2026 has been the year the world fell for Michael Jackson all over again. Michael, Antoine Fuqua's biopic starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson, opened in UK cinemas on 22 April and crossed $1 billion worldwide in July, making it the highest-grossing biopic ever made. Lionsgate has already confirmed a sequel is in development.
Seventeen years after his death, here is the story of the King of Pop, from Gary, Indiana to the best-selling album of all time. Browse our full Michael Jackson collection as you read.
Michael Jackson Fact File
| Full name | Michael Joseph Jackson |
|---|---|
| Born | 29 August 1958, Gary, Indiana, USA |
| Died | 25 June 2009, Los Angeles (aged 50); he would have been 68 today |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer |
| Years active | 1964–2009 |
| Known for | Pop, R&B, soul, funk, dance |
| Nickname | The King of Pop |
Career History
| Years | Band/Label | Key albums/singles |
|---|---|---|
| 1964–1975 | The Jackson 5 / Motown | I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save, I'll Be There |
| 1972–1975 | Solo / Motown | Got to Be There, Ben, Music & Me, Forever, Michael |
| 1976–1984 | The Jacksons / Epic | The Jacksons, Destiny, Triumph, Victory |
| 1979 | Solo / Epic | Off the Wall |
| 1982 | Solo / Epic | Thriller |
| 1987 | Solo / Epic | Bad |
| 1991 | Solo / Epic | Dangerous |
| 1995 | Solo / Epic | HIStory |
| 2001 | Solo / Epic | Invincible |
Solo rows list his ten solo studio albums. The Jackson 5 signed with Motown in 1968–69 and moved to Epic as The Jacksons in the mid-1970s.
The Boy From Gary
Michael was the eighth of ten children, and as a young boy he was singing with his brothers in the family group that became The Jackson 5. Motown signed them in 1968, and their debut national single, "I Want You Back", reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1970.
With little Michael out front, the group's first four Motown singles all went to No. 1, and he started a parallel solo career at just 13 with Got to Be There in 1972.
Celebrate where it all began with our Michael Jackson Music Icon Frame Men's T-Shirt.
Off the Wall and Thriller
Teaming up with producer Quincy Jones, Michael reinvented himself as an adult artist with Off the Wall (1979), a glossy disco-funk record led by "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You".
Then came Thriller (1982). "Billie Jean", "Beat It" and the title track's cinematic video turned it into a global phenomenon. Guinness World Records lists it as the best-selling album of all time, with estimates of around 70 million copies sold.
Fly the flag for the 1980s era with our Michael Jackson Bad Badge Men's Hoodie.
The Moonwalk and the Global Superstar
On the Motown 25 TV special, broadcast on NBC on 16 May 1983, Michael performed "Billie Jean" and debuted the moonwalk. It became the most imitated dance move on the planet.
Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995) kept the hits coming, from "Man in the Mirror" and "Smooth Criminal" to "Black or White" and "Earth Song", the UK Christmas No. 1 of 1995.
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A Legacy That Keeps Growing
His final studio album, Invincible, arrived in 2001. Michael died in Los Angeles on 25 June 2009 while preparing for his This Is It concerts in London, and the outpouring of grief was felt around the world.
Awards
Grammy Awards
- 13 Grammy wins from 38 nominations
- A then-record eight Grammys on a single night in 1984, for Thriller
Halls of Fame
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: with The Jackson 5 (1997) and as a solo artist (2001)
Records
- Guinness World Records: Thriller, best-selling album of all time
Away From the Spotlight
Michael was a father of three and set up the Heal the World Foundation in 1992 to support children around the world.
FAQs
How old would Michael Jackson be today?
Michael Jackson was born on 29 August 1958, so he would have been 68 years old. He died on 25 June 2009, aged 50.
Where was Michael Jackson born?
He was born in Gary, Indiana, in the United States.
How many albums did Michael Jackson release?
He released ten solo studio albums, from Got to Be There (1972) to Invincible (2001), plus many more with The Jackson 5 and The Jacksons.
What is Michael Jackson's best-selling album?
Thriller (1982). Guinness World Records recognises it as the best-selling album of all time.
When was the Michael biopic released?
Michael was released in UK cinemas on 22 April 2026 and in the US on 24 April 2026, starring Jaafar Jackson.
Shop the Michael Jackson Collection
Our made-to-order fan designs pay tribute to the King of Pop in hoodie and T-shirt styles, printed in the UK.
See every design in our Michael Jackson collection, or explore more stars in our Pop Music collection. Want your own name on the back instead? Design a Custom Name Men's Hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Top Male Pop Stars of All Time and Top RnB Singers of All Time.
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