James Earl Jones
Known For
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
Jan 17, 1931 (95 years old)
Place of Birth
Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA
Biography
James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 – September 9, 2024) was an American actor. He was described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors for his performances on stage and screen, and "one of the greatest actors in American history". Over his career, he received three Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award. He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985. He was honored with the National Medal of Arts in 1992, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2009 and the Honorary Academy Award in 2011. His deep voice has been praised as a "stirring basso profondo that has lent gravel and gravitas" to his projects.
Known For
| 2024 | Butterfly in the SkyGuest Narrator (archive footage) | |
| 2024 | BET News & ET Present James Earl Jones: Life and LegacySelf (archive footage) | |
| 2022 | Obi-Wan KenobiDarth Vader (voice) | |
| 2021 | Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame StreetSelf (archive footage) | |
| 2021 | Coming 2 AmericaKing Jaffe Joffer | |
| 2019 | On BroadwaySelf (archive footage) | |
| 2019 | The Space: Theatre of SurvivalNarrator | |
| 2019 | Words from a BearSelf | |
| 2019 | The Lion KingMufasa (voice) | |
| 2019 | Raúl Juliá: The World’s a StageSelf | |
| 2019 | Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerDarth Vader (voice) | |
| 2019 | The Movies That Made UsSelf (archive footage) | |
| 2018 | Warning ShotPendleton | |
| 2017 | The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride LandsMufasa (voice) | |
| 2016 | The Lion Guard: Return of the RoarMufasa (voice) | |
| 2016 | God Bless You, Mr RosewaterKilgore Trout | |
| 2016 | Rogue One: A Star Wars StoryDarth Vader (voice) | |
| 2015 | Driving Miss DaisyHoke Colburn | |
| 2015 | Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of LothalDarth Vader (voice) | |
| 2015 | August Wilson: The Ground on Which I StandSelf | |
| 2014 | The Angriest Man in BrooklynRuben | |
| 2014 | Star Wars Rebels: Spark of RebellionDarth Vader (voice) | |
| 2014 | Star Wars RebelsDarth Vader (voice) | |
| 2013 | Gimme ShelterFrank McCarthy | |
| 2013 | BlackfishSelf (archive footage) | |
| 2013 | MiliusSelf | |
| 2013 | Muse of FireSelf | |
| 2012 | Joe Papp in Five ActsSelf | |
| 2012 | An Amazing Time: A Conversation About End of the RoadSelf | |
| 2011 | Strange Septembers: The Hill Abduction & the Exeter EncounterHimself | |
| 2010 | Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space OdysseyAdmiral (voice) | |
| 2009 | Jack and the BeanstalkThe Giant (voice) | |
| 2009 | Waking Sleeping BeautySelf (archive footage) | |
| 2008 | Welcome Home Roscoe JenkinsPapa Jenkins | |
| 2007 | EarthNarrator (voice) | |
| 2007 | John, Paul, George and BenNarrator | |
| 2007 | Our Paul: Remembering Paul RobesonSelf | |
| 2007 | The Big Bang TheoryJames Earl Jones | |
| 2006 | ClickNarrator of Michael's Past (voice) (uncredited) | |
| 2006 | The BenchwarmersDarth Vader (voice) | |
| 2006 | The Best of The Tony Awards: The PlaysJack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope") / Troy Maxson (segment "Fences") | |
| 2006 | Scary Movie 4Narrator (uncredited) | |
| 2006 | Searching for OrsonSelf | |
| 2006 | The One ShowSelf - Guest | |
| 2005 | The Reading RoomWilliam | |
| 2005 | The Sandlot 2Mr. Mertle | |
| 2005 | By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'Narrator | |
| 2005 | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the SithDarth Vader (voice - uncredited) | |
| 2005 | RobotsVoice Box at Hardware Store (voice) | |
| 2005 | Hollywood's Greatest VillainsSelf | |
| 2004 | Nine Dog ChristmasStoryteller (voice) | |
| 2004 | Black Indians: An American StoryNarrator | |
| 2004 | Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars TrilogySelf | |
| 2004 | The Story of Star WarsDarth Vader (archive footage) | |
| 2004 | No Fighting in the War Room Or: 'Dr Strangelove' and the Nuclear ThreatSelf | |
| 2004 | HouseDibala | |
| 2003 | The Great YearNarrator | |
| 2003 | The Simpsons: Treehouse of HorrorMaggie Simpson (voice) | |
| 2003 | Beneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October'Self | |
| 2003 | Two and a Half MenJames Earl Jones | |
| 2002 | Fredericksburg: A Documentary FilmNarrator | |
| 2002 | EverwoodWill Cleveland | |
| 2001 | Finder's FeeAvery Phillips | |
| 2001 | Disney's American LegendsNarrator | |
| 2001 | Feast of All SaintsOlder Marcel | |
| 2001 | Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The WorldSelf | |
| 2001 | Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third StreetMister (voice) | |
| 2001 | According to JimRoyal Flush Voice (voice) | |
| 2000 | Fantasia 2000Self - Host | |
| 2000 | Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'Self | |
| 2000 | Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'Self - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg' | |
| 2000 | The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to StrangeloveSelf | |
| 2000 | Antietam: A Documentary FilmNarrator | |
| 2000 | Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light | |
| 1999 | Undercover AngelThe Judge | |
| 1999 | Santa and PeteGrandpa Nicholas | |
| 1999 | Summer's EndDr. William 'Bill' Blakely | |
| 1999 | Our Friend, MartinDaddy King (voice) | |
| 1999 | The Annihilation of FishFish | |
| 1999 | On the Q.T.Leo | |
| 1998 | The Lion King II: Simba's PrideMufasa (voice) | |
| 1998 | Primary ColorsCNN Voiceover (voice) | |
| 1998 | Will & GraceJames Earl Jones | |
| 1998 | MerlinRock of Ages | |
| 1997 | Star Wars: The Magic & the MysterySelf | |
| 1997 | Gang RelatedArthur Baylor | |
| 1997 | What the Deaf Man HeardArchibald Thacker | |
| 1997 | Sports on the Silver ScreenSelf (archive footage) | |
| 1997 | The Second Civil WarJim Kalla | |
| 1997 | Hitler's Forgotten VictimsNarrator (voice) (DVD version) | |
| 1997 | AloneGrey | |
| 1997 | Afro PromoSelf (archive footage) | |
| 1997 | Casper: A Spirited BeginningKibosh (voice) | |
| 1997 | Good LuckJames Bing | |
| 1997 | Stargate SG-1Unas (Voice) | |
| 1996 | Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' ManigaultDr. McDuffie | |
| 1996 | A Family ThingRay Murdock | |
| 1996 | TimepieceLawrence | |
| 1996 | Looking for RichardSelf - Interviewee | |
| 1996 | CorwinSelf | |
| 1996 | 3rd Rock from the SunNarrator (voice) (uncredited) | |
| 1995 | Cry, the Beloved CountryRev. Stephen Kumalo | |
| 1995 | People: A Musical CelebrationThe Storyteller (voice) | |
| 1995 | Who's in Rabbit's House?Narrator (voice) | |
| 1995 | The Making of 'Jurassic Park'Host | |
| 1995 | The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American MoviesSelf | |
| 1995 | Jefferson in ParisMadison Hemings | |
| 1995 | Judge DreddNarrator (uncredited) | |
| 1995 | Circle of Life: An Environmental FableMufasa | |
| 1995 | Under One RoofNeb Langston | |
| 1995 | Signs and WondersDiamond | |
| 1995 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildKing Dakkar (voice) | |
| 1994 | The Lion KingMufasa (voice) | |
| 1994 | Clear and Present DangerAdmiral James Greer | |
| 1994 | Africa: The SerengetiNarrator | |
| 1994 | The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost ClassicsHost | |
| 1994 | Clean SlateJohn Dolby | |
| 1994 | Gangs: Turning the CornerSelf | |
| 1994 | The Vernon Johns StoryVernon Johns | |
