1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Elton John Biography (1947-)

Original name, Reginald Kenneth Dwight; full name, Elton Hercules John; bornMarch 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England; son of Stanley (an Air Force officer and trumpeter) and Sheila Dwight; married Renate Blauel (an engineer),February 14, 1984 (divorced November 18, 1988). Addresses: Publicist:Rogers & Cowan Public Relations, 1888 Century Park East, Suite 500, LosAngeles, CA 90067.; Contact: c/o P.O. Box 17139, Beverly Hills, CA 90209; Woodside, Crumphill Road, Old Windsor, Berkshire, United Kingdom.

Nationality

British

Gender

Male

Occupation

Singer, musician, composer, producer

Birth Details

March 25, 1947

Pinner, Middlesex, United Kingdom

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Film Appearances
• Himself, Born to Boogie, 1972
• Pinball wizard, Tommy (also known as The Who's Tommy and Tommy by "The Who"), Columbia, 1975
• Himself, To Russia ... With Elton, RCA, 1979
• Himself, Eric Clapton and His Rolling Hotel, 1980
• Himself, Stand by Me: AIDS Day Benefit, 1987
• (In archive footage) Himself, Rolling Stone Presents Twenty Years of Rock & Roll (also known as Rolling Stone: The First Twenty Years), 1987
• Himself, The Magic Years, Volume 1 (also known as The Foundations), Movies Unlimited, 1987
• Himself, The Magic Years, Volume 2 (also known as Live Killersin the Making), Movies Unlimited, 1987
• Himself, The Magic Years, Volume 3 (also known as Crowded in Glory), Movies Unlimited, 1987
• Himself, Imagine: John Lennon, 1988
• Himself, The Very Best of Elton John, 1990
• Freddy Mercury Tribute Concert (also known as A Concert for Life: A Tribute to Freddie Mercury), Buena Vista Home Video, 1992
• Himself, Elton John: Live in Barcelona, 1992
• Himself, Spice World (also known as Five, Five Girls, It's Been a Hard 15 Minutes, Spice Girls, Spice Girls: TheMovie, Spice Up Your Life!, and Spice: the Movie), Sony Pictures Entertainment, 1997
• Himself, Twentieth Century Blues: The Songs of Noel Coward, 1998
• Himself, Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael, 1999
• Journey to a Hate-Free Millennium: Stories of Hope and Compassion,1999
• Narrator, The Road to El Dorado (animated), DreamWorks, 2000
• Himself, Film-Fest DVD: Issue 3--Toronto, 2000
• Elton John: The Road to El Dorado, 2000
• Behind the Scenes: Road to El Dorado, DreamWorks, 2000
• Voice of John, Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember, 2001
• Himself, The Country Bears, Buena Vista, 2002
• (Uncredited) Himself, Naqoyqatsi, Miramax, 2002
• Film Work
• Production associate, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, Island,1987
• Song performer, FernGully: The Last Rainforest (animated), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1992
• Song performer, The Lion King, Buena Vista, 1994
• Executive producer and music supervisor, Women Talking Dirty, 1999
• Producer, Desert Flower, 1999
• Television Appearances
• Movies
• Himself, Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras, Cinemax, 1997
• Awards Presentations
• MTV's 1988 Video Music Awards, MTV, 1988
• The 2nd International Rock Awards, 1990
• The 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, MTV, 1992
• Performer, The 67th Annual Academy Awards, 1995
• The 1995 BRIT Awards, 1995
• The BRIT Awards '96, 1996
• The 1997 Billboard Music Awards, 1997
• Presenter, The 1997 MTV Music Video Awards, MTV, 1997
• The 25th Annual American Music Awards, 1998
• The 25th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1999
• GQ's 2000 Men of the Year Awards, Fox, 2000
• The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 2000
• The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards (also known as 2001 Grammy Awards), CBS, 2001
