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William S. Burroughs

William S. Burroughs

Writing

Born: February 5, 1914St. Louis, Missouri, USA

William Seward Burroughs II (February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997) was an American writer and visual artist, widely considered a primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodern author who influenced popular culture and literature. Burroughs wrote eighteen novels and novellas, six collections of short stories and four collections of essays, and five books have been published of his interviews and correspondences; he was initially briefly known by the pen name William Lee. He also collaborated on projects and recordings with numerous performers and musicians, made many appearances in films, and created and exhibited thousands of visual artworks, including his celebrated "Shotgun Art". Description above from the Wikipedia article William S. Burroughs, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For
Filmography
This Is Buzz

This Is Buzz

Himself

2026
Nova '78

Nova '78

Self (archive footage)

2025
Robert Wilson: The Beauty of the Mysterious

Robert Wilson: The Beauty of the Mysterious

Self (archive footage)

2022
Take Your Pills

Take Your Pills

Self (archive footage)

2018
Uncle Howard

Uncle Howard

Self

2017
Robert E. Fulton III Edit of Burroughs: The Movie

Robert E. Fulton III Edit of Burroughs: The Movie

2015
Don't Blink - Robert Frank

Don't Blink - Robert Frank

Self (archive footage)

2015
William S. Burroughs in the Dreamachine

William S. Burroughs in the Dreamachine

Self

2015
William S. Burroughs: The Possessed

William S. Burroughs: The Possessed

2015

Coda I + Coda II

Self (voice) (archive sound)

2013
Coda II

Coda II

Self (voice) (archive sound)

2013
Coda I

Coda I

Self (voice) (archive sound)

2013
For No Good Reason

For No Good Reason

Self (archive footage)

2012
The Beat Hotel

The Beat Hotel

Self (archive footage)

2012
The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye

The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye

2012
Fix: The Ministry Movie

Fix: The Ministry Movie

Self

2011
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within

William S. Burroughs: A Man Within

Self

2010

Nova Express

Narrator (voice)

2009
FLicKeR

FLicKeR

Self

2009
Joy Division

Joy Division

2009
Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press

Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press

Self (archive footage)

2008
Words of Advice: William S. Burroughs On the Road

Words of Advice: William S. Burroughs On the Road

2007
Pantelia

Pantelia

Self

2006
Wanderlust

Wanderlust

Tom the Priest

2006

The Battle for 'I Am Curious-Yellow'

Self (archive footage)

2003
Condo Painting

Condo Painting

Self (archive footage)

2000
The Making of Drugstore Cowboy

The Making of Drugstore Cowboy

1999
Let It Come Down: The Life of Paul Bowles

Let It Come Down: The Life of Paul Bowles

Self (archive footage)

1999
The Source

The Source

Self (archive footage)

1999
The Book of Life

The Book of Life

Preacher on Radio (voice)

1998
Destroy All Rational Thought

Destroy All Rational Thought

Self

1998
Ah Pook Is Here.

Ah Pook Is Here.

Narrator

1994
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

Self

1994
Glitterbug

Glitterbug

Self

1994
September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill

September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill

Self

1994
Relics: Einstein's Brain

Relics: Einstein's Brain

Self

1994
The Junky's Christmas

The Junky's Christmas

Narrator

1993
Naked Making Lunch

Naked Making Lunch

Self

1992
Wax, or The Discovery of Television Among the Bees

Wax, or The Discovery of Television Among the Bees

James "Hive" Maker

1991
Thanksgiving Prayer

Thanksgiving Prayer

A Speaker

1991

William S. Burroughs: Commissioner of Sewers

Self

1991
Bloodhounds of Broadway

Bloodhounds of Broadway

Butler

1989
Drugstore Cowboy

Drugstore Cowboy

Tom the Priest

1989
Heavy Petting

Heavy Petting

Self

1989
Twister

Twister

Man in Barn

1989
Gang of Souls: A Generation of Beat Poets

Gang of Souls: A Generation of Beat Poets

Self

1989
Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson

Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson

Self

1986
Ornette: Made in America

Ornette: Made in America

Self

1986
It Don't Pay to Be an Honest Citizen

It Don't Pay to Be an Honest Citizen

Mafioso

1985
The Final Academy Documents

The Final Academy Documents

1984
Decoder

Decoder

Old Man

1984
Burroughs: The Movie

Burroughs: The Movie

Self

1984
This Song for Jack

This Song for Jack

Self

1983

Pirate Tape

1983
Poetry in Motion

Poetry in Motion

Self

1982
Ghost at No. 9

Ghost at No. 9

1982

Energy and How to Get It

1981
Shamans of the Blind Country

Shamans of the Blind Country

Narrator (voice)

1981

Chelsea Hotel

Self (uncredited)

1981

Fried Shoes Cooked Diamonds

Self

1979
Thot-Fal'N

Thot-Fal'N

Self

1978
Underground and Emigrants

Underground and Emigrants

Self

1976
Une semaine dans la vie de camarades

Une semaine dans la vie de camarades

1976

Bill and Tony

Self

1972
Cain's Film

Cain's Film

Self

1969
Witchcraft Through the Ages

Witchcraft Through the Ages

Narrator

1968

Chicago

Self

1968
Poem Posters

Poem Posters

Self

1967
Chappaqua

Chappaqua

Opium Jones

1966
The Cut-Ups

The Cut-Ups

1966

Towers Open Fire

1963
William Buys a Parrot

William Buys a Parrot

Self

1963