- Known For
- Writing
- Born
- February 5, 1914
- Place of Birth
- St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Died
- August 2, 1997
William S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II (February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997) was an American writer and visual artist, widely considered a primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodern author who influenced popular culture and literature. Burroughs wrote eighteen novels and novellas, six collections of short stories and four collections of essays, and five books have been published of his interviews and correspondences; he was initially briefly known by the pen name William Lee. He also collaborated on projects and recordings with numerous performers and musicians, made many appearances in films, and created and exhibited thousands of visual artworks, including his celebrated "Shotgun Art". Description above from the Wikipedia article William S. Burroughs, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
movieThis Is Buzz
2026 · Self (archive footage)
movieNova '78
2025 · Self (archive footage)
movieQueer
2024 · Novel
movieRobert Wilson: The Beauty of the Mysterious
2022 · Self (archive footage)
movieTake Your Pills
2018 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Wild Boys
2017 · Original Story
movieUncle Howard
2017 · Self
movieRobert E. Fulton III Edit of Burroughs: The Movie
2015
movieDon't Blink - Robert Frank
2015 · Self (archive footage)
movieWilliam S. Burroughs in the Dreamachine
2015 · Self
movieWilliam S. Burroughs: The Possessed
2015
movieWilliam S. Burroughs Birthday Bash
2014 · Writer
Coda I + Coda II
2013 · Self (voice) (archive sound)
movieCoda I
2013 · Self (voice) (archive sound)
movieCoda II
2013 · Self (voice) (archive sound)
movieFor No Good Reason
2012 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Beat Hotel
2012 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye
2012
movieFix: The Ministry Movie
2011 · Self
movieWilliam S. Burroughs: A Man Within
2010 · Self
Nova Express
2009 · Narrator (voice), Writer
movieFLicKeR
2009 · Self
Ma bande magnétique arrière
2009 · Writer
movieJoy Division
2009
movieObscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press
2008 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Japanese Sandman
2008 · Writer
movieWords of Advice: William S. Burroughs On the Road
2007
moviePantelia
2006 · Self
movieWanderlust
2006 · Tom the Priest
The Battle for 'I Am Curious-Yellow'
2003 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Last Words of Dutch Schultz
2001 · Writer
movieCondo Painting
2000 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Making of Drugstore Cowboy
1999
movieLet It Come Down: The Life of Paul Bowles
1999 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Source
1999 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Book of Life
1998 · Preacher on Radio (voice)
movieDestroy All Rational Thought
1998 · Self
movieGood Will Hunting
1997 · In Memory Of
movieAh Pook Is Here.
1994 · Narrator, Novel
movieEven Cowgirls Get the Blues
1994 · Self
movieGlitterbug
1994 · Self
movieThe Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg
1994 · Self
movieSeptember Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill
1994 · Self
movieRelics: Einstein's Brain
1994 · Self
movieThe Junky's Christmas
1993 · Narrator, Novel
movieNaked Making Lunch
1992 · Self
movieNaked Lunch
1991 · Novel
movieWax, or The Discovery of Television Among the Bees
1991 · James "Hive" Maker
William S. Burroughs: Commissioner of Sewers
1991 · Self
movieThanksgiving Prayer
1991 · A Speaker, Writer
movieThe Black Rider
1990 · Writer
movieThe Black Rider
1990 · Himself
movieBloodhounds of Broadway
1989 · Butler
movieDrugstore Cowboy
1989 · Tom the Priest
movieHeavy Petting
1989 · Self
movieTwister
1989 · Man in Barn
movieGang of Souls: A Generation of Beat Poets
1989 · Self
movieHome of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson
1986 · Self
movieOrnette: Made in America
1986 · Self
movieIt Don't Pay to Be an Honest Citizen
1985 · Mafioso
movieThe Final Academy Documents
1984
movieDecoder
1984 · Old Man
movieBurroughs: The Movie
1984 · Self
movieThis Song for Jack
1983 · Self
Pirate Tape
1983
movieThe Discipline of D.E.
1982 · Story
moviePoetry in Motion
1982 · Self
movieTaking Tiger Mountain
1982 · Writer
tvAmerican Playhouse
1982 · Butler
movieGhost at No. 9
1982 · , Writer
Pirates: William Burroughs in London
1982
Energy and How to Get It
1981
movieShamans of the Blind Country
1981 · Narrator (voice)
Chelsea Hotel
1981 · Self (uncredited)
Fried Shoes Cooked Diamonds
1979 · Self
movieThot-Fal'N
1978 · Self
movieUnderground and Emigrants
1976 · Self
movieUne semaine dans la vie de camarades
1976
tvSaturday Night Live
1975 · Self
Bill and Tony
1972 · Self, Writer
movieIce Cream
1970 · Writer
movieCain's Film
1969 · Self
movieWitchcraft Through the Ages
1968 · Narrator, Writer
Chicago
1968 · Self
moviePoem Posters
1967 · Self
movieChappaqua
1966 · Opium Jones
movieThe Cut-Ups
1966 · , Story
Towers Open Fire
1963 · , Writer
movieWilliam Buys a Parrot
1963 · Self, Writer