James Earl Jones

Acting • 1931-01-17 • 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.

Known For

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Filmography

2025
Indiana Jones Adventure | Disneyland ResortFilm
Mara (voice)
★ 7.0
2024
Butterfly in the SkyFilm
Guest Narrator (archive footage)
★ 8.2
2024
BET News & ET Present James Earl Jones: Life and LegacyFilm
Self (archive footage)
2022
Obi-Wan KenobiTV
Darth Vader (voice) • 4 episodes
★ 7.0
2021
Coming 2 AmericaFilm
King Jaffe Joffer
★ 6.3
2021
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame StreetFilm
Self (archive footage)
★ 7.4
2019
Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerFilm
Darth Vader (voice)
★ 6.2
2019
The Lion KingFilm
Mufasa (voice)
★ 7.1
2019
The Movies That Made UsTV
Self (archive footage) • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
2019
On BroadwayFilm
Self (archive footage)
★ 8.7
2019
Words from a BearFilm
Self
2019
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a StageFilm
Self
2019
The Space: Theatre of SurvivalFilm
Narrator
2018
Warning ShotFilm
Pendleton
★ 5.0
2017
The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride LandsFilm
Mufasa (voice)
★ 2.0
2016
Rogue One: A Star Wars StoryFilm
Darth Vader (voice)
★ 7.5
2016
The Lion Guard: Return of the RoarFilm
Mufasa (voice)
★ 6.7
2015
Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of LothalFilm
Darth Vader (voice)
★ 7.9
2015
Driving Miss DaisyFilm
Hoke Colburn
★ 8.0
2015
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I StandFilm
Self
2014
Star Wars RebelsTV
Darth Vader (voice) • 2 episodes
★ 7.7
2014
The Angriest Man in BrooklynFilm
Ruben
★ 5.6
2014
Star Wars Rebels: Spark of RebellionFilm
Darth Vader (voice)
★ 7.3
2013
BlackfishFilm
Self (archive footage)
★ 7.8
2013
Gimme ShelterFilm
Frank McCarthy
★ 6.6
2013
MiliusFilm
Self
★ 7.1
2013
Muse of FireFilm
Self
★ 6.5
2012
Joe Papp in Five ActsFilm
Self
★ 4.5
2012
An Amazing Time: A Conversation About End of the RoadFilm
Self
★ 6.0
2011
Strange Septembers: The Hill Abduction & the Exeter EncounterFilm
Himself
2010
Waking Sleeping BeautyFilm
Self (archive footage)
★ 7.2
2009
Jack and the BeanstalkFilm
The Giant (voice)
★ 5.2
2008
Welcome Home Roscoe JenkinsFilm
Papa Jenkins
★ 6.0
2007
The Big Bang TheoryTV
James Earl Jones • 1 episodes
★ 7.9
2007
EarthFilm
Narrator (voice)
★ 7.7
2007
John, Paul, George and BenFilm
Narrator
★ 5.0
2007
Our Paul: Remembering Paul RobesonFilm
Self
2006
ClickFilm
Narrator of Michael's Past (voice) (uncredited)
★ 6.3
2006
The One ShowTV
Self - Guest • 1 episodes
★ 4.3
2006
Scary Movie 4Film
Narrator (uncredited)
★ 5.5
2006
The BenchwarmersFilm
Darth Vader (voice)
★ 5.9
2006
Searching for OrsonFilm
Self
★ 5.5
2006
The Trail Of Tears: Cherokee LegacyFilm
Narrator
★ 4.5
2006
The Best of The Tony Awards: The PlaysFilm
Jack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope") / Troy Maxson (segment "Fences")
2005
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the SithFilm
Darth Vader (voice - uncredited)
★ 7.5
2005
RobotsFilm
Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice)
★ 6.5
2005
The Sandlot 2Film
Mr. Mertle
★ 5.9
2005
The Reading RoomFilm
William
★ 7.5
2005
Hollywood's Greatest VillainsFilm
Self
★ 9.5
2005
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'Film
Narrator
★ 6.0
2004
HouseTV
Dibala • 1 episodes
