Biography
Known to legions of fans as a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, bassist Flea has also maintained a side career as a supporting player in feature films. Born Michael Balzary, Flea moved from Australia to Los Angeles as a teen; it was there that he met eventual Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis in high school. Flea acted in his first major film,
Penelope Spheeris' suburban punk story
The Wild Side (1983), the same year he co-founded the band. Merging both of his performing interests, he appeared with the Chili Peppers in
Tough Guys (1986) and
Thrashin' (1986), as himself in Bruce Weber's Chet Baker documentary
Let's Get Lost (1988), and played musicians in
Less Than Zero (1987), the hip nostalgic road movie
Roadside Prophets (1992), and
Terry Gilliam's unpopular adaptation of
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). Flea has also worked solely as an actor, playing small roles most notably in Back to the Future Part II (1989),
Back to the Future Part III (1990), and in
Gus Van Sant's Shakespearean street hustler tale
My Own Private Idaho (1991); he has also added his voice to the animated TV show The Wild Thornberries (1998). Playing off his distinctive rock star image, Flea appeared as one of the black-clad nihilists in
Joel Coen and
Ethan Coen's bowling comedy/western/caper
The Big Lebowski (1998). Departing from his more frequent bit-player status, Flea stepped into a more substantial part in the indie crime drama
Liar's Poker (1999). ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide