Pete Townshend
Known for Acting · 166 credits
- Born
- 1945-05-19 (age 81)
- Place of birth
- Chiswick, London, England, UK
- Also known as
- The Who · Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend
Biography
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend (born 19 May 1945) is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career. His career with The Who spans more than forty years, during which time the band grew to be considered one of the most influential bands of the 60s and 70s, and, according to Eddie Vedder, "possibly the greatest live band ever."
Townshend is the primary songwriter for The Who, having written well over one hundred songs for the band's eleven studio albums, including concept albums and the rock operas Tommy and Quadrophenia, plus popular rock and roll radio staples like Who's Next, and dozens more that appeared as non-album singles, bonus tracks on reissues, and tracks on rarities compilations like Odds & Sods. He has also written over one hundred songs that have appeared on his solo albums, as well as radio jingles and television theme songs. Although known primarily as a guitarist, he also plays other instruments such as keyboards, banjo, accordion, synthesiser, bass guitar and drums, on his own solo albums, several Who albums, and as a guest contributor to a wide array of other artists' recordings. Townshend has never had formal lessons in any of the instruments he plays.
Townshend has also been a contributor and author of newspaper and magazine articles, book reviews, essays, books, and scripts, as well as collaborating as a lyricist (and composer) for many other musical acts. Townshend was ranked #3 in Dave Marsh's list of Best Guitarists in The New Book of Rock Lists, #10 in Gibson.com's list of the top fifty guitarists, and #50 in Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list: 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Townshend was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Who in 1990.
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Known For
TV Shows (19)
The Simpsons
1989
as Pete Townshend (voice)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Self
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self / Self - Musical Guest
Late Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Guest
Top of the Pops
1964
as Self
Great Performances
1971
as Self
Behind the Music
1997
as Self
Omnibus
1967
as Self
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975
as Self - The Who
Classic Albums
1997
as Self
Where Are They Now?
1999
as Self
Rockpalast
1974
as Self (guitar vocal)
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978
as Self
The BRIT Awards
1977
as Self
The Secret Policeman's Ball
1976
as Self
Na siehste!
1987
as Self
MTV Rockumentary
1989
VH1 Rock Honors
2006
Live Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World
2025
as Self
Movies (147)
Tommy
1975
as Himself
Lennon or McCartney
2014
as Self
Woodstock
1970
as Self - The Who
Live Aid
1985
as Self
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
2004
as Self
Monterey Pop
1968
as Self - The Who
Billy Idol Should Be Dead
2026
as Self
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
2012
as Self
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
1982
as Self
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
2003
as Self
Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation
2019
as Self
Being Mick
2001
as Self
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
2005
as Self
The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
1996
as Self - Guitar
VH1 Rock Honors: The Who
2008
as Self
The Beatles Revolution
2000
as Self
The Who | Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy
1989
as Self - Guitars & Vocals / Mr. Walker / Mrs. Walker / Narrator
The Who: The Kids Are Alright
1979
as Self
Heads
1969
as Self
The Night That Changed Rock
2019
Jimi Hendrix
1973
as Self
Jimi Plays Monterey
1987
as Self (archive footage)
Live Aid
2004
Woodstock: Untold Stories Revisited
2014
as Self
Brian Wilson: On Tour
2003
as Self
Jean-Michel Jarre: A Journey into Sound
2015
as Self
The Rock Prophet: The Story of Link Wray
2025
as Self
The Britpop Story 'It Really, Really, Really, Could Happen'
2005
as Self (archive footage)
Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd
2023
as Self
Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall
2014
as Self
Monterey Pop - The Outtake Performances
2002
Bad Reputation
2018
as Self
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
1981
as Self
Lambert & Stamp
2014
as Himself
Acoustic at the BBC
2011
as Self
1996 VH1 Honors
1996
The Secret Policeman's Ball
1979
as Himself
Led Zeppelin Played Here
2014
as Self (archive footage)
Smashing Pumpkins: If All Goes Wrong
2008
as Self
Woodstock: Untold Stories
2009
The Who & Special Guests: Live At The Royal Albert Hall
2000
as Self - Lead Guitar / Vocals
The Story of Quadrophenia
as Self
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
2015
as Self (archive footage)
The Session Man
2025
as Self
Carousella
1966
as himself
The Who: Fragments Fan Club DVD
2007
as Himself
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
2009
as Himselft
The Who - At Kilburn 1977
2008
as guitar
Sound of the City: London 1964-73
1973
as Self
The Who: Quadrophenia - Live in London
2014
Classic Albums: The Who - Who's Next
1999
as Self
The Who | Tommy and Quadrophenia Live
2005
as Self - Guitar, Vocals
The World's Greatest Gigs
2005
An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story
2006
as Himself
Night Flight: Born Again
2016
as Self
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
2007
as Self
The Who: Tommy Live at The Royal Albert Hall
2017
as Himself – guitars, vocals
The Who: Live in Hyde Park
2015
as Himself - guitarist, vocals
Dear Mr. Fantasy - A Celebration for Jim Capaldi
2007
as Himself
Quadrophenia: Can You See the Real Me?
