Elton John appeared as the Pinball Wizard in Tommy, the rock opera created by the Who. John played the flamboyant pinball champion who faces Tommy in the story’s climactic competition.
Tommy began as the Who’s 1969 studio album, written primarily by guitarist Pete Townshend. It follows a boy who becomes deaf, dumb, and blind after a traumatic event, then develops extraordinary skill at pinball and gains a devoted following. Ken Russell directed the lavish 1975 film adaptation.
John’s performance is especially memorable for his enormous platform boots and the oversized pinball-machine setting. His version of “Pinball Wizard” was released as a single and became a major hit in the United Kingdom. A common mix-up is to call Elton John’s character Tommy himself; Roger Daltrey played the title character, while John played Tommy’s rival, the champion known as the Pinball Wizard.