Site Revisions Underway Some Features May Not Work
Photo of Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa

Acting 52 (deceased) years old Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. ★ 0.6
Born: December 21, 1940
Died: December 4, 1993

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 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 impossible to categorize. His 1966 debut album with The Mothers of Invention, Freak Out!, combined songs in conventional rock and roll format with collective improvisations and studio-generated sound collages. His later albums shared this eclectic and experimental approach, irrespective of whether the fundamental format was one of rock, jazz or classical. He wrote the lyrics to all his songs, which—often humorously—reflected his iconoclastic view of established social and political processes, structures and movements. He was a strident critic of mainstream education and organized religion, and a forthright and passionate advocate for freedom of speech, self-education, political participation and the abolition of censorship.

Zappa was a highly productive and prolific artist and gained widespread critical acclaim. Many of his albums are considered essential in rock and jazz history. He is regarded as one of the most original guitarists and composers of his time. He also remains a major influence on musicians and composers. He had some commercial success, particularly in Europe, and for most of his career was able to work as an independent artist. Zappa was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.

Zappa was married to Kathryn J. "Kay" Sherman from 1960 to 1964. In 1967, he married Adelaide Gail Sloatman, with whom he remained until his death from prostate cancer in 1993. They had four children: Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet Emuukha Rodan and Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen. Gail Zappa manages the businesses of her late husband under the name the Zappa Family Trust.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Frank Zappa, licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.  

External Links

🌐 Official Website 🎬 IMDb

Known For

Head
Head The Critic 1968
Zappa
Zappa Self (archive footage) 2020
Fuck
Fuck Self (archive footage) 2006
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music Self (archive footage) 2025
The Wrecking Crew
The Wrecking Crew Self (archive footage) 2008

Filmography

Acting Credits (112)

