# What artist would you like see as the subject of a biographical drama? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** arts-crafts\ **Created:** [August 8, 2022, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305 "2022-08-08T13:26:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/21 "2022-08-10T05:16:42Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > A proper film giving equal focus to them both Yes, agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/22 "2022-08-10T05:17:48Z")
I hear Isaac Asimov had a somewhat interesting life. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/23 "2022-08-10T05:29:08Z")
Indeed Asimov had an illustrious and prodigious career (and is a favorite sci-fi author of mine), but film-wise, he may suffer from leading a rather cloistered life (not a bad thing for a writer, but not so good for a block-buster movie). ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/24 "2022-08-10T05:43:27Z")
No idea how true it is, how independently verifiable if so, or if true and verifiable how suitable for an engaging biopic … but my second and third-hand sources tell me that good 'ole Isaac was quite the ladies man. My only direct source for this is my home town librarian, who met him once, was of course enamored, and reported that he was both charming and, a bit, um, handsy. We’d find that completely inappropriate now. But in the 1960s or perhaps early 1970s, whenever it was that she met him, it was simply written off as amusing (and a fun memory for the librarian, who was delighted by her figurative and apparently literal brush with fame). ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/25 "2022-08-10T05:48:17Z")
Syd Barrett would be a good subject for a movie. Pushing the boundaries of rock while dealing with drug use and mental health issues. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/26 "2022-08-10T06:37:49Z")
Syd lead an interesting, though ultimately tragic life, and clearly had great talent, but one wonders whether his continuation with Pink Floyd would have been a help, or a hindrance…or, maybe Floyd would have been great in a different way. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/27 "2022-08-10T11:52:42Z")
I’d like to see a warts-and-all biography of Walt Disney, maybe centered around his union-busting in the 40s. Also, one of Stan Lee, focusing on Kirby and Ditko walking out on him. ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/28 "2022-08-10T12:56:49Z")
That’s something I’ve often thought about. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/29 "2022-08-10T13:21:50Z")
My first thought was **Frank Zappa**. But a biographical drama probably wouldn’t work, as people would be bored to tears with it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/30 "2022-08-10T17:56:07Z")
Ooh! Ooh! My turn to point one out! > [@CairoCarol](#): > > Frieda Kahlo - someone who was a terrific artist, lived much in the shadow of her partner Diego Rivera, suffered terrible physical problems, probably was more a member of the LBGTQ community than was suitable to acknowledge at the time - just really interesting. [Other than the one staring Salma Hayek?](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120679/?ref_=nm_knf_t1) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/31 "2022-08-10T18:00:25Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > We need another Salvador Dali movie besides [the 2008 Little Ashes,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Ashes) [the 2018 In Search of Immortality,](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/salvador_dali_in_search_of_immortality) [Ben Kingsley’s new biopic Daliland,](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ben-kingsley-salvador-dali-biopic-daliland-tiff-2022-1235195186/) and AFAICT a bunch of TV documentaries too? > > I mean, sure, the more the merrier, but if there’s any artist who has already been quite lavishly biographically dramatized on film, it’s Dali. In my defense, the first was a very small movie, the second a documentary, the third hasn’t been released yet. My take on the OP was they were looking for dramatized biographies like “Bohemian Rhapsody”, not straight documentaries. That’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/32 "2022-08-10T18:14:12Z")
Three popular rock stars who passed away a few years ago, all of whom lived interesting, complex, and ultimately kind of tragic, lives (which could make for good films): - David Bowie - Prince - Tom Petty ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/33 "2022-08-10T18:19:14Z")
I would be interested in seeing a coming-of-age film about teenaged Ray Parker, Jr. learning the music business from Motown greats at Detroit’s Twenty One Grand club in the late 1960s. 13-year-old Parker was invited to play with the club’s house band in 1967. The film would end around when 18-year-old Parker goes on tour with Stevie Wonder in 1972 and leaves his life in Detroit behind. > **[Interview: Ray Parker, Jr - The Last Miles](https://www.thelastmiles.com/interviews-ray-parker-jr/)** > > If you’re of a certain age, Ray Parker Jr will be on a lot of records that are the soundtrack of your life. Ray, who was born in Detroit in 1954, was a teenage guitar protégé playing behind acts such as Stevie Wonder, The Temptations and Gladys... ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/34 "2022-08-10T18:32:37Z")
Picasso. Genius artist, asshole human. The drama writes itself. Visually, of course, and with modern tech, it could be truly stunning, maybe with him painting Guernica as his ‘Wembley’ moment. Too bad about Bruce Willis, because these latest years he’s started resembling an aging Picasso. [https://knownews.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Bruce-Willis-has-had-cognitive-problems-since-2020-he-missed.jpg](https://knownews.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Bruce-Willis-has-had-cognitive-problems-since-2020-he-missed.jpg) [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQnZYUSD9djeCiG1Ir88TE1GLEimn-gWj8jk4mEU_x8KodRO-1DHXojQxNNOkwj6YuyGMs&usqp=CAU) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQnZYUSD9djeCiG1Ir88TE1GLEimn-gWj8jk4mEU_x8KodRO-1DHXojQxNNOkwj6YuyGMs&usqp=CAU) ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/35 "2022-08-10T18:34:14Z")