| 1994 | Bah, Humbug!: The Story of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'Narrator | |
| 1994 | Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final InsultJames Earl Jones (uncredited) | |
| 1994 | Confessions: Two Faces of EvilCharles Lloyd | |
| 1994 | The Making of the Lion KingSelf | |
| 1994 | Touched by an AngelThe Angel of Angels | |
| 1993 | SommersbyJudge Barry Conrad Issacs | |
| 1993 | DreamriderBill Perry | |
| 1993 | The Meteor ManEarnest Moses | |
| 1993 | The SandlotMr. Mertle | |
| 1993 | Excessive ForceJake | |
| 1993 | Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short FilmsSelf (voice) (uncredited) | |
| 1993 | Percy & ThunderPercy Banks | |
| 1993 | HallelujahOld Man Taylor | |
| 1993 | FrasierNorman Royster | |
| 1993 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanFranklin Stern | |
| 1993 | Homicide: Life on the StreetFelix Wilson | |
| 1992 | SneakersMr. Bernard Abbott | |
| 1992 | Patriot GamesAdm. James Greer | |
| 1992 | LincolnNarrator (voice) | |
| 1992 | The JFK ConspiracySelf - Host | |
| 1992 | Shelley Duvall's Bedtime StoriesNarrator (voice) | |
| 1992 | Picket FencesBryant Thomas | |
| 1991 | ScorchersBear | |
| 1991 | ConvictsBen Johnson | |
| 1991 | True IdentityJames Earl Jones | |
| 1991 | Visitors from the UnknownNarrator (voice) | |
| 1991 | Portrait of Castro's CubaHost/Narrator | |
| 1991 | When It Was a Game(voice) | |
| 1991 | Pros and ConsGabriel Bird | |
| 1990 | The Hunt for Red OctoberVice ADM James Greer | |
| 1990 | By Dawn's Early LightAlice | |
| 1990 | Grim Prairie TalesMorrison | |
| 1990 | The AmbulanceLt. Spencer | |
| 1990 | Ivory HuntersInspector Nkuru | |
| 1990 | Heat WaveJunius Johnson | |
| 1990 | Teach 109Dr. Winston | |
| 1990 | Last Flight OutAl Topping | |
| 1990 | TerrorgramRetribution (voice) | |
| 1990 | Law & OrderDefense Attorney Horace McCoy | |
| 1990 | Gabriel's FireGabriel Bird | |
| 1989 | Field of DreamsTerrence Mann | |
| 1989 | Three FugitivesDugan | |
| 1989 | 11-22-63: The Day the Nation CriedNarrator | |
| 1989 | Best of the BestFrank Couzo | |
| 1989 | The Hunting of the SnarkNarrator (voice) | |
| 1989 | Stories to Remember: Noah's ArkNarrator | |
| 1989 | The SimpsonsNarrator (voice) | |
| 1989 | Long Ago and Far AwayHost | |
| 1989 | The SimpsonsMoving Man / Serak the Preparer / Narrator (voice) | |
| 1989 | The SimpsonsMaggie Simpson (voice) | |
| 1988 | Coming to AmericaKing Jaffe Joffer | |
| 1988 | Michael Jackson: The Legend ContinuesNarrator (voice) | |
| 1988 | Garfield and FriendsDiablo | |
| 1987 | Matewan'Few Clothes' Johnson | |
| 1987 | Gardens of StoneSgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson | |
| 1987 | Pinocchio and the Emperor of the NightEmperor of the Night (voice) | |
| 1987 | A House Divided | |
| 1987 | MathnetChief Thad Green (voice) | |
| 1987 | MathnetChief Thad Green | |
| 1987 | MathnetChief Thad Greene | |
| 1986 | Soul ManProfessor Banks | |
| 1986 | Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of GoldUmslopogaas | |
| 1986 | My Little GirlIke Bailey | |
| 1986 | Aladdin and His Wonderful LampGenie / Narrator | |
| 1986 | The Lone Star KidHolmes | |
| 1986 | L.A. LawLee Atkins | |
| 1985 | City LimitsAlbert | |
| 1985 | Night of 100 Stars IISelf | |
| 1985 | Visual Pathfinders: Robert Abel & Associates | |
| 1985 | MosesPharaoh | |
| 1985 | Me & Mom | |
| 1985 | The Atlanta Child MurdersMajor Walker | |
| 1984 | The Vegas Strip WarJack Madrid | |
| 1984 | Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's EarsNarrator | |
| 1984 | CBS Schoolbreak SpecialDetective Robb | |
| 1984 | Highway to HeavenGabe Wilson | |
| 1983 | Return of the JediDarth Vader (voice) | |
| 1983 | Reading RainbowSelf - Narrator (voice) | |
| 1982 | Amy and the AngelGabriel | |
| 1982 | Conan the BarbarianThulsa Doom | |
