DesiMDB
Frank Zappa

Acting

Frank Zappa

EN, DE, PT, NO cinema · 109 credits

Born

21 December 1940

Died

4 December 1993 (aged 52)

Birthplace

Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Also known as Zappa · FZ · Френк Заппа · 法蘭克札帕

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.  

Known for

Filmography

The Male Swagger

The Male Swagger

EN7.0

as Guitarist (archive footage)

Nova '78 poster

Nova '78

EN · 2026Not rated

as Self (archive footage)

Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep poster

Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep

EN · 2025Not rated

as Self (guitar, vocals), Songs, Producer

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music poster

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

EN · 20257.7

as Self (archive footage)

Marc-André Hamelin @ Ruhr Piano Festival 2025 poster

Marc-André Hamelin @ Ruhr Piano Festival 2025

DE · 2025Not rated

Music

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

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

EN · 2024Not rated

Actor, Music

The Residents - A Documentary poster

The Residents - A Documentary

PT · 202410.0

Compositor

Cover Your Ears poster

Cover Your Ears

EN · 20236.0

as Self - Musician (archive footage)

Rock this Town poster

Rock this Town

EN · 2022Not rated

as Self (archive footage)

Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary poster

Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary

EN · 20228.5

as Self (archive footage)

Larry Flynt for President poster

Larry Flynt for President

EN · 20215.2

as Self (archive footage)

Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff poster

Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff

NO · 2021Not rated

as Self (archive footage)

The Velvet Underground poster

The Velvet Underground

EN · 20216.8

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Art of Dissent poster

The Art of Dissent

EN · 2021Not rated

as Self - Subject (archive footage)

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

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

EN · 20218.6

as Self

Zappa poster

Zappa

EN · 20207.2

as Self (archive footage), Music

Echo in the Canyon poster

Echo in the Canyon

EN · 20196.8

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice poster

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice

EN · 20197.6

as Self (archive footage)

Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind poster

Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind

EN · 20196.8

as Self (archive footage)

Stupor Mundi: Livre 3, La plus dangereuse rencontre

2019

Stupor Mundi: Book 3, The Most Dangerous Encounter

FR · 2019Not rated

as Self (archive footage)

Take Your Pills poster

Take Your Pills

EN · 20186.5

as Self (archive footage)

Cosmic Debris poster

Cosmic Debris

EN · 2018Not rated

as Himself (archive footage)

Zapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa

2016

Zapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa

EN · 20169.5

as Self - Subject (archive footage)

Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape

2016

Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape

EN · 2016Not rated

as Self (archive footage), Music

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

2016

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

EN · 2016Not rated

as Self (archive footage)

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

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

EN · 2016Not rated

as Self

Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words poster

Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words

EN · 20167.3

as Self (archive footage)

Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George poster

Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George

EN · 20158.0

as Self (archive footage)

Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie poster

Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie

EN · 20156.8

as Himself, Director, Writer, Music, Producer

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

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

EN · 20147.4

as Himself (archive Footage), Music

Cheepnis poster

Cheepnis

EN · 2014Not rated

as Himself, Producer, Editor, Director, Music

Super Duper Alice Cooper poster

Super Duper Alice Cooper

EN · 20147.1

as Self (archive footage)

Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II poster

Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II

EN · 20147.4

as Self (archive footage)

Led Zeppelin Played Here poster

Led Zeppelin Played Here

EN · 20148.0

as Self (archive footage)

Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme poster

Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme

EN · 20136.1

as Himself, Editor, Music

From Straight to Bizarre poster

From Straight to Bizarre

EN · 20123.8

as Self

1982. L'estate di Frank

2012

1982. L'estate di Frank

EN · 2012Not rated

Music

Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology poster

Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology

EN · 20108.0

as Self (archive footage)

Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List poster

Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List

EN · 2010Not rated

as Himself

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

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

EN · 2009Not rated

as Himself

An Evening with Frank Zappa During Which... The Torture Never Stops poster

An Evening with Frank Zappa During Which... The Torture Never Stops

EN · 20085.8

as Self, Music

Frank Zappa: Music In Review poster

Frank Zappa: Music In Review

EN · 2008Not rated

as Self (archive footage)

Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives poster

Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives

EN · 2008Not rated

as Self

Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980 poster

Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980

EN · 20088.0

as Self

The Wrecking Crew poster

The Wrecking Crew

EN · 20087.4

as Self (archive footage)

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

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

EN · 20076.5

as Self (archive footage)

Frank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music poster

Frank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music

EN · 2007Not rated

Actor

Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973 poster

Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973

EN · 2007Not rated

Actor, Director

Fuck poster

Fuck

EN · 20066.4

as Self (archive footage)

EAV Rarities

2006

EAV Rarities

DE · 2006Not rated

as Self (archive footage)

Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme poster

Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme

EN · 20057.7

as Himself

Derailroaded poster

Derailroaded

EN · 20057.5

as Self (archive footage)

Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me

2004

Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me

EN · 20046.0

as Himself

Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note

2002

Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note

EN · 20027.0

as Self (archive footage)

Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s poster

Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s

EN · 200210.0

as Self (archive footage)

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

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

EN · 2002Not rated

Music

Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die

2000

Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die

EN · 2000Not rated

as Self (archive footage)

Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees poster

Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees

EN · 19978.4

as Mike Nesmith (archive footage)

Välling och fotogen

1997

Porridge and kerosene

SV · 1997Not rated

as Self (archive footage)

The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart poster

The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart

EN · 1997Not rated

as Himself (archive footage)

Happy Birthday to John poster

Happy Birthday to John

EN · 19975.3

Songs

An American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa

1994

An American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa

IT · 1994Not rated

as Self (archive footage)

Ein Leben als Extravaganza - Das Genie Frank Zappa

1993

A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa

EN · 19939.0

as Self

The Revenge of the Dead Indians poster

The Revenge of the Dead Indians

EN · 19937.0

as Himself

Beasts poster

Beasts

HU · 1993Not rated

Music

The Yellow Shark poster

The Yellow Shark

EN · 19928.0

as Self, Conductor, Music

Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth

1991

Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth

EN · 19914.5

as Self

Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko poster

Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko

EN · 19918.0

as Self, Music, Producer

Your vote

1991

Your vote

EN · 1991Not rated

as Self

Pražákům, těm je hej poster

Pražákům, těm je hej

CS · 19917.5

as Frank Zappa

Cousteau: Alaska: Outrage at Valdez

1990

Cousteau: Alaska: Outrage at Valdez

EN · 19907.0

Music

Služební cesta podporučíka Svěráka

1989

Služební cesta podporučíka Svěráka

CS · 19896.0

as Self (archive footage)

Decade poster

Decade

EN · 19898.5

as Self

Funny poster

Funny

EN · 19888.0

as Self

The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels poster

The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels

EN · 19887.3

as Self, Director, Music, Producer, Writer

Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona poster

Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona

EN · 19888.0

Actor

Video from Hell poster

Video from Hell

EN · 19877.2

as Self, Director, Music, Writer, Producer, Camera Operator

The Amazing Mr. Bickford poster

The Amazing Mr. Bickford

EN · 19875.8

as Self, Director, Writer, Music, Producer

Uncle Meat poster

Uncle Meat

EN · 19876.3

as Self / The Imaginary Director, Writer, Director, Producer

Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music? poster

Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?

EN · 19858.1

as Self, Director, Producer, Music, Writer

Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars poster

Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars

EN · 1985Not rated

as Self, Director, Writer

The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers poster

The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers

EN · 19846.2

as Attila

Cocaine Blues poster

Cocaine Blues

EN · 19837.0

as Himself

The Rolling Stones - Die ersten 20 Jahre

1982

The Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years

DE · 1982Not rated

as Self

Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special! poster

Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!

EN · 19826.4

as Self, Music, Director, Writer

Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere

1980

Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere

EN · 1980Not rated

as Self

Baby Snakes poster

Baby Snakes

EN · 19796.6

as Self, Director, Producer, Music, Writer, Editor

Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around poster

Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around

EN · 19784.5

as Self

Frank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden poster

Frank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden

EN · 1973Not rated

Actor

Deep Purple: Made In Japan poster

Deep Purple: Made In Japan

EN · 197210.0

as Self (archive footage)

Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here poster

Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here

EN · 19726.0

as Self

The Making of 200 Motels poster

The Making of 200 Motels

NL · 1971Not rated

as Self

200 Motels poster

200 Motels

EN · 19715.1

as Member of Mothers of Invention (uncredited), Director, Screenplay, Music Arranger, Original Music Composer

Frank Zappa poster

Frank Zappa

EN · 1971Not rated

as Self, Music

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

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

EN · 1971Not rated

Actor

The Manipulator poster

The Manipulator

EN · 19714.5

Props

Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution) poster

Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)

EN · 19707.0

as Self

Pink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival poster

Pink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival

EN · 1970Not rated

as Self

Burnt Weeny Sandwich poster

Burnt Weeny Sandwich

EN · 1969Not rated

as Self, Music, Director

Head poster

Head

EN · 19686.2

as The Critic

All My Loving poster

All My Loving

EN · 19686.5

as Self

You Are What You Eat poster

You Are What You Eat

EN · 19684.4

Actor

Sex in Today's World poster

Sex in Today's World

EN · 19679.0

as Self

Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution poster

Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution

EN · 1967Not rated

as Self

Mondo Hollywood poster

Mondo Hollywood

EN · 19676.7

Actor

Luden’s Cough Drops

1967

Luden’s Cough Drops

EN · 1967Not rated

Music

The Big T.N.T. Show poster

The Big T.N.T. Show

EN · 19658.5

as Self (uncredited)

Run Home Slow poster

Run Home Slow

EN · 19653.8

Original Music Composer

The World's Greatest Sinner poster

The World's Greatest Sinner

EN · 19626.9

Original Music Composer