James Earl Jones

Acting

James Earl Jones

Born 17 January 1931 · Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA · Died 9 September 2024 at 93

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

Highlights

The Empire Strikes Back1980 · Film · Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
Star Wars1977 · Film · Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
The Lion King1994 · Film · Mufasa (voice)
House2004 · Series · Dibala
Return of the Jedi1983 · Film · Darth Vader (voice)
The Big Bang Theory2007 · Series · James Earl Jones

Filmography

Movies

124 films

Indiana Jones Adventure | Disneyland Resort2025 · Film · Mara (voice)
Coming 2 America2021 · Film · King Jaffe Joffer
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker2019 · Film · Darth Vader (voice)
The Lion King2019 · Film · Mufasa (voice)
Warning Shot2018 · Film · Pendleton
The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride Lands2017 · Film · Mufasa (voice)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story2016 · Film · Darth Vader (voice)
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar2016 · Film · Mufasa (voice)
Driving Miss Daisy2015 · Film · Hoke Colburn
Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal2015 · Film · Darth Vader (voice)
Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion2014 · Film · Darth Vader (voice)
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn2014 · Film · Ruben
Gimme Shelter2013 · Film · Frank McCarthy
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey2010 · Film · Admiral (voice)
Jack and the Beanstalk2009 · Film · The Giant (voice)
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins2008 · Film · Papa Jenkins
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays2006 · Film · Jack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope") / Troy Maxson (segment "Fences")
The Benchwarmers2006 · Film · Darth Vader (voice)
The Sandlot 22005 · Film · Mr. Mertle
The Reading Room2005 · Film · William
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith2005 · Film · Darth Vader (voice - uncredited)
Robots2005 · Film · Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice)
Nine Dog Christmas2004 · Film · Storyteller (voice)
The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror2003 · Film · Maggie Simpson (voice)
Feast of All Saints2001 · Film · Older Marcel
Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street2001 · Film · Mister (voice)
Finder's Fee2001 · Film · Avery Phillips
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light2000 · Film
Santa and Pete1999 · Film · Grandpa Nicholas
The Annihilation of Fish1999 · Film · Fish
Undercover Angel1999 · Film · The Judge
On the Q.T.1999 · Film · Leo
Summer's End1999 · Film · Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely
Our Friend, Martin1999 · Film · Daddy King (voice)
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride1998 · Film · Mufasa (voice)
Primary Colors1998 · Film · CNN Voiceover (voice)
Alone1997 · Film · Grey
The Second Civil War1997 · Film · Jim Kalla
What the Deaf Man Heard1997 · Film · Archibald Thacker
Gang Related1997 · Film · Arthur Baylor
Casper: A Spirited Beginning1997 · Film · Kibosh (voice)
Good Luck1997 · Film · James Bing
Timepiece1996 · Film · Lawrence
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault1996 · Film · Dr. McDuffie
A Family Thing1996 · Film · Ray Murdock
Cry, the Beloved Country1995 · Film · Rev. Stephen Kumalo
Jefferson in Paris1995 · Film · Madison Hemings
Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable1995 · Film · Mufasa
People: A Musical Celebration1995 · Film · The Storyteller (voice)
Clear and Present Danger1994 · Film · Admiral James Greer
The Lion King1994 · Film · Mufasa (voice)
Clean Slate1994 · Film · John Dolby
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult1994 · Film · James Earl Jones (uncredited)
Confessions: Two Faces of Evil1994 · Film · Charles Lloyd
The Vernon Johns Story1994 · Film · Vernon Johns
Percy & Thunder1993 · Film · Percy Banks
The Meteor Man1993 · Film · Earnest Moses
Dreamrider1993 · Film · Bill Perry
Excessive Force1993 · Film · Jake
The Sandlot1993 · Film · Mr. Mertle
Sommersby1993 · Film · Judge Barry Conrad Issacs
Sneakers1992 · Film · Mr. Bernard Abbott
Patriot Games1992 · Film · Adm. James Greer
True Identity1991 · Film · James Earl Jones
When It Was a Game1991 · Film · (voice)
Scorchers1991 · Film · Bear
Convicts1991 · Film · Ben Johnson
Grim Prairie Tales1990 · Film · Morrison
Ivory Hunters1990 · Film · Inspector Nkuru
Heat Wave1990 · Film · Junius Johnson
Last Flight Out1990 · Film · Al Topping
By Dawn's Early Light1990 · Film · Alice
The Ambulance1990 · Film · Lt. Spencer
The Hunt for Red October1990 · Film · Vice ADM James Greer
Teach 1091990 · Film · Dr. Winston
Terrorgram1990 · Film · Retribution (voice)
Best of the Best1989 · Film · Frank Couzo
Field of Dreams1989 · Film · Terrence Mann
Three Fugitives1989 · Film · Dugan
Coming to America1988 · Film · King Jaffe Joffer
Matewan1987 · Film · 'Few Clothes' Johnson
Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night1987 · Film · Emperor of the Night (voice)
Gardens of Stone1987 · Film · Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson
Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold1986 · Film · Umslopogaas
Soul Man1986 · Film · Professor Banks
My Little Girl1986 · Film · Ike Bailey
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp1986 · Film · Genie / Narrator
The Lone Star Kid1986 · Film · Holmes
Moses1985 · Film · Pharaoh
City Limits1985 · Film · Albert
Visual Pathfinders: Robert Abel & Associates1985 · Film
The Vegas Strip War1984 · Film · Jack Madrid
Return of the Jedi1983 · Film · Darth Vader (voice)
Blood Tide1982 · Film · Frye
Amy and the Angel1982 · Film · Gabriel
The Flight of Dragons1982 · Film · Ommadon (voice)
Conan the Barbarian1982 · Film · Thulsa Doom
The Bushido Blade1981 · Film · The Prisoner
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story1980 · Film · Dane Oliver
The Empire Strikes Back1980 · Film · Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
Paul Robeson1979 · Film · Paul Robeson
The Star Wars Holiday Special1978 · Film · Darth Vader (voice)
The Story of the Faithful Wookiee1978 · Film · Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened1977 · Film · Morris Bird, Jr.
A Piece of the Action1977 · Film · Joshua Burke
The Making of Star Wars1977 · Film · Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
Exorcist II: The Heretic1977 · Film · Older Kokumo
The Last Remake of Beau Geste1977 · Film · Sheikh
Star Wars1977 · Film · Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
The Greatest1977 · Film · Malcolm X
Swashbuckler1976 · Film · Nick Debrett
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings1976 · Film · Leon
The River Niger1976 · Film · Johnny Williams
Deadly Hero1975 · Film · Rabbit Shazam
The UFO Incident1975 · Film · Barney Hill
The Cay1974 · Film · Timothy
Claudine1974 · Film · Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall
King Lear1974 · Film · King Lear
The Man1972 · Film · Douglass Dilman
Malcolm X1972 · Film · Biographical Narration (voice)
The Great White Hope1970 · Film · Jack Jefferson
End of the Road1970 · Film · Doctor D
The Comedians1967 · Film · Dr. Magiot
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb1964 · Film · Lt. Lothar Zogg

