Sting
Known for Acting · 276 credits
- Born
- 1951-10-02 (age 74)
- Place of birth
- Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK
- Also known as
- Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner · The Police · スティング
Biography
Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner (born 2 October 1951), known as Sting, is an English singer-songwriter, musician, activist, and actor. He was the frontman, principal songwriter and bassist for new wave band the Police from 1977 until their breakup in 1986. He launched a solo career in 1985 and has included elements of rock, jazz, reggae, classical, new-age, and worldbeat in his music.
Sting has sold a combined total of more than 100 million records as a solo artist and as a member of the Police. He has received three Brit Awards, including Best British Male Artist in 1994 and Outstanding Contribution to Music in 2002; a Golden Globe; an Emmy; and four Academy Award nominations. As a solo musician and as a member of the Police, Sting has received 17 Grammy Awards. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Police in 2003. Sting has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors; a CBE from Queen Elizabeth II for services to music; Kennedy Center Honors; and the Polar Music Prize. In May 2023, he was made an Ivor Novello Fellow.
Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner was born at Sir G B Hunter Memorial Hospital in Wallsend, Northumberland, England, on 2 October 1951, the eldest of four children of Audrey (née Cowell), a hairdresser, and Ernest Matthew Sumner, a milkman and former fitter at an engineering works. He grew up near Wallsend's shipyards, which made an impression on him. As a child, he was inspired by the Queen Mother waving at him from a Rolls-Royce to divert from the shipyard prospect towards a more glamorous life. He helped his father deliver milk and by ten was "obsessed" with an old Spanish guitar left by an emigrating friend of his father.
Sting attended St Cuthbert's Grammar School in Newcastle upon Tyne. He visited nightclubs such as Club A'Gogo to see Cream and Manfred Mann, who influenced his music. He learned to sing and play simultaneously by listening to records at 78 rpm. After leaving school in 1969, he enrolled at the University of Warwick in Coventry, but left after a term. After working as a bus conductor, building labourer, and tax officer, he attended the Northern Counties College of Education (now Northumbria University) from 1971 to 1974 and qualified as a teacher.[20] He taught at St Paul's First School in Cramlington for two years.
Sting performed jazz in the evenings, at weekends, and during breaks from college and teaching, playing with the Phoenix Jazzmen, Newcastle Big Band and Last Exit. He gained his nickname after his habit of wearing a black and yellow jumper with hooped stripes with the Phoenix Jazzmen. Bandleader Gordon Solomon thought he looked like a bee (or according to Sting himself, "they thought I looked like a wasp"), which prompted the name "Sting". In the 1985 documentary Bring On the Night a journalist called him Gordon, to which he replied, "My children call me Sting, my mother calls me Sting, who is this Gordon character?" In 2011, he told Time "I was never called Gordon. You could shout 'Gordon' in the street and I would just move out of your way". Despite this, he chose not to legally change his name to "Sting". ...
Known For
The Simpsons
1989
as Sting (voice)
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Self / Self - Guest
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self - Guest/Musical Guest
Late Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Musical Guest
The Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self
TV Shows (84)
The Simpsons
1989
as Sting (voice)
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
as Self / Self - Guest
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015
as Self - Guest/Musical Guest
Late Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Musical Guest
The Graham Norton Show
2007
as Self
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Host / Self - Host & Musical Guest / Self - Musical Guest
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
as Self / Self - Guest
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self / Self - Musical Guest
Markus Lanz
2008
as Self
The One Show
2006
as Self
Leute heute
1997
as Self
NPR Tiny Desk Concerts
2008
as Self
CBS News Sunday Morning
1979
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003
as Self / Self - Musical Guest
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
as Self - Guest
Late Night with David Letterman
1982
as Self - Guest
Champs-Elysées
1982
as Self / Self - The Police
Only Murders in the Building
2021
as Sting
Behind the Music
1997
as Self
Vivement dimanche
1998
as Self
MTV Video Music Awards
1984
as Self
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
2015
as Self
Sacrée soirée
1987
as Self
Bambi
1948
as Self
GMTV
1993
as Self
The Larry Sanders Show
1992
as Sting
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
1990
as Zarm (voice)
Finding Your Roots
2012
as Self
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975
as Self
Le monde est à vous
1987
as Self
The Oscars
1953
as Self
Ally McBeal
1997
as Sting
American Music Awards
1974
as Self - Musical Guest
TOTP2
1994
as Self
An Audience with...
