Musician, singer, songwriter, producer, director, actor
Fast Facts
Was a sickly child whose multiple ailments kept him from completing school
His stepfather, Harry Graves, bought him his first drum kit
Before joining the Beatles in August 1962—and replacing drummer Pete Best, a move unpopular with many fans—he was well-known in Liverpool music circles, but left Rory Storm & the Hurricanes when he was invited to become a member of the Fab Four
Although officially a member of the band, did not play drums on early Beatles hits "Love Me Do" and its B-side, "P
S
I Love You;" instead, played tambourine on the former and maracas on the latter, while the drums were manned by Andy White
Disappointed by the increasing tension within the band during the recording of The Beatles (a
k
a
The White Album) in 1968, he temporarily quit the group and spent time on actor Peter Sellers' yacht in the Mediterranean, where he wrote the song "Octopus's Garden
" Made film directorial debut with Born to Boogie (1972), a concert film about glam-rock band T
Rex
In 1989, received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for his role as Mr
Conductor in the children's series Shining Time Station
The oldest Beatle, he also became the group's first grandfather when son Zak's daughter, Tatia Jayne, was born in 1985
Inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Beatles in 1988, but is the only member of the group not enrolled as a solo artist
Awards
2022Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series:winner
2022Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series:winner
1970Oscar-Best Achievement in Music (Original Song Score):winner
1970Grammy-Best Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Special:winner
1965BAFTA Film Awards-Most Promising Newcomer to Film:nominated