David Johansen

David Johansen

Birth : 1950-01-09, Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA

History

David Roger Johansen (born January 9, 1950) is an American rock, protopunk, blues, and pop singer, songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the seminal protopunk band The New York Dolls. He is also known for his work under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter. David has appeared in several films including Car 54, Where Are You? and Scrooged with Bill Murray.

Profile

David Johansen

Movies

Personality Crisis: One Night Only
Self
Shines a light on David Johansen, the lead singer-songwriter of the androgynous 1970s glam punk groundbreakers the New York Dolls, and his complete reinvention as hepcat lounge lizard Buster Poindexter.
Above the Shadows
Ron
A young woman who has faded to the point of becoming invisible must find her way back with the help of the one man who can see her.
Vince Giordano: There's a Future in the Past
Bandleader Vince Giordano keeps the Jazz Age alive with his 11-member band The Nighthawks, vintage musical instruments, and a collection of more than 60,000 original arrangements from the 1920s and '30s.
A Very Murray Christmas
The Bartender
Bill Murray worries no one will show up to his TV show due to a massive snowstorm in New York City. Through luck and perseverance, guests arrive at Gotham’s Carlyle Hotel to help him — dancing and singing in holiday spirit.
Glass Chin
Stanley Loori
After going down in the fifth round, boxer Bud Gordon bowed out of the limelight. Now residing in a fixer-upper apartment in New Jersey with his girlfriend, Bud longs for his former Manhattan glory. In an effort to get back in the game, he makes a deal with a crooked restaurateur. But quick schemes rarely bring easy pay-offs and as the consequences of his business negotiations unfold, Bud has to make a choice between his integrity and his aspirations.
Clockwork Orange County
Many objected to leather-jacket, spike-hair kids with tattoos. But, that did not dissuade a generation... No one realized that a little club in Costa Mesa, CA would end up spawning a multi-billion dollar youth culture that still endures today! It was the Cuckoos Nest of the late 70s and early 80s. With archival, unseen and new footage, the filmmakers compiled an intimate story about the beginning of a movement, a place of refuge for a youth culture, a fearful establishment and a police force that didnt understand what was happening.
New York Dolls: Lookin' Fine on Television
The legendary and infamous New York Dolls at their best! Amazing rare live clips and interviews filmed by Bob Gruen and Nadya Beck in the heady days of the band's ascension in the 70s. Footage from early shows in NYC all the way to the TV studios, clubs and swimming pools of Los Angeles. Black and white film was never so colorful! Includes ripping versions of "Personality Crisis," "Who Are the Mystery Girls?" "Babylon" and more. See the incredible early days of the band that influenced generations of punks and rockers.
New York Dolls: Live From The Bowery
Himself
On March 16th, 2011, to kick off the release of their album "Dancing Backward in High Heels," the New York Dolls, the godfathers of punk and glam rock, took it to the place where it all began, New York City's Lower East Side for a high styled High Def production.
New York Rock at the BBC
Celebrating the cream of the New York rock scene, including classic performances from the Ramones, New York Dolls, Television, Blondie, Lou Reed and more. 01.New York Dolls - Jet Boy (Nov 1973) 02.Patti Smith Group - Horses (May 1976) 03.Talking Heads - Psycho Killer (Jan 1978) 04.Television - Foxhole (May 1978) 05.Ramones - Don't Come Close (Sep 1978) 06.Blondie - I'm Alway Touched By Your Presence Dear (Mar 1978) 07.Lou Reed - Waiting For The Man (Dec 1984) 08.John Cale - Dying On The Vine (Dec 1985) 09.Sonic Youth - Sugar Kane (Dec 1992) 10.Patti Smith - Because The Night (Apr 2002) 11.Lou Reed - Perfect Day (May 2003) 12.John Cale - Venus In Furs (Oct 2003) 13.David Byrne - This Must Be The Place (May 2004) 14.Antony And The johnsons - Hope There's Some One (Jun 2005) 15.The Strokes - Last Nite (Jun 2006)
The Old, Weird America: Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music
The Old, Weird America tracks the history of the Anthology of American Folk Music from its initial compilation of 78 records from rural Americana to its 1952 release on Folkways Records, the urban folk revival of the 1960s, and its continuing influence on contemporary music.
Motherfucker: A Movie
Documentary about the black gay scene in New York
The Return of the New York Dolls
Himself
After 27 years apart, the three surviving members of the New York Dolls, David Johansen, Sylvain Sylvain & Arthur 'Killer' Kane, re-united at London’s Royal Festival Hall at the request of their number one uber-fan, Morrissey, as part of 2004's Meltdown Festival. This is the whole gig, featuring all the classic tunes from their early 1970s heyday.
The Harry Smith Project Live