1978
as Self
Parkinson
1998
as Self
On Air with Ryan Seacrest
2004
as Self
Kulturplatz
2004
as Self
Today
1952
as Self
MTV Unplugged
1989
as Self
World in Action
1963
Inas Nacht
2007
as Self
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
1999
as Self - Guest
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
2006
as Self
Viña del Mar International Song Festival
1963
as Self - The Police / Self - Musical Guest
Rove
1999
as Self
Star Academy
2001
as Self
The Old Grey Whistle Test
1971
as Self
Victoires de la musique
1985
as Self
Rockpalast
1974
Titel, Thesen, Temperamente
1967
as Self
CMT Crossroads
2002
as Self
Legends
2006
as Self
X Factor
2008
as Self - Guest
Michael McIntyre's Big Show
2016
as Self - Performer
The Michael J. Fox Show
2013
as Sting
Lo + plus
1995
as Self - Guest
The BRIT Awards
1977
as Self
Under the Sun
1989
as Self
Movies (192)
Bee Movie
2007
as Sting (voice)
Dune
1984
as Feyd Rautha
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
1998
as JD
The Sweatbox
2002
as Self
Zoolander 2
2016
as Sting
Twentieth Century Blues: The Songs of Noël Coward
1999
as Self
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
1988
as Heroic Officer
Brüno
2009
as Self - 'Dove of Peace'
America | A Tribute to Heroes
2001
as Self - Performer
Radioman
2012
as Self
Quadrophenia
1979
as Ace Face
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2022
as Self
The Mighty
1998
as The Balladeer
Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics
2020
as Self
Live Aid
1985
as Self
Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?
2004
as Self
Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story
2021
as Self
Kaamelott: The First Chapter
2021
as Horsa
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman
1998
as Billy Idol
Plenty
1985
as Mick
The Bride
1985
as Frankenstein
Live 8
2005
as Self
The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special - In 3D! On Ice!
2010
as Self
The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concerts
2009
as Self
FireAid Benefit Concert
2025
as Self
Stormy Monday
1988
as Finney
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball
1982
as Self
PoliWood
2009
as Self
WHAM!
2023
as Self (archive footage)
Destination Dune
1983
as Self
Being Mick
2001
as Self
Jaco
2015
as Self
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
2005
as Self
The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special
1995
as Self
20 Feet from Stardom
2013
as Self
The Filth and the Fury
2000
as Self (archive footage)
Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation
2007
as Self
Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
1988
as Self
The Big Night In
2020
as Self
Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
2016
as Self (archive footage)
VH1 Rock Honors: The Who
2008
as Self
Dolly Parton - From Rhinestones to Rock & Roll
2023
as Self
The Sleeper Must Awaken: Making Dune
2021
as Self (voice) (archive footage)
Kaamelott: The Second Chapter (Part II)
2026
as Horsa
The Secret Policeman's Ball: The Music Edition
2004
as Self
Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin
1991
as Self - Guest
2012: Time for Change
2010
as Self
An Audience with Elton John
1997
as Self
The Beatles Revolution
2000
as Self
Under the Volcano
2021
as Self
The Grotesque
1995
as Fledge
Music for Montserrat
1997
as Self
The Book of Solutions
2023
as Sting
The Making of Do They Know It's Christmas?
2024
as Self
Brimstone & Treacle
1982
as Martin Taylor
'Do They Know It's Christmas?' - The Story Of The Official Band Aid Video
1984
as Self
Billy Joel: The 100th - Live at Madison Square Garden
2024
as Self
Attenborough at 90
2016
as Self
The Best of Max Headroom
1987
as Self
Live Aid
2004
as Self
Sonic Sea
2016
as Self
They All Came Out to Montreux
2023
as Self
Bruce Springsteen A MusiCares Tribute
2014
as Self
Julia and Julia
1988
as Daniel Hosler
The Police: Certifiable
2008
as Self - Bass, Vocals
Can't Stand Losing You: Surviving The Police
2012
as Self
Artemis '81
1981
as Helith
Burning Down the House: The Story of CBGB
2009
as Self
Chris Botti Live: With Orchestra and Special Guests
2006
as Self
Pavarotti The Duets
2008
as Self
Great North: A Run. A River. A Region.
