- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- December 21, 1940
- Place of Birth
- Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
- Died
- December 4, 1993
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, electronic, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers. Zappa produced almost all of the more than 60 albums he released with the band The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. While in his teens, he acquired a taste for percussion-based avant-garde composers such as Edgard Varèse and 1950s rhythm and blues music. He began writing classical music in high school, while at the same time playing drums in rhythm and blues bands; he later switched to electric guitar. He was a self-taught composer and performer, and his diverse musical influences led him to create music that was often impos…
Filmography
movieNova '78
2025 · Self (archive footage)
movieMarc-André Hamelin @ Ruhr Piano Festival 2025
2025 · Music
movieFrank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep
2025 · Self (guitar, vocals), Songs, Producer
movieLadies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025 · Self (archive footage)
movieFrank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968
2024 · , Music
movieThe Residents - A Documentary
2024 · Compositor
movieCover Your Ears
2023 · Self - Musician (archive footage)
movieSteve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary
2022 · Self (archive footage)
movieRock this Town
2022 · Self (archive footage)
movieKalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff
2021 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Velvet Underground
2021 · Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieClassic Albums: Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out!
2021 · Self
movieThe Art of Dissent
2021 · Self - Subject (archive footage)
movieLarry Flynt for President
2021 · Self (archive footage)
movieZappa
2020 · Self (archive footage), Music
tvLaurel Canyon
2020 · Self (archive footage)
Stupor Mundi: Book 3, The Most Dangerous Encounter
movieStupor Mundi: Book 3, The Most Dangerous Encounter
2019 · Self (archive footage)
movieLinda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
2019 · Self (archive footage)
movieManson: Music from an Unsound Mind
2019 · Self (archive footage)
movieEcho in the Canyon
2019 · Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieMarian Briozzo
2018 · Himself (archive footage)
movieTake Your Pills
2018 · Self (archive footage)
movieEat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
2016 · Self (archive footage)
Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape
movieStupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape
2016 · Self (archive footage), Music
Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne
movieStupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne
2016 · Self (archive footage)
Zapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa
movieZapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa
2016 · Self - Subject (archive footage)
movieFrank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - The Lost Broadcast: The Beat Club '68
2016 · Self
movieFrank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie
2015 · Himself, Writer, Director, Music, Producer
movieFeats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George
2015 · Self (archive footage)
movieLed Zeppelin Played Here
2014 · Self (archive footage)
movieFrank Zappa – Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily
2014 · Himself (archive Footage), Music
movieMade in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II
2014 · Self (archive footage)
movieCheepnis
2014 · Himself, Producer, Music, Editor, Director
movieSuper Duper Alice Cooper
2014 · Self (archive footage)
movieFrank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme
2013 · Himself, Editor, Music
movieFrom Straight to Bizarre
2012 · Self
1982. L'estate di Frank
movie1982. L'estate di Frank
2012 · Music
movieFrank Zappa: The Freak Out List
2010 · Himself
movieHart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology
2010 · Self (archive footage)
movieFrank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's
2009 · Himself
movieFrank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980
2008 · Self
movieFrank Zappa: The Torture Never Stops
2008 · Self, Music
movieFrank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives
2008 · Self
movieThe Wrecking Crew
2008 · Self (archive footage)
movieFrank Zappa: Music In Review
2008 · Self (archive footage)
movieClassic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation
2007 · Self (archive footage)
movieFrank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music
2007
movieFrank Zappa: Roxy, 1973
2007 · , Director
movieFuck
2006 · Self (archive footage)
EAV Rarities
movieEAV Rarities
2006 · Self (archive footage)
