Basquiat
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Julian Schnabel
Jeffrey Wright
Michael Wincott
Benicio Del Toro
William Seymour
Vincent Laresca
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1981, Jean-Michel Basquiat catapulted from being an unknown nineteen-year-old graffiti writer to becoming one of the most successful, controversial, glamorous artists in the world. His shows were anticipated as the big events of the New York season, and his paintings were bought by the most powerful collectors and museums. Every aspect of his life became a subject for the media. By 1988, he was dead at the age of 27. Basquiat was described by The New York Times as "the art world's closest equivalent to James Dean." In spite of his success, this turbulent and talented young painter was also plagued by loneliness, self-destruction and the belief that people really did not accept him for who he was. As the first black contemporary artist to really succeed in the powerful white art world, his early death shows that he was a casualty as well as a phenomenal success.
Director
Julian Schnabel
Cast
Jeffrey Wright
Michael Wincott
Benicio Del Toro
William Seymour
Vincent Laresca
Frederick Weller
Irene Kiss
Michael Badalucco
Sam Rockwell
Jack Schnabel
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/GaryOldman.144454.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Gary Oldman
Paul Outlaw
Richard Butler
Ron Brice
Francis Dumaurier
Elina L÷wensohn
Linda Larkin
Robert Alexander
Claire Forlani
Dave Shelley
Jose Luis Ferrar
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/PaulBartel.10791.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Paul Bartel
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/TatumONeal.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Tatum O'neal
Michael Chow
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/ChristopherWalken.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Christopher Walken
Rene Rivera
David Mcdermott
Stella Schnabel
Joe Glasco
Courtney Love
Nemo
Willem Dafoe
Chuck Pfeifer
Jean Claude Lemarre
Richard The Ox
Brian Wright
Joseph R. Gannascoli
Parker Posey
Tarmo Urb
Steven Parenago
Hope Clarke
Leonard Jackson
Rockets Redglare
Julie Araskog
Steven Randazzo
Denise Burse
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/DennisHopper.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Dennis Hopper
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i209/davidbowie_188x141_053120130859.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
David Bowie
Olatz Maria Schnabel
Peter Mcgough
Esther G Schnabel
Lola Schnabel
Crew
Joseph Allen
Jennifer Aspinall
Sirad Balducci
Randall Balsmeyer
Michael Berenbaum
Louis Bertini
Susan Bode
Greg Bogin
David Bolton
Peter Brant
Adam Brightman
Mark Burchard
Allan Byer
John Cale
John Cale
Andrew Casey
Andrew Casey
Mary D'angelo
John Dunn
Ron Fortunato
Chris Frankenberger
Wayne Herndon
Michael Thomas Holman
Barrett Hong
Lys Hopper
Michael A. Jackman
Sue Jacobs
Susan Jacobs
Lisa Janowski
Desiree Jellerette
Jon Kilik
Michael Lang
George Lara
Bill Laswell
Dan Leigh
Lech Majewski
Lech Majewski
Brick Mason
Patrick Mullins
Tom Nelson
Bitty O'sullivan-smith
Randy Ostrow
Janos Pilenyi
Janos Pilenyi
Nina Port
John Pyner
Donna Murphy Reilly
Greg Schnabel
Julian Schnabel
Julian Schnabel
Joni Sighvatsson
C J Simpson
David Soldier
Ira Spiegel
Jonathan Starch
Dominick Tavella
Brian Vacho
Randy Vandegrift
Peter Waggoner
John Wall
Jeff Ward
Michiyo Yoshizaki
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Expanded Release in United States August 16, 1996
Expanded Release in United States August 23, 1996
Released in United States on Video March 25, 1997
Released in United States 1996
Released in United States 1999
Feature directorial debut for Julian Schnabel.
Began shooting June 5, 1995.
Completed shooting July 18, 1995.
Released in United States Summer August 9, 1996
Expanded Release in United States August 16, 1996
Released in United States on Video March 25, 1997
Released in United States 1996 (American Film Market (AFM))
Released in United States 1999 (Gen Art Summer Arts Festival)
Expanded Release in United States August 23, 1996
Released in United States Summer August 9, 1996