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
Let It Be
(1970)
Self (The Beatles) (uncredited)
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
(2016)
Ringo Starr
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
(2016)
Self
Radio
(2003)
Stinger the Mascot (uncredited)
The Last Waltz
(1978)
Self
Caveman
(1981)
Atouk
A Hard Day's Night
(1964)
Ringo
Candy
(1968)
Emmanuel
Yellow Submarine
(1968)
Ringo (uncredited)
Help!
(1965)
Ringo
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
(2011)
Self
Zappa
(2020)
Self (archive footage)
Magical Mystery Tour
(1967)
Self / Talkative Magician
Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars
(2018)
Self
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
(1978)
Self (archive footage)
The Magic Christian
(1969)
Youngman Grand, Esq.
Full Filmography
Acting
The Beatles Come to Town
(1963)
Self
The Beatles - Live at The Empire Theatre Liverpool
(1963)
The Mersey Sound
(1963)
Self
The Beatles: Live in The Netherlands
(1964)
Self
A Hard Day's Night
(1964)
Ringo
The Beatles in Australia
(1964)
Self
What's Happening! The Beatles in the USA
(1964)
Self - The Beatles Member
The Beatles Sing for Shell
(1964)
Self
The Beatles: Live in Washington DC
(1964)
Self
Around the Beatles
(1964)
Self
The Beatles - Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964
(1964)
Self
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! The Beatles in New York
(1964)
Self (archive footage)
The Music of Lennon & McCartney
(1965)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Live in Paris
(1965)
Self
The Beatles Unauthorized
(1965)
Self (archive footage)
Pop Gear
(1965)
Self
Help!
(1965)
Ringo
Doctor Who: The Chase
(1965)
Self (archive footage)
Die Beatles
(1966)
Self (as The Beatles)
Reflections on Love
(1966)
Self (archive footage)
Beatles - Tokyo, Japan 66
(1966)
Himself
El Rey en Londres
(1966)
Self (archive footage)
Monument
(1967)
Self (archive footage)
Our World
(1967)
Self
Magical Mystery Tour
(1967)
Self / Talkative Magician
All You Need Is Love
(1967)
Self
The Beatles: REVOLUTION
(1968)
Self
Candy
(1968)
Emmanuel
The Beatles: HEY JUDE
(1968)
Self
The Movie Orgy
(1968)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles Mod Odyssey
(1968)
Self
Yellow Submarine
(1968)
Ringo (uncredited)
The Beatles: SOMETHING
(1969)
Self
The Beatles - Abbey Road
(1969)
Self - drums
The Beatles: Get Back...Winter of Discontent
(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)
The Magic Christian
(1969)
Youngman Grand, Esq.
Will the Real Mr. Sellers...
(1969)
The Beatles - The Get Back Chronicles 1969 Volume Two
(1969)
Self (archive footage)
Let It Be
(1970)
Self (The Beatles) (uncredited)
The Point
(1971)
Narrator / Father (home video release) (voice)
Cilla in Scandinavia
(1971)
Self
200 Motels
(1971)
Larry the Dwarf / Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa filmt 200 Motels
(1971)
Self
Blindman
(1971)
Candy
Did Somebody Drop His Mouse?