• The VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards, VH1, 2001
• The Orange British Academy Film Awards, 2001
• The 2001 Radio Music Awards, ABC, 2001
• The 2002 Top of the Pops Awards, 2002
• The 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards, NBC, 2003
• The 30th Annual American Music Awards, ABC, 2003
• Specials
• Monsanto Presents Mancini, 1971
• Elton John: In Concert, ABC, 1977
• A Gift of Song: The Music for UNICEF Special (also known as A Gift of Song: The Music for UNICEF Concert), 1979
• Olivia Newton-John's Hollywood Nights, ABC, 1980
• Host, Elton John in Central Park, HBO, 1982
• Host, Elton John Breaking Hearts Tour, Showtime, 1984
• Himself (Wembley Stadium), Live Aid, 1985
• The Prince's Trust Birthday Party, 1986
• The Prince's Trust All-Star Rock Concert, 1986, 1987
• Elton John in Australia, Showtime, 1987
• Bruce Willis: The Return of Bruno, HBO, 1987
• That's What Friends Are For: AIDS Concert '88, Showtime, 1988
• The Prince's Trust All-Star Concert, The Disney Channel, 1988
• ABC Presents a Royal Gala, ABC, 1988
• Guest, Disney's Totally Minnie (also known as Totally Minnie), NBC, 1988
• Our Common Future, syndicated and Arts and Entertainment, 1989
• Cliff from the Hip, Arts and Entertainment, 1989
• Pinball Wizard, Fox Presents Tommy Performed by the Who (also known as The Who Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy), Fox, 1989
• Tribute to John Lennon, syndicated, 1990
• Farm Aid IV, 1990
• Two Rooms: Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin, ABC, 1991
• Queen: The Days of Our Lives, syndicated, 1991
• Guest, Elton John Talking with David Frost, PBS, 1991
• Fox New Year's Eve Live, Fox, 1992
• A Concert for Life, Fox and MTV, 1992
• Tina Turner: Going Home, The Disney Channel, 1993
• In a New Light '93, ABC, 1993
• Elton John Live!, PBS, 1993
• Aretha Franklin: Duets, Fox, 1993
• An American Reunion: The 52nd Presidential Inaugural Gala, 1993
• America Comes to Graceland, syndicated, 1993
• The Wonderful World of Disney: 40 Years of Television Magic, ABC,1994
• The Who's Tommy: The Amazing Journey, The Disney Channel, 1994
• Movie News Hot Summer Sneak Preview, CBS, 1994
• The Lion King: A Musical Journey with Elton John, ABC, 1994
• Gershwin, Bravo, 1994
• The Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1994
• (In archive footage) Himself, American Bandstand's Teen Idol, 1994
• A Special Evening with Elton John, The Disney Channel, 1995
• Sounds of Summer Preview '95, ABC, 1995
• Planet Hollywood Comes Home, ABC, 1995
• Himself, The History of Rock 'n' Roll, Volume 8 (also known as The '70s: Have a Nice Decade), 1995
• (In archive footage) Himself, MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special, 1995
• Elton John in Concert from Rio, The Disney Channel, 1997
• Music from Montserrat (also known as All-Star Concert for Montserrat), pay-per-view, 1997
• Elton John in Concert from Rio, The Disney Channel, 1997
• Barbara Walters Presents "The 10 Most Fascinating People of 1997,"ABC, 1997
• Interviewee, After Diana: A Talking with David Frost Special, PBS,1997
• Himself, An Audience with Elton John, 1997
• Tina Turner: Girl from Nutbush, PBS, 1998
• Interviewee, Billie Jean King, Arts and Entertainment, 1998
• The Nobel Peace Concert, Fox Family Channel, 1998
• Hollywood & Vinyl: Disney's 101 Greatest Musical Moments, VH1,1998
• Himself, Winter Break (also known as Shania Twain's Winter Break), CBS, 1999
• Himself, Comic Relief: The Record Breaker, 1999
• Himself, VH1 Divas Live 2 (also known as VH1 Divas Live '99), VH1, 1999
• Himself, Jarl & Elton John, 1999
• Himself, Definitely Dusty, PBS, 1999
• The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Class of '99, VH1, 1999
• David Frost: One-on-One with Elton John: My Gift Is My Song, Artsand Entertainment, 1999
• Cartier: Jewelers to the Kings, Arts and Entertainment, 1999
• Big Holiday Help-A-Thon, Nickelodeon, 1999
• Himself, Victoria's Secrets, 2000
• (As Sir Elton John; in archive footage) Himself, Freddie Mercury, theUntold Story, 2000
• Party in the Park, 2000
• (In archive footage) Liberace: Too Much of a Good Thing Is Wonderful, 2000
• Elton John: Greatest Hits Live! One Night Only, CBS, 2000
• All-Star Winter Celebration: The Nobel Peace Prize, Fox Family Channel, 2000
• An All-Star Tribute to Joni Mitchell, TNT, 2000
• Stand and Be Counted, The Learning Channel, 2000
• Jessye Norman Sings for the Healing of AIDS, PBS, 2000
• 100 Greatest Songs of Rock & Roll, VH1, 2000
• 100 Greatest Pop Songs, MTV, 2000
• Himself, An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson, TNT, 2001
• Himself, Concert for New York City, VH1, 2001
• The Royal Variety Performance 2001, 2001
• Himself, Rockin New Year's Eve 2002 (also known as Dick Clark'sRockin New Year's Eve 2002), 2001
• Sandra Bernhard: Giving Them Lip, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
• Intimate Portrait: Mary J. Blige, Lifetime, 2001
• Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
• The Concert for New York City, VH1, 2001
• Burt Bacharach, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
• Being Mick, ABC, 2001
• A&E's Live by Request Starring Elton John, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
• Himself, Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace, PBS, 2002
• The 51st NBA All-Star Game, NBC, 2002
• Episodic
• The Andy Williams Show, 1971
• Himself, Cher, CBS, 1975
• The Muppet Show, 1977
• Host, "A Time of Change 1971-1975," The Roots of Rock 'N' Roll, syndicated, 1981
• Himself, Wogan, 1985
• MTV Unplugged, MTV, 1989
• ABC in Concert, ABC, 1991
• Himself, The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS, 1996, 1997
• Himself, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1996
• Storytellers, VH1, 1996
• Himself, Live and Kicking, 1996
• Children in Need, 1997
• The Oprah Winfrey Show, syndicated, 1997
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 1997
• Himself, "First Date," The Nanny, CBS, 1997
• Voice of himself, "Chef Aid," South Park, Comedy Central, 1998
• Voice of himself, "I'm with Cupid," The Simpsons, Fox, 1999
• Guest host, TFI Friday, Channel 4, 2000
• Himself, So Graham Norton, Channel 4, 2001
• Himself, Parkinson, BBC, 2001
• Himself, The Ray Martin Show, 2001
• Himself, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, 2001
• Himself, Ally McBeal, Fox, 2001
• Himself, "Wetten dass..? aus Dresden," Wetten, dass..?, 2001
• Himself, Des O'Connor Tonight, ITV, 2001
• Himself, Top of the Pops, 2002
• Voice of himself, "Gump Roast," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 2002
• Himself, The Frank Skinner Show, 2002
• Himself, "The Honeymoon's Over," Will & Grace, NBC, 2002
• Also appeared as himself, Morecambe & Wise; himself, FridayNight's All Wright; himself, "Elton John Special," Top of the Pops 2.
• RECORDINGS
• Albums
• Empty Sky, MCA, 1969
• The Games, Viking, 1970
• Elton John, MCA, 1970
• Madman across the Water, MCA, 1971
• Tumbleweed Connection, MCA, 1971
• 11-17-70, MCA, 1971
• Honky Chateau, MCA, 1972
• Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player, MCA, 1973
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, MCA, 1973
• Caribou, MCA, 1974
• Captain Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy, MCA, 1975
• Rock of the Westies, MCA, 1975
• Blue Moves, MCA, 1976
• Here & There, MCA, 1976
• Four from Four Eyes, DJM, 1977
• London & New York, Hallmark, 1978
