ACTOR · BORN 1947 · DIED 2016
David Bowie
- Born
- 8 January 1947, London, England, UK
- Died
- 10 January 2016
- Known for
- The Prestige (2006), The Hunger (1983), Basquiat (1996), Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983)
68 archived facts 7 topics 2 sources Last reviewed Nov 2026
David Bowie (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016) was an actor best known for The Prestige, The Hunger and Basquiat.
David Bowie over the years
68 Interesting Facts About David Bowie
Interesting Facts (14)
- #001
- #002
Was an admirer of Andy Warhol and even wrote a song about him as a tribute. In the early '70s, he visited Warhol's studio The Factory, where he gave him an advanced copy of his then-recent album "Hunky Dory". When he played the song "Andy Warhol", to his horror Warhol walked off in dismay. After that, both didn't talk to each other for a while. However, when Warhol noticed that Bowie wore yellow shoes, he expressed his fascination for them (in the past, Warhol was a successful shoe illustrator). This sparked a rich conversation between them. Years later, Bowie played Warhol in Basquiat (1996).
David Bowie: at an evening eventImage: Wikimedia Commons · ABC Television, Public domain - #003
On 5/12/13 NASA astronaut Chris Hadfield paid tribute to Bowie by singing the song "Space Oddity", which he did inside the ISS before returning to Earth. He uploaded the video on YouTube, which became a huge success. The video was taken down because of copyright infringement. When Bowie found out about this, he personally contacted YouTube, saying that he gave full permission for his song to be used. It took several hours before YouTube realized that it was Bowie himself who called them, and they put the video back within minutes.
- #004
His eyes were both blue. However, one pupil was permanently dilated due to an incident when he was punched by a school friend, George Underwood, when he was 15, and as a result, one eye looked darker than the other. Underwood became a successful artist and remained a friend of Bowie's for the rest of his life; in fact, Underwood designed artwork for him.
- #005
- #006
- #007
- #008
Was an admirer of Andy Warhol and even wrote a song about him as a tribute. In the early '70s, he visited Warhol's studio The Factory, where he gave him an advanced copy of his then-recent album "Hunky Dory". When he played the song "Andy Warhol", to his horror Warhol walked off in dismay. After that, both didn't talk to each other for a while. However, when Warhol noticed that Bowie wore yellow shoes, he expressed his fascination for them (in the past, Warhol was a successful shoe illustrator). This sparked a rich conversation between them. Years later, Bowie played Warhol in Basquiat (1996).
- #009
In his composition "Slip Away", on his album "Heathen", he makes cryptic references to The Uncle Floyd Show (1974), a program popular in the late 1970s and 1980s in the New York City area. Broadcast on a local television station, it featured two puppets, "Oogie" and "Bones Boy", mentioned in the song, as well as the host, "Uncle" Floyd Vivino.
- #010
His 1985 single "Loving the Alien" is often assumed to be a science-fiction or space-themed song, much like its predecessors "Space Oddity", "Life on Mars" and "Starman". However, despite featuring men dressed as aliens in the music video, the song's lyrics are actually about religion and "the alien" referred to in the song is God.
- #011
- #012
He was set to reprise his role of Agent Phillip Jeffries from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) in Twin Peaks (2017) but due to his health declining he was unavailable. Although he passed away before the start of the production his character appeared in the new series via archive footage with voice actor Nathan Frizzell dubbing the new dialogue's lines.
- #013
- #014
Production Story (7)
- #015
- #016
Considered "Tonight" (released in 1984) and "Never Let Me Down" (released in 1987) to be his weakest albums. Both were critically panned and led to Bowie forming the group Tin Machine in an attempt to shed his mainstream audience and reinvent himself as a creative force. Despite his low opinion of these albums, he did later choose a song from each album ("Loving the Alien" from "Tonight" and "Time Will Crawl" from "Never Let Me Down") as among his 15 favorite tracks from his own career for the 2008 compilation album "iSelect".
- #017
- #018
Revealed that he turned down a lucrative opportunity to record a theme song for a James Bond film because he didn't like the franchise. He was also originally approached to play Max Zorin in A View to a Kill (1985), but turned it down citing his lack of enthusiasm for the script. The role went to Christopher Walken instead. He was also considered for the role of The Joker in Batman (1989) and Max Shreck in Batman Returns (1992), but turned down the latter to appear in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992). He turned down the role of Captain Hook in Hook (1991), which went to Dustin Hoffman. He was also seriously considered for the role of Sharaz Jek in The Caves of Androzani: Part One (1984).
- #019
In 1968 while he was still a struggling artist, he wrote some English lyrics to a French song titled "Comme d'Habitude" ("As Usual"). His version, "Even a Fool Learns to Love", never did get recorded, but when the French melody caught the attention of Paul Anka, he reworked the lyrics and the song became "My Way". Of course, when Frank Sinatra recorded "My Way" his way, it turned to gold.
