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Tom Petty
Gainesville, Florida, USA
Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was the leader and frontman of the rock bands Tom Petty and the Heartb…
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Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was the leader and frontman of the rock bands Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Mudcrutch and a member of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys. He was also a successful solo artist. Over the course of his career, Petty sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. His hit singles with the Heartbreakers include "American Girl" (1976), "Don't Do Me Like That" (1979), "Refugee" (1980), "The Waiting" (1981), "Don't Come Around Here No More" (1985) and "Learning to Fly" (1991). Petty's solo hits include "I Won't Back Down" (1989), "Free Fallin'" (1989), and "You Don't Know How It Feels" (1994). Petty and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Petty was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year in February 2017 for his contributions to music and for his philanthropy. He also acted; he had a recurring role as the voice of Lucky Kleinschmidt in the animated comedy series King of the Hill from 2004 to the show's conclusion in 2009. Petty died of an accidental drug overdose in 2017 at the age of 66, one week after the end of the Heartbreakers' 40th Anniversary Tour. On December 4, 2023, Petty's song "Love Is a Long Road" was used in the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, which is considered one of the most anticipated video games ever made. This trailer gained over 90 million YouTube views within the first 24 hours. Because of this immense bump in popularity, the song itself gained nearly 1 million YouTube views in the same time span, gained a 36,979% increase on Spotify, had almost 250,000 searches on Shazam, and ranked second on the worldwide iTunes chart.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2025
Fame and Fentanyl
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2024
Heartbreakers Beach Party
Movie Self
- 2021
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2021
Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free
Movie Himself (archive footage)
-
2019
Echo in the Canyon
Movie Self
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2018
Elvis Presley: The Searcher
TV show Self
-
2017
The Defiant Ones
TV show Self
-
2016
Soundbreaking
TV show Self
-
2016
Night Flight: Born Again
Movie Self
-
2015
$aving Dat Money
Movie Self
-
2015
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2014
Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl - Unraveled
Movie Self
-
2013
Sound City
Movie Self
-
2012
Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO
Movie Self
-
2012
Mike Campbell: The Guitars
Movie Self
-
2011
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
TV show Self
More credits
- 2010
-
2008
The Best Of Sound Stage
Movie
- 2008
- 2007
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2007
The True History Of The Traveling Wilburys
Movie Self
- 2007
- 2006
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2005
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Movie Self
-
2005
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers - Free Fallin'
Movie Lead Vocals / Guitar
-
2004
Live Aid
Movie Self
-
2003
Concert for George
Movie Self
-
2003
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Live at the Olympic (The Last DJ)
Movie Singer, Guitar
-
2003
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers: Live in Concert
Movie vocals, guitar
-
2003
Soundstage
TV show Self - vocals, guitar
-
2001
America | A Tribute to Heroes
Movie Self - Performer
- 1999
- 1999
- 1999
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1997
The Postman
Movie Bridge City Mayor
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1997
Wired for Sound: A Guitar Odyssey
Movie Self
-
1997
Behind the Music
TV show Self
-
1997
Classic Albums
TV show Self
-
1997
King of the Hill
TV show Lucky (voice)
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1996
She's the One
Movie Original Music Composer
