm
Police Radio (voice) (uncredited)
1988The Lair of the White Worm
Director
1988The Lair of the White Worm
Screenplay
1988The Lair of the White Worm
Producer
1988
Crimes of Passion
Director
1984
Altered States
Director
1980Plunder
1990
Whore
Waiter (uncredited)
1991Whore
Director
1991Whore
Screenplay
1991Whore
Camera Operator
1991
Tommy
Cripple (uncredited)
1975Tommy
Director
1975Tommy
Screenplay
1975Tommy
Producer
1975
The Russia House
Walter
1990
Women in Love
Director
1969Six
Writer
1964Six
Director
1964
Billion Dollar Brain
Director
1967
Mahler
Director
1974Mahler
Writer
1974Clouds of Glory
Director
1978Clouds of Glory
Writer
1978Clouds of Glory
Creator
1978
Valentino
Rex Ingram (uncredited)
1977Valentino
Director
1977Valentino
Screenplay
1977
Celebrity Naked Ambition
Self - Contributor
2003
The Boy Friend
Director
1971The Boy Friend
Screenplay
1971The Boy Friend
Producer
1971
Treasure Island
Director
1995Treasure Island
Teleplay
1995
100 Greatest Sexy Moments
Self
2003
The Music Lovers
Director
1971The Music Lovers
Producer
1971
Gothic
Tourist
1987Gothic
Director
1987
Colour Me Kubrick
The Man In Nightgown
2005
Brothers of the Head
Himself
2006
Salome's Last Dance
Cappadocian
1988Salome's Last Dance
Director
1988Salome's Last Dance
Screenplay
1988
Tales of Erotica
Mr. Kirsch (segment 'The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch') (uncredited)
1996Tales of Erotica
Director
1996Tales of Erotica
Writer
1996
Mr. Nice
Russell Miegs
2010
Women and Men: Stories of Seduction
Director
1990
Trapped Ashes
Dr. Lucy (segment "The Girl with Golden Breasts")
2006Trapped Ashes
Director
2006
Twiggy
(archival footage)
2025
Aria
Director
1987Aria
Writer
1987
Savage Messiah
Passenger getting off train in station (uncredited)
1972Savage Messiah
Director
1972Savage Messiah
Producer
1972
Lisztomania
Director
1975Lisztomania
Screenplay
1975
The Rainbow
Director
1989The Rainbow
Screenplay
1989The Rainbow
Producer
1989
The Who: The Kids Are Alright
Self
1979
Elgar: Fantasy on a Composer on a Bicycle
Narrator (voice)
2002Elgar: Fantasy on a Composer on a Bicycle
Director
2002Elgar: Fantasy on a Composer on a Bicycle
Producer
2002Elgar: Fantasy on a Composer on a Bicycle
Writer
2002Empire of the Censors
Self
1995
The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch
Mr. Kirsch
1995The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch
Director
1995The Insatiable Mrs. Kirsch
Writer
1995
Bela Bartók
Director
1964Bela Bartók
Screenplay
1964
Elgar
Director
1962Elgar
Writer
1962
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story
Self (archive footage)
2022
Ken Russell: A Bit of a Devil
Self (archive footage)
2012
Hell on Earth: The Desecration & Resurrection of The Devils
Self
2002
The Fall of the Louse of Usher
Dr. Calahari
2002The Fall of the Louse of Usher
Director
2002The Fall of the Louse of Usher
Writer
2002The Fall of the Louse of Usher
Producer
2002The Fall of the Louse of Usher
Cinematography
2002The Fall of the Louse of Usher
Editor
2002The Fall of the Louse of Usher
Director of Photography
2002
Ken Russell's ABC of British Music
Himself
1988Ken Russell's ABC of British Music
Director
1988Ken Russell's ABC of British Music
Writer
1988
Faust
Director
1985
A Turnip Head's Guide To The British Cinema
Self
1986
Antonio Gaudí
Director
1961
Prisoner of Honor
Director
1991
Dance of the Seven Veils
Director
1970Dance of the Seven Veils
Writer
1970
Pop Goes the Easel
Director
1962
Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Captain Patterson
1966Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Director
1966Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World
Writer
1966
French Dressing
Director
1964The Mystery of Dr Martinu
Writer
