JW
John Waters
Actor, Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, Composer, Additional CreditsBorn April 22, 1946 (79 years)
John Samuel Waters Jr. (born April 22, 1946) is an American filmmaker, writer, actor, and artist. He rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films, including Multiple Maniacs (1970), Pink Flamingos (1972) and Female Trouble (1974). Waters wrote and directed the comedy film Hairspray (1988), which was later adapted into a hit Broadway musical and a 2007 musical film. Other films he has written and directed include Desperate Living (1977), Polyester (1981), Cry-Baby (1990), Serial Mom (1994), Pecker (1998), and Cecil B. Demented (2000). His films contain elements of post-modern comedy and surrealism.
As an actor, Waters has appeared in Sweet and Lowdown (1999), 'Til Death Do Us Part (2007), Mangus! (2011), Excision (2012), Suburban Gothic (2014), and has appeared in the Child's Play franchise with Seed of Chucky (2004) and third season of the television series Chucky (2024). He hosted and produced the television series John Waters Presents Movies That Will Corrupt You (2006). Throughout his career, Waters has often collaborated with actor and drag queen Divine and his regular cast of the Dreamlanders. More recently, he performs in his touring one-man show This Filthy World.
Waters also works as a visual artist and across different media, such as installations, photography, and sculpture. The audiobooks he narrated for his books Carsick and Mr. Know-It-All were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2015 and 2020, respectively. In 2018, Waters was named an officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in France. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.
As an actor, Waters has appeared in Sweet and Lowdown (1999), 'Til Death Do Us Part (2007), Mangus! (2011), Excision (2012), Suburban Gothic (2014), and has appeared in the Child's Play franchise with Seed of Chucky (2004) and third season of the television series Chucky (2024). He hosted and produced the television series John Waters Presents Movies That Will Corrupt You (2006). Throughout his career, Waters has often collaborated with actor and drag queen Divine and his regular cast of the Dreamlanders. More recently, he performs in his touring one-man show This Filthy World.
Waters also works as a visual artist and across different media, such as installations, photography, and sculpture. The audiobooks he narrated for his books Carsick and Mr. Know-It-All were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2015 and 2020, respectively. In 2018, Waters was named an officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in France. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.
Known For
Filmography
| 2026 | Kevin (TV Series) · as Armando (voice) |
| 2025 | Sarah Squirm: Live + in the Flesh · as Stage Manager |
| 2024 | The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 2023 | Digman! (TV Series) · as Magnus (voice) |
| 2022 | Monster High (2022) (TV Series) · as Scarecrow Von Twolegs |
| 2022 | Lynch/Oz · as Host (chapter 3: 'kindred') (voice) |
| 2022 | Charles Band's Full Moon Freakshow (TV Series) |
| 2021 | Chucky (TV Series) · as Wendell Wilkins |
| 2020 | Time Warp Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp · as Host |
| 2020 | Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi · as Host |
| 2020 | Time Warp Vol. 1: Midnight Madness · as Host |
| 2019 | Helluva Boss (TV Series) · as Rolando (voice) |
| 2018 | Liverspots and Astronots (TV Series) · as O-Dor |
| 2018 | Explained (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2018 | The Fancy Gentleman · as Wadworth Thorndyke The Third |
| 2017 | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (TV Series) · as Lazarus |
| 2017 | Feud (TV Series) · as William Castle |
| 2016 | Search Party (2016) (TV Series) · as Sheffield |
| 2016 | Wall Writers · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2015 | Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip · as First Class Passenger |
| 2015 | |
| 2014 | Suburban Gothic · as Cornelius |
| 2013 | King Star King (TV Series) · as God Star God |
| 2013 | Mr. Pickles (TV Series) · as Dr. Kelton |
| 2013 | Clarence (2014) (TV Series) · as Captain Tom (voice) |
| 2013 | Mickey Mouse (TV Series) · as Wadworth Thorndyke The Third |
| 2012 | Excision · as William |
| 2011 | The Culinary Adventures of Baron Ambrosia (TV Series) · as J.w. |
| 2011 | American Horror Story (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 2011 | Mangus! · as Jesus Christ |
| 2010 | Fish Hooks (TV Series) · as The Yeti Lobster (voice) |
| 2010 | Offspring (TV Series) |
| 2010 | |
| 2008 | The Wild World of Ted V. Mikels · as Narrator |
| 2007 | The Junior Defenders · as Narrator |
| 2007 | Hairspray · as Flasher |
| 2007 | Superjail! (TV Series) · as Quetzalpacatlan |
| 2007 | In the Land of Merry Misfits · as Narrator |
| 2007 | Each Time I Kill · as Movie Watcher |
| 2006 | 'Til Death Do Us Part (TV Series) |
| 2006 | Bubble Guppies (TV Series) · as Baron Von Bland |
| 2006 | The Henry Rollins Show (TV Series) |
| 2005 | My Name Is Earl (TV Series) · as Walter Hamerick |
| 2004 | Seed of Chucky · as Pete Peters |
| 2003 | Abby Singer · as John Waters (uncredited) |
| 2002 | Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat · as The Reverend |
| 2000 | Cecil B. Demented · as Reporter |
| 1999 | Sweet and Lowdown · as Mr. Haynes |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) · as Pornmonger Man |
| 1998 | Pecker · as Pervert On Phone (voice) (uncredited) |
| 1998 | |
| 1996 | E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series) |
| 1994 | Family Album (TV Series) · as Vincent |
| 1994 | Serial Mom · as Ted Bundy (voice) (uncredited) |
| 1993 | Frasier (TV Series) · as Roger (voice) |
| 1993 | Homicide: Life on the Street (TV Series) · as R. Vincent Smith |
| 1992 | HBO First Look (TV Series) |
| 1989 | The Simpsons (TV Series) · as John (voice) |
| 1989 | Homer and Eddie · as Robber #1 |
| 1988 | Hairspray · as Dr. Fredrickson |
| 1988 | |
| 1987 | 21 Jump Street (TV Series) · as Mr. Bean |
| 1986 | Something Wild · as Used Car Guy |
| 1972 | Pink Flamingos · as Mr. J (voice) (uncredited) |
| 1969 | Mondo Trasho · as Reporter (voice) (uncredited) |