- #020
Was offered a lot more acting roles than he did, citing some of the roles as 'gimmicks' and only accepting roles he considered interesting. However one early role he was offered was as an alien in the British/American TV series 'Space 1999'. Ironically he turned it down as he had just been cast as an alien in the movie 'The Man Who Fell to Earth'.
- #021
Was Denis Villeneuve first choice for the role of Niander Wallace in Blade Runner 2049 (2017) but passed away before the start of the production. The role went to Jared Leto.
Characters & Cast (1)
- #022
He was set to reprise his role of Agent Phillip Jeffries from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) in Twin Peaks (2017) but due to his health declining he was unavailable. Although he passed away before the start of the production his character appeared in the new series via archive footage with voice actor Nathan Frizzell dubbing the new dialogue's lines.
Easter Eggs & References (4)
- #023
In his composition "Slip Away", on his album "Heathen", he makes cryptic references to The Uncle Floyd Show (1974), a program popular in the late 1970s and 1980s in the New York City area. Broadcast on a local television station, it featured two puppets, "Oogie" and "Bones Boy", mentioned in the song, as well as the host, "Uncle" Floyd Vivino.
- #024
- #025
- #026
Deeper Meaning (2)
- #027
- #028
His 1985 single "Loving the Alien" is often assumed to be a science-fiction or space-themed song, much like its predecessors "Space Oddity", "Life on Mars" and "Starman". However, despite featuring men dressed as aliens in the music video, the song's lyrics are actually about religion and "the alien" referred to in the song is God.
Career & Awards (24)
- #029
- #030
In 1971, Peter Noone (of Herman's Hermits fame) had his only solo UK chart hit with a cover of Bowie's song "Oh! You Pretty Things", which reached #12. In 1974 Lulu had a #3 single in the UK with her cover of his song "The Man Who Sold the World". Neither was a hit for Bowie in the 1970s.
- #031
- #032
Was a big fan of The Velvet Underground. He later recorded with and produced the band's songwriter Lou Reed. He also frequently collaborated as a songwriter with Iggy Pop from The Stooges. Bowie, Reed and Pop are all considered to be among the most influential rock musicians of all time. Bowie included a version of "China Girl", which he had written with Pop in the 1970s (and had been recorded by Pop on his 1977 album "The Idiot"), on his 1983 album "Let's Dance" in order to help Pop financially. The song became one of Bowie's biggest international hits. Following Bowie's death, Pop described Bowie's friendship as "the light of my life".
- #033
Cited Little Richard as his first musical influence, hearing him at the age of eight,and, according to producer Nile Rodgers, he was a key influence on Bowie's most commercially successful album, "Let's Dance". He drew from a wide range of musical influences from his earliest days. In 2015 British music publication "Mojo" released a compilation album of 15 tracks by his earliest influences. It comprised tracks by Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bobby Bland, Ronnie Ross, Frank Sinatra, Jacques Brel, Lotte Lenya, Nina Simone, Nat 'King' Cole, Billy Fury, Anthony Newley, The Flares, Vince Taylor, The Yardbirds and The Pretty Things.
- #034
Was a major influence on Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks of the progressive rock band Genesis, who both followed his career from the early days in the 1960s. Banks became a fan from buying a copy of his 1966 single "Can't Help Thinking About Me", which he loved for its unusual chords. His song "Heroes" was recorded by Gabriel on his album "Scratch My Back", released in 2010. It was a very different arrangement from Bowie's original, with Gabriel's voice accompanied only by orchestral instruments.
- #035
- #036
Bob Geldof envisaged him as singing the first line on "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid. However, Bowie was unavailable for the recording, so Paul Young sang it instead, as it was felt he had the closest voice to Bowie of all the performers participating. Bowie did get to eventually sing the opening of the song at the Live Aid (1985) finale at Wembley Stadium.
- #037
- #038
- #039
- #040
- #041
- #042
Music producer Nile Rodgers, the BBC's arts editor Will Gompertz and Prof. Michael Spitzer, the Head of the Department of Music at the University of Liverpool, have all likened Bowie as a musician to the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, who had a far-reaching and enduring impact on the art world in the 20th century similar to the impact Bowie had on popular music during his lifetime, which has earned him the alliterative nickname "The Picasso of Pop". Gompertz said that Bowie was, like Picasso, "an innovative, visionary, restless artist who synthesized complex avant-garde concepts into beautifully coherent works that touched the hearts and minds of millions". Bono said: "I like Bowie when he's evenly pulled in the direction of being a pop star and Picasso, where he's right down the middle. That's usually my favorite when the songwriting is disciplined but the recording is not. I love when he's pulled equally in the directions of art and populism".
