JAMES EARL JONES
James Earl Jones
Gender: Male
Known for: Acting
Birthday: January 17, 1931
Deathday: September 9, 2024
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.
Filmography
Starring
Self (archive footage)
2024·
Butterfly in the SkyGuest Narrator (archive footage)
2022·
Obi-Wan KenobiDarth Vader (voice)
2021·
Coming 2 AmericaKing Jaffe Joffer
Self (archive footage)
Self (archive footage)
Darth Vader (voice)
Self
2019·
The Lion KingMufasa (voice)
2019·
Words from a BearSelf
Narrator
2019·
On BroadwaySelf (archive footage)
2018·
Warning ShotPendleton
Mufasa (voice)
Self
Darth Vader (voice)
Kilgore Trout
Mufasa (voice)
Darth Vader (voice)
2015·
Driving Miss DaisyHoke Colburn
2014·
Star Wars RebelsDarth Vader (voice)
Darth Vader (voice)
Ruben
2013·
Muse of FireSelf
2013·
MiliusSelf
2013·
BlackfishSelf (archive footage)
2013·
Gimme ShelterFrank McCarthy
Self
Admiral (voice)
Self (archive footage)
The Giant (voice)
Papa Jenkins
2007·
The Big Bang TheorySelf
Self
Narrator
2007·
EarthNarrator (voice)
2006·
The One ShowSelf - Guest
2006·
Searching for OrsonSelf
2006·
Scary Movie 4Narrator (uncredited)
Jack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope") / Troy Maxson (segment "Fences")
2006·
The BenchwarmersDarth Vader (voice)
2006·
ClickNarrator of Michael's Past (voice) (uncredited)
Self
2005·
RobotsVoice Box at Hardware Store (voice)
Darth Vader (voice - uncredited)
Narrator
2005·
The Sandlot 2Mr. Mertle
2005·
The Reading RoomWilliam
2004·
HouseDibala
Darth Vader (archive footage)
Narrator
2004·
Nine Dog ChristmasStoryteller (voice)
2003·
Two and a Half MenHimself
Maggie Simpson (voice)
2003·
The Great YearNarrator
2002·
EverwoodWill Cleveland
Narrator
2001·
According to JimRoyal Flush Voice (voice)
Mister (voice)
2001·
Feast of All SaintsOlder Marcel
Narrator
2001·
Finder's FeeAvery Phillips
Narrator
Self - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg'
2000·
Summer's EndDr. William 'Bill' Blakely
2000·
Fantasia 2000Self - Host
1999·
On the Q.T.Leo
Fish
1999·
Our Friend, MartinDaddy King (voice)
1999·
Santa and PeteJames Earl Jones
1999·
Undercover AngelThe Judge
1998·
MerlinRock of Ages
1998·
Will & GraceSelf
1998·
Primary ColorsCNN Voiceover (voice)
Mufasa (voice)
1997·
The Second Civil WarJim Kalla, Jim Kalla
1997·
Stargate SG-1Unas (Voice)
Kibosh (voice)
1997·
Afro PromoSelf (archive footage)
1997·
AloneGrey
Narrator (voice) (DVD version)
Self (archive footage)
Archibald Thacker
1997·
Gang RelatedArthur Baylor
Self
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1996·
CorwinSelf
1996·
Looking for RichardSelf - Interviewee
1996·
TimepieceLawrence
1996·
A Family ThingRay Murdock
Dr. McDuffie
King Dakkar (voice)
1995·
Signs and WondersDiamond
1995·
Under One RoofNeb Langston
1995·
Judge DreddNarrator (uncredited)
1995·
Jefferson in ParisMadison Hemings
Host
Narrator (voice)
The Storyteller (voice)
Rev. Stephen Kumalo
1994·
Touched by an AngelThe Angel of Angels
Self
Charles Lloyd
James Earl Jones (uncredited)
Vernon Johns
Self
1994·
Clean SlateJohn Dolby
Narrator
Admiral James Greer
1994·
The Lion KingMufasa (voice)
Franklin Stern
1993·
FrasierNorman Royster
1993·
HallelujahOld Man Taylor
1993·
Percy & ThunderPercy Banks
Self (voice) (uncredited)
1993·
Excessive ForceJake
1993·
The SandlotMr. Mertle
1993·
The Meteor ManEarnest Moses
1993·
DreamriderBill Perry
1993·
SommersbyJudge Barry Conrad Issacs
Narrator (Voice)
1992·
LincolnNarrator (voice)
1992·
