James Earl Jones

Born 1931 • Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA

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.

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Filmography

N/A

2024

Butterfly in the Sky

Directed by Brett Whitcomb

as Guest Narrator (archive footage)

BET News & ET Present James Earl Jones: Life and Legacy

N/A

2024

BET News & ET Present James Earl Jones: Life and Legacy

Directed by Unknown

as Self (archive footage)

N/A

2021

Coming 2 America

as King Jaffe Joffer

Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street

N/A

2021

Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street

Directed by Marilyn Agrelo

as Self (archive footage)

N/A

2019

Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage

as Self

N/A

2019

The Lion King

as Mufasa (voice)

N/A

2019

Words from a Bear

as Self

N/A

2019

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

as Darth Vader (voice)

N/A

2019

The Space: Theatre of Survival

Directed by Dan Poole

as Narrator

N/A

2019

On Broadway

as Self (archive footage)

N/A

2018

Warning Shot

Directed by Dustin Fairbanks

as Pendleton

N/A

2017

The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride Lands

Directed by Unknown

as Mufasa (voice)

N/A

2017

Broadway: The Next Generation

as Self

N/A

2016

God Bless You, Mr Rosewater

Directed by Michael Mayer

as Kilgore Trout

N/A

2016

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

as Darth Vader (voice)

N/A

2016

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar

Directed by Howy Parkins

as Mufasa (voice)

N/A

2015

Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal

Directed by Bosco Ng

as Darth Vader (voice)

N/A

2015

Driving Miss Daisy

Directed by Peter Ots

as Hoke Colburn

August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand

N/A

2015

August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand

as Self

N/A

2014

Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion

Directed by Steward Lee

as Darth Vader (voice)

N/A

2014

The Angriest Man in Brooklyn

as Ruben

N/A

2013

Muse of Fire

as Self

N/A

2013

Blackfish

Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite

as Self (archive footage)

N/A

2013

Gimme Shelter

Directed by Ron Krauss

as Frank McCarthy

N/A

2013

Milius

as Self

N/A

2012

Joe Papp in Five Acts

as Self

An Amazing Time: A Conversation About End of the Road

N/A

2012

An Amazing Time: A Conversation About End of the Road

Directed by Steven Soderbergh

as Self

N/A

2010

Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey

as Admiral (voice)

N/A

2009

Jack and the Beanstalk

as The Giant (voice)

N/A

2009

Waking Sleeping Beauty

as Self (archive footage)

N/A

2008

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins

Directed by Malcolm D. Lee

as Papa Jenkins

N/A

2007

John, Paul, George and Ben

Directed by Maciek Albrecht

as Narrator

N/A

2007

Earth

Directed by Alastair Fothergill

as Narrator (voice)

N/A

2007

Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson

Directed by Abbey Lustgarten

as Self

N/A

2006

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

Directed by Christopher A. Cohen

as Jack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope") / Troy Maxson (segment "Fences")

N/A

2006

The Benchwarmers

as Darth Vader (voice)

N/A

2006

Searching for Orson

Directed by Jakov Sedlar

as Self

N/A

2005

Robots

as Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice)

N/A

2005

Hollywood's Greatest Villains

Directed by Michael S. Emerson

as Self

N/A

2005

The Reading Room

Directed by Georg Stanford Brown

as William

N/A

2005

The Sandlot 2

Directed by David Mickey Evans

as Mr. Mertle

By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'

N/A

2005

By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'

as Narrator

No Fighting in the War Room Or: 'Dr Strangelove' and the Nuclear Threat

N/A

2004

No Fighting in the War Room Or: 'Dr Strangelove' and the Nuclear Threat

Directed by John Scheinfeld

as Self

N/A

2004

Black Indians: An American Story

Directed by Chip Richie

as Narrator

Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy

N/A

2004

Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy

as Self

N/A

2004

Nine Dog Christmas

Directed by Kamoon Song

as Storyteller (voice)

N/A

2004

The Story of Star Wars

as Darth Vader (archive footage)

Beneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October'

N/A

2003

Beneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October'

as Self

N/A

2003

The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror

Directed by Bob Anderson

as Maggie Simpson (voice)

N/A

2003

The Great Year

Directed by Robert Ballo

as Narrator

N/A

2002

Fredericksburg: A Documentary Film

Directed by Unknown

as Narrator

Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street

N/A

2001

Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street

Directed by Chuck Sheetz

as Mister (voice)

N/A

2001

Finder's Fee

as Avery Phillips

N/A

2001

Disney's American Legends

Directed by Jack Kinney

as Narrator

N/A

2001

Feast of All Saints

as Older Marcel

Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World

N/A

2001

Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World

Directed by Phil Grabsky

as Self

N/A

2000

Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light

as —

The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to Strangelove

N/A

2000

The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to Strangelove

Directed by David Naylor

as Self

Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'

N/A

2000

Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'

Directed by David Naylor

as Self - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg'

N/A

2000

Fantasia 2000

Directed by James Algar

as Self - Host

N/A

2000

Summer's End

Directed by Helen Shaver

as Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely

N/A

2000

Antietam: A Documentary Film

Directed by Unknown

as Narrator

N/A

2000

Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'

as Self

N/A

1999

The Annihilation of Fish

Directed by Charles Burnett

as Fish

N/A

1999

Undercover Angel

Directed by Bryan Michael Stoller

as The Judge

N/A

1999

Our Friend, Martin

as Daddy King (voice)

N/A

1999

Santa and Pete

Directed by Duwayne Dunham

as James Earl Jones

N/A

1999

On the Q.T.