1992The Mystery of Dr Martinu
Director
1992
Song of Summer
Priest
1968Song of Summer
Director
1968Song of Summer
Writer
1968
The Real Oliver Reed
Self
2000
Always on Sunday
Director
1965Always on Sunday
Scenario Writer
1965Always on Sunday
Producer
1965
The Secret Life of Arnold Bax
Sir Arnold Bax
1992The Secret Life of Arnold Bax
Writer
1992The Secret Life of Arnold Bax
Director
1992
Amelia and the Angel
Director
1958Amelia and the Angel
Writer
1958Amelia and the Angel
Story
1958Amelia and the Angel
Cinematography
1958
The Diary of a Nobody
Director
1964The Diary of a Nobody
Writer
1964
The Planets
Director
1983
London Moods
Director
1961
The Debussy Film
Director
1965The Debussy Film
Scenario Writer
1965
A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible
1989A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible
Director
1989A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible
Writer
1989
Director of Devils
Self
2012
Walk With The Damned
Hood
1961The Devils Original on-set footage
2012
John Betjeman: A Poet in London
Director
1959
Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weill
Director
1961
Dogboys
Director
1998Dogboys
Producer
1998The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner
Director
1990The Strange Affliction of Anton Bruckner
Writer
1990
A Kitten for Hitler
Santa
2007A Kitten for Hitler
Director
2007A Kitten for Hitler
Writer
2007
Alice in Russialand
1995Alice in Russialand
Director
1995Alice in Russialand
Writer
1995Journey Into a Lost World
Director
1960
Shelagh Delaney's Salford
Director
1960
The Lonely Shore
Director
1962
A House in Bayswater
Director
1960A House in Bayswater
Writer
1960
The Preservation Man
Director
1962
Music for the Movies: Georges Delerue
Self
1995
Variations on a Mechanical Theme
Director
1959
Don’t Shoot the Composer
Himself
1966Don’t Shoot the Composer
Director
1966Don’t Shoot the Composer
Producer
1966Charlotte Brontë Enters the Big Brother House
Director
2006Charlotte Brontë Enters the Big Brother House
Director of Photography
2006Charlotte Brontë Enters the Big Brother House
Writer
2006Charlotte Brontë Enters the Big Brother House
Choreographer
2006Charlotte Brontë Enters the Big Brother House
Producer
2006
Gordon Jacob
Director
1959
Dante's Inferno
Director
1967
Portrait of a Goon
Director
1959Watch the Birdie
Director
2007
From Spain to Streatham
Director
1959The Miners' Picnic by Ken Russell
Director
2005
Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait
Self
1984Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait
Director
1984Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait
Producer
1984Vaughan Williams: A Symphonic Portrait
Writer
1984
The Light Fantastic
Director
1960
Mindbender
Director
1996Mindbender
Writer
1996
The Real Blue Nuns
Self
2006
A Bedlington Miners' Picnic
Director
1960
10 Best Elgar
Self (archive footage)
2007
In Search of the English Folk Song
Self
1997In Search of the English Folk Song
Director
1997In Search of the English Folk Song
Writer
1997
Mr Chesher’s Traction Engines
Director
1962Revenge of the Elephant Man
2004Revenge of the Elephant Man
Director
2004Revenge of the Elephant Man
Writer
2004Revenge of the Elephant Man
Producer
2004Road to Mandalay
Self
1991Road to Mandalay
Director
1991Road to Mandalay
Writer
1991
Prokofiev
Director
1961
Il Mefistofele
Director
1989
Your Honour, I Object! Guccione V Russell
1987
Scottish Painters
Director
1959
Kitsune
Thanks
2016Old Battersea House
Director
1961Boudica Bites Back
Roman Senator
2009Boudica Bites Back
Director
2009Boudica Bites Back
Screenplay
2009Lion's Mouth
Ken
2000Lion's Mouth
Director
2000Lion's Mouth
Screenplay
2000Peepshow
Director
1956Knights on Bikes
Director
1956
PuzzleFace
god
Lourdes
Director
1958