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Michael Jackson Biography (1958-)

Full name, Michael Joseph Jackson; born August 29, 1958, in Gary, IN; son ofJoseph Walter (a rhythm and blues guitarist, crane operator, and manager) andKatherine Esther (maiden name, Scruse) Jackson; brother of Maureen Reillette"Rebbie" Jackson (a singer), Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson (a singer), Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (a singer), Jermaine Lajaune Jackson (a singer), LaToya Yvonne Jackson (a singer and writer), Marlon David Jackson (a singer), Stephen Randall "Randy" Jackson (a singer), and Janet Damita Jo Jackson (a singer and actress); married Lisa Marie Presley, May 18, 1994 (divorced January18, 1996); married Debbie Rowe (a dermatologist's assistant), November 15 (some sources cite November 14), 1996 (divorced October 8, 1999); children: (second marriage) Prince Michael, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Occupation

Singer, songwriter, actor, producer, director, choreographer, dancer

Birth Details

August 29, 1958

Gary, Indiana, United States

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Television Appearances
• Series
• Voice of Michael, The Jackson Five (animated), ABC, 1971-1973
• Himself, The Jacksons, CBS, 1976-1977
• Specials
• Marlo Thomas and Friends in Free to Be ... You and Me, ABC, 1974
• Disneyland's 25th Anniversary (also known as Kraft Salutes Disneyland's 25th Anniversary), NBC, 1980
• Diana, CBS, 1981
• Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (also known as Motown 25), NBC, 1983
• The Making of Disney's Captain Eo (also known as Captain Eo--Backstage), The Disney Channel, 1986
• Disney's DTV Monster Hits, NBC, 1987
• Michael Jackson ... The Magic Returns, CBS, 1987
• Himself, Daddy Can't Read, 1988
• Michael Jackson (also known as Motown on Showtime), Showtime, 1988
• Michael Jackson around the World, NBC, 1988
• Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration, ABC, 1990
• Tribute to John Lennon, syndicated, 1990
• ABC in Concert, ABC, 1991
• Dangerous, 1991
• Entertainers '91: The Top 20 of the Year, ABC, 1991
• "Everybody Dance Now," Dance in America, PBS, 1991
• MTV Generation, MTV, 1991
• MTV's 10th Anniversary Special, ABC, 1991
• Michael Jackson in Concert in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour, HBO,1992
• Michael Jackson: The Dangerous Tour!, Fox, 1992
• An American Reunion: New Beginnings, Renewed Hope (also known as An American Reunion: The People's Inaugural Celebration), HBO, 1993
• An American Reunion: The 52nd Presidential Inaugural Gala, CBS, 1993
• Michael Jackson Talks ... to Oprah--90 Primetime Minutes with the Kingof Pop (also known as Oprah Live with Michael Jackson--90 Minutes with the King of Pop and Live and Dangerous), ABC, 1993
• Super Bowl Live, NBC, 1993
• Super Bowl XXVII, NBC, 1993
• The American Film Institute Salute to Elizabeth Taylor, ABC, 1993
• The Jackson Family Honors, NBC, 1994
• "We Are the World": A 10th Anniversary Tribute, The Disney Channel, 1995
• BET's 15th Anniversary Gala, Black Entertainment Television, 1995
• Bob Jones: Godfather of Black Hollywood, Black Entertainment Television, 1995
• Michael Jackson Changes HIStory, ABC and MTV, 1995
• The Soul Train 25th Anniversary Hall of Fame Special, CBS, 1995
• Michael Jackson: One Night Only, 1995
• The History of Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 10 (also known as Up from the Underground), 1995
• (Uncredited) Himself, Happy Birthday, Elizabeth: A Celebration of Life, ABC, 1997
• The 12th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, VH1, 1997
