Person

James Earl Jones

Acting · 1931–2024 · 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

Filmography

2025Indiana Jones Adventure | Disneyland ResortMara (voice)
2024Mufasa: The Lion KingIn Memory Of
2024BET News & ET Present James Earl Jones: Life and LegacySelf (archive footage)
2024Butterfly in the SkyGuest Narrator (archive footage)
2022Obi-Wan KenobiDarth Vader (voice)
2021Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame StreetSelf (archive footage)
2021Coming 2 AmericaKing Jaffe Joffer
2019Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerDarth Vader (voice)
2019The Movies That Made UsSelf (archive footage)
2019On BroadwaySelf (archive footage)
2019Raúl Juliá: The World’s a StageSelf
2019The Lion KingMufasa (voice)
2019The Space: Theatre of SurvivalNarrator
2019Words from a BearSelf
2018Warning ShotPendleton
2017The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride LandsMufasa (voice)
2016Rogue One: A Star Wars StoryDarth Vader (voice)
2016God Bless You, Mr RosewaterKilgore Trout
2016The Lion Guard: Return of the RoarMufasa (voice)
2015Driving Miss DaisyHoke Colburn
2015Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of LothalDarth Vader (voice)
2015August Wilson: The Ground on Which I StandSelf
2014Star Wars RebelsDarth Vader (voice)
2014Star Wars Rebels: Spark of RebellionDarth Vader (voice)
2014The Angriest Man in BrooklynRuben
2013Gimme ShelterFrank McCarthy
2013Muse of FireSelf
2013BlackfishSelf (archive footage)
2013MiliusSelf
2012An Amazing Time: A Conversation About End of the RoadSelf
2012Joe Papp in Five ActsSelf
2011Strange Septembers: The Hill Abduction & the Exeter EncounterHimself
2010Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space OdysseyAdmiral (voice)
2009Jack and the BeanstalkThe Giant (voice)
2009Waking Sleeping BeautySelf (archive footage)
2008Welcome Home Roscoe JenkinsPapa Jenkins
2007EarthNarrator (voice)
2007The Big Bang TheoryJames Earl Jones
2007Our Paul: Remembering Paul RobesonSelf
2007John, Paul, George and BenNarrator
2006Searching for OrsonSelf
2006The One ShowSelf - Guest
2006ClickNarrator of Michael's Past (voice) (uncredited)
2006The Best of The Tony Awards: The PlaysJack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope") / Troy Maxson (segment "Fences")
2006Scary Movie 4Narrator (uncredited)
2006The BenchwarmersDarth Vader (voice)
2006The Trail Of Tears: Cherokee LegacyNarrator
2005Hollywood's Greatest VillainsSelf
2005The Sandlot 2Mr. Mertle
2005The Reading RoomWilliam
2005Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the SithDarth Vader (voice - uncredited)
2005RobotsVoice Box at Hardware Store (voice)
2005By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'Narrator
2004HouseDibala
2004No Fighting in the War Room Or: 'Dr Strangelove' and the Nuclear ThreatSelf
2004Nine Dog ChristmasStoryteller (voice)
2004Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars TrilogySelf
2004The Story of Star WarsDarth Vader (archive footage)
2004Black Indians: An American StoryNarrator
2003The Simpsons: Treehouse of HorrorMaggie Simpson (voice)
2003Two and a Half MenJames Earl Jones
2003The Great YearNarrator
2003Beneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October'Self
2002EverwoodWill Cleveland
2002Fredericksburg: A Documentary FilmNarrator
2001Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The WorldSelf
2001Feast of All SaintsOlder Marcel
2001Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third StreetMister (voice)
2001According to JimRoyal Flush Voice (voice)
2001Finder's FeeAvery Phillips
2001Disney's American LegendsNarrator
2000Antietam: A Documentary FilmNarrator
2000Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'Self
2000Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'Self - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg'
2000The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to StrangeloveSelf
