David Byrne
Biography
David Byrne is a Scottish-American musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker who was born on May 14, 1952, in Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. When he was eight or nine years old, his family moved to Arbutus, Maryland, in the United States. Byrne was a founding member, principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of the American new wave band Talking Heads. He has also released solo recordings and worked across various media, including film, photography, opera, fiction, and non-fiction. He is an inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Talking Heads and has received an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a Special Tony Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Within film and television, he is known for his work in sound and has been associated with projects including SNL50: The Homecoming Concert, Jeopardy!: Popkultura, and The Last Emperor.
Career overview
David Byrne was born on May 14, 1952, in Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. When he was eight or nine years old, his family moved to Arbutus, Maryland, in the United States, where his father worked as an electronics engineer at Westinghouse Electric Corporation and his mother later became a teacher. Byrne is a Scottish-American musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker. He was a founding member, principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of the American new wave band Talking Heads, and he is an inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the group.
In addition to his work with Talking Heads, Byrne has released solo recordings and worked across various media, including film, photography, opera, fiction, and non-fiction. Throughout his career, he has received an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, a Special Tony Award, and a Golden Globe Award. His work in film and television includes contributions recognized on the Movie Database, where he is known for his work in sound, with one hundred twenty-six known credits. He has also been associated with projects such as SNL50: The Homecoming Concert, Jeopardy!: Popkultura, and The Last Emperor.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
142 titles- Changing Lanes (2026) as Self
- SNL50: The Homecoming Concert (2025) as Self
- The Twits (2025) as Gordon Sniffles (voice)
- The Twits (2025) Songs
- Breakdown: 1975 (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025) as Self
- We Want the Funk! (2025) as Self
- Monk in Pieces (2025) as Self
- Eno (2024) as Self
- John Mulaney: Baby J (2023) Musician
- John Mulaney: Baby J (2023) Original Music Composer
- Homo Brasilis: Tom Zé, o Tropicalista Visionário (2023) as Self (archive footage)
- Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) Songs
- Twyla Moves (2021) as Self
- Social! Distance Dance Club (2021)
- Stars in the House (2020) as Self - Winner
- BREAK IT ALL: The History of Rock in Latin America (2020) as Self
- David Byrne's American Utopia (2020) as Self - Lead Singer & Performer
- David Byrne's American Utopia (2020) Music
- David Byrne's American Utopia (2020) Executive Producer
- David Byrne's American Utopia (2020) Writer
- FeeLee. History of a Single Label (2020) as Self
- John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch (2019) as David Byrne
- Everything For All Reasons (2019) as Self
- Museum Town (2019) as Self
- Café Tacvba - Un Segundo / MTV Unplugged (2019) as Self - Voice
- Hream (2019) as David Byrne
- Triple-Chaser (2019) as Narrator
- David Byrne: ACL Fest 2018 (2018) as Self
- Real Life (2018) as Narrator / Self
- The Making of True Stories (2018) as Self
- Well How Did We Get Here? A Brief History of Talking Heads (2017) as Self
- Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall (2016) as Self
- Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (2016) Musician
- Temporary Color (2016)
- Contemporary Color (2016)
- Contemporary Color (2016) Producer
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Musical Guest
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest/Musical Guest
- StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson (2015) as Self
- We're Gonna Die (2015) as David Byrne
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- Lennon or McCartney (2014) as Self
- Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- Paul Simon: Under African Skies (2012) as Self
- La Casa del Ritmo: A Film About Los Amigos Invisibles (2012)
- The Jonathan Ross Show (2011) as Self - Guest
- This Must Be the Place (2011) as David Byrne
- This Must Be the Place (2011) Original Music Composer
- Ride, Rise, Roar (2011) as Self
- Talking Heads - Chronology (2011)
- Wandering Heart (2009) as Self
- Tom Zé: Liberated Astronaut (2009)
- Burning Down the House: The Story of CBGB (2009) as Self
- Beyond Ipanema (2009) as Self
- The Vanguard (2008) Original Music Composer
- Celia: The Queen (2008) as Self
- New York Rock at the BBC (2008)
- Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell (2008) as Self (archive footage)
- The Man Who Bottled Clouds (2008) as Self
- Untitled Patton/Byrne Piece (2008)
- NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell (2007) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- David Byrne - Live from Austin Texas (2007) as Self
- Fabricating Tom Zé (2006) as Self
- By the Ways, a Journey with William Eggleston (2006) as Self
- TV Party (2005) as Self
- Stranger: Bernie Worrell on Earth (2005) as Self
- She Hate Me (2004) Thanks
- The Pogues Live at the Town and Country (2004) as Self
- Îlé Aiyé (2004) Director
- Dennis Cleveland (2004)
- Real Time with Bill Maher (2003) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Musical Guest
- Young Adam (2003) Original Music Composer
- Lubbock Lights (2003) as Self
- David Byrne: Live At Union Chapel (2003)
- The Truth About Charlie (2002) Thanks
- In Spite of Wishing and Wanting (2002) Music
- In Spite of Wishing and Wanting (2002) Lyricist
- Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s (2002) as Self
- 25 Years of Punk (2001) as Self
- The Art of Amália (2000) as Introduction (English version)
- Lulu on the Bridge (1998) as "Laughing Man" Escort
- Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart (1998) as Self
- PJ Harvey: Sessions at West 54th (1998)
- Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach: Sessions at West 54th (1998) as Self - Host/Interviewer
- David Byrne - Live From Teatro Gran Rex (1998) as Self
- Tori Amos: Sessions at West 54th (1998) as Self
- Sessions at West 54th (1997) as Self - Host
- Dancing Barefoot (1995) as Self
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994) as Self
- After 68 (1994) Second Assistant Director
- Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self - Musical Guest
- 10000 Maniacs: MTV Unplugged (1993) as Self
- Between the Teeth (1993)
- Between the Teeth (1993) Director
- Until the End of the World (1991) as Self
- Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter (1990) as Self
- Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter (1990) Director
- Beleza Tropical (1990) as Self
- The Simpsons (1989) as David Byrne (voice)
- Plymptoons: The Complete Early Works of Bill Plympton (1989) Music
- Heavy Petting (1989) as Self
- Decade (1989) as Self
- Umbabarauma (1989) Producer
- Married to the Mob (1988) Original Music Composer
- Checking Out (1988) as Bartender
- Talking Heads: Storytelling Giant (1988) as Self
- Talking Heads: Storytelling Giant (1988) Director
- Talking Heads: Storytelling Giant (1988) Writer
- The Last Emperor (1987) Original Music Composer
- True Stories (1986) as Narrator / Lip-Syncher
- True Stories (1986) Director
- True Stories (1986) Writer
- True Stories (1986) Songs
- True Stories (1986) Original Music Composer
- Something Wild (1986) Main Title Theme Composer
- The Kitchen Presents: Two Moon July (1986)
- Report From L.A. (1986) as Himself
- Dead End Kids (1986) as Minister
- The Max Headroom Show (1985) as Self
- Alive from Off Center (1985) Theme Song Performance
- Stop Making Sense (1984) as Self - Vocals, Guitar
- Stop Making Sense (1984) Original Music Composer
- Stop Making Sense (1984) Sound Supervisor
- Talking Heads: The Name of this Programme is Once In A Lifetime (1984) as Self
- Talking Heads: The Name of this Programme is Once In A Lifetime (1984) Creative Consultant
- The Catherine Wheel (1982) Music
- Talking Heads: Live at Montreux Jazz Festival (1982)
- Mea Culpa (1981) Music
- America Is Waiting (1981) Music
- Talking Heads: Rock Pop in Concert (1981)
- Talking Heads: Live in Rome (1980) as Self - Vocals, guitar
- Talking Heads: Capitol Theatre (1980) as Self - Lead Vocals, Guitar
- The Blank Generation (1976) as Self
- Austin City Limits (1975) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Musical Guest
- 60 Minutes (1968) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Talking Heads: 77
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is David Byrne best known for?
David Byrne is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including SNL50: The Homecoming Concert (2025), The Twits (2025), The Twits (2025), Monk in Pieces (2025).
When and where was David Byrne born?
David Byrne was born on May 14, 1952 in Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, UK.
How many credits does David Byrne have?
David Byrne has accumulated over 142 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1953 to 2026.
What is David Byrne's background in cinema and television?
David Byrne is a Scottish-American musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker who was born on May 14, 1952, in Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. When he was eight or nine years old, his family moved to Arbutus, Maryland, in the United States. Byrne was a founding member, principal songwriter, lea...
David Byrne by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Stop Making Sense (1984) as Self - Vocals, Guitar — aged about 32
- Monk in Pieces (2025) as Self — aged about 73
- The Simpsons (1989) as David Byrne (voice) — aged about 37
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994) as Self — aged about 42
- The Max Headroom Show (1985) as Self — aged about 33
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self — aged about 10
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