Tom Petty

Tom Petty

Acting
Born 1950-10-20 - Died 2017-10-02Gainesville, Florida, USA

Biography

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.

Movies (49)

The Postman
6.3

The Postman

1997Movie6.3
America | A Tribute to Heroes
6.5

America | A Tribute to Heroes

2001Movie6.5
Concert for George
8.1

Concert for George

2003Movie8.1
Live Aid
7.9

Live Aid

1985Movie7.9
Made in Heaven
6.5

Made in Heaven

1987Movie6.5
Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free
6.8

Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free

2021Movie6.8
Sound City
7.4

Sound City

2013Movie7.4
Night Flight: Born Again

Night Flight: Born Again

2016Movie
Echo in the Canyon
6.8

Echo in the Canyon

2019Movie6.8
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today

Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today

2005Movie
Heartbreakers Beach Party
6.2

Heartbreakers Beach Party

2024Movie6.2
Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
7.5

Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration

1993Movie7.5
FM
6.8

FM

1978Movie6.8
Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
7.0

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

1995Movie7.0
Tom Petty: Going Home
9.0

Tom Petty: Going Home

1994Movie9.0
Live Aid
9.2

Live Aid

2004Movie9.2
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream
7.7

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream

2007Movie7.7
The Best Of Sound Stage

The Best Of Sound Stage

2008Movie
$aving Dat Money

$aving Dat Money

2015Movie
The True History Of The Traveling Wilburys
7.0

The True History Of The Traveling Wilburys

2007Movie7.0
Fame and Fentanyl

Fame and Fentanyl

2025Movie
Bridge School Benefit Concert 1986

Bridge School Benefit Concert 1986

1986Movie
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Live at the Olympic (The Last DJ)
8.0

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Live at the Olympic (The Last DJ)

2003Movie8.0
No Nukes
10.0

No Nukes

1980Movie10.0
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
8.0

It's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC

2015Movie8.0
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers: Live in Concert
6.7

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers: Live in Concert

2003Movie6.7
Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl - Unraveled
6.5

Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl - Unraveled

2014Movie6.5
Hard to Handle: Bob Dylan in Concert
9.5

Hard to Handle: Bob Dylan in Concert

1986Movie9.5
The Everly Brothers: Songs of Innocence and Experience
6.0

The Everly Brothers: Songs of Innocence and Experience

1984Movie6.0
Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO
7.4

Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO

2012Movie7.4
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: 30th Anniversary Concert

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: 30th Anniversary Concert

2006Movie
Classic Albums: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes
6.3

Classic Albums: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes

2010Movie6.3
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - A Bunch Of Videos And Some Other Stuff
7.0

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - A Bunch Of Videos And Some Other Stuff

1989Movie7.0
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts
6.7

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts

2021Movie6.7
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - The Old Grey Whistle Test

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - The Old Grey Whistle Test

1978Movie
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Pack Up the Plantation - Live!
10.0

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Pack Up the Plantation - Live!

1986Movie10.0
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Take the Highway Live

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Take the Highway Live

1992Movie
Wired for Sound: A Guitar Odyssey

Wired for Sound: A Guitar Odyssey

1997Movie
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live at the Docks, Hamburg
7.0

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live at the Docks, Hamburg

1999Movie7.0
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Live from Gatorville

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Live from Gatorville

2008Movie
Crystal Visions: The Very Best of Stevie Nicks

Crystal Visions: The Very Best of Stevie Nicks

2007Movie
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: 400 Days

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: 400 Days

1995Movie
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers - Free Fallin'

Tom Petty & Heartbreakers - Free Fallin'

2005Movie
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - High Grass Dogs - Live from the Fillmore
7.5

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - High Grass Dogs - Live from the Fillmore

1999Movie7.5
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: Playback
8.0

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: Playback

1995Movie8.0
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: VH1 Storytellers

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: VH1 Storytellers

1999Movie
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Rock Goes to College
8.0

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Rock Goes to College

1980Movie8.0
Mike Campbell: The Guitars

Mike Campbell: The Guitars

2012Movie
Tom Petty - Mojo Tour 2010

Tom Petty - Mojo Tour 2010

Movie

TV Shows (19)

The Simpsons
8.0

The Simpsons

1989Series8.0
Late Show with David Letterman
6.4

Late Show with David Letterman

1993Series6.4
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
King of the Hill
7.4

King of the Hill

1997Series7.4
The Larry Sanders Show
7.7

The Larry Sanders Show

1992Series7.7
MTV Video Music Awards
7.9

MTV Video Music Awards

1984Series7.9
Behind the Music
7.3

Behind the Music

1997Series7.3
Rockpalast
10.0

Rockpalast

1974Series10.0
The Old Grey Whistle Test
8.3

The Old Grey Whistle Test

1971Series8.3
Classic Albums
7.7

Classic Albums

1997Series7.7
It's Garry Shandling's Show
7.1

It's Garry Shandling's Show

1986Series7.1
Soundbreaking
7.8

Soundbreaking

2016Series7.8
Soundstage

Soundstage

2003Series
Fridays
6.0

Fridays

1980Series6.0
The Defiant Ones
7.8

The Defiant Ones

2017Series7.8
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
7.5

George Harrison: Living in the Material World

2011Series7.5
Elvis Presley: The Searcher
7.5

Elvis Presley: The Searcher

2018Series7.5
The History of Rock 'n' Roll
10.0

The History of Rock 'n' Roll

1995Series10.0
Life, Death and Money
8.0

Life, Death and Money

Series8.0