Chad Smith
Biography
Chad Gaylord Smith, born October 25, 1961, in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, is an American musician who is also listed on The Movie Database as an actor. The TMDB entry records him with 84 known acting credits and identifies him under the alternate name Red Hot Chili Peppers Chad Gaylord Smith. While primarily recognized as the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers since 1988—a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012—he has also performed with the hard‑rock supergroup Chickenfoot (formed 2008) and the instrumental group Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats (formed 2007). His collaborations include work with The Chicks on the Grammy‑winning album Taking the Long Way (2007) and recordings with artists such as Glenn Hughes, Johnny Cash, and John Fogerty.
Career overview
Chad Gaylord Smith was born on October 25, 1961 in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. He is an American musician best known as the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, a position he has held since 1988. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. In addition to his long‑term role with the Chili Peppers, Smith has performed with the hard‑rock supergroup Chickenfoot, formed in 2008, and with the all‑instrumental ensemble Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats, formed in 2007. His recording work includes collaborations with The Chicks on the Grammy‑winning album Taking the Long Way (2007) and sessions with artists such as Glenn Hughes, Johnny Cash, John Fogerty, Geezer Butler, Jennifer Nettles, Kid Rock, Jake Bugg, the Avett Brothers, Joe Satriani, Post Malone, Eddie Vedder, Lana Del Rey and Halsey.
Beyond his musical achievements, Smith is listed on The Movie Database as an actor. The TMDB entry records 84 known acting credits, indicating a substantial body of work in film and television. He is identified on the platform as a male performer and is also referenced under the alternate name “Red Hot Chili Peppers Chad Gaylord Smith.” While the specific titles of his acting projects are not detailed in the available source, the credit count confirms an active parallel career in front of the camera.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025) as Self
- Ozzy: No Escape from Now (2025) as Self
- FireAid Benefit Concert (2025) as Self
- Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow (2025) as Self
- An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile (2025) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live at Tokyo Dome 2023 (2024)
- Paris 2024 Olympic Closing Ceremony (2024) as Self (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Phil Collins: Drummer First (2024) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers live at Estadio River Plate, Buenos Aires, Argentina November 24, 2023 (2023) as Self - Drums
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live at Tokyo Dome (2023)
- Top Gun: Maverick (2022) Musician
- Let There Be Drums! (2022) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Austin City Limits Festival 2022 (2022) as Self
- Count Me In (2021) as Self
- Eddie Vedder: Live at Ohana Festival 2021 (2021)
- Love, Death & Robots (2019) as Chad Smith (voice)
- Love, Death & Robots (2019) Music
- On Drums... Stewart Copeland! (2019) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers Live At The Pyramids (2019) as Himself
- Creem: America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine (2019) as Self - Red Hot Chili Peppers
- In Your Face: The Neil Zlozower Story (2018) as Himself
- The Lego Batman Movie (2017) Musician
- Song to Song (2017) as Chad Smith
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Rock in Rio (2017) as Drums
- Alicia Keys - Landmarks Live in Concert (2017) as Self
- Foo Fighters – Landmarks Live in Concert: A Great Performances Special (2017) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Rock am Ring 2016 (2016) as Drums
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live Reading Festival 2016 (2016) as Drums
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Lollapalooza, Chicago 2016 (2016) as Drums
- Rammstein in Amerika (2015) as Self
- 5 Seconds of Summer: How Did We End Up Here? (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Musical Guest
- Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II (2014) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Circuito Banco Do Brasil Festival (2013) as Himself
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Bonnaroo 2012 (2012)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Rock Im Pott (2012) as Himself
- Beware of Mr. Baker (2012) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Live from the Basement (2012) as drums, percussion
- The Jonathan Ross Show (2011) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers Live: I'm with You (2011) as Himself
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live from The Roxy Theatre 2011 (2011) as Himself
- Chickenfoot - Get Your Buzz On (2010) as Drums
- MTV World Stage (2009) as Self
- Buddy Rich Memorial Concert (2009)
- Chickenfoot: The White Album (2009) as Himself
- Red Hot Chili Peppers "Stadium Parisian" 2006 (2009) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers : Live in Poland (2007) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Live Earth Concert Wembley (2007) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: A Dutch Connection (2007)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live at Fuji Rock Festival (2006) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers : Live at La Cigale (2006) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live in Milan (2006) as Self - Drums
- Coachella (2006) as Self - Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Chad Smith & Ian Paice (2005) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Live in Japan (2004) as Self
- Glenn Hughes: Soulfully Live in the City of Angels (2004) as Drums
- VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown (2003) as Self (archive footage)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Live at Slane Castle (2003) as Self - Drums
- CMT Crossroads (2002) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: [2001] Rock In Rio (2001) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Off the Map (2001) as Self
- Woodstock '99 (2000)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Live At Budokan (2000) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Bizarre Festival (1999) as Self - Drums
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Woodstock '99 (1999) as Self - Drums
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: [1999] Moscow, Russia (1999) as Self
- Free Tibet (1998) as Self - Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Red Hot Chili Peppers Occupy the Garden (1996) as Himself
- Tibetan Freedom Concert (1996) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Tibetan Freedom Concert (1996)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - What Hits!? (1992) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Funky Monks (1991) as Self
- Session Man (1991) as Spider Moore
- Les Nuls, l'émission (1990) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Psychedelic Sexfunk Live from Heaven (1990) as Self
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: [1990] Tokyo Tattoo (1990) as Self - Drums
- The Simpsons (1989) as Chad Smith (voice)
- MTV Rockumentary (1989)
- MTV Video Music Awards (1984) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- Deep Purple: Made In Japan (1972) as Self
- The Grammys (1959) as Self
- Dreadtown: The Steel Pulse Story as Self
- Ferocious Drummers