William Seward Burroughs II (February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997) was an American writer and visual artist, widely considered a primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodern author who influenced popular culture and literature. Burroughs wrote eighteen novels and novellas, six collections of short stories and four collections of essays, and five books have been published of his interviews and correspondences; he was initially briefly known by the pen name William Lee. He also collaborated on projects and recordings with numerous performers and musicians, made many appearances in films, and created and exhibited thousands of visual artworks, including his celebrated "Shotgun Art". Description above from the Wikipedia article William S. Burroughs, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Filmography

• 2024Queer — Novel
• 2017The Wild Boys — Original Story
• 2015Robert E. Fulton III Edit of Burroughs: The Movie
• 2015William S. Burroughs: The Possessed
• 2014William S. Burroughs Birthday Bash — Writer
• 2012The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye
• 2009Joy Division
• 2009Ma bande magnétique arrière — Writer
• 2009Nova Express — Narrator (voice), Writer
• 2008The Japanese Sandman — Writer
• 2007Words of Advice: William S. Burroughs On the Road
• 2006Wanderlust — Tom the Priest
• 2001The Last Words of Dutch Schultz — Writer
• 1999The Making of Drugstore Cowboy
• 1998The Book of Life — Preacher on Radio (voice)
• 1997Good Will Hunting — In Memory Of
• 1994Ah Pook Is Here. — Narrator, Novel
• 1993The Junky's Christmas — Narrator, Novel
• 1991Naked Lunch — Novel
• 1991Thanksgiving Prayer — A Speaker, Writer
• 1991Wax, or The Discovery of Television Among the Bees — James "Hive" Maker
• 1990The Black Rider — Writer
• 1989Bloodhounds of Broadway — Butler
• 1989Drugstore Cowboy — Tom the Priest
• 1989Twister — Man in Barn
• 1985It Don't Pay to Be an Honest Citizen — Mafioso
• 1984Decoder — Old Man
• 1984The Final Academy Documents
• 1983Pirate Tape
• American Playhouse — Butler
• 1982Ghost at No. 9 — Writer
• 1982Pirates: William Burroughs in London
• 1982Taking Tiger Mountain — Writer
• 1982The Discipline of D.E. — Story
• 1981Energy and How to Get It
• 1981Shamans of the Blind Country — Narrator (voice)
• 1976Une semaine dans la vie de camarades
• 1972Bill and Tony — Self, Writer
• 1970Ice Cream — Writer
• 1968Witchcraft Through the Ages — Narrator, Writer
• 1966Chappaqua — Opium Jones
• 1966The Cut-Ups — Story
• 1963Towers Open Fire — Writer
• 1963William Buys a Parrot — Self, Writer

Appearances as themselves (46)

• 2026Music, Fashion, Film — Self (archive footage)
• 2026Nova '78 — Self (archive footage)
• 2026This Is Buzz — Self (archive footage)
• 2022Robert Wilson: The Beauty of the Mysterious — Self (archive footage)
• 2018Take Your Pills — Self (archive footage)
• 2017Uncle Howard — Self
• 2015Don't Blink - Robert Frank — Self (archive footage)
• 2015William S. Burroughs in the Dreamachine — Self
• 2013Coda I — Self (voice) (archive sound)
• 2013Coda I + Coda II — Self (voice) (archive sound)
• 2013Coda II — Self (voice) (archive sound)
• 2012For No Good Reason — Self (archive footage)
• 2012The Beat Hotel — Self (archive footage)
• 2011Fix: The Ministry Movie — Self
• 2010William S. Burroughs: A Man Within — Self
• 2009FLicKeR — Self
• 2008Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press — Self (archive footage)
• 2006Pantelia — Self
• 2003The Battle for 'I Am Curious-Yellow' — Self (archive footage)
• 2000Condo Painting — Self (archive footage)
• 1999Let It Come Down: The Life of Paul Bowles — Self (archive footage)
• 1999The Source — Self (archive footage)
• 1998Destroy All Rational Thought — Self
• 1994Even Cowgirls Get the Blues — Self
• 1994Glitterbug — Self
• 1994Relics: Einstein's Brain — Self
• 1994September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill — Self
• 1994The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg — Self
• 1992Naked Making Lunch — Self
• 1991William S. Burroughs: Commissioner of Sewers — Self
• 1990The Black Rider — Himself
• 1989Gang of Souls: A Generation of Beat Poets — Self
• 1989Heavy Petting — Self
• 1986Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson — Self
• 1986Ornette: Made in America — Self
• 1984Burroughs: The Movie — Self
• 1983This Song for Jack — Self
• 1982Poetry in Motion — Self
• 1981Chelsea Hotel — Self (uncredited)
• 1979Fried Shoes Cooked Diamonds — Self
• 1978Thot-Fal'N — Self
• 1976Underground and Emigrants — Self
• Saturday Night Live — Self
• 1969Cain's Film — Self
• 1968Chicago — Self
• 1967Poem Posters — Self