(1972)
Himself
Weekend of a Champion
(1972)
Self (uncredited)
The Concert for Bangladesh
(1972)
Self
Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here
(1972)
Self
Marc Bolan & T. Rex - Born to Boogie
(1973)
Self
That'll Be The Day
(1973)
Mike
Muhammad Ali: The Greatest
(1974)
Self
The Society of the Spectacle
(1974)
Self (archive footage)
Braverman's Condensed Cream of the Beatles
(1974)
Self (archive footage)
Son of Dracula
(1974)
Merlin, the Magician
Lisztomania
(1975)
The Pope
The Beatles at Shea Stadium
(1977)
Self
Mighty Good: The Beatles
(1977)
Self
The Day the Music Died
(1977)
Self
Sextette
(1978)
Laslo Karolny
Ringo
(1978)
Ringo Starr / Ognir Rrats
The Last Waltz
(1978)
Self
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
(1978)
Self (archive footage)
Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip
(1979)
Self
The Kids Are Alright
(1979)
Himself
This Is Elvis
(1981)
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Caveman
(1981)
Atouk
Paul McCartney - Take It Away
(1982)
The Compleat Beatles
(1982)
Self (archive footage)
The Cooler
(1982)
Prisoner/Cowboy
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
(1982)
Self (archive footage)
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
(1983)
Self (uncredited) (Extended Cut)
Give My Regards to Broad Street
(1984)
Ringo
An Audience with Billy Connolly
(1985)
Self - Audience Member (uncredited)
Water
(1985)
Himself - The Singing Rebels' Band
Willie and The Poor Boys - The Movie
(1985)
The Janitor
British Rock: The First Wave
(1985)
Self (archive footage)
Carl Perkins & Friends: Blue Suede Shoes - A Rockabilly Session
(1985)
Self
Fun with the Fab Four
(1986)
Self (archive footage)
The Return of Bruno
(1987)
Ringo Starr
Jimi Plays Monterey
(1987)
Self (archive footage)
Video From Hell
(1987)
Self
Walking After Midnight
(1988)
Self
One More Audience with Dame Edna Everage
(1988)
Self (uncredited)
Imagine: John Lennon
(1988)
Self
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels
(1988)
Self
Shining Time Station: 'Tis a Gift
(1990)
Mr. Conductor
Thomas & Friends: Thomas Gets Tricked
(1990)
Narrator
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band
(1990)
Self
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)
Ready Steady Go! The Beatles Live
(1993)
Self
Ringo Starr Going Home
(1993)
Self - Host
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
The Beatles Story
(1996)
Self (archive footage)
Alf Bicknell's Beatles Diary
(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)
Television: The First Fifty Years
(1999)
Self – The Beatles (archive footage)
Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepytime Tales
(1999)
Self (archive footage / uncredited)
Beatles: Big Beat Box
(2001)
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band So Far...
(2001)
Himself
Wingspan
(2001)
Himself (archive footage)
Thomas & Friends: Best of Percy
(2001)
Narrator
Thomas & Friends: Best Of Thomas
(2001)
Narrator
The Paranormal Peter Sellers
(2001)
Self (Archive footage)
Things They Said Today
(2002)
Self (archive footage)
Naqoyqatsi
(2002)
Self (archive footage)
Thomas & Friends: Best Of James
(2002)
Narrator
Paul McCartney: Back in the U.S.
(2002)
Self (archive footage)
Beatles: The Journey
(2003)
Self (archive footage)
Radio
(2003)
Stinger the Mascot (uncredited)
The Beatles: Around the World
(2003)
Self (archive footage)
Inside John Lennon - Unauthorized
(2003)
Self (archive footage)
Concert for George
(2003)
Self
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)
The Beatles: Watching Rainbows
(2004)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Chronology Vol. 1 y 2
(2005)
Self - batería, vocalista
George Harrison & Friends - The Concert for Bangladesh Revisited
(2005)
Self
The Beatles: Love Me Do - A Documentary
(2005)
Self (archive footage)
Ringo Starr and the Roundheads - Live
(2005)
himself
The Beatles: Love
(2006)
Self
Doctor Who: Origins
(2006)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Destination Hamburg
(2007)
Self (archive footage)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream
(2007)
Self
The Beatles Explosion
(2007)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Help!