| 1982 | The Flight of DragonsOmmadon (voice) | |
| 1982 | Blood TideFrye | |
| 1982 | Night of 100 StarsSelf | |
| 1982 | Faerie Tale TheatreGenie / Narrator (voice) | |
| 1981 | Beauty and the BeastNarrator (voice) | |
| 1981 | The Bushido BladeThe Prisoner | |
| 1981 | The CreationNarrator (voice) | |
| 1981 | Golden Book Video - Beauty and the BeastNarrator (voice) | |
| 1981 | God's TrombonesNarrator (voice) | |
| 1981 | There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagueshimself, voice | |
| 1980 | The Empire Strikes BackDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited) | |
| 1980 | The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love StoryDane Oliver | |
| 1980 | The Me Nobody KnowsSelf | |
| 1980 | Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim JonesFather Divine | |
| 1979 | Paul RobesonPaul Robeson | |
| 1979 | A Walking Tour of Sesame StreetSelf - Host | |
| 1979 | Roots: The Next GenerationsAlex Haley | |
| 1979 | ParisWoody Paris | |
| 1978 | The Star Wars Holiday SpecialDarth Vader (voice) | |
| 1978 | Black Theatre: The Making of a MovementSelf | |
| 1978 | The Kennedy Center HonorsSelf | |
| 1978 | The Magic of David Copperfield | |
| 1977 | Star WarsDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited) | |
| 1977 | A Piece of the ActionJoshua Burke | |
| 1977 | The Last Remake of Beau GesteSheikh | |
| 1977 | Exorcist II: The HereticOlder Kokumo | |
| 1977 | The GreatestMalcolm X | |
| 1977 | The Greatest Thing That Almost HappenedMorris Bird, Jr. | |
| 1977 | The Making of Star WarsDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited) | |
| 1977 | Jesus of NazarethBalthazar | |
| 1976 | SwashbucklerNick Debrett | |
| 1976 | The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor KingsLeon | |
| 1976 | The River NigerJohnny Williams | |
| 1975 | Deadly HeroRabbit Shazam | |
| 1975 | The UFO IncidentBarney Hill | |
| 1975 | Vegetable SoupLong John Spoilsport | |
| 1974 | ClaudineRupert D. "Roop" Marshall | |
| 1974 | The CayTimothy | |
| 1974 | King LearKing Lear | |
| 1974 | Dinah!Self | |
| 1973 | The American Film Institute Salute to ...Self | |
| 1973 | Black OmnibusSelf - Host | |
| 1972 | The ManDouglass Dilman | |
| 1972 | Malcolm XBiographical Narration (voice) | |
| 1971 | Martin Luther King, Jr.: Legacy of a DreamNarrator | |
| 1971 | Great PerformancesKing Lear | |
| 1970 | End of the RoadDoctor D | |
| 1970 | The Great White HopeJack Jefferson | |
| 1970 | King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to MemphisSelf (archive footage) | |
| 1969 | Sesame Street | |
| 1968 | The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest | |
| 1967 | The ComediansDr. Magiot | |
| 1966 | Tarzan | |
| 1964 | Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombLt. Lothar Zogg | |
| 1963 | East Side/West Side | |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf | |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin ShowSelf | |
| 1961 | The DefendersLieutenant Andrews | |
| 1961 | Dr. KildareDr. Lou Rush | |
| 1961 | The DefendersReverend Harris Bonham | |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas ShowSelf | |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas ShowSelf - Co-Host | |
| 1956 | Tony AwardsSelf - Winner / Performer | |
| 1956 | Tony AwardsSelf - Presenter | |
| 1956 | Tony AwardsSelf (archive footage) | |
| 1956 | Tony AwardsSelf - Nominee / Presenter | |
| 1956 | Tony AwardsSelf - Nominee | |
| 1956 | Tony AwardsSelf - Winner | |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of FameArchibald Thacker | |
| 1948 | Lamp Unto My Feet | |
| 1944 | Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee / Presenter | |
| - | Broadway: The Next GenerationSelf |
| 2024 | Mufasa: The Lion KingIn Memory Of |