★ 8.6
2004
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars TrilogyFilm
Self
★ 7.6
2004
The Story of Star WarsFilm
Darth Vader (archive footage)
★ 7.2
2004
Nine Dog ChristmasFilm
Storyteller (voice)
★ 5.6
2004
No Fighting in the War Room Or: 'Dr Strangelove' and the Nuclear ThreatFilm
Self
★ 5.8
2004
Black Indians: An American StoryFilm
Narrator
★ 6.4
2003
Two and a Half MenTV
James Earl Jones • 1 episodes
★ 7.4
2003
The Simpsons: Treehouse of HorrorFilm
Maggie Simpson (voice)
★ 6.7
2003
The Great YearFilm
Narrator
★ 9.0
2003
Beneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October'Film
Self
★ 5.4
2002
EverwoodTV
Will Cleveland • 3 episodes
★ 7.6
2002
Fredericksburg: A Documentary FilmFilm
Narrator
2001
According to JimTV
Royal Flush Voice (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 6.5
2001
Finder's FeeFilm
Avery Phillips
★ 6.2
2001
Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third StreetFilm
Mister (voice)
★ 6.3
2001
Disney's American LegendsFilm
Narrator
★ 7.1
2001
Feast of All SaintsFilm
Older Marcel
★ 4.8
2001
Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The WorldFilm
Self
★ 7.6
2000
Fantasia 2000Film
Self - Host
★ 7.0
2000
Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'Film
Self - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg'
★ 5.9
2000
Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'Film
Self
★ 6.8
2000
The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to StrangeloveFilm
Self
★ 5.6
2000
Sidney Poitier: One Bright LightFilm
★ 6.7
2000
Antietam: A Documentary FilmFilm
Narrator
★ 9.0
2000
Ennis' GiftFilm
Self
1999
Undercover AngelFilm
The Judge
★ 6.9
1999
Our Friend, MartinFilm
Daddy King (voice)
★ 7.1
1999
The Annihilation of FishFilm
Fish
★ 6.3
1999
Summer's EndFilm
Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely
★ 7.6
1999
On the Q.T.Film
Leo
★ 7.1
1999
Santa and PeteFilm
Grandpa Nicholas
★ 5.8
1998
Will & GraceTV
James Earl Jones • 1 episodes
★ 6.9
1998
The Lion King II: Simba's PrideFilm
Mufasa (voice)
★ 6.9
1998
MerlinTV
Rock of Ages • 2 episodes
★ 6.9
1998
Primary ColorsFilm
CNN Voiceover (voice)
★ 6.2
1997
Stargate SG-1TV
Unas (Voice) • 1 episodes
★ 8.3
1997
Casper: A Spirited BeginningFilm
Kibosh (voice)
★ 5.4
1997
Gang RelatedFilm
Arthur Baylor
★ 6.4
1997
The Second Civil WarFilm
Jim Kalla
★ 6.1
1997
What the Deaf Man HeardFilm
Archibald Thacker
★ 6.4
1997
Good LuckFilm
James Bing
★ 4.9
1997
AloneFilm
Grey
★ 6.7
1997
Sports on the Silver ScreenFilm
Self (archive footage)
★ 9.0
1997
Star Wars: The Magic & the MysteryFilm
Self
★ 8.0
1997
Afro PromoFilm
Self (archive footage)
★ 8.0
1997
Hitler's Forgotten VictimsFilm
Narrator (voice) (DVD version)
★ 10.0
1996
3rd Rock from the SunTV
Narrator (voice) (uncredited) • 19 episodes
★ 7.5
1996
Looking for RichardFilm
Self - Interviewee
★ 6.8
1996
A Family ThingFilm
Ray Murdock
★ 6.6
1996
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' ManigaultFilm
Dr. McDuffie
★ 7.1
1996
TimepieceFilm
Lawrence
★ 7.0
1996
CorwinFilm
Self
★ 5.0
1995
Judge DreddFilm
Narrator (uncredited)
★ 5.9
1995
Jefferson in ParisFilm
Madison Hemings
★ 5.1
1995
Cry, the Beloved CountryFilm
Rev. Stephen Kumalo
★ 6.8
1995
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildTV
King Dakkar (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 6.3
1995
The Making of 'Jurassic Park'Film