2021
as Self
Homeward Bound: A Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon
2022
as Self
George Michael: A Different Story
2004
as Self
Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story
2023
as Self
Mylène Farmer: 2019 - Le Film
2019
as Self
Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen
2018
as Self - Performer
Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
2007
as Self
Peter and the Wolf: A Prokofiev Fantasy
1993
as Narrator (voice)
Urgh! A Music War
1981
as Self
Ligmalion: Or How to Help Yourself in Self-Help Britain
1985
as Machiavelli
The Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Concert
1988
as Self
Resident Alien
1990
as Singer
Sting: The Brand New Day Tour: Live From The Universal Amphitheatre
2000
as Self - Vocals, Bass
Radio On
1979
as Just Like Eddie
Citizens Of Boomtown: The Story of the Boomtown Rats
2020
as Self
The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration
2019
as Self
Ruben Blades Is Not My Name
2018
as Self
When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain
2025
as Self
Gurrumul
2018
as Self
Zucchero | Sugar Fornaciari
2023
as Self
Sting: Beyond The Police
2017
as Self - Musician
The Tribute to Pavarotti One Amazing Weekend in Petra
2009
as Self
The Queen's Birthday Party
2018
as Self - Performer
Herbie Hancock: Possibilities
2006
as Self
Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out
2007
as Self - The Police Member (archive footage)
The Police - Every Breath You Take
2003
as Self - Bass, Vocals
Biggest Band Break Ups and Make Ups
2015
as Self
Sting - Bring on the Night
1985
as Self
The Soul Cages Concert
1991
as Self
Sting: Radio 2 in the Park
2024
as Self
One World, One Voice
1990
as Self
Tina Turner : Celebrate!
1999
as Self
Message in a Bottle
2024
as Self - Lead Vocals
GIMS: On the Record
2020
as Self
All Access: Front Row. Backstage. Live!
2001
as Self
Sting: Live at the Olympia Paris
2017
as Self - Vocals, Bass, Guitar
Mylène Farmer : Les Clips L'Intégrale (1999-2020)
2021
as Self
An Intimate Evening with Mary J. Blige - Live from the House of Blues
2005
as Self
John Mayer: Someday I'll Fly
2014
as Self
Bruce Springsteen - 32nd Annual of Kennedy Center Honors
2009
as Self
Chris Botti in Boston
2009
as Self
The Police: Synchronicity Concert
1984
as Self - Bass, Vocals
Hope for Haiti Now
2010
as Self
The Police: Around The World
1982
as Self
Still Bill
2010
as Self
Sting: Inside - The Songs of Sacred Love
2003
as Self - Bass, Guitar, Lead Vocals
Iain Goes Inside the Last Ship
2014
as Self
The Police - Outlandos To Synchronicities
1995
as Self
Rolling Stone 25: The MTV Special
1992
as Self
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
2007
as Self
About Sting
Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner (born 2 October 1951), known as Sting, is an English singer-songwriter, musician, activist, and actor. He was the frontman, principal songwriter and bassist for new wave band the Police from 1977 until their breakup in 1986. He launched a solo career in 1985 and has included elements of rock, jazz, reggae, classical, new-age, and worldbeat in his music. Sting has sold a combined total of more than 100 million records as a solo artist and as a member of the Police. He has received three Brit Awards, including Best B… With 276 credits spanning from 1948 to 2026, Sting has appeared in 192 films and 84 TV shows.
Fans searching for Sting movies, Sting filmography, or the latest projects starring Sting can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Sting Movies
- Bee Movie (2007) — as Sting (voice)
- Dune (1984) — as Feyd Rautha
- Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) — as JD
- The Sweatbox (2002) — as Self
- Zoolander 2 (2016) — as Sting
Where to Watch Sting Films
Most Sting 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 Sting, check our movies catalogue and browse page.