Well, to quote myself: _Forgive me if there are suitable dramas already - I don’t especially keep up._ Obviously! ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/36 "2022-08-10T19:26:40Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > I would be interested in seeing a coming-of-age film about teenaged Ray Parker, Jr. learning the music business from Motown greats at Detroit’s Twenty One Grand club in the late 1960s. Similarly, although I enjoyed the recent Baz Luhrmann movie Elvis, the people in it I really wanted to see more of were the soul/gospel/R&B music scene artists that influenced Elvis, like Mahalia Jackson and Little Richard. I think there have been TV biopics of both, but there’s more story there. ETA: Oh wait, Hollywood is way ahead of me, at least [as far as Little Richard is concerned.](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/little-richard-documentary-hbo-max-1235147284/) > [@](#): > > [CNN](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/cnn/) Films and [HBO Max](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/hbo-max/) have commissioned a documentary feature on the late rock icon [Little Richard](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/little-richard/). > > The film, currently titled _Little Richard: I Am Everything_, is set to chart the extraordinary life and times of the flamboyant bouffant-haired rock singer, songwriter and pianist, [who died in May 2020 at the age of 87](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/little-richard-dead-early-rock-architect-hitmaker-dies-at-87-1294056/). In a music career that spanned seven decades, the artist, who described himself as “the architect of rock ‘n’ roll,” topped the charts with songs like “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally” and electrified audiences with his stage performances, paving the way for countless major acts including The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and James Brown. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/37 "2022-08-10T19:34:45Z")
**Beryl Markham** (Felicity in movie _Out of Africa_)- The legendary horse trainer who, as a child, was essentially a female member of a Nandi male circumcision group. She could hunt sing and curse in Swahili like a native. When a young woman she was consort to select members of the British upper class including the future king and Denys Finch Hatten. Otherwise self educated, she attended flying school in Nairobi. She flew reconnaissance for big game hunters to gain enough experience to become Africa’s first female commercial airline pilot. After being the first woman to fly the Atlantic solo she authored what Hemmingway referred to as the great American novel _West With the Wind_. After a stint in Hollywood as a movie consultant she returned to Africa to resume training race horses. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/38 "2022-08-10T20:06:57Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Rod Evans _might_ be a good candidate. He rose to superstardom in the 1960s I wouldn’t call it “superstardom”. Deep Purple had 2 hit songs during his time with the band, Hush which reached #4 on the Billboard charts and Kentucky Woman that reached #38. The band was fading fast after their third album failed to chart. The band didn’t reach superstardom till the Ian’s, Gillan and Paice, joined the band. I thing Ritchie Blackmore would be a much better pick, his musical genius and battles with his band mates in DP and Rainbow would be much more interesting. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2022, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/39 "2022-08-10T20:12:02Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > I thing Ritchie Blackmore would be a much better pick, his musical genius and battles with his band mates in DP and Rainbow would be much more interesting. Speaking of Rainbow…I think a biopic for Ronnie James Dio could be extremely cool, as well. Dio was, at various times, the vocalist for Elf, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Heaven & Hell, and his own metal band. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2022, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305/40 "2022-08-11T17:11:06Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Speaking of Rainbow…I think a biopic for Ronnie James Dio could be extremely cool, as well. Dio was, at various times, the vocalist for Elf, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Heaven & Hell, and his own metal band. Speaking of Sabbath…how about an Ozzy Osbourne biopic, is that too obvious a choice? He had quite a life: check out his [early life on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozzy_Osbourne#Early_life) alone, and that’s all before Sabbath, marrying Sharon, his descent into drugs and alcohol, getting fired from Sabbath, his solo career revival, and eventually becoming a sad parody of himself on a reality show. Hmm, actually a bit of googling reveals this: > **[An Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne Biopic Is In The Works](https://www.forbes.com/sites/quentinsinger/2021/10/23/an-ozzy--sharon-osbourne-biopic-is-in-the-works/?sh=28b7567927e3)** > > An Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne biopic is one of several new ventures the singer has lined up for 2022. Barely to non-interesting Ozzy anecdote: last summer Mrs. solost and I stopped at a garage sale where a woman was selling catering equipment. I got to talking with her, and it turned out she used to do catering for a lot of rock stars when they were in the Detroit area on tour. I asked her “so which rock star was the biggest pain in the ass to cater to?” and she said Ozzy. I made some obvious joke to the effect of, did he demand roasted bat after every show? and she said actually all he ever seemed to want was baked potatoes-- he just loved them. Loaded them up with sour cream and tucked in. Which doesn’t sound too high-maintenance to me, but maybe there was more to the story. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-would-you-like-see-as-the-subject-of-a-biographical-drama/969305.md?page=3)