Host
★ 7.3
1995
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American MoviesFilm
Self
★ 8.0
1995
People: A Musical CelebrationFilm
The Storyteller (voice)
★ 6.6
1995
Under One RoofTV
Neb Langston • 6 episodes
★ 9.0
1995
Circle of Life: An Environmental FableFilm
Mufasa
★ 7.0
1995
Signs and WondersTV
Diamond • 4 episodes
★ 7.0
1995
Who's in Rabbit's House?Film
Narrator (voice)
1994
The Lion KingFilm
Mufasa (voice)
★ 8.3
1994
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final InsultFilm
James Earl Jones (uncredited)
★ 6.5
1994
Touched by an AngelTV
The Angel of Angels • 1 episodes
★ 7.2
1994
Clear and Present DangerFilm
Admiral James Greer
★ 6.6
1994
Clean SlateFilm
John Dolby
★ 5.7
1994
Africa: The SerengetiFilm
Narrator
★ 7.0
1994
The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost ClassicsFilm
Host
★ 6.8
1994
The Vernon Johns StoryFilm
Vernon Johns
★ 8.5
1994
The Making of the Lion KingFilm
Self
★ 8.7
1994
Confessions: Two Faces of EvilFilm
Charles Lloyd
★ 5.4
1994
Bah, Humbug!: The Story of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'Film
Narrator
★ 6.5
1994
Gangs: Turning the CornerFilm
Self
1993
FrasierTV
Norman Royster • 1 episodes
★ 7.7
1993
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanTV
Franklin Stern • 1 episodes
★ 6.9
1993
Homicide: Life on the StreetTV
Felix Wilson • 3 episodes
★ 8.1
1993
The SandlotFilm
Mr. Mertle
★ 7.6
1993
SommersbyFilm
Judge Barry Conrad Issacs
★ 6.4
1993
The Meteor ManFilm
Earnest Moses
★ 5.8
1993
Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short FilmsFilm
Self (voice) (uncredited)
★ 8.2
1993
Excessive ForceFilm
Jake
★ 4.9
1993
DreamriderFilm
Bill Perry
★ 7.2
1993
HallelujahFilm
Old Man Taylor
★ 6.5
1993
Percy & ThunderFilm
Percy Banks
★ 8.0
1992
Patriot GamesFilm
Adm. James Greer
★ 6.7
1992
SneakersFilm
Mr. Bernard Abbott
★ 6.9
1992
Picket FencesTV
Bryant Thomas • 1 episodes
★ 7.4
1992
LincolnFilm
Narrator (voice)
★ 7.3
1992
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime StoriesTV
Narrator (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 9.5
1992
The JFK ConspiracyFilm
Self - Host
★ 7.3
1991
True IdentityFilm
James Earl Jones
★ 5.6
1991
ConvictsFilm
Ben Johnson
★ 5.7
1991
ScorchersFilm
Bear
★ 4.4
1991
Pros and ConsTV
Gabriel Bird • 12 episodes
★ 6.3
1991
When It Was a GameFilm
(voice)
★ 10.0
1991
Visitors from the UnknownFilm
Narrator (voice)
★ 6.0
1991
Portrait of Castro's CubaFilm
Host/Narrator
1990
Law & OrderTV
Defense Attorney Horace McCoy • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
1990
The Hunt for Red OctoberFilm
Vice ADM James Greer
★ 7.4
1990
The AmbulanceFilm
Lt. Spencer
★ 6.0
1990
By Dawn's Early LightFilm
Alice
★ 6.5
1990
Grim Prairie TalesFilm
Morrison
★ 5.8
1990
Gabriel's FireTV
Gabriel Bird • 22 episodes
★ 6.9
1990
Heat WaveFilm
Junius Johnson
★ 6.8
1990
TerrorgramFilm
Retribution (voice)
★ 4.5
1990
Ivory HuntersFilm
Inspector Nkuru
★ 4.9
1990
Teach 109Film
Dr. Winston
★ 8.0
1990
Last Flight OutFilm
Al Topping
1989
The SimpsonsTV
Narrator (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 8.0
1989
The SimpsonsTV
Moving Man / Serak the Preparer / Narrator (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 8.0
1989
The SimpsonsTV
Maggie Simpson (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 8.0
1989
Field of DreamsFilm
Terrence Mann