Hal Willner's Harry Smith Project concerts in London, New York and Los Angeles celebrated the eccentric collector genius and his influential Anthology of American Folk Music. Instrumental in inspiring the urban folk revival of the 1960s, the Anthology's continuing impact on modern music is incalculable. Drawing on this legacy, these landmark shows brought together a remarkable roster of artists performing their own unique interpretations of these classic songs.
New York Dolls: All Dolled Up
Himself
In the early 70’s, Rock photographer Bob Gruen and his wife Nadya purchased a portable Video Recorder. In a period of three years they shot over 40 hours of New York Dolls footage. Now for the first time ever this footage is unveiled. This feature length documentary captures the band during early performances in New York at Kenny’s Castaways and Max’s Kansas City, then follows the Dolls on their tour of the West Coast, including footage from the Whisky A Go Go, the Real Don Steele Show, Rodney Bingenheimer’s E Club and much more. Intercut with revealing interviews, backstage banter and late night debauchery, this is THE definitive document of the New York Dolls.
Punk: Attitude
Himself
A documentary on the music, performers, attitude and distinctive look that made up punk rock.
New York Doll
Himself
A recovering alcoholic and recently converted Mormon, Arthur "Killer" Kane, of the rock band The New York Dolls, is given a chance at reuniting with his band after 30 years.
Lightning in a Bottle
On February 7th, 2003, renowned artists across multiple music genres and generations commandeered the stage at New York City's Radio City Music Hall to pay tribute to their common heritage and passion - the blues. Shared with thousands of fans in attendance, legendary performers from roots, rock, jazz and rap joined forces for a once-in-a-lifetime "Salute To The Blues" benefit concert whose proceeds went to musical education.
Mayor of the Sunset Strip
Himself
A look at the history of fame in the world through the eyes of pop star impresario, Rodney Bingenheimer
Crooked Lines
Charlie
When petty thieves discover that mobsters are scheduled to pick up $1 million from a local deli, the gang decides to swoop in and steal the cash.
End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones
A years-in-the-making documentary on the legendary punk band the Ramones. Through a mixture of archival footage, archival and new interviews with all members of the band's various lineups, and new interviews with a number of their contemporaries, the film traces the peaks and valleys the band experienced over the course of its 20-plus year career before disbanding in 1995.
Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus
Himself
A captivating and compelling road trip through the creative spirit of the the South of the USA. Director Andrew Douglas's film follows "Alt" Country singer through a gritty terrain of churches, prisons, truck stops, biker bars and coalmines. This journey takes you through a very real contemporary Southern America,a world of marginalized white people and their unique and homemade culture.
God Is On Their Side
God
The American Army holds a mass prayer offensive in order to convince God (David Johansen) to support their country in a major war. With God officially on their side, the army decides to stage a full-scale war.
Campfire Stories
Ranger Bill
Two teens on their way to a backwoods party come across a beautiful young woman having car trouble. Their search for help only gets them lost, deep in the woods, where they meet Forest Ranger Bill with a penchant for scary stories. The campfire flickers long into the night as the ranger uses words to weave his tapestry of terror, filling their young minds with a host of horrific images that will be burned into your consciousness long after the fire's last embers have gone out. Insane doctors, Indian ghosts, bad drugs, a deranged handyman with shiny new shears - all that and more awaits anyone brave enough to stay until sunrise... if you live that long! - Written by Schleppy
25 Years of Punk
Himself
Lou Reed narrates this Television special that takes a look back at the beginnings of the punk rock movements in New York & England, the underground punk scenes in the 70's & 80's, and the punk resurgence in the 90's. A collaboration between VH1 and Spin magazine.
The Filth and the Fury
Himself (archive footage)
Julien Temple's second documentary profiling punk rock pioneers the Sex Pistols is an enlightening, entertaining trip back to a time when the punk movement was just discovering itself. Featuring archival footage, never-before-seen performances, rehearsals, and recording sessions as well as interviews with group members who lived to tell the tale--including the one and only John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten).
New York Dolls: TV Treasures
Himself
Compilation of extremely rare footage of the legendary New York Dolls. Live material, interviews, radio adverts, mentions on TV News programmes, it's all here.
200 Cigarettes
Tiki Bartender
It's New York City in 1981, and various twentysomethings are converging on a New Year's Eve party.
Nick and Jane
Carter
N.Y. corporate Jane discovers her boyfriend John in bed with another woman, leaves building enraged and jumps into cab. Her driver is Nick. Jane and her friend Vickie have a plan - to make John jealous, they'll give Nick a false corporate identity and pass him off as Jane's new boyfriend.