2000Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
2000Fantasia 2000Self - Host
1999Santa and PeteGrandpa Nicholas
1999The Annihilation of FishFish
1999Undercover AngelThe Judge
1999On the Q.T.Leo
1999Summer's EndDr. William 'Bill' Blakely
1999Our Friend, MartinDaddy King (voice)
1998The Lion King II: Simba's PrideMufasa (voice)
1998Will & GraceJames Earl Jones
1998MerlinRock of Ages
1998Primary ColorsCNN Voiceover (voice)
1997AloneGrey
1997The Second Civil WarJim Kalla
1997What the Deaf Man HeardArchibald Thacker
1997Gang RelatedArthur Baylor
1997Hitler's Forgotten VictimsNarrator (voice) (DVD version)
1997Casper: A Spirited BeginningKibosh (voice)
1997Stargate SG-1Unas (Voice)
1997Sports on the Silver ScreenSelf (archive footage)
1997Good LuckJames Bing
1997Star Wars: The Magic & the MysterySelf
1997Afro PromoSelf (archive footage)
1996TimepieceLawrence
1996Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' ManigaultDr. McDuffie
1996Looking for RichardSelf - Interviewee
1996CorwinSelf
1996A Family ThingRay Murdock
19963rd Rock from the SunNarrator (voice) (uncredited)
1995Cry, the Beloved CountryRev. Stephen Kumalo
1995Who's in Rabbit's House?Narrator (voice)
1995Judge DreddNarrator (uncredited)
1995The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American MoviesSelf
1995The Making of 'Jurassic Park'Host
1995Jefferson in ParisMadison Hemings
1995Under One RoofNeb Langston
1995Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildKing Dakkar (voice)
1995Circle of Life: An Environmental FableMufasa
1995Signs and WondersDiamond
1995People: A Musical CelebrationThe Storyteller (voice)
1994Bah, Humbug!: The Story of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'Narrator
1994Touched by an AngelThe Angel of Angels
1994Clear and Present DangerAdmiral James Greer
1994The Making of the Lion KingSelf
1994The Lion KingMufasa (voice)
1994The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost ClassicsHost
1994Clean SlateJohn Dolby
1994Africa: The SerengetiNarrator
1994Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final InsultJames Earl Jones (uncredited)
1994Gangs: Turning the CornerSelf
1994Confessions: Two Faces of EvilCharles Lloyd
1994The Vernon Johns StoryVernon Johns
1993HallelujahOld Man Taylor
1993Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short FilmsSelf (voice) (uncredited)
1993FrasierNorman Royster
1993Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanFranklin Stern
1993Percy & ThunderPercy Banks
1993The Meteor ManEarnest Moses
1993DreamriderBill Perry
1993Excessive ForceJake
1993The SandlotMr. Mertle
1993SommersbyJudge Barry Conrad Issacs
1993Homicide: Life on the StreetFelix Wilson
1992LincolnNarrator (voice)
1992Picket FencesBryant Thomas
1992SneakersMr. Bernard Abbott
1992Patriot GamesAdm. James Greer
1992Shelley Duvall's Bedtime StoriesNarrator (voice)
1992The JFK ConspiracySelf - Host
1991Pros and ConsGabriel Bird
1991True IdentityJames Earl Jones
1991When It Was a Game(voice)
1991ScorchersBear
1991Portrait of Castro's CubaHost/Narrator
1991Visitors from the UnknownNarrator (voice)
1991ConvictsBen Johnson
1990Grim Prairie TalesMorrison
1990Law & OrderDefense Attorney Horace McCoy
1990Gabriel's FireGabriel Bird
1990Ivory HuntersInspector Nkuru
1990Heat WaveJunius Johnson
1990Last Flight OutAl Topping
1990By Dawn's Early LightAlice
1990The AmbulanceLt. Spencer
1990The Hunt for Red OctoberVice ADM James Greer
1990Teach 109Dr. Winston
1990TerrorgramRetribution (voice)
1989The SimpsonsNarrator (voice)
198911-22-63: The Day the Nation CriedNarrator
1989Best of the BestFrank Couzo
1989Field of DreamsTerrence Mann
1989Long Ago and Far AwayHost
1989Three FugitivesDugan
1989The Hunting of the SnarkNarrator (voice)
1989Stories to Remember: Noah's ArkNarrator
1988Garfield and FriendsDiablo
1988Coming to AmericaKing Jaffe Joffer
1988Michael Jackson: The Legend ContinuesNarrator (voice)
