Richard Starkey, MBE (born 7 July 1940), better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer-songwriter, and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in August 1962, taking the place of Pete Best. In addition to his contribution as drummer, Starr featured as lead vocals on a number of successful Beatles songs (in particular, "With a Little Help from My Friends", "Yellow Submarine", and The Beatles version of "Act Naturally"), as co-writer with the song "What Goes On" and primary writer with "Don't Pass Me By" and "Octopus's Garden".
As drummer for The Beatles, Starr was musically creative, and his contribution to the band's music has received high praise from notable drummers in more recent times. Starr described himself as "your basic offbeat drummer with funny fills", technically limited by being a left-handed person playing a right-handed kit. Drummer Steve Smith said that Starr's popularity "brought forth a new paradigm" where "we started to see the drummer as an equal participant in the compositional aspect" and that Starr "composed unique, stylistic drum parts for The Beatles songs". In 2011, Starr was picked as the fifth-best drummer of all-time by Rolling Stone readers, behind drummers such as John Bonham, Keith Moon and Neil Peart.
Starr is the most documented and critically acclaimed actor-Beatle, playing a central role in several Beatles films, and appearing in numerous other movies, both during and after his career with The Beatles. After The Beatles' break-up in 1970, Starr achieved solo musical success with several singles and albums, and recorded with each of his fellow ex-Beatles as they too developed their post-Beatle musical careers. He has also been featured in a number of TV documentaries, hosted TV shows, and narrated the first two series of the children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. He currently tours with the All-Starr Band.
Academy Awards
Best Original Score
Known For
Radio
(2003)
Stinger the Mascot (uncredited)
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
(2016)
Ringo Starr
A Hard Day's Night
(1964)
Ringo
Caveman
(1981)
Atouk
Help!
(1965)
Ringo
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
(2016)
Self
Let It Be
(1970)
Self (The Beatles) (uncredited)
Yellow Submarine
(1968)
Ringo (uncredited)
Water
(1985)
Himself - The Singing Rebels' Band
Naqoyqatsi
(2002)
Self (archive footage)
The Last Waltz
(1978)
Self
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
(2011)
Self
Zappa
(2020)
Self (archive footage)
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
(1978)
Self (archive footage)
Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars
(2018)
Self
Imagine: John Lennon
(1988)
Self
Full Filmography
Acting
The Mersey Sound
(1963)
Self
The Beatles Come to Town
(1963)
Self
The Beatles - Live at The Empire Theatre Liverpool
(1963)
A Hard Day's Night
(1964)
Ringo
The Beatles - Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964
(1964)
Self
The Beatles Sing for Shell
(1964)
Self
The Beatles in Australia
(1964)
Self
The Beatles: Live in Washington DC
(1964)
Self
The Beatles: Live in The Netherlands
(1964)
Self
Around the Beatles
(1964)
Self
What's Happening! The Beatles in the USA
(1964)
Self - The Beatles Member
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! The Beatles in New York
(1964)
Self (archive footage)
Help!
(1965)
Ringo
The Beatles Unauthorized
(1965)
Self (archive footage)
Pop Gear
(1965)
Self
The Beatles: Live in Paris
(1965)
Self
The Music of Lennon & McCartney
(1965)
Self (archive footage)
Doctor Who: The Chase
(1965)
Self (archive footage)
Reflections on Love
(1966)
Self (archive footage)
Die Beatles
(1966)
Self (as The Beatles)
El Rey en Londres
(1966)
Self (archive footage)
Beatles - Tokyo, Japan 66
(1966)
Himself
Magical Mystery Tour
(1967)
Self / Talkative Magician
All You Need Is Love
(1967)
Self
Monument
(1967)
Self (archive footage)
Our World
(1967)
Self
Candy
(1968)
Emmanuel
Yellow Submarine
(1968)
Ringo (uncredited)
The Movie Orgy
(1968)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: REVOLUTION
(1968)
Self
The Beatles: HEY JUDE
(1968)
Self
The Beatles Mod Odyssey
(1968)
Self
The Magic Christian
(1969)
Youngman Grand, Esq.
The Beatles: Get Back...Winter of Discontent
(1969)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles - The Get Back Chronicles 1969 Volume Two
(1969)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles - The Get Back Chronicles 1969 Volume One
(1969)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles - The Get Back Chronicles 1969 Volume Three
(1969)
Self (archive footage)
Will the Real Mr. Sellers...
(1969)
The Beatles - Abbey Road
(1969)
Self - drums
The Beatles: SOMETHING
(1969)
Self
Let It Be
(1970)
Self (The Beatles) (uncredited)
Blindman
(1971)
Candy
200 Motels
(1971)
Larry the Dwarf / Frank Zappa
The Point
(1971)
Narrator / Father (home video release) (voice)
Frank Zappa filmt 200 Motels
(1971)
Self
Cilla in Scandinavia
(1971)
Self
The Concert for Bangladesh
(1972)
Self
Did Somebody Drop His Mouse?
(1972)
Himself
Weekend of a Champion
(1972)
Self (uncredited)
Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here
(1972)
Self
That'll Be The Day
(1973)
Mike
Marc Bolan & T. Rex - Born to Boogie
(1973)
Self
The Society of the Spectacle
(1974)
Self (archive footage)
Son of Dracula
(1974)
Merlin, the Magician
Braverman's Condensed Cream of the Beatles
(1974)
Self (archive footage)
Muhammad Ali: The Greatest
(1974)
Self
Lisztomania
(1975)
The Pope
The Beatles at Shea Stadium
(1977)
Self
The Day the Music Died
(1977)
Self
Mighty Good: The Beatles
(1977)
Self
The Last Waltz
(1978)
Self
Sextette
(1978)
Laslo Karolny
Ringo
(1978)
Ringo Starr / Ognir Rrats
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
(1978)
Self (archive footage)
The Kids Are Alright
(1979)
Himself
Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip
(1979)
Self
Caveman
(1981)
Atouk
This Is Elvis
(1981)
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Compleat Beatles
(1982)
Self (archive footage)
The Cooler
(1982)
Prisoner/Cowboy
Paul McCartney - Take It Away
(1982)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
(1982)
Self (archive footage)
Give My Regards to Broad Street
(1984)
Ringo
Water
(1985)
Himself - The Singing Rebels' Band
Carl Perkins & Friends: Blue Suede Shoes - A Rockabilly Session
(1985)
Self
British Rock: The First Wave
(1985)
Self (archive footage)
An Audience with Billy Connolly
(1985)
Self - Audience Member (uncredited)
Willie and The Poor Boys - The Movie
(1985)
The Janitor
Fun with the Fab Four
(1986)
Self (archive footage)
Jimi Plays Monterey
(1987)
Self (archive footage)
The Return of Bruno
(1987)
Ringo Starr
Video From Hell
(1987)
Self
Imagine: John Lennon
(1988)
Self
Walking After Midnight
(1988)
Self
One More Audience with Dame Edna Everage
(1988)
Self (uncredited)
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
(1988)
Self
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band
(1990)
Self
Thomas & Friends: Thomas Gets Tricked
(1990)
Narrator
Shining Time Station: 'Tis a Gift
(1990)
Mr. Conductor
The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit
(1991)
Self (archive footage)
The Making of Sgt. Pepper
(1992)
Self
Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show'
(1992)
Self (archive footage)
Ringo Starr Going Home
(1993)
Self - Host
Ready Steady Go! The Beatles Live
(1993)
Self
A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa
(1993)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles In Australia: 30th Anniversary
(1994)
Self (archive footage)
You Can't Do That! The Making of 'A Hard Day's Night'
(1995)
Self
Alf Bicknell's Beatles Diary
(1996)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles Story
(1996)
Self (archive footage)
Happy Birthday to John
(1997)
Himself
Paul McCartney: In the World Tonight
(1997)
Ringo Starr And His Fourth All Starr Band
(1998)
Self
The Beatles: A Celebration
(1999)
Self (archive footage)
Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepytime Tales
(1999)
Self (archive footage / uncredited)
Television: The First Fifty Years
(1999)
Self – The Beatles (archive footage)
Thomas & Friends: Best of Percy
(2001)
Narrator
Thomas & Friends: Best Of Thomas
(2001)
Narrator
The Best of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band So Far...