tvGirls and Boys - Sex and British Pop
2005 · Self (archive footage)
movieFrank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme
2005 · Himself
movieDerailroaded
2005 · Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me
movieFrank Zappa - John, Dan And Me
2004 · Himself
movieHollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
2002 · Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note
movieFrank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note
2002 · Self (archive footage)
movieBand from Utopia: A Tribute to the Music of Frank Zappa
2002 · Music
Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die
movieFrank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die
2000 · Self (archive footage)
movieHappy Birthday to John
1997 · Songs
movieThe Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart
1997 · Himself (archive footage)
tvClassic Albums
1997 · Self (archive footage)
Porridge and kerosene
moviePorridge and kerosene
1997 · Self (archive footage)
movieHey, Hey, We're The Monkees
1997 · Mike Nesmith (archive footage)
tvDuckman
1994 · In Memory Of, Music
An American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa
movieAn American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa
1994 · Self (archive footage)
A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa
movieA Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa
1993 · Self
movieThe Revenge of the Dead Indians
1993 · Himself
movieBeasts
1993 · Music
movieThe Yellow Shark
1992 · Self, Conductor, Music
tvThe Ren & Stimpy Show
1991 · The Pope (voice)
Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth
movieTom Arnold: The Naked Truth
1991 · Self
moviePražákům, těm je hej
1991 · Frank Zappa
movieFrank Zappa: Peefeeyatko
1991 · Self, Producer, Music
Your vote
movieYour vote
1991 · Self
Cousteau: Alaska: Outrage at Valdez
movieCousteau: Alaska: Outrage at Valdez
1990 · Music
movieDecade
1989 · Self
Služební cesta podporučíka Svěráka
movieSlužební cesta podporučíka Svěráka
1989 · Self (archive footage)
movieFunny
1988 · Self
movieThe True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
1988 · Self, Director, Writer, Producer, Music
movieFrank Zappa: Live in Barcelona
1988
movieVideo from Hell
1987 · Self, Director, Writer, Producer, Music, Camera Operator
movieThe Amazing Mr. Bickford
1987 · Self, Director, Writer, Music, Producer
movieUncle Meat
1987 · Self / The Imaginary Director, Writer, Producer
movieNight Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars
1985 · Self, Director, Writer
movieFrank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?
1985 · Self, Director, Music, Writer, Producer
movieThe Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers
1984 · Attila
tvMiami Vice
1984 · Mario Fuente
movieCocaine Blues
1983 · Himself
tvFaerie Tale Theatre
1982 · Attilla
movieFrank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!
1982 · Self, Music, Director, Writer
The Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years
movieThe Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years
1982 · Self
Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere
movieFrank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere
1980 · Self
movieFrank Zappa: Baby Snakes
1979 · Self, Director, Producer, Music, Writer, Editor
movieFrank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around
1978 · Self
tvSaturday Night Live
1975 · Self - Musical Guest, Self - Host & Musical Guest
movieFrank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden
1973
movieYoko Ono: This Is Not Here
1972 · Self
movieDeep Purple: Made In Japan
1972 · Self (archive footage)
movieThe Making of 200 Motels
1971 · Self
movieThe Manipulator
1971 · Props
movie200 Motels
1971 · Member of Mothers of Invention (uncredited), Director, Screenplay, Music Arranger, Original Music Composer
movieFrank Zappa, John Lennon & Yoko Ono: At Fillmore East
1971
movieFrank Zappa
1971 · Self, Music
movieAmougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)
1970 · Self
moviePink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival
1970
movieBurnt Weeny Sandwich
1969 · Self, Music, Director
movieHead
1968 · The Critic
movieAll My Loving
1968 · Self
movieYou Are What You Eat
1968
tvOmnibus
1967 · Self
Good Evening — I'm Jonathan King
tvGood Evening — I'm Jonathan King
1967 · Himself
movieMondo Hollywood
1967
movieInside Pop: The Rock Revolution
1967 · Self
tvInside Pop: The Rock Revolution
1967 · Self
movieSex in Today's World
1967 · Self
Luden’s Cough Drops
movieLuden’s Cough Drops
1967 · Music
tvThe Monkees
1966 · Self (uncredited)
movieThe Big T.N.T. Show
1965 · Self (uncredited)
movieRun Home Slow
1965 · Original Music Composer
tvBeat-Club
1965 · Self
tvLate Night Line-Up
1964 · Himself
movieThe World's Greatest Sinner
1962 · Original Music Composer
The Male Swagger
movieThe Male Swagger
— · Guitarist (archive footage)