Paul David Hewson, better known by his stage name Bono, is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician, venture capitalist, businessman, and philanthropist. He is best recognized as the frontman of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his future wife, Alison Stewart, and the future members of U2. Bono writes almost all U2 lyrics, frequently using religious, social, and political themes. During U2's early years, Bono's lyrics contributed to their rebellious and spiritual to; as the band matured, his lyrics became inspired more by personal experiences shared with the other members.
Outside the band, he has collaborated and recorded with numerous artists, is managing director and a managing partner of Elevation Partners, and has refurbished and owns The Clarence Hotel in Dublin with The Edge. He was granted a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, and, with Bill and Melinda Gates, was named Time Person of the Year in 2005, among other awards and nominations. On 17 July 2013, the BBC announced that Bono had been made a Commandeur of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters).
Known For
Sing 2
(2021)
Clay Calloway (voice)
Wham!
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
The Million Dollar Hotel
(2000)
Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
Across the Universe
(2007)
Doctor Robert
Quincy
(2018)
Self
Brüno
(2009)
Self - 'Dove of Peace'
Live Aid
(1985)
Self
The Sound of 007
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
Lost in London
(2017)
Bono (voice)
Pavarotti
(2019)
Self
Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten
(2007)
Self
Full Filmography
Acting
U2: Follies
(1981)
Self
No Nukes! muziekfestival
(1982)
Self - U2
U2: Live at Red Rocks - Under a Blood Red Sky
(1983)
Self - Vocals
U2: A Fire in Dortmund
(1984)
'Do They Know It's Christmas?' - The Story Of The Official Band Aid Video
(1984)
Self
U2: The Unforgettable Fire Collection
(1984)
Bono
U2 at Live Aid
(1985)
Live Aid
(1985)
Self
U2: Unforgettable Fire
(1985)
U2 & The Police: A Conspiracy of Hope
(1986)
U2: Outside It's America
(1987)
U2 Live from Paris
(1987)
Himself
U2: Live from Syracuse 1987
(1987)
U2 - Live from Los Angeles 1987
(1987)
U2: Rattle and Hum
(1988)
Self
U2: Lovetown
(1989)
Self
Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter
(1990)
Self
U2: Achtung Baby, the Videos, the Cameos and a Whole Lot of Interference from ZOO-TV
(1992)
U2 - Live from Stockholm 1992
(1992)
Rolling Stone 25: The MTV Special
(1992)
Himself
Daniel Lanois "Rocky World"
(1993)
Self
New Order Story
(1993)
Self
U2 Zoo TV Live in Adelaide 1993
(1993)
U2: Zoo TV - Live from Sydney
(1994)
In Darkest Hollywood: Cinema and Apartheid
(1994)
Self (archive footage)
Sinatra: 80 Years My Way
(1995)
Self - Performer
The History of Rock 'n' Roll
(1995)
Self
Pavarotti & Friends 3 - Together for the Children of Bosnia
(1995)
Himself
Dancing Barefoot
(1995)
Self (voice)
The Rocker: A Portrait of Phil Lynott
(1996)
Self
Bravo Profiles: Björk
(1997)
Self
U2: A Year in Pop
(1997)
Himself
U2: Popmart - Live from Mexico City
(1997)
Himself
The Great Hunger: The Life and Songs of Shane MacGowan
(1997)
Self
The A-Z of Separating People from their Money
(1998)
Himself
U2 - The Best of 1980-1990
(1998)
U2: Live from Santiago 1998
(1998)
U2 - Live at Johannesburg Stadium, South Africa, 1998
(1998)
Entropy
(1999)
Himself
Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree
(1999)
Self
A Tribute To Johnny Cash
(1999)
Self - Performer
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story
(1999)
Self
Tina Turner : Celebrate!
(1999)
U2 - Live from Irving Plaza 2000
(2000)
From a Whisper to a Scream: The Living History of Irish Music
(2000)
Self
Anton Corbijn: Geen Stil Leven
(2000)
Self
No Maps for These Territories
(2000)
Himself
The Beatles Revolution
(2000)
Self
The Million Dollar Hotel
(2000)
Man in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
Being Mick
(2001)
Self
Kirsty: The Life and Songs of Kirsty MacColl
(2001)
Self
America: A Tribute to Heroes
(2001)
Self - Performer
U2: Elevation 2001 - Live from Boston
(2001)
Vocals & Guitar
There's Only One Paul McCartney
(2002)
Self
U2: The Best of 1990-2000
(2002)
Himself
The Corrs Live from Dublin
(2002)
Guest Singer
U2: An Unforgettable Journey
(2003)
Himself
The Importance of Being Morrissey
(2003)
Himself
U2 Go Home: Live from Slane Castle, Ireland
(2003)
Vocals
Bukowski: Born Into This
(2003)
Self
Bono: Big Daddy
(2004)
U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
(2004)
Himself
Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde
(2004)
Self
U2 and 3 songs
(2004)
U2 - Live Under the Brooklyn Bridge
(2004)
The Work of Director Anton Corbijn
(2005)
Self (segments "One" and "Electrical Storm")
Horslips: Return of the Dancehall Sweethearts
(2005)
Himself
A Concert for Hurricane Relief
(2005)
Self
The Pretenders: No Turn Left Unstoned
(2005)
Self
Live 8
(2005)
Self
Live Aid Against All Odds
(2005)
Self