★ 7.1
1989
Best of the BestFilm
Frank Couzo
★ 6.5
1989
Three FugitivesFilm
Dugan
★ 6.7
1989
Long Ago and Far AwayTV
Host • 35 episodes
★ 8.0
1989
The Hunting of the SnarkFilm
Narrator (voice)
★ 9.0
1989
11-22-63: The Day the Nation CriedFilm
Narrator
★ 8.0
1989
Stories to Remember: Noah's ArkFilm
Narrator
★ 5.5
1988
Garfield and FriendsTV
Diablo • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
1988
Coming to AmericaFilm
King Jaffe Joffer
★ 6.9
1988
Michael Jackson: The Legend ContinuesFilm
Narrator (voice)
★ 7.6
1987
MatewanFilm
'Few Clothes' Johnson
★ 7.4
1987
Gardens of StoneFilm
Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson
★ 6.2
1987
Pinocchio and the Emperor of the NightFilm
Emperor of the Night (voice)
★ 5.6
1987
MathnetTV
Chief Thad Green (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
1987
MathnetTV
Chief Thad Green • 3 episodes
★ 7.0
1987
MathnetTV
Chief Thad Greene • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
1987
A House DividedFilm
1986
L.A. LawTV
Lee Atkins • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
1986
Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of GoldFilm
Umslopogaas
★ 4.9
1986
Soul ManFilm
Professor Banks
★ 5.2
1986
My Little GirlFilm
Ike Bailey
★ 4.6
1986
Aladdin and His Wonderful LampFilm
Genie / Narrator
★ 6.0
1986
The Lone Star KidFilm
Holmes
★ 6.3
1985
City LimitsFilm
Albert
★ 2.8
1985
The Atlanta Child MurdersTV
Major Walker • 2 episodes
★ 5.8
1985
Night of 100 Stars IIFilm
Self
★ 6.8
1985
Me & MomTV
★ 6.0
1985
Visual Pathfinders: Robert Abel & AssociatesFilm
1985
MosesFilm
Pharaoh
1984
Highway to HeavenTV
Gabe Wilson • 1 episodes
★ 7.4
1984
CBS Schoolbreak SpecialTV
Detective Robb • 1 episodes
★ 5.5
1984
The Vegas Strip WarFilm
Jack Madrid
★ 4.0
1984
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's EarsFilm
Narrator
1983
Return of the JediFilm
Darth Vader (voice)
★ 7.9
1983
Reading RainbowTV
Self - Narrator (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 8.4
1982
Conan the BarbarianFilm
Thulsa Doom
★ 6.8
1982
The Flight of DragonsFilm
Ommadon (voice)
★ 6.8
1982
American PlayhouseTV
Dr. Winston (segment 'Teach 109') • 1 episodes
★ 6.6
1982
American PlayhouseTV
Old Man Taylor • 1 episodes
★ 6.6
1982
Faerie Tale TheatreTV
Genie / Narrator (voice) • 1 episodes
★ 8.1
1982
Blood TideFilm
Frye
★ 5.1
1982
Night of 100 StarsFilm
Self
★ 5.8
1982
Amy and the AngelFilm
Gabriel
★ 6.7
1981
The Bushido BladeFilm
The Prisoner
★ 5.3
1981
The CreationFilm
Narrator (voice)
★ 6.9
1981
Beauty and the BeastFilm
Narrator (voice)
★ 4.0
1981
God's TrombonesFilm
Narrator (voice)
1981
There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball LeaguesFilm
himself, voice
1981
Golden Book Video - Beauty and the BeastFilm
Narrator (voice)
1980
The Empire Strikes BackFilm
Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
★ 8.4
1980
Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim JonesTV
Father Divine • 2 episodes
★ 7.3
1980
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love StoryFilm
Dane Oliver
1980
The Me Nobody KnowsFilm
Self
1979
Roots: The Next GenerationsTV
Alex Haley • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
1979
ParisTV
Woody Paris • 13 episodes
★ 6.5
1979
Paul RobesonFilm
Paul Robeson
★ 8.0
1979
A Walking Tour of Sesame StreetFilm
Self - Host
1978
The Star Wars Holiday SpecialFilm