The Deli
The Cabbie
The wacky goings-on at a NYC deli—a comedy starring Mike Starr, Ice-T and Michael Imperioli.
Cats Don't Dance
Bus Driver (voice)
Danny, an ambitious singing and dancing cat, goes to Hollywood and overcomes several obstacles to fulfill his dream of becoming a movie star.
Burnzy's Last Call
Andre
A downtown Manahattan gin mill plays host to a series of comic vignettes.
Car 54, Where Are You?
Officer Gunther Toody
Brash NYC policeman Officer Gunther Toody is partnered with stiff, by-the-book Officer Francis Muldoon to protect an important mafia witness prior to testifying against orgainzed crime in Brooklyn, all the while dealing with their personal lives, overbearing spouses, common criminals, arms dealers, and their officious boss Captain Anderson.
September Songs – The Music of Kurt Weill
Filmmaker Larry Weinstein stages a wide range of performances in tribute to the compositions of Kurt Weill.
Naked in New York
Orangutang
Naked in New York begins in the car of grown up Jake, he is talking to us about his girlfriend, Joanne, and to whom you can turn to for help while facing life. From there it flashes back to his memories of his parents, college, house across from a squirrel infested peanut factory, best friend, writing career and Joanne.
Mr. Nanny
Original Music Composer
A former pro-wrestler is hired to be the bodyguard/nanny for a couple of bratty kids whose inventor father is being stalked by a rival.
Mr. Nanny
Thanatos
A former pro-wrestler is hired to be the bodyguard/nanny for a couple of bratty kids whose inventor father is being stalked by a rival.
Freejack
Brad Carter
Time-traveling bounty hunters find a doomed race-car driver in the past and bring him to 2009 New York, where his mind will be replaced with that of a terminally ill billionaire.
Desire and Hell at Sunset Motel
Auggie
Right after Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California, in 1955, a toy salesman in town for a convention brings his wife with him so they can both go to Disneyland. They stay at a rundown place called the Sunset Motel nearby. Soon the wife is having an affair with a man staying at the motel. The husband hires a psychotic criminal to spy on them, the wife and her lover plan to murder the husband, and the voyeuristic motel manager is spying on everybody.
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
Halston (segment "Cat From Hell")
The first segment features an animated mummy stalking selected student victims; the second tale tells the story of a "cat from hell" who cannot be killed and leaves a trail of victims behind it; the third story is about a man who witnesses a bizarre killing and promises never to tell what he saw and the "in-between" bit is the story of a woman preparing to cook her newspaper boy for supper.
Let It Ride
Looney
An average kind of guy who has a slight problem with gambling goes to the track, and mystically, it seems as though he can't lose, no matter how he bets; and he has an incredible day.
The Ventures: 30 Years of Rock 'n' Roll (30th Anniversary Super Session)
The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling instrumental band of all time. In 2008, the Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Scrooged
Ghost of Christmas Past
Frank Cross is a wildly successful television executive whose cold ambition and curmudgeonly nature has driven away the love of his life. But after firing staff member Eliot Loudermilk on Christmas Eve, Frank is visited by a series of ghosts who give him a chance to re-evaluate his actions and right the wrongs of his past.
Married to the Mob
'The Priest'
Angela de Marco is fed up with her gangster husband's line of work and wants no part of the crime world. When her husband is killed for having an affair with the mistress of mob boss Tony "The Tiger" Russo, Angela and her son depart for New York City to make a fresh start. Unfortunately, Tony has set his sights upon Angela -- and so has an undercover FBI agent looking to use her to bust Tony.
Candy Mountain
A mediocre musician goes on the road in search of the world's greatest guitar maker
Night Lunch
This is Poe and Král's first effort, shot on small-gauge stock, before their more well-known endeavor The Blank Generation (1976) came to be. A "DIY" portrait of the New York music scene, the film is a patchwork of footage of numerous rock acts performing live, at venues like Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the dive bars of Greenwich Village and, of course, CBGB.
The Weinerville Chanukah Special
Gonsah K'nocker (as Buster Poindexter)
The Weinerville Gang is throwing a Hanukkah party at the Weinerville Ski Lodge. Upon preparations on the decorations, two aliens crash landed their ship at the lodge who both resemble giant potato pancakes. The aliens explain how they escape form their planet after being fed up with their planet's leader who forces his citizens to do anything with the powers of his ray gun. The gang decides to help them out buy buying vegetable oil at the local store and return to the lodge. While at the lodge the gang and the refuge aliens encounter the alien leader with his army have just taken over the Ski lodge. How will the gang be able to save their refuge friends from another world?