Tom Petty
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
Fame and Fentanyl
as Self (archive footage)
Fame and Fentanyl
as Self (archive footage)
Heartbreakers Beach Party
as Self
Heartbreakers Beach Party
as Self
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts
as Self
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts
as Self
Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free
as Himself (archive footage)
Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free
as Himself (archive footage)
Echo in the Canyon
as Self
Echo in the Canyon
as Self
Elvis Presley: The Searcher
Elvis Presley: The Searcher
Night Flight: Born Again
as Self
Night Flight: Born Again
as Self
$aving Dat Money
as Self
$aving Dat Money
as Self
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
as Self (archive footage)
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
as Self (archive footage)
Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl - Unraveled
as Self
Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl - Unraveled
as Self
Sound City
as Self
Sound City
as Self
Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO
as Self
Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO
as Self
Mike Campbell: The Guitars
as Self
Mike Campbell: The Guitars
as Self
Classic Albums: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes
as Self
Classic Albums: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes
as Self
The Best Of Sound Stage
The Best Of Sound Stage
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Live from Gatorville
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Live from Gatorville
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream
as Self
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream
as Self
The True History Of The Traveling Wilburys
as Self
The True History Of The Traveling Wilburys
as Self
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers - Free Fallin'
as Lead Vocals / Guitar
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers - Free Fallin'
as Lead Vocals / Guitar
Live Aid
as Self
Live Aid
as Self
Concert for George
as Self
Concert for George
as Self
America | A Tribute to Heroes
as Self - Performer
America | A Tribute to Heroes
as Self - Performer
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - High Grass Dogs - Live from the Fillmore
as Himself
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - High Grass Dogs - Live from the Fillmore
as Himself
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live at the Docks, Hamburg
as himself
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live at the Docks, Hamburg
as himself
The Postman
as Bridge City Mayor
The Postman
as Bridge City Mayor
Wired for Sound: A Guitar Odyssey
as Self
Wired for Sound: A Guitar Odyssey
as Self
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: Playback
as Self
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: Playback
as Self
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: 400 Days
as Self
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: 400 Days
as Self
Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
as Self
Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
as Self
Tom Petty: Going Home
as Self
Tom Petty: Going Home
as Self
Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
as Self
Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
as Self
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Take the Highway Live
as Self
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Take the Highway Live
as Self
Hard to Handle: Bob Dylan in Concert
as Self
Hard to Handle: Bob Dylan in Concert
as Self
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Pack Up the Plantation - Live!
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Pack Up the Plantation - Live!
Bridge School Benefit Concert 1986
as Self
Bridge School Benefit Concert 1986
as Self
Live Aid
as Self
Live Aid
as Self
The Everly Brothers: Songs of Innocence and Experience
as Self
The Everly Brothers: Songs of Innocence and Experience
as Self
No Nukes
as Self
No Nukes
as Self
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Rock Goes to College
as Performer
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Rock Goes to College
as Performer
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - The Old Grey Whistle Test
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - The Old Grey Whistle Test
FM
as Self
FM
as Self
Tom Petty - Mojo Tour 2010
Tom Petty - Mojo Tour 2010