- #043
- #044
- #045
- #046
- #047
He was the winner of the British Phonographic Industry Award for British Male Solo Artist in 1984 following the success of his multi-million-selling album "Let's Dance". He was also the winner of the 1996 Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution. In 2014, he became the oldest person to date to win the British Male Solo Artist award following the success of his comeback album "The Next Day". He was more than 40 years older than the other nominees. In 2017, he became the first posthumous winner of the British Male Solo Artist award following the success of his final album, "Blackstar".
- #048
Considered "Tonight" (released in 1984) and "Never Let Me Down" (released in 1987) to be his weakest albums. Both were critically panned and led to Bowie forming the group Tin Machine in an attempt to shed his mainstream audience and reinvent himself as a creative force. Despite his low opinion of these albums, he did later choose a song from each album ("Loving the Alien" from "Tonight" and "Time Will Crawl" from "Never Let Me Down") as among his 15 favorite tracks from his own career for the 2008 compilation album "iSelect".
- #049
Was a major influence on Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks of the progressive rock band Genesis, who both followed his career from the early days in the 1960s. Banks became a fan from buying a copy of his 1966 single "Can't Help Thinking About Me", which he loved for its unusual chords. His song "Heroes" was recorded by Gabriel on his album "Scratch My Back", released in 2010. It was a very different arrangement from Bowie's original, with Gabriel's voice accompanied only by orchestral instruments.
- #050
- #051
- #052
Life & Family (16)
- #053
Often said he was ''a collector'', and people close to him said he rarely threw anything away. He made remarks in his 20s that sounded megalomaniacal at the time, saying that he envisioned collecting everything he did in his life and organizing it all meticulously in archives. He wasn't kidding: he did make good on his intent. He saved all his handwritten lyrics, all his stage outfits once he retired them, paintings and art pieces he made, and everything else he valued that he created during his life's work, and had them stored under meticulous security in Switzerland, organized and archived as he said he would.
- #054
Met wife-to-be Iman in October 1990 through mutual hairstylist Teddy Antolin after Bowie had earlier 'discovered' the supermodel in the pages of a fashion magazine aboard a plane between tour gigs. He proposed to her under the Pont Neuf bridge on the River Seine while serenading her with the love song "April in Paris".
- #055
- #056
- #057
- #058
- #059
- #060
He was the first sexually ambiguous British pop star, declaring himself "gay" in 1972 (before contemporaries such as Freddie Mercury and Elton John made declarations that they were bisexual) and only five years since male homosexuality had been decriminalized in the UK. In a magazine interview, he stated that he met his first wife when they were in a relationship with the same man. Whether this was true or a joke has been the subject of much speculation. His appearance on Top of the Pops (1964) in 1972 with "Starman", when he put his arm around guitarist Mick Ronson, has been cited by many as a key moment for gay liberation in Britain and described by journalist Caitlin Moran as "the gay moon landing". In a 1983 interview with "Rolling Stone", Bowie stated that his bisexuality was really a sham. He claimed he made the story up to create more mystery about himself and defined himself as a "closet heterosexual". In later years he would neither confirm nor deny he had engaged in gay relationships, merely admitting (in a 2002 interview by Jonathan Ross) that he'd been "incredibly promiscuous". Dancer Lindsay Kemp has often claimed in interviews that he slept with Bowie.
- #061
- #062
Was one of the first artists to pay tribute to Freddie Mercury following his death in 1991 and performed at The Freddie Mercury Tribute: Concert for AIDS Awareness (1992). Bowie was also a friend of his glam-rock contemporary Marc Bolan, whose funeral he attended in 1977. Elton John revealed in an interview with "The Evening Standard" following Bowie's death that he had been close to Bowie during their early careers, they had spent time together at music venues and gay clubs, but they had also fallen out back in the 1970s due to comments Bowie made about John to "Rolling Stone" magazine. He said they were never close again after that. Nevertheless, John performed a version of "Space Oddity" in a concert as a tribute to Bowie following his death.
- #063
- #064
- #065
When he was just a child--perhaps two to four years old--his parents enrolled him in what is called "infant's school" in Britain (in the US it would be considered "nursery school" or "preschool"). His teachers said that during the music and dance parts of the days, he astonished them with his grace and poise of movement. They said they had never witnessed a child so young able to move like that.
- #066
Shortly after his passing, fans from Berlin, Germany, started a petition to change the name of the "Hauptstraße" in Berlin Schöneberg into "David-Bowie-Straße" (David Bowie Street). The reason behind it was that he lived there from 1976-78, a time that is not only credited for saving his career, but for saving his life, as he was still fighting his drug addiction at the time. During that period he produced three of his most successful albums, "Low", "Heroes" and "Lodger", which are collectively known as the Berlin Trilogy.
- #067
- #068
Related pages
- Climax — David Bowie comes up in the facts on that page
- God Bless America — David Bowie comes up in the facts on that page
- Leo — David Bowie comes up in the facts on that page
Continue through the archive
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work