Frank Zappa
Known for Acting · 111 credits
- Born
- 1940-12-21
- Died
- 1993-12-04
- Place of birth
- Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
- Also known as
- Zappa · FZ · Френк Заппа · 法蘭克札帕
Biography
Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, electronic, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers. Zappa produced almost all of the more than 60 albums he released with the band The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist.
While in his teens, he acquired a taste for percussion-based avant-garde composers such as Edgard Varèse and 1950s rhythm and blues music. He began writing classical music in high school, while at the same time playing drums in rhythm and blues bands; he later switched to electric guitar. He was a self-taught composer and performer, and his diverse musical influences led him to create music that was often impossible to categorize. His 1966 debut album with The Mothers of Invention, Freak Out!, combined songs in conventional rock and roll format with collective improvisations and studio-generated sound collages. His later albums shared this eclectic and experimental approach, irrespective of whether the fundamental format was one of rock, jazz or classical. He wrote the lyrics to all his songs, which—often humorously—reflected his iconoclastic view of established social and political processes, structures and movements. He was a strident critic of mainstream education and organized religion, and a forthright and passionate advocate for freedom of speech, self-education, political participation and the abolition of censorship.
Zappa was a highly productive and prolific artist and gained widespread critical acclaim. Many of his albums are considered essential in rock and jazz history. He is regarded as one of the most original guitarists and composers of his time. He also remains a major influence on musicians and composers. He had some commercial success, particularly in Europe, and for most of his career was able to work as an independent artist. Zappa was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.
Zappa was married to Kathryn J. "Kay" Sherman from 1960 to 1964. In 1967, he married Adelaide Gail Sloatman, with whom he remained until his death from prostate cancer in 1993. They had four children: Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet Emuukha Rodan and Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen. Gail Zappa manages the businesses of her late husband under the name the Zappa Family Trust.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Frank Zappa, licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
TV Shows (13)
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Musical Guest / Self - Host & Musical Guest
Miami Vice
1984
as Mario Fuente
Omnibus
1967
as Self
The Ren & Stimpy Show
1991
as The Pope (voice)
Faerie Tale Theatre
1982
as Attilla
The Monkees
1966
as Self (uncredited)
Classic Albums
1997
as Self (archive footage)
Beat-Club
1965
as Self
Laurel Canyon
2020
as Self (archive footage)
Girls and Boys - Sex and British Pop
2005
as Self (archive footage)
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution
1967
as Self
Good Evening — I'm Jonathan King
1967
as Himself
Late Night Line-Up
1964
as Himself
Movies (98)
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025
as Self (archive footage)
Fuck
2006
as Self (archive footage)
Head
1968
as The Critic
Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980
2008
as Self
The Wrecking Crew
2008
as Self (archive footage)
200 Motels
1971
as Member of Mothers of Invention (uncredited)
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
2016
as Self (archive footage)
Zappa
2020
as Self (archive footage)
The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers
1984
as Attila
Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth
1991
as Self
Super Duper Alice Cooper
2014
as Self (archive footage)
Echo in the Canyon
2019
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Funny
1988
as Self
Take Your Pills
2018
as Self (archive footage)
The Velvet Underground
2021
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mondo Hollywood
1967
Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind
2019
as Self (archive footage)
Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here
1972
as Self
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s
2002
as Self (archive footage)
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
2019
as Self (archive footage)
Derailroaded
2005
as Self (archive footage)
Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology
2010
as Self (archive footage)
The Revenge of the Dead Indians
1993
as Himself
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out!
2021
as Self
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation
2007
as Self (archive footage)
Decade
1989
as Self
Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape
2016
as Self (archive footage)
The Big T.N.T. Show
1965
as Self (uncredited)
Frank Zappa – Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily
2014
as Himself (archive Footage)
Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary
2022
as Self (archive footage)
A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa
1993
as Self
All My Loving
1968
as Self
The Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years
1982
as Self
Led Zeppelin Played Here
2014
as Self (archive footage)
Pražákům, těm je hej
1991
as Frank Zappa
The Making of 200 Motels
1971
as Self
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
1988
as Self
Uncle Meat
1987
as Self / The Imaginary Director
Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff
2021
as Self (archive footage)
Video from Hell
1987
as Self
Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees
1997
as Mike Nesmith (archive footage)
You Are What You Eat
1968
Deep Purple: Made In Japan
1972
as Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie
2015
as Himself
Cover Your Ears
2023
as Self - Musician (archive footage)
Frank Zappa
1971
as Self
Larry Flynt for President
2021
as Self (archive footage)
Cocaine Blues
1983
as Himself
Stupor Mundi: Book 3, The Most Dangerous Encounter
2019
as Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - The Lost Broadcast: The Beat Club '68
2016
as Self
Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!
1982
as Self
Rock this Town
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968
2024
Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die
2000
as Self (archive footage)
Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II
2014
as Self (archive footage)
Nova '78
2025
as Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives
2008
as Self
Marian Briozzo
2018
as Himself (archive footage)
Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko
1991
as Self
An American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa
1994
as Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona
1988
From Straight to Bizarre
2012
as Self
The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart
1997
as Himself (archive footage)
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's
2009
as Himself
Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?
1985
as Self
The Amazing Mr. Bickford
1987
as Self
Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne
2016
as Self (archive footage)
Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)
1970
as Self
Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep
2025
as Self (guitar, vocals)
Cheepnis
2014
as Himself
Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List
2010
as Himself
Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around
1978
as Self
Frank Zappa: The Torture Never Stops
2008
as Self
Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George
2015
as Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa, John Lennon & Yoko Ono: At Fillmore East
1971
Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere
1980
as Self
The Art of Dissent
2021
as Self - Subject (archive footage)
Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme
2005
as Himself
Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme
2013
as Himself
Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes
1979
as Self
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution
1967
as Self
The Yellow Shark
1992
as Self
Pink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival
1970
Zapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa
2016
as Self - Subject (archive footage)
Služební cesta podporučíka Svěráka
1989
as Self (archive footage)
EAV Rarities
2006
as Self (archive footage)
Porridge and kerosene
1997
as Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note
2002
as Self (archive footage)
Frank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music
2007
Frank Zappa: Music In Review
2008
as Self (archive footage)
Your vote
1991
as Self
Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973
2007
Burnt Weeny Sandwich
1969
as Self
Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars
1985
as Self
Sex in Today's World
1967
as Self
Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me
2004
as Himself
Frank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden
1973
The Male Swagger
as Guitarist (archive footage)
About Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, electronic, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers. Zappa produced almost all of the more than 60 albums he released with the band The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. While in his teens, he acquired a taste for percussion-based avan… With 111 credits spanning from 1964 to 2025, Frank Zappa has appeared in 98 films and 13 TV shows.
Fans searching for Frank Zappa movies, Frank Zappa filmography, or the latest projects starring Frank Zappa can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Frank Zappa Movies
- Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025) — as Self (archive footage)
- Fuck (2006) — as Self (archive footage)
- Head (1968) — as The Critic
- Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980 (2008) — as Self
- The Wrecking Crew (2008) — as Self (archive footage)
Where to Watch Frank Zappa Films
Most Frank Zappa 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 Frank Zappa, check our movies catalogue and browse page.