• MTV's 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made, MTV, 1999
• (In archive footage) It's Black Entertainment, Showtime, 2000
• MTV Icon: Janet Jackson, MTV, 2001
• (In archive footage) Headliners & Legends: Brooke Shields, 2001
• (In archive footage) Brooke Shields: Celebrity Profile, 2001
• Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, CBS, 2001
• Awards Presentations
• MTV's 1988 Video Music Awards, MTV, 1988
• The 30th Annual Grammy Awards, 1988
• The 3rd Annual Soul Train Music Awards, 1989
• The 1992 Billboard Music Awards, 1992
• The 1993 World Music Awards, 1993
• The 35th Annual Grammy Awards, 1993
• The 7th Annual Soul Train Music Awards, 1993
• The American Music Awards, 1993
• The 26th Annual NAACP Image Awards, 1994
• The 1995 MTV Video Music Awards, 1995
• The 1996 World Music Awards, 1996
• The BRIT Awards '96, 1996
• MTV Video Music Awards, MTV, 2001
• Episodic
• (With the Jackson 5) Toast of the Town, 1968
• (With the Jackson 5) The Carol Burnett Show, 1974
• (With the Jacksons) Musikladen, 1977
• The Wolfman Jack Radio Show, syndicated, 1980
• Himself, Silver Spoons, 1983
• America's Top 10, 1983
• The Arsenio Hall Show, 1989
• MTV Rewind, MTV, 1989
• "A Michael Jackson Tribute," America's Top 10, 1989
• (Credited as John Jay Smith) Voice of Leon Kompowsky portraying Michael Jackson, "Stark Raving Dad," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 1991
• "The Jacksons," Famous Families, Fox Family, 1998
• Also appeared in an episode of Airport and on The Andy WilliamsShow, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, The Flip Wilson Show, and Hollywood Palace.
• Other
• Himself, The Other Lover (movie), CBS, 1985
• Himself, Switched at Birth (miniseries), NBC, 1991
• Television Work
• Specials
• Executive producer, Michael Jackson, Showtime, 1988
• Choreographer, "Michael Jackson Performance," MTV's 10th Anniversary Special, MTV, 1991
• Executive producer, Funny Business, PBS, 1993
• Executive producer, Michael Jackson: One Night Only, 1995
• Film Appearances
• Himself, Goodbye Charlie, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1964
• Himself, Save the Children, 1973
• Razamataz, Bugsy Malone, Paramount, 1976
• Scarecrow, The Wiz, Universal, 1978
• Scarecrow, Wiz on down the Road, 1978
• Michael Jackson: Making Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (short documentary), Vestron Video, 1983
• (In archive footage) That's Dancing!, 1985
• Title role, Captain Eo (short film), Walt Disney, 1986
• Michael, Moonwalker (also known as Michael Jackson: Moonwalker), Ultimate Productions, 1988
• Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues, Vestron Video, 1989
• Himself, Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones (also known as Listen Up), Warner Bros., 1991
• Maestro/Super Ghoul/Skeleton/Mayor, and Ghoul Mayor, Ghosts (alsoknown as Michael Jackson's Ghosts), Heliopolis/MJJ Productions, 1997
• (Uncredited) Men in Black 2 (also known as MIB2 and MIIB), 2002
• Film Work
• Producer, choreographer of part one, and music producer, Michael Jackson: Making Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (short documentary), Vestron Video, 1983
• Song producer, Captain Eo (short film), Walt Disney, 1986
• Executive producer and choreographer of "Smooth Criminal" segment, and song producer, Moonwalker (also known as Michael Jackson: Moonwalker), Ultimate Productions, 1988
• Executive producer, Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues, VestronVideo, 1989
• Song producer, "Will You Be There," Free Willy, 1993
• Producer and choreographer, Ghosts (also known as Michael Jackson's Ghosts), Heliopolis/MJJ Productions, 1997
• Stage Appearances
• Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Tribute, Theatre at Madison Square Garden, New York City, 2001
• Stage Work
• Producer
• Puttin' on the Mask, Workshops for Careers in the Arts, Living Library Company, Black Theatre Festival U.S.A., Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, New York City, 1979
• RECORDINGS
• Albums; with the Jackson Five
• Diana Ross Presents the Jackson Five, Motown, 1969
• ABC, Motown, 1970
• Jackson Five Christmas Album, Motown, 1970
• Third Album, Motown, 1970
• Goin' Back to Indiana, Motown, 1971
• Greatest Hits, Motown, 1971
• Maybe Tomorrow, Motown, 1971
• Looking through the Windows, Motown, 1972
• Farewell My Summer, 1973
• Get It Together, Motown, 1973
• Skywriter, Motown, 1973
• Dancing Machine, Motown, 1974
• Moving Violation, Motown, 1975
• Joyful Jukebox Music, Motown, 1976
• Boogie, Natural, 1979
• Singles include "ABC," "I'll Be There," "I Want You Back," and "The LoveYou Save."
• Albums; with the Jacksons
• The Jacksons, Epic, 1976
• Goin' Places, Epic, 1977
• Destiny, Epic, 1978
• Triumph, Epic, 1980
• The Jacksons Live, Epic, 1981
• Victory, Epic, 1984
• Solo Albums
• Got to Be There, Motown, 1972
• Ben, Motown, 1972
• Music and Me, Motown, 1973
• Forever Michael, Motown, 1975
• The Best of Michael Jackson, 1975
• Off the Wall (includes "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough"), Epic, 1979
• Michael Jackson--Superstar Series Vol. 7, Motown, 1980
• The Best of Michael Jackson, Motown, 1981
• One Day in Your Life, Motown, 1981
• Narrator and vocalist, E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, MCA, 1982
• Thriller (includes "Beat It," "Billie Jean," "The Girl Is Mine," "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," "Thriller," and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"),Epic, 1982
• Bad, Epic, 1987
• Original Soul, Motown, 1988
• Solid Gold, Epic, 1989
• Dangerous, Epic, 1992
• Remix Collection, Alex, 1992
• HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book 1, Epic, 1995
• Pre-History, 1996
• Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix, Sony, 1997
• Invincible, Sony, 2001-2002
• Greatest Hits: History, Vol. 1, Sony, 2001
• Singles include "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough," 1979; "Billie Jean," 1983; "Bad," 1987; "Remember the Time," 1992; "Black or White," 1992; "You RockMy World," 2001; and "Unbreakable," Sony International, 2002.
• Albums; Contributing Vocalist
• The Wiz, 1978
• Kenny Loggins, Keep the Fire, 1979
• Minnie Riperton, Love Lives Forever, 1980
• Johnson Brothers, Light Up the Night, 1980
• Quincy Jones, Dude, 1980
• Dave Mason, Old Crest on a New Wave, 1980
• Stevie Wonder, Hotter than July, 1980
• Carol Bayer Sager, Sometimes Late at Night, 1981
• Donna Summer, Donna Summer, 1982
• Paul McCartney, Pipes of Peace, 1983
• Jermaine Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, 1984
• Rockwell, Somebody's Watching Me, 1984
• USA for Africa: We Are the World, 1985
• Free Willy (soundtrack recording), 1995
• Joe King Carrasco, Anthology, 1995
• Free Willy 2 (soundtrack recording), 1995
• Three T, Brotherhood, 1995
• Three T, Why, 1996
• Albums; Executive Producer
• Free Willy, 1995
• Free Willy 2, 1995
• Sisterella: Original Cast Recording, 1996
• This Is Swing, 1996
• Best Girl Power Album Ever, 1997
• Albums; Producer
• Pablo Cruise, Pablo Cruise, 1975
• Endless Love, Diana Ross, 1981
• Victory, Jackson Five, 1984
• Heart of Soul, Heart of Soul, 1988
• Free Willy, 1995
• Free Willy 2, 1995
• Brotherhood, Three T, 1995
• Why, Three T, 1996
• Groove On! Volume 3, 1996
• Tease Me, Three T, 1996
• Keep On, No Authority, 1997
• Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute, 1997
• Greatest Hits, Young Jesse Colin, 1998
• Yours Faithfully, Rebbie Jackson, 1998
• Videos
• Performer and producer, Thriller (also known as Michael Jackson's Thriller), 1983
• Performer, We Are the World: The Video Event, 1985
• Performer as Darryl, executive producer, and choreographer, Bad, 1987
• Performer, Black or White, 1991
• Performer, Leave Me Alone, 1993
• History (also known as Michael Jackson: Video Greatest Hits--HIStory), 1994
• Performer and executive producer, Michael Jackson: History on Film--Volume II, 1997
• Music videos include "Beat It," 1983; (with Paul McCartney) "Say, Say, Say," 1983; and (with Janet Jackson) "Scream," 1995.
• Video Games
• Voice, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2, 2000
• Audio Books
• Narrator, E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial, 1982
• WRITINGS
• For Films
• Part 1, Making Michael Jackson's Thriller (short documentary), Vestron Video, 1983
• "Smooth Criminal," a segment of Moonwalker (also known as Michael Jackson: Moonwalker), Ultimate Productions, 1988
• Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues, Vestron Video, 1989
• Music Composer
• Films
• Moonwalker (also known as Michael Jackson: Moonwalker), Ultimate Productions, 1988
• Ghosts (also known as Michael Jackson's Ghosts), Heliopolis/MJJ Productions, 1997
• Songs Featured in Films
• Theme song, Ben, 1972
• "Beat It," "Billie Jean," "Can You Feel It," "PYT," "Off the Wall," "Thriller," and "Working Day & Night," Michael Jackson: Making Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (short documentary), Vestron Video, 1983
• Revenge of the Nerds, 1984
• Lola, 1985
• Captain Eo (short film), Walt Disney, 1986
• "Beat It," "Late Night with Myron" segment, Outrageous Animation,1988
• Back to the Future II, 1989
• "Will You Be There," Free Willy, 1993
• The Meteor Man, 1993
• Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home, 1995
• "Wanna Be Startin' Something'," Nothing to Lose, 1997
• "Jasmine Flower" and "Night Deeply Sunk," Red Corner, 1997
• "Another Part of Me," Rush Hour, New Line Cinema, 1998
• Center Stage, Columbia, 2000
• Kya Kehna, Eros International, 2000
• Charlie's Angels, Columbia, 2000
• "Smooth Criminal," American Pie 2, 2001
• Rush Hour 2, New Line Cinema, 2001
• Zoolander, Paramount, 2001
• Videos
• Thriller (video), 1983
• Other Writing
• Moonwalk (autobiography), Doubleday (New York City), 1988
• Dancing the Dream: Poems and Reflections, Doubleday, 1992
• Songwriter, including "Blues Away," 1976, and (with Lionel Richie) "We Are the World," 1985.

Further Reference

ADAPTATIONS

• The films Moonwalker and Ghosts were both based on storiesby Jackson.

OTHER SOURCES

Books

• Campbell, Lisa D., Michael Jackson: The King of Pop, 1993
• Celci, Theresa, Michael Jackson, 1993
• Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 19, Gale, 1998
• Contemporary Musicians, Volume 17, Gale, 1996
• Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd edition, Gale, 1998
• Honeyford, Paul, The Thrill of Michael Jackson, Quill (New York City), 1984
• Notable Black American Men, Gale, 1998
• Taraborrelli, J. Randy, Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness, Carol Publishing Group, 1991

Periodicals

• Jet, October 6, 1997, p. 34
• People Weekly, April 21, 1997, p. 48; May 26, 1997, p. 45; October25, 1999, pp. 73, 74; November 10, 2001, pp. 16-22, 51
• TV Guide, December 4, 1999, pp. 10-14, 51; November 10, 2001, pp.16-22, 51

Electronic

• Michael Jackson, http://www.michaeljackson.com, March 18, 2001

Other

• The Jacksons: An American Dream (television special), ABC, 1992