James Earl Jones
Acting
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.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring James Earl Jones
Star Wars
1977
Filmography
Acting (205)
2025
Indiana Jones Adventure | Disneyland Resortas Mara (voice)
9.0
2024
BET News & ET Present James Earl Jones: Life and Legacyas Self (archive footage)
2024
Butterfly in the Skyas Guest Narrator (archive footage)
8.3
2021
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Streetas Self (archive footage)
7.4
2021
Coming 2 Americaas King Jaffe Joffer
6.3
2019
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkeras Darth Vader (voice)
6.2
2019
On Broadwayas Self (archive footage)
8.7
2019
2019
The Lion Kingas Mufasa (voice)
7.1
2019
The Space: Theatre of Survivalas Narrator
2019
Words from a Bearas Self
2018
Warning Shotas Pendleton
5.1
2017
The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride Landsas Mufasa (voice)
2.0
2016
Rogue One: A Star Wars Storyas Darth Vader (voice)
7.5
2016
God Bless You, Mr Rosewateras Kilgore Trout
9.0
2016
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roaras Mufasa (voice)
6.7
2015
Driving Miss Daisyas Hoke Colburn
8.0
2015
Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothalas Darth Vader (voice)
7.9
2015
2014
Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellionas Darth Vader (voice)
7.3
2014
The Angriest Man in Brooklynas Ruben
5.6
2013
Gimme Shelteras Frank McCarthy
6.6
2013
Muse of Fireas Self
6.5
2013
Blackfishas Self (archive footage)
7.9
2013
Miliusas Self
7.1
6.0
2012
Joe Papp in Five Actsas Self
4.5
2010
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odysseyas Admiral (voice)
6.0
2009
Jack and the Beanstalkas The Giant (voice)
5.2
2009
Waking Sleeping Beautyas Self (archive footage)
7.2
2008
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkinsas Papa Jenkins
6.0
2007
Earthas Narrator (voice)
7.7
2007
2007
John, Paul, George and Benas Narrator
5.0
2006
Searching for Orsonas Self
5.5
2006
Clickas Narrator of Michael's Past (voice) (uncredited)
6.3
2006
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Playsas Jack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope") / Troy Maxson (segment "Fences")
2006
Scary Movie 4as Narrator (uncredited)
5.5
2006
The Benchwarmersas Darth Vader (voice)
5.9
2006
The Trail Of Tears: Cherokee Legacyas Narrator
4.5
2005
9.5
2005
The Sandlot 2as Mr. Mertle
5.9
2005
The Reading Roomas William
7.5
2005
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sithas Darth Vader (voice - uncredited)
7.5
2005
Robotsas Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice)
6.5
2005
6.0
2004
Nine Dog Christmasas Storyteller (voice)
5.6
7.6
2004
The Story of Star Warsas Darth Vader (archive footage)
7.2
2004
Black Indians: An American Storyas Narrator
6.4
2003
The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horroras Maggie Simpson (voice)
6.0
2003
The Great Yearas Narrator
9.0
2002
Fredericksburg: A Documentary Filmas Narrator
2001
7.6
2001
Feast of All Saintsas Older Marcel
4.8
2001
Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Streetas Mister (voice)
6.3
2001
Finder's Feeas Avery Phillips
6.2
2001
Disney's American Legendsas Narrator
7.1
2000
Antietam: A Documentary Filmas Narrator
9.0
2000
6.8
2000
Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'as Self - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg'
5.9
2000
Fantasia 2000as Self - Host
7.0
2000
Ennis' Giftas Self
1999
Santa and Peteas Grandpa Nicholas
5.8
1999
The Annihilation of Fishas Fish
6.3
1999
Undercover Angelas The Judge
6.9
1999
On the Q.T.as Leo
7.1
1999
Summer's Endas Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely
7.6
1999
Our Friend, Martinas Daddy King (voice)
7.1
1998
The Lion King II: Simba's Prideas Mufasa (voice)
6.9
1998
Primary Colorsas CNN Voiceover (voice)
6.2
1997
Aloneas Grey
6.7
1997
The Second Civil Waras Jim Kalla
6.1
1997
What the Deaf Man Heardas Archibald Thacker
6.4
1997
Gang Relatedas Arthur Baylor
6.4
1997
Hitler's Forgotten Victimsas Narrator (voice) (DVD version)
10.0
1997
Casper: A Spirited Beginningas Kibosh (voice)
5.4
1997
Sports on the Silver Screenas Self (archive footage)
9.0
1997
Good Luckas James Bing
4.9
1997
8.0
1997
Afro Promoas Self (archive footage)
8.0
1996
Timepieceas Lawrence
7.0
1996
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigaultas Dr. McDuffie
7.1
1996
Looking for Richardas Self - Interviewee
6.8
1996
Corwinas Self
5.0
1996
A Family Thingas Ray Murdock
6.6
1995
Cry, the Beloved Countryas Rev. Stephen Kumalo
6.8
1995
Who's in Rabbit's House?as Narrator (voice)
1995
Judge Dreddas Narrator (uncredited)
5.8
8.0
1995
7.3
1995
Jefferson in Parisas Madison Hemings
5.1
1995
7.0
1995
People: A Musical Celebrationas The Storyteller (voice)
6.6
6.5
1994
Clear and Present Dangeras Admiral James Greer