Darth Vader (voice)
★ 3.4
1978
The Kennedy Center HonorsTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 7.4
1978
The Magic of David CopperfieldTV
★ 7.0
1978
Black Theatre: The Making of a MovementFilm
Self
★ 9.0
1978
The Story of the Faithful WookieeFilm
Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
★ 4.0
1977
Star WarsFilm
Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
★ 8.2
1977
Jesus of NazarethTV
Balthazar • 4 episodes
★ 7.8
1977
Exorcist II: The HereticFilm
Older Kokumo
★ 4.5
1977
The Last Remake of Beau GesteFilm
Sheikh
★ 5.7
1977
The Making of Star WarsFilm
Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
★ 7.1
1977
A Piece of the ActionFilm
Joshua Burke
★ 5.8
1977
The GreatestFilm
Malcolm X
★ 5.7
1977
The Greatest Thing That Almost HappenedFilm
Morris Bird, Jr.
★ 7.0
1976
SwashbucklerFilm
Nick Debrett
★ 6.2
1976
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor KingsFilm
Leon
★ 6.1
1976
The River NigerFilm
Johnny Williams
★ 6.7
1975
The UFO IncidentFilm
Barney Hill
★ 6.5
1975
Deadly HeroFilm
Rabbit Shazam
★ 5.8
1975
Vegetable SoupTV
Long John Spoilsport • 57 episodes
★ 8.0
1974
ClaudineFilm
Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall
★ 7.1
1974
Dinah!TV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
1974
The CayFilm
Timothy
★ 6.5
1974
King LearFilm
King Lear
★ 9.0
1973
The American Film Institute Salute to ...TV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 6.3
1973
Black OmnibusTV
Self - Host • 13 episodes
★ 9.0
1972
Malcolm XFilm
Biographical Narration (voice)
★ 6.7
1972
The ManFilm
Douglass Dilman
★ 6.5
1971
Great PerformancesTV
King Lear • 1 episodes
★ 6.1
1971
Martin Luther King, Jr.: Legacy of a DreamFilm
Narrator
★ 8.0
1970
The Great White HopeFilm
Jack Jefferson
★ 6.3
1970
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to MemphisFilm
Self (archive footage)
★ 7.4
1970
End of the RoadFilm
Doctor D
★ 5.1
1969
Sesame StreetTV
★ 7.1
1968
The Dick Cavett ShowTV
Self - Guest • 2 episodes
★ 6.8
1967
The ComediansFilm
Dr. Magiot
★ 6.1
1966
TarzanTV
★ 6.9
1964
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombFilm
Lt. Lothar Zogg
★ 8.1
1963
East Side/West SideTV
★ 7.8
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonTV
Self • 6 episodes
★ 7.6
1962
The Merv Griffin ShowTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 6.8
1961
The Mike Douglas ShowTV
Self • 11 episodes
★ 5.8
1961
The Mike Douglas ShowTV
Self - Co-Host • 1 episodes
★ 5.8
1961
Dr. KildareTV
Dr. Lou Rush • 3 episodes
★ 5.7
1961
The DefendersTV
Lieutenant Andrews • 1 episodes
★ 6.3
1961
The DefendersTV
Reverend Harris Bonham • 1 episodes
★ 6.3
1956
Tony AwardsTV
Self - Winner / Performer • 2 episodes
1956
Tony AwardsTV
Self - Presenter • 9 episodes
1956
Tony AwardsTV
Self (archive footage) • 1 episodes
1956
Tony AwardsTV
Self - Nominee / Presenter • 1 episodes
1956
Tony AwardsTV
Self - Nominee • 1 episodes
1956
Tony AwardsTV
Self - Winner • 1 episodes
1951
Hallmark Hall of FameTV
Archibald Thacker • 1 episodes
★ 8.8
1948
Lamp Unto My FeetTV
★ 9.0
1944
Golden Globe AwardsTV
Self - Nominee / Presenter • 1 episodes
★ 7.0

Known For

The Lion King

The Lion King

Coming to America

The Hunt for Red October

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

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Fan Club

From Nerdspin

Filmography