(2001)
Himself
Beatles: Big Beat Box
(2001)
Self (archive footage)
The Paranormal Peter Sellers
(2001)
Self (Archive footage)
Wingspan
(2001)
Himself (archive footage)
Paul McCartney: Back in the U.S.
(2002)
Self (archive footage)
Thomas & Friends: Best Of James
(2002)
Narrator
Naqoyqatsi
(2002)
Self (archive footage)
Things They Said Today
(2002)
Self (archive footage)
Concert for George
(2003)
Self
The Beatles: Around the World
(2003)
Self (archive footage)
Beatles: The Journey
(2003)
Self (archive footage)
Inside John Lennon - Unauthorized
(2003)
Self (archive footage)
Radio
(2003)
Stinger the Mascot (uncredited)
The Beatles: Watching Rainbows
(2004)
Self (archive footage)
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band: Tour 2003
(2004)
Self
Beatles Biggest Secrets
(2004)
Self (archive footage)
Brian Epstein: Inside the Fifth Beatle
(2004)
Self (archive footage)
Ringo Starr and the Roundheads - Live
(2005)
himself
The Beatles: Love Me Do - A Documentary
(2005)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Chronology Vol. 1 y 2
(2005)
Self - batería, vocalista
George Harrison & Friends - The Concert for Bangladesh Revisited
(2005)
Self
Doctor Who: Origins
(2006)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Love
(2006)
Self
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
(2007)
Himself
The Beatles: Help!
(2007)
Self (archive footage)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream
(2007)
Self
The Beatles: Destination Hamburg
(2007)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles Explosion
(2007)
Self (archive footage)
Rare and Unseen: The Beatles
(2008)
Self (archive footage)
Classic Albums: John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band
(2008)
Self
All Together Now
(2008)
Himself
Composing the Beatles Songbook: Lennon & McCartney 1966-1970
(2008)
Self (archive footage)
Ringo Starr: Off the Record
(2008)
Self
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band Live 2006
(2008)
Self
Thomas & Friends: Percy Takes The Plunge
(2008)
Narrator
The Beatles on Record
(2009)
Self
Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band: The Official BBC Children in Need Medley
(2009)
Thomas the Tank Engine (voice)
The World of Peter Sellers
(2009)
Oh My God
(2009)
Self
The Beatles: Here There and Everywhere
(2009)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Budokan Tokyo 1966
(2009)
Self (drums, backing vocals)
The Beatles: The Mini Documentaries
(2009)
Self
The Beatles: Parting Ways
(2009)
Himself
The 4 Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Starring The Beatles
(2010)
Self (archive footage)
All You Need Is Klaus
(2010)
Himself
Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)
(2010)
Himself (archive footage)
The Beatles: A Magical History Tour
(2010)
Self (archive footage)
Paul McCartney Really Is Dead: The Last Testament of George Harrison
(2010)
Self (archive footage)
A Concert by the Lake
(2010)
Himself
Ringo Starr 70th Birthday Bash Radio City NYC 7-07-10
(2010)
Thomas & Friends: The Greatest Stories
(2010)
Narrator
The Beatles: Fifty Fabulous Years
(2010)
Self (archive footage)
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band Live at the Greek Theater
(2010)
Self
David Wants to Fly
(2010)
John Lennon: Love Is All You Need
(2010)
Self (archive footage)
Thomas & Friends - The Best of Thomas
(2010)
Narrator
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
(2011)
Self
The Beatles - Unsurpassed Promos
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 4
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 3
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 2
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 1
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
Beatles Stories
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO
(2012)
Self
Produced By George Martin
(2012)
Magical Mystery Tour Revisited
(2012)
Self
The Winged Beetle
(2012)
Self
The Beatles: In Chicago 1964-1966
(2012)
Self
Genius
(2012)
Self (archive footage)
Good Ol' Freda
(2013)
Self
Ringo at the Ryman
(2013)
himself
The Powerpuff Girls: Dance Pantsed
(2014)
Fibonacci Sequins (voice)
