Brian Wilson

Acting

Brian Wilson

Born 1942-06-20 · Inglewood, California, USA

Brian Douglas Wilson (June 20, 1942 — June 11, 2025) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. After signing with Capitol Records in 1962, Wilson wrote or co-wrote more than two dozen Top 40 hits for the group. He originally functioned as the band's songwriter, producer, co-lead vocalist, bassist, keyboardist, and de facto leader. Wilson was considered a major innovator in the field of music production, the principal originator of the California Sound, one of the first music producer auteurs, and the first rock producer to use the studio as its own instrument. The unusual creative control Capitol gave him over his own records effectively set a precedent that allowed other bands and artists to act as their own producers or co-producers. He was a major influence on the retrospectively-termed "sunshine pop" and Flower Power music that proceeded.

Acting credits

Love & Mercy poster
7.1

In the late 1960s, the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson stops touring, produces "Pet Sounds" and begins to lose his grip on reality. By the 1980s, under the sway of a controlling therapist, he finds a savior in Melinda Ledbetter.

Love & Mercy

2015

The Beach Boys poster
6.6

A celebration of the legendary band that revolutionized pop music, and the iconic, harmonious sound they created that personified the California dream, captivating fans for generations and generations to come.

The Beach Boys

2024

No artwork available
NR

Hosted by Jane Fonda and Robert Wagner, this TV special celebrates the XXIIIrd Olympiad with all-star guests at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.

Olympic Gala

1984

Paul McCartney: Back in the U.S. poster
6.8

In 2002, a 60-year old McCartney refocused the attention on his musicianship, staging a massive live concert in Cleveland, Ohio. The superstar, who went on to form the popular rock group Wings and had several hit records as a solo artist, performs a track list that covers all three phases of his long and prolific career, including the hits "Eleanor Rigby," "Live And Let Die," "Blackbird," "The Long And Winding Road," and "Mother Nature's Son." In addition to the 30 tunes that McCartney enthusiastically performs, seemingly immune to the ravages of time and aging, BACK IN THE U.S.A LIVE also includes candid behind-the-scenes footage of the rocker backstage and on the road.

Paul McCartney: Back in the U.S.

2002

Live Aid poster
7.9

Live Aid was held on 13 July 1985, simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, United States. It was one of the largest scale satellite link-ups and television broadcasts of all time: watched live by an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations. "It's twelve noon in London, seven AM in Philadelphia, and around the world it's time for Live Aid...!"

Live Aid

1985

Disorderlies poster
4.9

As not-quite-orderlies who're downright Disorderlies, rap-music favorites The Fat Boys rule. Playing the freewheeling caretakers of the frail Dennison, they stir up a comedic culture clash in Palm Beach society that only proves laughter is the best medicine this side of a tax refund.

Disorderlies

1987

The Beach Boys: Nashville Sounds poster
6.0

Brian Wilson and the boys of summer add a pinch of down-home twang to their classic harmonies with the help of country music's finest. In this 1996 recording session for the album "Stars and Stripes," The Beach Boys rework 12 of their songs, including "409" (with Junior Brown), "The Warmth of the Sun" (with Willie Nelson), "In My Room" (with Tammy Wynette), "Don't Worry Baby" (with Lorrie Morgan), and "I Get Around" (with Sawyer Brown).

The Beach Boys: Nashville Sounds

1996

Live 8 poster
7.4

On 2 July 2005 an estimated 3 billion people came together in the fight against extreme poverty. LIVE 8 - 10 concerts featuring over 1000 musicians from across the globe - asked people not for their money, but for their voice.

Live 8

2005

The Wrecking Crew poster
7.4

A celebration of the musical work of a group of session musicians known as "The Wrecking Crew." a band that provided back-up instrumentals to such legendary recording artists as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, and Bing Crosby.

The Wrecking Crew

2008

I Hope You Dance: The Power and Spirit of Song poster
NR

I HOPE YOU DANCE: the power and spirit of song is the first full length documentary film to explore how one extraordinary song has transformed people's lives in profound, meaningful and sometimes startling ways. It is a film about hope, faith, optimism and the power of music to inspire and heal. The film highlights true stories of Love, Inspiration, Second Chances, Forgiveness and Miracles: A father who honors his daughter's memory by saving four lives through organ donation; a homeless shelter that teaches ballroom dancing, literally getting people back on their feet; a woman who miraculously recovers from a devastating spinal cord injury that should have killed her instantly; a couple who overcome the pain of their respective pasts to find love and redemption; two Nashville songwriters whose life experiences combine to create breathtaking piece of music for the ages.

