Acting · Gainesville, Florida, USA · Born October 20, 1950
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.
Fame and Fentanyl
2025
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHeartbreakers Beach Party
2024
as Self
MovieBruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts
2021
as Self
MovieTom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free
2021
as Himself (archive footage)
MovieEcho in the Canyon
2019
as Self
MovieElvis Presley: The Searcher
2018
TVElvis Presley: The Searcher
2018
as Self
TVThe Defiant Ones
2017
as Self
TVSoundbreaking
2016
as Self
MovieNight Flight: Born Again
2016
as Self
Movie$aving Dat Money
2015
as Self
MovieIt's Only Rock 'n' Roll: Rock 'n' Roll at the BBC
2015
as Self (archive footage)
MovieRoy Orbison: Mystery Girl - Unraveled
2014
as Self
MovieSound City
2013
as Self
MovieMr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO
2012
as Self
Mike Campbell: The Guitars
2012
as Self
TVGeorge Harrison: Living in the Material World
2011
as Self
MovieClassic Albums: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes
2010
as Self
MovieThe Best Of Sound Stage
2008
MovieTom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Live from Gatorville
2008
MovieTom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream
2007
as Self
MovieThe True History Of The Traveling Wilburys
2007
as Self
MovieCrystal Visions: The Very Best of Stevie Nicks
2007
MovieTom Petty and The Heartbreakers: 30th Anniversary Concert
2006
as himself
MovieLive Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
2005
as Self
Tom Petty & Heartbreakers - Free Fallin'
2005
as Lead Vocals / Guitar
MovieLive Aid
2004
as Self
MovieConcert for George
2003
as Self
MovieTom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Live at the Olympic (The Last DJ)
2003
as Singer, Guitar
MovieTom Petty And The Heartbreakers: Live in Concert
2003
as vocals, guitar
TVSoundstage
2003
as Self - vocals, guitar
MovieAmerica | A Tribute to Heroes
2001
as Self - Performer
MovieTom Petty & the Heartbreakers - High Grass Dogs - Live from the Fillmore
1999
as Himself
MovieTom Petty and the Heartbreakers: VH1 Storytellers
1999
as Self
MovieTom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live at the Docks, Hamburg
1999
as himself
MovieThe Postman
1997
as Bridge City Mayor
MovieWired for Sound: A Guitar Odyssey
1997
as Self
TVBehind the Music
1997
as Self
TVClassic Albums
1997
as Self
TVKing of the Hill
1997
as Lucky (voice)
MovieTom Petty and The Heartbreakers: Playback
1995
as Self
MovieTom Petty and the Heartbreakers: 400 Days
1995
as Self
MovieBrian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
1995
as Self
TVThe History of Rock 'n' Roll
1995
as Self
Tom Petty: Going Home
1994
as Self
TVLate Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Musical Guest
MovieBob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
1993
as Self
MovieTom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Take the Highway Live
1992
as Self
TVThe Larry Sanders Show
1992
as Tom Petty
TVThe Simpsons
1989
as Tom Petty (voice)
MovieTom Petty and The Heartbreakers - A Bunch Of Videos And Some Other Stuff
1989
as Self
MovieMade in Heaven
1987
as Stanky
TVIt's Garry Shandling's Show
1986
as Tom Petty
MovieHard to Handle: Bob Dylan in Concert
1986
as Self
MovieTom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Pack Up the Plantation - Live!
1986
MovieBridge School Benefit Concert 1986
1986
as Self
MovieLive Aid
1985
as Self
MovieThe Everly Brothers: Songs of Innocence and Experience
1984
as Self
TVMTV Video Music Awards
1984
as Self
MovieNo Nukes
1980
as Self
TVFridays
1980
as Self - Musical Guest
MovieTom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Rock Goes to College
1980
as Performer
MovieTom Petty and the Heartbreakers - The Old Grey Whistle Test
1978
MovieFM
1978
as Self
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Musical Guest
TVRockpalast
1974
TVThe Old Grey Whistle Test
1971
MovieTom Petty - Mojo Tour 2010
TVLife, Death and Money
as self - archival footage
