Frank Zappa

ActorProducerSoundDirectorWriter Dec 21 (died age 52) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. 1962–2025 (63 year career)

6.7 avg rating

Biography

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 t…

Known For

Film

Take Your Pills

Self (archive footage)

Film

The Wrecking Crew

Self (archive footage)

Film

The Velvet Underground

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Film

Zappa

Self (archive footage)

Film

Duckman

In Memory Of

Film

Head

The Critic

Film

Fuck

Self (archive footage)

Film

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice

Self (archive footage)

Filmography

Acting (111)

Movies (98)

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

2025

as Self (archive footage)

7.8

Nova '78

2025

as Self (archive footage)

Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep

2025

as Self (guitar, vocals)

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968

2024

Cover Your Ears

2023

as Self - Musician (archive footage)

6.0

Rock this Town

2022

as Self (archive footage)

Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary

2022

as Self (archive footage)

8.5

The Art of Dissent

2021

as Self - Subject (archive footage)

The Velvet Underground

2021

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

6.8

Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff

2021

as Self (archive footage)

Classic Albums: Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out!

2021

as Self

8.6

Larry Flynt for President

2021

as Self (archive footage)

5.2

Zappa

2020

as Self (archive footage)

7.3

Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind

2019

as Self (archive footage)

6.7

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice

2019

as Self (archive footage)

7.6

Echo in the Canyon

2019

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

6.7

Stupor Mundi: Book 3, The Most Dangerous Encounter

2019

as Self (archive footage)

Marian Briozzo

2018

as Himself (archive footage)

Take Your Pills

2018

as Self (archive footage)

6.5

Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words

2016

as Self (archive footage)

7.3

Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape

2016

as Self (archive footage)

Zapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa

2016

as Self - Subject (archive footage)

9.5

Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne

2016

as Self (archive footage)

Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - The Lost Broadcast: The Beat Club '68

2016

as Self

Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie

2015

as Himself

6.8

Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George

2015

as Self (archive footage)

8.0

Super Duper Alice Cooper

2014

as Self (archive footage)

7.1

Led Zeppelin Played Here

2014

as Self (archive footage)

8.0

Frank Zappa – Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily

2014

as Himself (archive Footage)

7.8

Cheepnis

2014

as Himself

Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II

2014

as Himself (archive footage)

7.4

Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme

2013

as Himself

6.1

From Straight to Bizarre

2012

as Self

3.8

Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology

2010

as Self (archive footage)

8.0

Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List

2010

as Himself

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's

2009

as Himself

Frank Zappa: The Torture Never Stops

2008

as Self

5.8

The Wrecking Crew

2008

as Self (archive footage)

7.3

Frank Zappa: Music In Review

2008

as Self (archive footage)

Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives

2008

as Self

Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980

2008

as Self

8.0

Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation

2007

as Self (archive footage)

6.5

Frank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music

2007

Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973

2007

EAV Rarities

2006

as Self (archive footage)

Fuck

2006

as Self (archive footage)

6.4

Derailroaded

2005

as Self (archive footage)

7.6

Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme

2005

as Himself

7.7

Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me

2004

as Himself

6.0

Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s

2002

as Self (archive footage)

Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note

2002

as Self (archive footage)

Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die

2000

as Self (archive footage)

The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart

1997

as Himself (archive footage)

Porridge and kerosene

1997

as Self (archive footage)

Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees

1997

as Mike Nesmith (archive footage)

8.8

An American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa

1994

as Self (archive footage)

The Revenge of the Dead Indians

1993

as Himself

A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa

as Self

The Yellow Shark

as Self

Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko

1991

as Self

Your vote

1991

as Self

Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth

as Self

Pražákům, těm je hej

as Frank Zappa

Služební cesta podporučíka Svěráka

1989

as Self (archive footage)

Decade

as Self

Funny

as Self

The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels

1988

as Self

7.5

Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona

1988

8.0

The Amazing Mr. Bickford

as Self

Video from Hell

as Self

Uncle Meat

as Self / The Imaginary Director

5.7

Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars

1985

as Self

Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?

1985

as Self

7.7

The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers

1984

as Attila

6.5

Cocaine Blues

1983

as Himself

The Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years

1982

as Self

Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!