(2007)
Self (archive footage)
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
(2007)
Himself
Thomas & Friends: Percy Takes The Plunge
(2008)
Narrator
Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band Live 2006
(2008)
Self
Ringo Starr: Off the Record
(2008)
Self
Composing the Beatles Songbook: Lennon & McCartney 1966-1970
(2008)
Self (archive footage)
Classic Albums: John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band
(2008)
Self
All Together Now
(2008)
Himself
Rare and Unseen: The Beatles
(2008)
Self (archive footage)
The World of Peter Sellers
(2009)
The Beatles: Parting Ways
(2009)
Himself
Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band: The Official BBC Children in Need Medley
(2009)
Thomas the Tank Engine (voice)
The Beatles on Record
(2009)
Self
The Beatles: The Mini Documentaries
(2009)
Self
The Beatles: Budokan Tokyo 1966
(2009)
Self (drums, backing vocals)
Oh My God
(2009)
Self
The Beatles: Here There and Everywhere
(2009)
Self (archive footage)
Thomas & Friends - The Best of Thomas
(2010)
Narrator
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band Live at the Greek Theater
(2010)
Self
The Beatles: Fifty Fabulous Years
(2010)
Self (archive footage)
Thomas & Friends: The Greatest Stories
(2010)
Narrator
A Concert by the Lake
(2010)
Himself
Ringo Starr 70th Birthday Bash Radio City NYC 7-07-10
(2010)
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)
All You Need Is Klaus
(2010)
Himself
The 4 Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Starring The Beatles
(2010)
Self (archive footage)
Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)
(2010)
Himself (archive footage)
John Lennon: Love Is All You Need
(2010)
Self (archive footage)
David Wants to Fly
(2010)
I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
Beatles Stories
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
(2011)
Self
The Beatles - Unsurpassed Promos
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 2
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 1
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 4
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 3
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
Genius
(2012)
Self (archive footage)
The Winged Beetle
(2012)
Self
Magical Mystery Tour Revisited
(2012)
Self
The Beatles: In Chicago 1964-1966
(2012)
Self
Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO
(2012)
Self
Produced By George Martin
(2012)
Ringo at the Ryman
(2013)
himself
Good Ol' Freda
(2013)
Self
Ringo Starr: A Lifetime of Peace and Love
(2014)
Self
The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles
(2014)
Self
The Powerpuff Girls: Dance Pantsed
(2014)
Fibonacci Sequins (voice)
Beatles på Sverigeturné
(2014)
Self (archive footage)
The Nation's Favourite Beatles Number One
(2015)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles 1
(2015)
Self (archive footage)
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
(2015)
Self
The Beatles 1+
(2015)
Self (archive footage)
Shed 17
(2015)
Edward (voice)
Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape
(2016)
Self (archive footage)
Jim Carter: Lonnie Donegan and Me
(2016)
Self
Deconstructing the Beatles' White Album
(2016)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
(2016)
Self
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
(2016)
Ringo Starr
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words
(2016)
Larry the Dwarf (archive footage)
Beatles chronology (1962-1970)
(2016)
Self (archive footage)
Dark Glamour: The Blood and Guts of Hammer Productions
(2017)
Self - Musician (archive footage)
Sgt Pepper's Musical Revolution
(2017)
Self (archive footage)
Free to Rock
(2017)
Self - The Beatles (archive footage)
It Was Fifty Years Ago Today! The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper & Beyond
(2017)
Self
How the Beatles Changed the World
(2017)
Self (archive footage)
Take Your Pills
(2018)
Self (archive footage)
Understanding Lennon/McCartney
(2018)
Self (archival footage)
George Harrison - All Things Pass
(2018)
Self (archive footage)
Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars
(2018)
Self
The Beatles – Ready Steady Go!
(2018)
Self
Paul McCartney: Wings of a Beatle
(2019)
Self (archive footage)
Deconstructing the Beatles' Abbey Road: Side 1
(2019)
Self (archive footage)
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
(2019)
Self (archive footage)
Manson: Music From an Unsound Mind
(2019)
Self (archive footage)
Echo in the Canyon
(2019)
Self
Deconstructing the Beatles' Abbey Road: Side 2
(2019)
Self (archive footage)
Jealous Guy: The Assassination of John Lennon
(2020)
Self (archive footage)
Meeting the Beatles in India
(2020)
Self
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show
(2020)
Self - Host
Mae West: Dirty Blonde
(2020)
Self
Zappa
(2020)
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles and India
(2021)
Self (archive footage)
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
(2021)
Self
What Drives Us
(2021)
The Beatles: Let It Be
(2021)
The Beatles: Get Back - The Rooftop Concert
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band: Live at the Greek Theater 2019
(2022)
Himself
The Beatles: 1964 US Tour Reconstruction
(2022)
HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC. What is Rock Music?
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
If These Walls Could Sing
(2022)
Self
Let There Be Drums!
(2022)
Self
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
(2022)
Self (archive Footage)
Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex
(2023)
Self
Reinventing Elvis: The 68' Comeback
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Paul Newman: The Restless
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Louder Than Rock
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
The Lost Weekend: A Love Story
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock 'n' Roll
(2023)
Self
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
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
(1978)
Songs
Across the Universe
(2007)
Songs
Yesterday
(2019)
Songs
Camera
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
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