Directed by Yale Strom

as Leo

N/A

1998

Primary Colors

as CNN Voiceover (voice)

N/A

1998

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

Directed by Darrell Rooney

as Mufasa (voice)

N/A

1997

Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery

as Self

N/A

1997

Good Luck

Directed by Richard LaBrie

as James Bing

N/A

1997

Casper: A Spirited Beginning

Directed by Sean McNamara

as Kibosh (voice)

N/A

1997

Gang Related

Directed by Jim Kouf

as Arthur Baylor

N/A

1997

Hitler's Forgotten Victims

Directed by David Okuefuna

as Narrator (voice) (DVD version)

N/A

1997

Alone

as Grey

N/A

1997

Sports on the Silver Screen

as Self (archive footage)

N/A

1997

What the Deaf Man Heard

Directed by John Kent Harrison

as Archibald Thacker

N/A

1997

The Second Civil War

as Jim Kalla

N/A

1997

Afro Promo

as Self (archive footage)

N/A

1996

Looking for Richard

as Self - Interviewee

N/A

1996

Timepiece

Directed by Marcus Cole

as Lawrence

Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault

N/A

1996

Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault

as Dr. McDuffie

N/A

1996

Corwin

Directed by Les Guthman

as Self

N/A

1996

A Family Thing

as Ray Murdock

N/A

1995

Who's in Rabbit's House?

Directed by Virginia Wilkos

as Narrator (voice)

N/A

1995

The Making of 'Jurassic Park'

as Host

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

N/A

1995

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

as Self

N/A

1995

Cry, the Beloved Country

Directed by Darrell James Roodt

as Rev. Stephen Kumalo

N/A

1995

Jefferson in Paris

as Madison Hemings

N/A

1995

People: A Musical Celebration

Directed by Vladlen Barbe

as The Storyteller (voice)

N/A

1995

Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable

Directed by Bruce Morris

as Mufasa

N/A

1994

Clean Slate

as John Dolby

N/A

1994

Confessions: Two Faces of Evil

as Charles Lloyd

N/A

1994

Clear and Present Danger

as Admiral James Greer

N/A

1994

The Making of the Lion King

as Self

N/A

1994

The Lion King

as Mufasa (voice)

N/A

1994

Bah, Humbug!: The Story of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'

Directed by Derek Bailey

as Narrator

N/A

1994

Gangs: Turning the Corner

Directed by Russell Turner

as Self

N/A

1994

The Vernon Johns Story

Directed by Kenneth Fink

as Vernon Johns

N/A

1994

Africa: The Serengeti

Directed by George Casey

as Narrator

The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics

N/A

1994

The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics

Directed by Robert Markowitz

as Host

N/A

1993

Hallelujah

Directed by Charles Lane

as Old Man Taylor

N/A

1993

Excessive Force

Directed by Jon Hess

as Jake

N/A

1993

Percy & Thunder

Directed by Ivan Dixon

as Percy Banks

N/A

1993

Dreamrider

Directed by Steve Grass

as Bill Perry

N/A

1993

The Sandlot

Directed by David Mickey Evans

as Mr. Mertle

N/A

1993

Sommersby

Directed by Jon Amiel

as Judge Barry Conrad Issacs

N/A

1993

The Meteor Man

as Earnest Moses

N/A

1992

Sneakers

as Mr. Bernard Abbott

N/A

1992

Lincoln

as Narrator (voice)

N/A

1992

Patriot Games

as Adm. James Greer

N/A

1992

The JFK Conspiracy

Directed by Daniel Helfgott

as Self - Host

N/A

1991

Visitors from the Unknown

Directed by Penelope Spheeris

as Narrator (voice)

N/A

1991

Portrait of Castro's Cuba

Directed by Kirk Wolfinger

as Host/Narrator

N/A

1991

When It Was a Game

Directed by Unknown

as (voice)

N/A

1991

True Identity

Directed by Charles Lane

as James Earl Jones

N/A

1991

Convicts

as Ben Johnson

N/A

1991

Scorchers

Directed by David Beaird

as Bear

N/A

1990

The Hunt for Red October

as Vice ADM James Greer

N/A

1990

Heat Wave

as Junius Johnson

N/A

1990

Teach 109

Directed by Richard Kletter

as Dr. Winston

N/A

1990

Ivory Hunters

Directed by Joseph Sargent

as Inspector Nkuru

N/A

1990

The Ambulance

Directed by Larry Cohen

as Lt. Spencer

N/A

1990

By Dawn's Early Light

Directed by Jack Sholder

as Alice

N/A

1990

Last Flight Out

Directed by Larry Elikann

as Al Topping

N/A

1990

Terrorgram

Directed by Stephen M. Kienzle

as Retribution (voice)