I Hope You Dance: The Power and Spirit of Song

2015

The Devil and Daniel Johnston poster
7.7

This 2005 documentary film chronicles the life of Daniel Johnston, a manic-depressive genius singer/songwriter/artist, from childhood up to the present, with an emphasis on his mental illness and how it manifested itself in demonic self-obsession.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston

2006

Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile poster
7.0

Through modern day interviews, archival footage and vintage audio tapes, this documentary tells the story of the legendary and unfinished 1967 Beach Boys album SMiLE, intended to be the follow-up to their landmark album Pet Sounds, as well as Brian Wilson's ultimate decision to revisit the material 36 years later.

Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile

2004

Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey poster
5.8

After escaping Russia's communist revolution, Léon Theremin travels to New York, where he pioneers the field of electronic music with his synthesizer. But at the height of his popularity, Soviet agents kidnap and force him to develop spy technology.

Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey

1995

Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip poster
2.0

A documentary on the pop music and culture of the 1960's, featuring film and video clips of 60's-era performers.

Echoes of the Sixties: A Musical Trip

1979

The Girls on the Beach poster
4.4

The girls of Alpha Beta need to raise $10,000 in two weeks to save the sorority house. Among their schemes to raise the funds are a beauty contest, a newspaper puzzle, and a baking contest. But when three guys hit the beach with love on their minds, bragging that they know the Beatles, the girls plan a concert with the Fab Four as the main attraction.

The Girls on the Beach

1965

How to Stuff a Wild Bikini poster
5.3

When he's stationed in Tahiti, a sailor hires a witch doctor to keep an eye on his girlfriend.

How to Stuff a Wild Bikini

1965

Brian Wilson and Friends - A Soundstage Special Event poster
8.0

In his Soundstage special, Brian Wilson performs hits from his illustrious award-winning career as a Beach Boy, as well as selections from his new album No Pier Pressure.

Brian Wilson and Friends - A Soundstage Special Event

2015

Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin poster
6.6

This film celebrates the long and successful collaboration of Elton John and Bernie Taupin, including a compilation of Elton John performances and in-depth interviews with both men.

Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin

1991

Classic Albums: The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds poster
6.4

Groundbreaking and ahead of its time, Pet Sounds — the 11th album by The Beach Boys — was a pioneering feat in production, sound, and songwriting…a work that continues to inspire musicians and fans to this day. The latest addition to acclaimed & award-winning Classic Albums series. gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at its creation.

Classic Albums: The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

2010

Tales of the Rat Fink poster
5.9

This is an interesting look at the Life and Times of car customizer/cartoonist Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. Through the use of many graphically enhanced photographs and "talking" cars, it is a loving look at the car culture in Southern California from the Early 50's to Ed's Passing in 2001.

Tales of the Rat Fink

2006

Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times poster
7.0

I Just Wasn't Made for These Times is a documentary about the life of Brian Wilson, the musical mastermind and songwriter for the Beach Boys. The film examines the ups and downs of Wilson's life, including the early years of the Beach Boys, his years of substance abuse, and his long road to recovery.

Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times

1995

Beach Blanket Bingo poster
6.0

In the fourth of the highly successful Frankie and Annette beach party movies, a motorcycle gang led by Eric Von Zipper kidnaps singing star Sugar Kane managed by Bullets, who hires sky-diving surfers Steve and Bonnie from Big Drop for a publicity stunt. With the usual gang of kids and a mermaid named Lorelei.

Beach Blanket Bingo

1965

The T.A.M.I. Show poster
7.9

Hailed by one music reviewer as "the grooviest, wildest, slickest hit ever to pound the screen," "The T.A.M.I. Show" is an unrelenting rock spectacular starring some of the greatest pop performers of the 60s. These top recording idols – representing the musical moods of London, Liverpool, Hollywood and Detroit – packed the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium with 2,600 screaming fans and virtually brought down the house. This is the cinematic record of that electrifying event.

The T.A.M.I. Show

1964

The Beach Boys - Live in Concert 50th Anniversary poster
8.0

Live release from the American Pop legends containing 21 classic Beach Boys hits performed live in Phoenix AZ on the bands 2012 - 50th anniversary worldwide tour. This live performance features the surviving members of the band (Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks and Bruce Johnston) aided by additional musicians who have played with various members of the band for years.

The Beach Boys - Live in Concert 50th Anniversary

2012

Behind the camera