2013
as Himself
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
2021
as Self (archive footage)
The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb
1993
as Voice
Classic Quadrophenia
2015
as Self
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2009
as Self
A Celebration: The Music of Pete Townshend and The Who
1994
as Self
Mick Fleetwood and Friends: Celebrate the Music of Peter Green and the Early Years of Fleetwood Mac
2021
as Self
Beat Club: The 40th Anniversary Edition
2008
as Self (archive footage)
The Who: Tommy Live With Special Guests
2006
as Self
One For The Road: Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert
2004
as Self
White City
1985
as Pete Fountain
The Who: One Band's Explosive Story
2022
as Self - The Who Member
The Who: Rock in Rio 2017
2017
as guitar
THE WHO Live At The Chicago Amphitheater 1979
as Himself
The Who: Live in Texas '75
2012
as Himself
Pete Townshend's Deep End - Face The Face
2016
as Self
The Who: Live at the Isle of Wight 2004 Festival
2017
as Self
The Who: Nyon 7/20/2006
2006
Pete Townshend Live in New York Featuring Psychoderelict
1993
as Himself
The Who: BBC Electric Proms
2006
as Himself
Rachel Fuller presents: In the Attic with Pete Townshend & Friends
2009
as Self
Classic Albums: The Who Sell Out
2021
as Himself
The Who – Live At Tanglewood 1970
1970
as Himself
The Who: French TV Archives 1965-1967
2015
The Who: Werchter 6/30/2006
2006
The Who: Stockholm 7/6/2007
2007
The Who: Purple Hearts and Power Chords
2011
The Who: Live in Boston
2004
as Himself
The Who Hits 50! Live
2022
Pete Townshend: Music from Lifehouse
2002
Pete Townshend - South Bank Show Documentary
1985
as self
The Lost Paths
1967
as Himself
The Passing Show: The Life and Music of Ronnie Lane
2006
as Himself
The Who: Live at Lyon
2006
as Himself (Guitars, Vocals)
The Who - Live at the Silverdome
as Himself
The Who - The Making of Tommy
2013
as Himself
The Who: Lyon 7/17/2006
2006
Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight
1998
as Himself
The Who: Quadrophenia Live With Special Guests
2006
as Pete Townshend
The Who Rocks America 1982
1983
as Himself
The Who: Maximum R&B Live
1994
as Himself
The Who: Live from Toronto
1984
The Who: Live at Shea Stadium 1982
1982
as Self
The Who: Monte Carlo 7/15/2006
2006
The Who: Madrid 7/27/2006
2006
The Who: Lisbon 5/16/2007
2007
The Who - Who's Next 1971-2023
1999
as Self
The Who at Live Aid
1985
The Who: Brighton 6/18/2006
2006
The Shadows At Sixty
2020
as Self
Police Protecting Children - Internet Paedophilia
2004
as Self
The Who: Liverpool 7/6/2006
2006
The Who: Quadrophenia Super Deluxe Edition
2026
The Who With Orchestra Live At Wembley
2023
Pete Townshend - Live at Fillmore West, April 30th, 1996
1996
as guitar, vocals
The Who: Philadelphia 9/12/2006
2006
The Who: Sensation—The Story of Tommy
2014
as Himself
The Who: Grand Rapids 12/5/2006
2006
Seize millions de jeunes: Mods
1965
as Interviewee
The Who: Glasgow 7/9/2006
2006
The Who: Locarno 7/14/2006
2006
About Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend (born 19 May 1945) is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career. His career with The Who spans more than forty years, during which time the band grew to be considered one of the most influential bands of the 60s and 70s, and, according to Eddie Vedder, "possibly the greatest live band ever." Townshend is the primary songwriter for The Who, having written well over one hundred… With 166 credits spanning from 1964 to 2026, Pete Townshend has appeared in 147 films and 19 TV shows.
Fans searching for Pete Townshend movies, Pete Townshend filmography, or the latest projects starring Pete Townshend can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Pete Townshend Movies
- Tommy (1975) — as Himself
- Lennon or McCartney (2014) — as Self
- Woodstock (1970) — as Self - The Who
- Live Aid (1985) — as Self
- Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball? (2004) — as Self
Where to Watch Pete Townshend Films
Most Pete Townshend movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Pete Townshend, check our movies catalogue and browse page.