N/A

1990

Grim Prairie Tales

Directed by Wayne Coe

as Morrison

N/A

1989

11-22-63: The Day the Nation Cried

Directed by Bruce Halford

as Narrator

N/A

1989

Best of the Best

Directed by Robert Radler

as Frank Couzo

N/A

1989

Stories to Remember: Noah's Ark

Directed by Steve Majaury

as Narrator

N/A

1989

Three Fugitives

as Dugan

N/A

1989

Field of Dreams

as Terrence Mann

N/A

1988

Coming to America

as King Jaffe Joffer

N/A

1988

Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues

as Narrator (voice)

N/A

1987

A House Divided

Directed by Burwell Ware

as —

N/A

1987

Gardens of Stone

as Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson

N/A

1987

Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night

as Emperor of the Night (voice)

N/A

1987

Matewan

as 'Few Clothes' Johnson

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold

N/A

1986

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold

Directed by Gary Nelson

as Umslopogaas

N/A

1986

The Lone Star Kid

Directed by Anson Williams

as Holmes

N/A

1986

Soul Man

Directed by Steve Miner

as Professor Banks

N/A

1986

Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp

Directed by Tim Burton

as Genie / Narrator

N/A

1986

My Little Girl

Directed by Connie Kaiserman

as Ike Bailey

Visual Pathfinders: Robert Abel & Associates

N/A

1985

Visual Pathfinders: Robert Abel & Associates

Directed by Randy Roberts

as —

N/A

1985

Moses

Directed by Unknown

as Pharaoh

N/A

1985

City Limits

Directed by Aaron Lipstadt

as Albert

N/A

1985

Night of 100 Stars II

as Self

N/A

1984

The Vegas Strip War

Directed by George Englund

as Jack Madrid

N/A

1984

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

Directed by Gene Deitch

as Narrator

N/A

1983

Return of the Jedi

as Darth Vader (voice)

N/A

1982

Night of 100 Stars

as Self

N/A

1982

Conan the Barbarian

as Thulsa Doom

N/A

1982

Amy and the Angel

Directed by Ralph Rosenblum

as Gabriel

N/A

1982

Blood Tide

Directed by Richard Jefferies

as Frye

N/A

1982

The Flight of Dragons

Directed by Jules Bass

as Ommadon (voice)

N/A

1981

The Creation

Directed by Will Vinton

as Narrator (voice)

N/A

1981

The Bushido Blade

Directed by Tsugunobu Kotani

as The Prisoner

N/A

1981

God's Trombones

Directed by Will Vinton

as Narrator (voice)

Golden Book Video - Beauty and the Beast

N/A

1981

Golden Book Video - Beauty and the Beast

Directed by Sam Weiss

as Narrator (voice)

N/A

1980

The Me Nobody Knows

Directed by J. Edward Shaw

as Self

The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story

N/A

1980

The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story

Directed by Richard C. Sarafian

as Dane Oliver

N/A

1979

Paul Robeson

Directed by Lloyd Richards

as Paul Robeson

N/A

1979

A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

as Self - Host

N/A

1978

The Star Wars Holiday Special

as Darth Vader (voice)

N/A

1978

Black Theatre: The Making of a Movement

Directed by Woodie King Jr.

as Self

N/A

1978

The Story of the Faithful Wookiee

Directed by David Acomba

as Darth Vader (voice)

N/A

1977

The Last Remake of Beau Geste

Directed by Marty Feldman

as Sheikh

N/A

1977

The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened

Directed by Gilbert Moses

as Morris Bird, Jr.

N/A

1977

The Greatest

as Malcolm X

N/A

1977

A Piece of the Action

as Joshua Burke

N/A

1977

Exorcist II: The Heretic

Directed by John Boorman

as Older Kokumo

N/A

1976

Swashbuckler

Directed by James Goldstone

as Nick Debrett

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

N/A

1976

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

Directed by John Badham

as Leon

N/A

1976

The River Niger

Directed by Krishna Shah

as Johnny Williams

N/A

1975

The UFO Incident

Directed by Richard A. Colla

as Barney Hill

N/A

1975

Deadly Hero

as Rabbit Shazam

N/A

1974

The Cay

Directed by Patrick Garland

as Timothy

N/A

1974

King Lear

Directed by Edwin Sherin

as King Lear

N/A

1974

Claudine

Directed by John Berry

as Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall

N/A

1972

The Man

Directed by Joseph Sargent

as Douglass Dilman

N/A

1972

Malcolm X

Directed by Arnold Perl

as Biographical Narration (voice)

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Legacy of a Dream

N/A

1971

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Legacy of a Dream

Directed by Richard Kaplan

as Narrator

King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis

N/A

1970

King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis

as Self (archive footage)

N/A

1970

The Great White Hope

Directed by Martin Ritt

as Jack Jefferson

N/A

1970

End of the Road

Directed by Aram Avakian

as Doctor D

N/A

1967

The Comedians

Directed by Peter Glenville

as Dr. Magiot

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

N/A

1964

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Directed by Stanley Kubrick

as Lt. Lothar Zogg

About James Earl Jones

Known for: Acting