Tom Petty
Known for Acting · 69 credits
- Born
- 1950-10-20
- Died
- 2017-10-02
- Place of birth
- Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Also known as
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers · Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers · Traveling Wilburys · Charlie T. Jnr. · Muddy Wilbury · Thomas Earl Petty
Biography
Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was the leader and frontman of the rock bands Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch and a member of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys. He was also a successful solo artist.
Over the course of his career, Petty sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. His hit singles with the Heartbreakers include "American Girl" (1976), "Don't Do Me Like That" (1979), "Refugee" (1980), "The Waiting" (1981), "Don't Come Around Here No More" (1985) and "Learning to Fly" (1991). Petty's solo hits include "I Won't Back Down" (1989), "Free Fallin'" (1989), and "You Don't Know How It Feels" (1994).
Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Petty was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year in February 2017 for his contributions to music and for his philanthropy. He also acted; he had a recurring role as the voice of Lucky Kleinschmidt in the animated comedy series King of the Hill from 2004 to the show's conclusion in 2009. Petty died of an accidental drug overdose in 2017 at the age of 66, one week after the end of the Heartbreakers' 40th Anniversary Tour.
On December 4, 2023, Petty's song "Love Is a Long Road" was used in the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, which is considered one of the most anticipated video games ever made. This trailer gained over 90 million YouTube views within the first 24 hours. Because of this immense bump in popularity, the song itself gained nearly 1 million YouTube views in the same time span, gained a 36,979% increase on Spotify, had almost 250,000 searches on Shazam, and ranked second on the worldwide iTunes chart.
Known For
Late Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Musical Guest
The Simpsons
1989
as Tom Petty (voice)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Musical Guest
King of the Hill
1997
as Lucky (voice) / Lucky / Mud Dobber (voice) / Lucky (voice) (uncredited)
Behind the Music
1997
as Self
The Old Grey Whistle Test
1971
TV Shows (19)
Late Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Musical Guest
The Simpsons
1989
as Tom Petty (voice)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Musical Guest
King of the Hill
1997
as Lucky (voice) / Lucky / Mud Dobber (voice) / Lucky (voice) (uncredited)
Behind the Music
1997
as Self
The Old Grey Whistle Test
1971
MTV Video Music Awards
1984
as Self
The Larry Sanders Show
1992
as Tom Petty
Rockpalast
1974
Classic Albums
1997
as Self
It's Garry Shandling's Show
1986
as Tom Petty
Soundstage
2003
as Self - vocals, guitar
Fridays
1980
as Self - Musical Guest
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
2011
as Self
The Defiant Ones
2017
as Self
Soundbreaking
2016
as Self
Elvis Presley: The Searcher
2018
as Self
The History of Rock 'n' Roll
1995
as Self
Life, Death and Money
as self - archival footage
Movies (50)
The Postman
1997
as Bridge City Mayor
Made in Heaven
1987
as Stanky
America | A Tribute to Heroes
2001
as Self - Performer
Live Aid
1985
as Self
Fame and Fentanyl
2025
as Self (archive footage)
Concert for George
2003
as Self
Night Flight: Born Again
2016
as Self
FM
1978
as Self
Tom Petty: Going Home
1994
as Self
$aving Dat Money
2015
as Self
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream
2007
as Self
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
2005
as Self
Bridge School Benefit Concert 1986
1986
as Self
Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
1993
as Self
Elvis Presley: The Searcher
2018
Echo in the Canyon
2019
as Self
Sound City
2013
as Self
The Best Of Sound Stage
2008
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Live at the Olympic (The Last DJ)
2003
as Singer, Guitar
Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO
2012
as Self
Live Aid
2004
as Self
Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free
2021
as Himself (archive footage)
Heartbreakers Beach Party
2024
as Self
The True History Of The Traveling Wilburys
2007
as Self
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers: Live in Concert
2003
as vocals, guitar
Hard to Handle: Bob Dylan in Concert
1986
as Self
Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
1995
as Self
No Nukes
1980
as Self
The Everly Brothers: Songs of Innocence and Experience
1984
as Self
Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl - Unraveled
2014
as Self
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - High Grass Dogs - Live from the Fillmore
1999
as Himself
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live at the Docks, Hamburg
1999
as himself
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - The Old Grey Whistle Test
1978
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: 400 Days
1995
as Self
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: 30th Anniversary Concert
2006
as himself
Wired for Sound: A Guitar Odyssey
1997
as Self
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Pack Up the Plantation - Live!
1986
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: VH1 Storytellers
1999
as Self
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers - Free Fallin'
2005
as Lead Vocals / Guitar
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Live from Gatorville
2008
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: Playback
1995
as Self
Tom Petty - Mojo Tour 2010
Crystal Visions: The Very Best of Stevie Nicks
2007
Classic Albums: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes
2010
as Self
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts
2021
as Self
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
2015
as Self (archive footage)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Take the Highway Live
1992
as Self
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Rock Goes to College
1980
as Performer
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - A Bunch Of Videos And Some Other Stuff
1989
as Self
Mike Campbell: The Guitars
2012
as Self
About Tom Petty
Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was the leader and frontman of the rock bands Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch and a member of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys. He was also a successful solo artist. Over the course of his career, Petty sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. His hit singles with the Heartbreakers include "American Girl" (1976), "Don't Do Me Like That" (1979), "Re… With 69 credits spanning from 1971 to 2025, Tom Petty has appeared in 50 films and 19 TV shows.
Fans searching for Tom Petty movies, Tom Petty filmography, or the latest projects starring Tom Petty can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Tom Petty Movies
- The Postman (1997) — as Bridge City Mayor
- Made in Heaven (1987) — as Stanky
- America | A Tribute to Heroes (2001) — as Self - Performer
- Live Aid (1985) — as Self
- Fame and Fentanyl (2025) — as Self (archive footage)
Where to Watch Tom Petty Films
Most Tom Petty 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 Tom Petty, check our movies catalogue and browse page.