• A Single Man, MCA, 1978
• Victim of Love, MCA, 1979
• 21 at 33, MCA, 1980
• The Album, Hallmark, 1981
• The Fox, MCA, 1981
• Crocodile Rock, Karussell, 1982
• Jump Up!, MCA, 1982
• Too Low for Zero, Geffen, 1983
• Breaking Hearts, Geffen, 1984
• Ice on Fire, Geffen, 1985
• Leather Jackets, Geffen, 1986
• Elton John Live in Australia, MCA, 1987
• Reg Strikes Back, MCA, 1988
• The Complete Thom Bell Sessions, MCA, 1989
• Sleeping with the Past, MCA, 1989
• The One, MCA, 1993
• Duets, MCA, 1993
• Circle of Life, Hollywood, 1994
• Made in England, Rocket, 1995
• Big Picture, Mercury, 1997
• Aida (also known as Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida), PolyGram, 1999
• The Muse, 1999
• The Road to El Dorado, 2000
• One Night Only: The Greatest Hits Live, 2000
• Songs from the West Coast, 2001
• Videos
• Visions: Elton John, Embassy Home Entertainment, 1982
• WRITINGS
• Film Music
• Friends, Paramount, 1971
• Falscher Verdacht (also known as Eddie geht weiter and Haytabo), 1971
• Oh Heavenly Dog, 1980
• Perfect Moment, 1996
• The Muse, October Films, 1999
• Women Talking Dirty, 1999
• The Road to El Dorado (animated), DreamWorks, 2000
• Film Songs
• "Super Cool," Roseland, 1977
• To Russia ... with Elton, RCA, 1979
• Oh, Heavenly Dog!, 1980
• Ferngully: The Last Rainforest (animated), Twentieth Century-Fox,1992
• The Lion King (animated), Buena Vista, 1994
• John's songs have appeared in countless films, including "Saturday Night's Alright (for Fighting)" and "Funeral for a Friend," La marge, 1976;"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," Slap Shot, 1977; "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," One Deadly Summer, 1982; "Don't Let the Sun Go Down onMe," The Lost Boys, 1987; "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Your Song," and "Love Lies Bleeding," Breaking the Waves, 1996; in Oh, Heavenly Dog!, Days of Thunder, My Own Private Idaho, Lethal Weapon 3, Sliding Doors, Without Limits, Rocketman, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Almost Famous, High Fidelity, K-Pax, Moulin Rouge, and more.
• Television Music
• Series
• Composer of title theme music, Timon and Pumbaa (animated; also known as The Lion King's Timon & Pumbaa), 1995
• Television Songs
• Specials
• Two Rooms: Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin, 1991
• The Making of the Lion King, 1994
• Lion King: A Musical Journey with Elton John, 1994
• The Dallas Symphony Orchestra Presents: Amazing Music, 1995
• Al Jarreau: Tenderness, 1996
• Concert for New York, VH1, 2001
• Stage Scores
• (With Tim Rice) The Lion King: The Broadway Musical, New AmsterdamTheatre, New York City, 1997-
• (With Rice) Elaborate Lives: The Legend of Aida, Atlanta, GA, 1998, revised as Aida, Palace Theatre, New York City, 2000-

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

• Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Schirmer, 2001
• Bernardin, Claude, and Tom Stanton, Rocket Man: Elton John from A-Z, Greenwood Press (Westport, CT), 1996
• Contemporary Musicians, Volume 20, Gale Research, 1997
• Encyclopedia of World Biography Supplement, Volume 18, Gale Research, 1998
• Heatley, Michael, Elton John: The Life and Music of a Legendary Performer, 1998
• Norman, Philip, Elton John, Simon & Schuster, 1993
• St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, St. James Press, 2000

Periodicals

• Billboard, November 23, 2002, p. 41
• Entertainment Weekly, February 14, 1997, p. 76; December 29, 1997,p. 36
• Good Housekeeping, February, 1998, p. 29
• Interview, April, 1995, p. 74; January, 1998, p. 58
• New Statesman, December 16, 2002, p. 104
• Newsweek, September 22, 1997, p. 80
• People Weekly, December 29, 1997, p. 64
• Time, October 6, 1997, p. 27