1987Matewan'Few Clothes' Johnson
1987Pinocchio and the Emperor of the NightEmperor of the Night (voice)
1987Gardens of StoneSgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson
1987A House Divided
1987MathnetChief Thad Green (voice)
1986Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of GoldUmslopogaas
1986Soul ManProfessor Banks
1986L.A. LawLee Atkins
1986My Little GirlIke Bailey
1986Aladdin and His Wonderful LampGenie / Narrator
1986The Lone Star KidHolmes
1985MosesPharaoh
1985City LimitsAlbert
1985Me & Mom
1985Night of 100 Stars IISelf
1985The Atlanta Child MurdersMajor Walker
1985Visual Pathfinders: Robert Abel & Associates
1984The Vegas Strip WarJack Madrid
1984Highway to HeavenGabe Wilson
1984CBS Schoolbreak SpecialDetective Robb
1984Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's EarsNarrator
1983Reading RainbowSelf - Narrator (voice)
1983Return of the JediDarth Vader (voice)
1982Blood TideFrye
1982Amy and the AngelGabriel
1982Faerie Tale TheatreGenie / Narrator (voice)
1982The Flight of DragonsOmmadon (voice)
1982Conan the BarbarianThulsa Doom
1982Night of 100 StarsSelf
1982American PlayhouseDr. Winston (segment 'Teach 109')
1981Golden Book Video - Beauty and the BeastNarrator (voice)
1981The CreationNarrator (voice)
1981The Bushido BladeThe Prisoner
1981There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagueshimself, voice
1981Beauty and the BeastNarrator (voice)
1981God's TrombonesNarrator (voice)
1980The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love StoryDane Oliver
1980The Empire Strikes BackDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
1980The Me Nobody KnowsSelf
1980Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim JonesFather Divine
1979ParisWoody Paris
1979A Walking Tour of Sesame StreetSelf - Host
1979Roots: The Next GenerationsAlex Haley
1979Paul RobesonPaul Robeson
1978Black Theatre: The Making of a MovementSelf
1978The Kennedy Center HonorsSelf
1978The Star Wars Holiday SpecialDarth Vader (voice)
1978The Magic of David Copperfield
1977The Greatest Thing That Almost HappenedMorris Bird, Jr.
1977A Piece of the ActionJoshua Burke
1977The Making of Star WarsDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
1977Exorcist II: The HereticOlder Kokumo
1977The Last Remake of Beau GesteSheikh
1977Star WarsDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
1977The GreatestMalcolm X
1977Jesus of NazarethBalthazar
1976SwashbucklerNick Debrett
1976The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor KingsLeon
1976The River NigerJohnny Williams
1975Deadly HeroRabbit Shazam
1975The UFO IncidentBarney Hill
1975Vegetable SoupLong John Spoilsport
1974The CayTimothy
1974Dinah!Self
1974ClaudineRupert D. "Roop" Marshall
1974King LearKing Lear
1973The American Film Institute Salute to ...Self
1973Black OmnibusSelf - Host
1972The ManDouglass Dilman
1972Malcolm XBiographical Narration (voice)
1971Martin Luther King, Jr.: Legacy of a DreamNarrator
1971Great PerformancesKing Lear
1970The Great White HopeJack Jefferson
1970King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to MemphisSelf (archive footage)
1970End of the RoadDoctor D
1969Sesame Street
1968The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest
1967The ComediansDr. Magiot
1966Tarzan
1964Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombLt. Lothar Zogg
1963East Side/West Side
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf
1962The Merv Griffin ShowSelf
1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf
1961Dr. KildareDr. Lou Rush
1961The DefendersLieutenant Andrews
1956Tony AwardsSelf - Winner / Performer
1951Hallmark Hall of FameArchibald Thacker
1948Lamp Unto My Feet
1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee / Presenter
—Broadway: The Next GenerationSelf
—The Story of the Faithful WookieeDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)

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