
In addition to the Beatles' filmsA Hard Day's Night (1964),Help! (1965),Magical Mystery Tour (1967),Yellow Submarine (1968) andLet It Be (1970),Ringo Starr also acted in films such asCandy (1968),The Magic Christian (1969, alongsidePeter Sellers),Blindman (1971),Son of Dracula (1974) andCaveman (1981).[1]Starr directed and appeared inBorn to Boogie (1972), a concert film featuringMarc Bolan andT. Rex.[2] For the 1979 documentary film onthe Who,The Kids Are Alright, Starr appeared in interview segments with fellow drummerKeith Moon.[3] He starred as Larry the Dwarf inFrank Zappa's200 Motels (1971).[4] His voice is also featured inHarry Nilsson's animated filmThe Point! (1971).[5]
In 1972, Starr made a briefcameo appearance at the end of an episode ofMonty Python's Flying Circus, entitled "Mr. and Mrs. Brian Norris' Ford Popular". He co-starred inThat'll Be the Day (1973) as aTeddy Boy,[6] and went on to appear inThe Last Waltz, theMartin Scorsese film about the 1976 farewell concert ofthe Band, a favourite of the Beatles.[7] Starr played 'The Pope' inKen Russell'sLisztomania (1975),[8] and a fictionalised version of himself in Paul McCartney'sGive My Regards to Broad Street in 1984.[9] He also appeared as himself, and downtrodden alter-ego Ognir Rrats, inRingo (1978), an American-made television comedy film based loosely onThe Prince and the Pauper.[10]
Starr was best known to be the first narrator of the children's programmeThomas the Tank Engine & Friends from 1984–86 for the British broadcast and from 1989–90 in the United States.
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Hard Day's Night | 1964 | Himself | |
| Help! | 1965 | ||
| Magical Mystery Tour | 1967 | ||
| Yellow Submarine | 1968 | Cameo | |
| Candy | Emmanuel | ||
| The Magic Christian | 1969 | Youngman Grand | |
| Let It Be | 1970 | Himself | Documentary film |
| 200 Motels | 1971 | Larry the Dwarf | |
| Blindman | Candy | ||
| The Concert for Bangladesh | 1972 | Himself | Concert film |
| Born to Boogie | Concert film; also director | ||
| That'll Be the Day | 1973 | Mike | |
| Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars | Himself | Documentary film | |
| Son of Dracula | 1974 | Merlin | Also producer |
| Lisztomania | 1975 | The Pope | |
| Sextette | 1978 | Laslo Karolny | |
| The Last Waltz | Himself | Concert film | |
| The Kids Are Alright | 1979 | Documentary film | |
| Caveman | 1981 | Atouk | |
| Give My Regards to Broad Street | 1984 | Himself | |
| Water | 1985 | Singing Rebels' member | Cameo |
| Walking After Midnight | 1988 | Himself | Documentary film |
| Concert for George | 2003 | ||
| Radio | Stinger the Mascot | Cameo | |
| All Together Now | 2008 | Himself | Documentary film |
| George Harrison: Living in the Material World | 2011 | ||
| Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping | 2016 | Himself | Cameo |
| The Beatles: Eight Days a Week | Documentary film | ||
| Beatles '64 | 2024 |
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magical Mystery Tour | 1967 | Himself | Television movie |
| The Point! | 1971 | Narrator / Father | Home video releases only |
| Monty Python's Flying Circus | 1972 | Himself | Episode: "Mr. and Mrs. Brian Norris' Ford Popular" |
| Ringo | 1978 | Himself / Ognir Rrats | Television movie |
| Princess Daisy | 1983 | Robin Valerian | Main role |
| Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends | 1984–1986 | Narrator | Series 1–2 |
| Alice in Wonderland | 1985 | Mock Turtle | Episode: "Part 1 – Alice in Wonderland" |
| The Return of Bruno | 1988 | Himself | Television movie |
| Shining Time Station | 1989–1990 | Mr. Conductor | Lead role (season 1 + Christmas special) |
| The Simpsons | 1991 | Himself | Episode: "Brush with Greatness" |
| Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories | 1992 | Narrator | Episode: "Elbert's Bad Word / Weird Parents" |
| The Beatles Anthology | 1995 | Himself | Docuseries |
| Sabrina the Teenage Witch | 1998 | Mummy | Episode: "Good Will Haunting" |
| The Powerpuff Girls: Dance Pantsed | 2014 | Fibonacci Sequins | Voice role |
| The Beatles: Get Back | 2021 | Himself | Docuseries |