U2: Vertigo 05 - Live from Milan
(2005)
Bono
U2: Vertigo 2005 - Live from Chicago
(2005)
Vocals
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
(2005)
Self
The Work of Director Mark Romanek
(2005)
Self - Interviewee
U2: City of blinding lights - Live in Buenos Aires
(2006)
U2: Achtung Baby: A Classic Album Under Review
(2006)
U2 Phenomenon - The Independent Review
(2006)
Himself
The Art of Football from A to Z
(2006)
Self
Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man
(2006)
Self
Make Poverty History - Music Concert
(2006)
U2: 18 Videos
(2006)
U2: Vertigo Tour Live at River Plate Stadium
(2006)
Vocals
U2 3D
(2007)
Himself
Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic
(2007)
Self
Across the Universe
(2007)
Doctor Robert
U2: The Joshua Tree (Bonus DVD)
(2007)
Vocals
White Diamond: A Personal Portrait of Kylie Minogue
(2007)
Himself
Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten
(2007)
Self
Pavarotti The Duets
(2008)
Self
Lord, Save Us from Your Followers
(2008)
Himself (archive footage)
Ronnie Drew: September Song
(2008)
Q: The Man
(2009)
Self
Brüno
(2009)
Self - 'Dove of Peace'
U2 Live Tour 360° - Paris 11 et 12 Juillet 2009
(2009)
Chant
Linear
(2009)
Self
Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me
(2009)
Performer
The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concerts
(2009)
Self
Keep on Running: 50 Years of Island Records
(2009)
We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
(2009)
Self
Pop Galerie Reloaded - U2
(2009)
Himself (archive)
u2 360 tour - under the rainy belgium sky
(2010)
U2360° Tour: Squaring The Circle
(2010)
Self
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - Start Me Up
(2010)
Self
Hope for Haiti Now
(2010)
Self
U2: 360° at the Rose Bowl
(2010)
Vocals
U2 - Live from Moncton 2011
(2011)
U2: Live at Glastonbury 2011
(2011)
Himself
U2: From the Sky Down
(2011)
Self
U2: Unbroken Toys
(2012)
U2: War - The Ultimate Critical Review
(2012)
himself
B.B. King: The Life of Riley
(2012)
Self
Anton Corbijn Inside Out
(2012)
Himself
Here Comes the Night Time
(2013)
Fake Arcade Fire Bandmember
Who the F**K Is Arthur Fogel
(2013)
himself
Muscle Shoals
(2013)
Self
Miracle Rising: South Africa
(2013)
Himself
Nelson Mandela Redrawn
(2014)
Self
Meteor Choice Music Prize 2014
(2014)
Nominee
Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl - Unraveled
(2014)
Self
U2: iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Live in Paris - 11/11/2015
(2015)
U2: iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Live in Paris - 06/12/2015
(2015)
The Irish Rock Story: A Tale of Two Cities
(2015)
Self
U2: iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Live in Paris
(2015)
Himself
Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert
(2015)
Self
U2 - Vancouver, Canada
(2015)
Irish Rock at the BBC
(2015)
Self
Electric Burma: The Concert for Aung San Suu Kyi - Words I Never Said
(2016)
Self
U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017
(2017)
Linkin Park and Friends - Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington
(2017)
Self (archive footage)
U2 - Live from Abbey Road
(2017)
Lost in London
(2017)
Bono (voice)
In the Name of Peace: John Hume in America
(2017)
Self
Kygo: Stole the Show
(2017)
Himself
U2 at The BBC
(2017)
U2
Julian Schnabel: A Private Portrait
(2017)
Self
Eagles of Death Metal - Nos Amis (Our Friends)
(2017)
Himself
Michael Hutchence: The Last Rockstar
(2017)
Self
U2: eXPERIENCE - Live in Berlin
(2018)
himself
Hansa Studios: By the Wall 1976-90
(2018)
himself
Quincy
(2018)
Self
Liner Notes
(2018)
Narrator (voice)
ReMastered: Massacre at the Stadium
(2019)
Self
Mystify: Michael Hutchence
(2019)
Himself
Pavarotti
(2019)
Self
Salman Rushdie: Death on a Trail
(2019)
Self - Musician (archive footage)
The Busk - A Decade of Christmas on Grafton Street
(2020)
Himself
Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
(2020)
Self
Citizens Of Boomtown: The Story of the Boomtown Rats
(2020)
Himself
Sing 2
(2021)
Clay Calloway (voice)
Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
(2022)
Self
Paul Muldoon: Laoithe is Lirici
(2022)
Himself
Roy Orbison Forever
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
ABBA V Queen
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
The Sound of 007
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
U2: Rockumentary
(2022)
Self
Wham!
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex
(2023)
Self
Zucchero | Sugar Fornaciari
(2023)
Self
Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman
(2023)
Self
Peter & the Wolf
(2023)
Self (Artist)
Kiss the Future
(2024)
Sound
In the Name of the Father
(1993)
Songs
Beyond the Clouds
(1995)
Original Music Composer
GoldenEye
(1995)
Original Music Composer
U2: A Year in Pop
(1997)
Music
Linear
(2009)
Music
Production
Miss Sarajevo
(1995)
Executive Producer
The Million Dollar Hotel
(2000)
Producer
Linear
(2009)
Executive Producer
Waiting for the Miracle to Come
(2019)
Executive Producer
Writing
Crew