William S. Burroughs

William S. Burroughs

ActorWriterCrew Feb 5 (died age 83) St. Louis, Missouri, USA 1963–2026 (63 year career)
6.2 avg rating

Biography

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 collab…

Known For

Filmography

Acting (71)

·

Movies (70)

This Is Buzz

This Is Buzz

2026 Upcoming

as Himself

Jun 11

Nova '78

Nova '78

2025

as Self (archive footage)

Robert Wilson: The Beauty of the Mysterious

Robert Wilson: The Beauty of the Mysterious

2022

as Self (archive footage)

Take Your Pills

Take Your Pills

2018

as Self (archive footage)

6.5
Uncle Howard

Uncle Howard

2017

as Self

6.5
Don't Blink - Robert Frank

Don't Blink - Robert Frank

2015

as Self (archive footage)

7.0
Robert E. Fulton III Edit of Burroughs: The Movie

Robert E. Fulton III Edit of Burroughs: The Movie

2015
William S. Burroughs in the Dreamachine

William S. Burroughs in the Dreamachine

2015

as Self

William S. Burroughs: The Possessed

William S. Burroughs: The Possessed

2015
Coda II

Coda II

2013

as Self (voice) (archive sound)

Coda I + Coda II

Coda I + Coda II

2013

as Self (voice) (archive sound)

Coda I

Coda I

2013

as Self (voice) (archive sound)

The Beat Hotel

The Beat Hotel

2012

as Self (archive footage)

4.5
For No Good Reason

For No Good Reason

2012

as Self (archive footage)

6.8
The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye

The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye

2012
6.9
Fix: The Ministry Movie

Fix: The Ministry Movie

2011

as Self

7.3
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within

William S. Burroughs: A Man Within

2010

as Self

6.5
Nova Express

Nova Express

2009

as Narrator (voice)

2.0
FLicKeR

FLicKeR

2009

as Self

6.8
Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press

Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press

2008

as Self (archive footage)

4.4
Words of Advice: William S. Burroughs On the Road

Words of Advice: William S. Burroughs On the Road

2007
Wanderlust

Wanderlust

2006

as Tom the Priest

5.0
The Battle for 'I Am Curious-Yellow'

The Battle for 'I Am Curious-Yellow'

2003

as Self (archive footage)

Condo Painting

Condo Painting

2000

as Self (archive footage)

The Source

The Source

1999

as Self (archive footage)

5.2
The Making of Drugstore Cowboy

The Making of Drugstore Cowboy

1999
Let It Come Down: The Life of Paul Bowles

Let It Come Down: The Life of Paul Bowles

1999

as Self (archive footage)

1.0
Destroy All Rational Thought

Destroy All Rational Thought

1998

as Self

6.3
The Book of Life

The Book of Life

1998

as Preacher on Radio (voice)

6.3
Glitterbug

Glitterbug

1994

as Self

5.9
Relics: Einstein's Brain

Relics: Einstein's Brain

1994

as Self

6.7
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

1994

as Self

4.4
September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill

September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill

1994

as Self

Ah Pook Is Here.

Ah Pook Is Here.

1994

as Narrator

5.9
The Junky's Christmas

The Junky's Christmas

1993

as Narrator

6.7
Naked Making Lunch

Naked Making Lunch

1992

as Self

7.1
Wax, or The Discovery of Television Among the Bees

Wax, or The Discovery of Television Among the Bees

1991

as James "Hive" Maker

6.5
William S. Burroughs: Commissioner of Sewers

William S. Burroughs: Commissioner of Sewers

1991

as Self

6.8
Thanksgiving Prayer

Thanksgiving Prayer

1991

as A Speaker

6.0
Drugstore Cowboy

Drugstore Cowboy

1989

as Tom the Priest

7.1
Twister

Twister

1989

as Man in Barn

5.4
Bloodhounds of Broadway

Bloodhounds of Broadway

1989

as Butler

5.6
Heavy Petting

Heavy Petting

1989

as Self

5.2
Gang of Souls: A Generation of Beat Poets

Gang of Souls: A Generation of Beat Poets

1989

as Self

5.0
Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson

Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson

1986

as Self

8.2
Ornette: Made in America

Ornette: Made in America

1986

as Self

6.3
It Don't Pay to Be an Honest Citizen

It Don't Pay to Be an Honest Citizen

1985

as Mafioso

7.5
The Final Academy Documents

The Final Academy Documents

1984
8.0
Decoder

Decoder

1984

as Old Man

6.1
Burroughs: The Movie

Burroughs: The Movie

1984

as Self

7.0
This Song for Jack

This Song for Jack

1983

as Self

6.0
Pirate Tape

Pirate Tape

1983
6.9
Ghost at No. 9

Ghost at No. 9

1982
8.0
Poetry in Motion

Poetry in Motion

1982

as Self

7.0
Energy and How to Get It

Energy and How to Get It

1981
5.8
Shamans of the Blind Country

Shamans of the Blind Country

1981

as Narrator (voice)

7.0
Chelsea Hotel

Chelsea Hotel

1981
8.0
Fried Shoes Cooked Diamonds

Fried Shoes Cooked Diamonds

1979

as Self

6.5
Thot-Fal'N

Thot-Fal'N

1978

as Self

5.4
Underground and Emigrants

Underground and Emigrants

1976

as Self

Une semaine dans la vie de camarades

Une semaine dans la vie de camarades

1976
Bill and Tony

Bill and Tony

1972

as Self

5.9
Cain's Film

Cain's Film

1969

as Self

Chicago

Chicago

1968

as Self

Witchcraft Through the Ages

Witchcraft Through the Ages

1968

as Narrator

7.2
Poem Posters

Poem Posters

1967

as Self

The Cut-Ups

The Cut-Ups

1966
6.8
Chappaqua

Chappaqua

1966

as Opium Jones

6.3
Towers Open Fire

Towers Open Fire

1963
6.7
William Buys a Parrot

William Buys a Parrot

1963

as Self

6.1