David Bowie was, and always will be, one of the most influential, innovative, and iconic artists ever to exist. His eccentric stage presence, elaborate costumes, and whimsical tunes continue to live on even after his passing on January 10th. However, there is more depth to this artist than just his music. David Bowie was also a star of the silver screen, spanning more than 40 different television and movie roles. As a final farewell to this legend, I decided to reflect on some of my favorite roles from his vast acting career.

Perhaps his most iconic role is found in a childhood favorite of many, “Labyrinth.” Bowie plays the wildly glamorous character of Jareth the Goblin King who whisks away unwanted brothers and sisters to his kingdom. The main plot of the film follows a young teen named Sarah who, after wishing her brother away in a fit of rage, must complete the labyrinth within 13 hours in order for his safe return. “Labyrinth” combines the visionary direction of famed puppeteer Jim Henson and the musical talents of Bowie to take audiences away to a dazzling fantasy land. While also being Bowie’s big breakout role on the silver screen, it also showed audiences and fans alike that his talents extended beyond the musical industry. His sly charisma, mischievous actions, and witty delivery entertained die-hard fans and introduced Bowie to young, new fans. You can tell that Bowie had a tremendous amount of fun playing this character. Considered a box office bust back during its release in 1986, “Labyrinth” has continued on to become a cult classic, lasting many generations.  

Two other notable Bowie starting roles are based off of real life innovators and artists: Nikolas Tesla in the 2006 film “The Prestige” and Andy Warhol in the 1996 film “Basquiat.” Although his performances in these films capture the artists he portrayed faithfully and perfectly, there is a second brilliance to casting Bowie. Both Andy Warhol and Nikolas Tesla were viewed as innovators and artists of their time, just as David Bowie was in his time. All of these artists were deemed controversial by their new, outlandish ideas and inventions. While these roles are small and only share minutes of screen time, they are an important representation of Bowie’s personality and impact on society.

For the more avant-garde cinema fans, Bowie is remembered for his role in the 1976 drama “The Man Who Fell to Earth.” In this film, we follow the character of Thomas Jerome Newton, a humanoid alien, as he crash lands on Earth in search of water to bring back to his dying planet. In order to get back to his home planet, Jerome starts a technology company worth millions of dollars so he can build a spaceship. Meanwhile, he falls in love with a young lady named Mary-Lou and learns about ways of life on Earth.This is one of those movies that really is hard to fully explain to someone who hasn’t seen it, so I highly recommend that you check it out. “The Man Who Fell to Earth” has brilliant cinematography and strong leading performances by all main actors. Bowie, in a role he seems to be born to play, fits perfectly as Thomas Jerome. His tall, lanky, pale appearance, orange hair, and mismatched eyes stand in stark contrast to the other characters, making him seem otherworldly without even speaking a single line. It’s a film that demands multiple viewings from its audience.

Even when Bowie isn’t the star of the show, his short cameos are a delight to behold. Such examples include the hilarious walk-off scene in the classic 2001 comedy “Zoolander.” This short but sweet role casts Bowie as the judge of a zany catwalk showdown between male models Zoolander and Hansel, played by Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson respectively. What makes this cameo stand out the most to me is how Bowie is able to just fully let himself go and be a silly, self-parody of himself. It shows a great sense of humor on his part and is refreshing from his more dramatic works. Also, for me personally, it is the best scene in the entire film. SpongeBob SquarePants fans may remember Bowie from the episode “Atlantis Squarepantis,” in which he plays the character Lord Royal Highness. These are just two cameos in a list of many, which show his versatility as an actor. Bowie seemed to be willing to try anything, from dramatic films, to animated films, and even the avant-garde.

Although David Bowie will mostly be remembered as the incredible musician that he was, his movies will also be remembered as a part of this multi-dimensional artist. Just like his music, his characters and films will live on for all to enjoy.