Michael Nesmith

Biography

Robert Michael Nesmith (December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021) was an American musician, songwriter, actor, producer, and novelist. He was best known as a member of the pop rock band the Monkees and co-star of the TV series The Monkees (1966–1968). His songwriting credits include "Different Drum", which became a hit for Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys. After the break-up of the Monkees, Nesmith continued his successful songwriting and performing career, first with the seminal country rock group the First National Band, with whom he had a top-40 hit, "Joanne", and then as a solo artist. He often played a custom-built Gretsch 12-string electric with the Monkees and afterwards. Nesmith founded Pacific Arts, a multimedia production and distribution company, in 1974, through which he helped pioneer the music video format. He created one of the first American television programs dedicated to music videos, PopClips, which aired on Nickelodeon in 1980. He was asked to help produce and create MTV, but had prior commitments with his production company. In 1981, he won the first Grammy Award for Video of the Year for his hour-long television show, Elephant Parts. He was also an executiv…

Movies & TV Shows

1. Repo Man (1984) — Rabbi
2. Saturday Night Live (1975) — The Man with the Black Hat (voice) (uncredited)
3. Burglar (1987) — Cabbie
4. Head (1968) — Mike
5. E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
6. Tapeheads (1988) — Water Man
7. Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003) — Self
8. Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (1982) — Race Official (uncredited)
9. The Monkees (1966) — Mike
10. Top of the Pops (1964) — Self
11. Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) — Self
12. MTV Video Music Awards (1984) — Self
13. Behind the Music (1997) — Self
14. I Want My MTV (2019) — Self
15. Laurel Canyon (2020) — Self (archive footage)
16. Elephant Parts (1981)
17. Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees (1997) — Self
18. Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees (1997) — Mike
19. 33 ⅓ Revolutions per Monkee (1969) — Himself/Monkee #3
20. Making The Monkees (2007)
21. Barbecue Death Squad From Hell (1986)
22. An Evening with Sir William Martin (1981) — Foyer the Butler
23. Monkees Screen Tests (1966) — Self
24. Michael Nesmith: Austin City Limits (1992)
25. Michael Nesmith Live at the Britt Festival (1992)
26. Dr. Duck's Super Secret All-Purpose Sauce (1985)
27. Television Parts Home Companion (1985) — Self
28. Boyce & Hart: The Guys Who Wrote 'Em (2015)

Directed

1. Saturday Night Live (1975) — Director
2. Hey, Hey, It's the Monkees (1997) — Director
3. Barbecue Death Squad From Hell (1986) — Director