Dead Man Walking (film) Dead Man Walking (film) Dead Man Walking is a 1995 American crime drama film starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn, and co-produced and directed by Tim Robbins, who adapted the screenplay from the non-fiction book of the same name. Sister Helen Prejean (Sarandon) establishes a special relationship with Matthew Poncelet (Penn) – based on real-life murderers Elmo Patrick Sonnier and Robert Lee Willie – a prisoner on death row in Louisiana, acting as his spiritual adviser after carrying on correspondence with him. Matthew Poncelet has been in prison for six years, awaiting his execution after being sentenced to death for
Dead Man Walking (song) Dead Man Walking (song) "Dead Man Walking" is a song written by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels and released as single from the 1997 album "Earthling". It was a number 32 hit in the UK. The guitar riff used in the intro dates back to the mid-1960s when Jimmy Page taught this to Bowie. Bowie later used it for his song "The Supermen" in 1970, and revived it 25 years later for "Dead Man Walking". Released 21 March 1997 in the Netherlands by BMG. Released 21 March 1997 in the Netherlands by BMG. Released 24 March 1997 in the Netherlands