Nova '78
Nova '78 Self (archive footage) 2025
Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep
Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep Self (guitar, vocals) 2025
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music Self (archive footage) 2025
Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968
Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968 2024
Cover Your Ears
Cover Your Ears Self - Musician (archive footage) 2023
Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary
Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary Self (archive footage) 2022
Rock this Town
Rock this Town Self (archive footage) 2022
Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff
Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff Self (archive footage) 2021
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground Self (archive footage) (uncredited) 2021
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out!
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out! Self 2021
The Art of Dissent
The Art of Dissent Self - Subject (archive footage) 2021
Larry Flynt for President
Larry Flynt for President Self (archive footage) 2021
Zappa
Zappa Self (archive footage) 2020
Laurel Canyon
Laurel Canyon Self (archive footage) 2020
Stupor Mundi: Book 3, The Most Dangerous Encounter
Stupor Mundi: Book 3, The Most Dangerous Encounter Self (archive footage) 2019
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice Self (archive footage) 2019
Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind
Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind Self (archive footage) 2019
Echo in the Canyon
Echo in the Canyon Self (archive footage) (uncredited) 2019
Marian Briozzo
Marian Briozzo Himself (archive footage) 2018
Take Your Pills
Take Your Pills Self (archive footage) 2018
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words Self (archive footage) 2016
Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape
Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape Self (archive footage) 2016
Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne
Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne Self (archive footage) 2016
Zapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa
Zapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa Self - Subject (archive footage) 2016
Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - The Lost Broadcast: The Beat Club '68
Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - The Lost Broadcast: The Beat Club '68 Self 2016
Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie
Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie Himself 2015
Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George
Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George Self (archive footage) 2015
Led Zeppelin Played Here
Led Zeppelin Played Here Self (archive footage) 2014
Frank Zappa – Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily
Frank Zappa – Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily Himself (archive Footage) 2014
Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II
Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II Self (archive footage) 2014
Cheepnis
Cheepnis Himself 2014
Super Duper Alice Cooper
Super Duper Alice Cooper Self (archive footage) 2014
Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme
Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme Himself 2013
From Straight to Bizarre
From Straight to Bizarre Self 2012
Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List
Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List Himself 2010
Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology
Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology Self (archive footage) 2010
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's Himself 2009
Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980
Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980 Self 2008
Frank Zappa: The Torture Never Stops
Frank Zappa: The Torture Never Stops Self 2008
Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives
Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives Self 2008
The Wrecking Crew
The Wrecking Crew Self (archive footage) 2008
Frank Zappa: Music In Review
Frank Zappa: Music In Review Self (archive footage) 2008
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation Self (archive footage) 2007
Frank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music
Frank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music 2007
Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973
Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973 2007
Fuck
Fuck Self (archive footage) 2006
EAV Rarities
EAV Rarities Self (archive footage) 2006
Girls and Boys - Sex and British Pop
Girls and Boys - Sex and British Pop Self (archive footage) 2005
Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme
Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme Himself 2005
Derailroaded
Derailroaded Self (archive footage) 2005
Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me
Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me Himself 2004
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s Self (archive footage) 2002
Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note
Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note Self (archive footage) 2002
Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die
Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die Self (archive footage) 2000
The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart
The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart Himself (archive footage) 1997
Classic Albums
Classic Albums Self (archive footage) 1997
Porridge and kerosene
Porridge and kerosene Self (archive footage) 1997
Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees
Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees Mike Nesmith (archive footage) 1997
An American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa
An American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa Self (archive footage) 1994
A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa
A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa Self 1993
The Revenge of the Dead Indians
The Revenge of the Dead Indians Himself 1993
The Yellow Shark
The Yellow Shark Self 1992
The Ren & Stimpy Show
The Ren & Stimpy Show The Pope (voice) 1991
Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth
Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth Self 1991
Pražákům, těm je hej
Pražákům, těm je hej Frank Zappa 1991
Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko
Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko Self 1991
Your vote
Your vote Self 1991
Decade
Decade Self 1989
Služební cesta podporučíka Svěráka
Služební cesta podporučíka Svěráka Self (archive footage) 1989
Funny
Funny Self 1988
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels Self 1988
Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona
Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona 1988
Video from Hell
Video from Hell Self 1987
The Amazing Mr. Bickford
The Amazing Mr. Bickford Self 1987
Uncle Meat
Uncle Meat Self / The Imaginary Director 1987
Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars
Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars Self 1985
Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?
Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music? Self 1985
The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers
The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers Attila 1984
Miami Vice
Miami Vice Mario Fuente 1984
Cocaine Blues
Cocaine Blues Himself 1983
Faerie Tale Theatre
Faerie Tale Theatre Attilla 1982
Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!
Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special! Self 1982
The Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years
The Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years Self 1982
Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere
Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere Self 1980
Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes
Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes Self 1979
Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around
Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around Self 1978
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live Self - Musical Guest 1975
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live Self - Host & Musical Guest 1975
Frank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden
Frank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden 1973
Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here
Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here Self 1972
Deep Purple: Made In Japan
Deep Purple: Made In Japan Self (archive footage) 1972
The Making of 200 Motels
The Making of 200 Motels Self 1971
200 Motels
200 Motels Member of Mothers of Invention (uncredited) 1971
Frank Zappa, John Lennon & Yoko Ono: At Fillmore East
Frank Zappa, John Lennon & Yoko Ono: At Fillmore East 1971
Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa Self 1971
Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)
Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution) Self 1970
Pink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival
Pink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival 1970
Burnt Weeny Sandwich
Burnt Weeny Sandwich Self 1969
Head
Head The Critic 1968
All My Loving
All My Loving Self 1968
You Are What You Eat
You Are What You Eat 1968
Omnibus
Omnibus Self 1967
Good Evening — I'm Jonathan King
Good Evening — I'm Jonathan King Himself 1967
Mondo Hollywood
Mondo Hollywood 1967
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution Self 1967
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution Self 1967
Sex in Today's World
Sex in Today's World Self 1967
The Monkees
The Monkees Self (uncredited) 1966
The Big T.N.T. Show
The Big T.N.T. Show Self (uncredited) 1965
Beat-Club
Beat-Club Self 1965
Late Night Line-Up
Late Night Line-Up Himself 1964
The Male Swagger
The Male Swagger Guitarist (archive footage)

Directing Credits (13)

Writing Credits (10)

Powered by

TMDB
× Person photo
❮ Back to Person Search