Patriot GamesAdm. James Greer
1992·
SneakersMr. Bernard Abbott
1991·
Pros and ConsGabriel Bird
1991·
When It Was a Game(voice)
Host/Narrator
Narrator (voice)
1991·
True IdentityJames Earl Jones
1991·
ConvictsBen Johnson
1991·
ScorchersBear
1990·
Gabriel's FireGabriel Bird
1990·
Law & OrderDefense Attorney Horace McCoy
1990·
TerrorgramRetribution (voice)
1990·
Last Flight OutAl Topping
1990·
Teach 109Dr. Winston
1990·
Heat WaveJunius Johnson
1990·
Ivory HuntersInspector Nkuru
1990·
The AmbulanceLt. Spencer
1990·
Grim Prairie TalesMorrison
Alice
Vice ADM James Greer
1989·
The SimpsonsMaggie Simpson (voice), Moving Man / Serak the Preparer / Narrator (voice), Narrator (voice)
Host
Narrator (voice)
Narrator
Narrator (voice)
1989·
Best of the BestFrank Couzo
Narrator
1989·
Three FugitivesDugan
1989·
Field of DreamsTerrence Mann
Narrator (voice)
1988·
Coming to AmericaKing Jaffe Joffer
1987·
MathnetChief Thad Greene, Chief Thad Green, Chief Thad Green (voice)
1987·
A House DividedEmperor of the Night (voice)
1987·
Gardens of StoneSgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson
1987·
Matewan'Few Clothes' Johnson
1986·
L.A. LawLee Atkins
1986·
The Lone Star KidHolmes
Genie / Narrator
1986·
My Little GirlIke Bailey
Umslopogaas
1986·
Soul ManProfessor Banks
Major Walker
1985·
Me & Mom1985·
MosesPharaoh
Self
1985·
City LimitsAlbert
1984·
Highway to HeavenGabe Wilson
Detective Robb
Narrator
1984·
The Vegas Strip WarJack Madrid
1983·
Reading RainbowHimself - Narrator (voice)
1983·
Return of the JediDarth Vader (voice)
1982·
Faerie Tale TheatreGenie / Narrator (voice)
1982·
Night of 100 StarsSelf
1982·
Blood TideFrye
Ommadon (voice)
1982·
Conan the BarbarianThulsa Doom
1982·
Amy and the AngelGabriel
himself, voice
1981·
God's TrombonesHimself - Narrator (segment "The Creation")
1981·
The CreationNarrator (voice)
1981·
The Bushido BladeThe Prisoner
1981·
Beauty and the BeastNarrator (voice)
Father Divine
1980·
The Me Nobody KnowsSelf
Dane Oliver
Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
1979·
ParisWoody Paris
Alex Haley
Self - Host
1979·
Paul RobesonPaul Robeson
Self
Darth Vader (voice)
1977·
Jesus of NazarethBalthazar
Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
Morris Bird, Jr.
1977·
The GreatestMalcolm X
Older Kokumo
Sheikh
Joshua Burke
1977·
Star WarsDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
1976·
The River NigerJohnny Williams
1976·
SwashbucklerNick Debrett
1975·
Vegetable SoupLong John Spoilsport
1975·
The UFO IncidentBarney Hill
1975·
Deadly HeroRabbit Shazam
1974·
Dinah!Self
1974·
King LearKing Lear
1974·
The CayTimothy
1974·
ClaudineRupert D. "Roop" Marshall
1973·
Black OmnibusSelf - Host
1972·
Malcolm XBiographical Narration (voice)
1972·
The ManDouglass Dilman
1971·
Great PerformancesKing Lear
Narrator
Self (archive footage)
1970·
The Great White HopeJack Jefferson
1970·
End of the RoadDoctor D
1969·
Sesame Street1968·
The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest
1967·
The ComediansDr. Magiot
1966·
TarzanLt. Lothar Zogg
1963·
East Side/West SideSelf
Self - Co-Host, Self
1961·
The DefendersReverend Harris Bonham, Lieutenant Andrews
1961·
Dr. KildareDr. Lou Rush
1956·
Tony AwardsSelf - Winner/Performer, Self (archive footage), Self - Nominee/Presenter, Self - Nominee, Self - Winner, Self - Winner/ Performer, Self - Presenter
Archibald Thacker
1948·
Lamp Unto My Feet1944·
Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee/Presenter
Production
In Memory Of