The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles
(2014)
Self
Ringo Starr: A Lifetime of Peace and Love
(2014)
Self
Beatles på Sverigeturné
(2014)
Self (archive footage)
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
(2015)
Self
The Beatles 1
(2015)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles 1+
(2015)
Self (archive footage)
The Nation's Favourite Beatles Number One
(2015)
Self (archive footage)
Shed 17
(2015)
Edward (voice)
Beatles chronology (1962-1970)
(2016)
Self (archive footage)
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
(2016)
Ringo Starr
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
(2016)
Self
Deconstructing the Beatles' White Album
(2016)
Self (archive footage)
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
(2016)
Larry the Dwarf (archive footage)
Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape
(2016)
Self (archive footage)
Jim Carter: Lonnie Donegan and Me
(2016)
Self
It Was Fifty Years Ago Today! The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper & Beyond
(2017)
Self
How the Beatles Changed the World
(2017)
Self (archive footage)
Sgt Pepper's Musical Revolution
(2017)
Self (archive footage)
Free to Rock
(2017)
Self - The Beatles (archive footage)
Dark Glamour: The Blood and Guts of Hammer Productions
(2017)
Self - Musician (archive footage)
George Harrison - All Things Pass
(2018)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles – Ready Steady Go!
(2018)
Self
Take Your Pills
(2018)
Self (archive footage)
Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars
(2018)
Self
Understanding Lennon/McCartney
(2018)
Self (archival footage)
Echo in the Canyon
(2019)
Self
Deconstructing the Beatles' Abbey Road: Side 2
(2019)
Self (archive footage)
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
(2019)
Self (archive footage)
Deconstructing the Beatles' Abbey Road: Side 1
(2019)
Self (archive footage)
Paul McCartney: Wings of a Beatle
(2019)
Self (archive footage)
Manson: Music From an Unsound Mind
(2019)
Self (archive footage)
Mae West: Dirty Blonde
(2020)
Self
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show
(2020)
Self - Host
Meeting the Beatles in India
(2020)
Self
Jealous Guy: The Assassination of John Lennon
(2020)
Self (archive footage)
Zappa
(2020)
Self (archive footage)
What Drives Us
(2021)
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
(2021)
Self
The Beatles and India
(2021)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Let It Be
(2021)
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band: Live at the Greek Theater 2019
(2022)
Himself
The Beatles: Get Back - The Rooftop Concert
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
If These Walls Could Sing
(2022)
Self
Let There Be Drums!
(2022)
Self
HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC. What is Rock Music?
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: 1964 US Tour Reconstruction
(2022)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
(2022)
Self (archive Footage)
Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex
(2023)
Self
The Lost Weekend: A Love Story
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock 'n' Roll
(2023)
Self
Louder Than Rock
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Paul Newman: The Restless
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Reinventing Elvis: The 68' Comeback
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Now and Then - The Last Beatles Song
(2023)
Self
The Beatles and the BBC
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Sound
The Beatles: Live in Washington DC
(1964)
Music
Revolution
(1967)
Songs
Across the Universe
(2007)
Songs
Yesterday
(2019)
Songs
Production
Magical Mystery Tour
(1967)
Producer
Let It Be
(1970)
Executive Producer
Son of Dracula
(1974)
Producer
Ringo Starr Going Home
(1993)
Executive Producer
The Beatles: Get Back - The Rooftop Concert
(2022)
Producer
Camera
Directing
Magical Mystery Tour
(1967)
Director
Marc Bolan & T. Rex - Born to Boogie
(1973)
Director
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show
(2020)
Director
Writing
Editing
Crew