1982

as Self

5.9

Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere

1980

as Self

Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes

1979

as Self

6.5

Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around

1978

as Self

4.5

Frank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden

1973

Deep Purple: Made In Japan

1972

as Self (archive footage)

10.0

Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here

1972

as Self

6.0

Frank Zappa filmt 200 Motels

1971

as Self

200 Motels

1971

as Member of Mothers of Invention (uncredited)

5.2

Frank Zappa: A Day With Frank

1971

as Self

Frank Zappa, John Lennon & Yoko Ono: At Fillmore East

1971

Pink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival

1970

Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)

1970

as Self

Burnt Weeny Sandwich

1969

as Self

All My Loving

as Self

Head

as The Critic

You Are What You Eat

Mondo Hollywood

Sex in Today's World

as Self

Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution

1967

as Self

The Big T.N.T. Show

1965

as Self (uncredited)

7.0

The Male Swagger

as Guitarist (archive footage)

Television (13)

Laurel Canyon

2020

as Self (archive footage)

8.0

Girls and Boys - Sex and British Pop

2005

as Self (archive footage)

Classic Albums

1997

as Self (archive footage)

7.7

The Ren & Stimpy Show

as The Pope (voice)

Miami Vice

as Mario Fuente

Faerie Tale Theatre

as Attilla

Saturday Night Live

as Self - Musical Guest

7.0

Omnibus

1967

as Self

7.2

Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution

1967

as Self

Good Evening — I'm Jonathan King

1967

as Himself

The Monkees

as Self (uncredited)

Beat-Club

as Self

Late Night Line-Up

as Himself

Crew (70)

Movies (68)

Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep

2025

Producer

Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep

2025

Songs

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968

2024

Music

Zappa

2020

Music

7.3

Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape

2016

Music

Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie

2015

Director

6.8

Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie

2015

Music

6.8

Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie

2015

Producer

6.8

Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie

2015

Writer

6.8

Frank Zappa – Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily

2014

Music

7.8

Cheepnis

2014

Director

Cheepnis

2014

Editor

Cheepnis

2014

Music

Cheepnis

2014

Producer

Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme

2013

Editor

6.1

Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme

2013

Music

6.1

1982. L'estate di Frank

2012

Music

Frank Zappa: The Torture Never Stops

2008

Music

5.8

Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973

2007

Director

Band from Utopia: A Tribute to the Music of Frank Zappa

2002

Music

Happy Birthday to John

1997

Songs

4.8

Beasts

1993

Music

The Yellow Shark

Conductor

The Yellow Shark

Music

Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko

1991

Music

Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko

1991

Producer

Cousteau: Alaska: Outrage at Valdez

1990

Music

The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels

1988

Director

7.5

The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels

1988

Music

7.5

The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels

1988

Producer

7.5

The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels

1988

Writer

7.5

The Amazing Mr. Bickford

1987

Director

5.7

The Amazing Mr. Bickford

1987

Music

5.7

The Amazing Mr. Bickford

1987

Producer

5.7

The Amazing Mr. Bickford

Writer

Video from Hell

Camera Operator

Video from Hell

Director

Video from Hell

Music

Video from Hell

Producer

Video from Hell

Writer

Uncle Meat

Director

Uncle Meat

Producer

Uncle Meat

Writer

Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars

1985

Director

Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars

1985

Writer

Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?

1985

Director

7.7

Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?

1985

Music

7.7

Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?

1985

Producer

7.7

Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?

1985

Writer

7.7

Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!

1982

Director

5.9

Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!

1982

Music

5.9

Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!

1982

Writer

5.9

Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes

1979

Director

6.5

Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes

1979

Editor

6.5

Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes

1979

Music

6.5

Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes

1979

Producer

6.5

Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes

Writer

The Manipulator

Props

200 Motels

Director

200 Motels

Music Arranger

200 Motels

Original Music Composer

5.2

200 Motels

1971

Screenplay

5.2

Frank Zappa: A Day With Frank

1971

Music

Burnt Weeny Sandwich

1969

Director

Burnt Weeny Sandwich

1969

Music

Luden’s Cough Drops

1967

Music

Run Home Slow

1965

Original Music Composer

2.7

The World's Greatest Sinner

1962

Original Music Composer

6.7

Television (2)

Duckman

In Memory Of

Duckman

Music