6.6
1994
The Making of the Lion Kingas Self
8.7
1994
The Lion Kingas Mufasa (voice)
8.3
6.8
1994
Clean Slateas John Dolby
5.8
1994
Africa: The Serengetias Narrator
7.0
1994
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insultas James Earl Jones (uncredited)
6.5
1994
Gangs: Turning the Corneras Self
1994
Confessions: Two Faces of Evilas Charles Lloyd
5.4
1994
The Vernon Johns Storyas Vernon Johns
8.5
1993
Hallelujahas Old Man Taylor
6.5
1993
Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short Filmsas Self (voice) (uncredited)
8.2
1993
Percy & Thunderas Percy Banks
8.0
1993
The Meteor Manas Earnest Moses
5.8
1993
Dreamrideras Bill Perry
7.2
1993
Excessive Forceas Jake
4.9
1993
The Sandlotas Mr. Mertle
7.6
1993
Sommersbyas Judge Barry Conrad Issacs
6.4
1992
Lincolnas Narrator (voice)
7.3
1992
Sneakersas Mr. Bernard Abbott
6.9
1992
Patriot Gamesas Adm. James Greer
6.7
1992
The JFK Conspiracyas Self - Host
7.3
1991
True Identityas James Earl Jones
5.6
1991
When It Was a Gameas (voice)
10.0
1991
Scorchersas Bear
4.4
1991
Portrait of Castro's Cubaas Host/Narrator
1991
Visitors from the Unknownas Narrator (voice)
6.0
1991
Convictsas Ben Johnson
5.7
1990
Grim Prairie Talesas Morrison
5.8
1990
Ivory Huntersas Inspector Nkuru
4.9
1990
Heat Waveas Junius Johnson
6.8
1990
Last Flight Outas Al Topping
1990
By Dawn's Early Lightas Alice
6.5
1990
The Ambulanceas Lt. Spencer
5.8
1990
The Hunt for Red Octoberas Vice ADM James Greer
7.4
1990
Teach 109as Dr. Winston
8.0
1990
Terrorgramas Retribution (voice)
4.5
1989
11-22-63: The Day the Nation Criedas Narrator
8.0
1989
Best of the Bestas Frank Couzo
6.5
1989
Field of Dreamsas Terrence Mann
7.1
1989
Three Fugitivesas Dugan
6.7
1989
The Hunting of the Snarkas Narrator (voice)
9.0
1989
Stories to Remember: Noah's Arkas Narrator
5.5
1988
Coming to Americaas King Jaffe Joffer
6.9
1988
Michael Jackson: The Legend Continuesas Narrator (voice)
7.6
1987
Matewanas 'Few Clothes' Johnson
7.4
1987
Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Nightas Emperor of the Night (voice)
5.6
1987
Gardens of Stoneas Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson
6.2
1987
1986
Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Goldas Umslopogaas
4.8
1986
Soul Manas Professor Banks
5.3
1986
My Little Girlas Ike Bailey
4.6
1986
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lampas Genie / Narrator
6.0
1986
The Lone Star Kidas Holmes
6.3
1985
Mosesas Pharaoh
1985
City Limitsas Albert
2.8
1985
Night of 100 Stars IIas Self
6.8
1984
The Vegas Strip Waras Jack Madrid
4.0
1984
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Earsas Narrator
1983
Return of the Jedias Darth Vader (voice)
7.9
1982
Blood Tideas Frye
5.1
1982
Amy and the Angelas Gabriel
6.7
1982
The Flight of Dragonsas Ommadon (voice)
6.8
1982
Conan the Barbarianas Thulsa Doom
6.8
1982
Night of 100 Starsas Self
5.8
1981
Golden Book Video - Beauty and the Beastas Narrator (voice)
1981
The Creationas Narrator (voice)
6.9
1981
The Bushido Bladeas The Prisoner
5.3
1981
1981
Beauty and the Beastas Narrator (voice)
4.0
1981
God's Trombonesas Narrator (voice)
1980
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Storyas Dane Oliver
1980
The Empire Strikes Backas Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
8.4
1980
The Me Nobody Knowsas Self
1979
A Walking Tour of Sesame Streetas Self - Host
1979
Paul Robesonas Paul Robeson
8.0
1978
9.0
1978
The Star Wars Holiday Specialas Darth Vader (voice)
3.4
1978
The Story of the Faithful Wookieeas Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
4.0
1977
The Greatest Thing That Almost Happenedas Morris Bird, Jr.
7.0
1977
A Piece of the Actionas Joshua Burke
5.8
1977
The Making of Star Warsas Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
7.1
1977
Exorcist II: The Hereticas Older Kokumo
4.5
1977
The Last Remake of Beau Gesteas Sheikh
5.7
1977
Star Warsas Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
8.2
1977
The Greatestas Malcolm X
5.7
1976
Swashbuckleras Nick Debrett
6.2
6.1
1976
The River Nigeras Johnny Williams
6.7
1975
Deadly Heroas Rabbit Shazam
5.8
1975
The UFO Incidentas Barney Hill
6.6
1974
The Cayas Timothy
6.5
1974
Claudineas Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall
7.1
1974
King Learas King Lear
9.0
1972
The Manas Douglass Dilman
6.5
1972
Malcolm Xas Biographical Narration (voice)
6.7
1971
Martin Luther King, Jr.: Legacy of a Dreamas Narrator
8.0
1970
The Great White Hopeas Jack Jefferson
6.3
1970
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphisas Self (archive footage)
7.3
1970
End of the Roadas Doctor D
5.1
1967
The Comediansas Dr. Magiot
6.1
1964
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bombas Lt. Lothar Zogg
8.1
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Production & Directing (1)
2024
Mufasa: The Lion KingIn Memory Of
7.3