Filmography

Series

42 shows

Obi-Wan Kenobi2022 · Series · Darth Vader (voice)
Star Wars Rebels2014 · Series · Darth Vader (voice)
The Big Bang Theory2007 · Series · James Earl Jones
House2004 · Series · Dibala
Two and a Half Men2003 · Series · James Earl Jones
Everwood2002 · Series · Will Cleveland
According to Jim2001 · Series · Royal Flush Voice (voice)
Will & Grace1998 · Series · James Earl Jones
Merlin1998 · Series · Rock of Ages
Stargate SG-11997 · Series · Unas (Voice)
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child1995 · Series · King Dakkar (voice)
Signs and Wonders1995 · Series · Diamond
Touched by an Angel1994 · Series · The Angel of Angels
Frasier1993 · Series · Norman Royster
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman1993 · Series · Franklin Stern
Homicide: Life on the Street1993 · Series · Felix Wilson
Picket Fences1992 · Series · Bryant Thomas
Pros and Cons1991 · Series · Gabriel Bird
Law & Order1990 · Series · Defense Attorney Horace McCoy
Gabriel's Fire1990 · Series · Gabriel Bird
The Simpsons1989 · Series · Moving Man / Serak the Preparer / Narrator (voice)
Garfield and Friends1988 · Series · Diablo
Mathnet1987 · Series · Chief Thad Green
L.A. Law1986 · Series · Lee Atkins
The Atlanta Child Murders1985 · Series · Major Walker
Highway to Heaven1984 · Series · Gabe Wilson
CBS Schoolbreak Special1984 · Series · Detective Robb
Faerie Tale Theatre1982 · Series · Genie / Narrator (voice)
American Playhouse1982 · Series · Dr. Winston (segment 'Teach 109')
Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones1980 · Series · Father Divine
Paris1979 · Series · Woody Paris
Roots: The Next Generations1979 · Series · Alex Haley
The Magic of David Copperfield1978 · Series
Jesus of Nazareth1977 · Series · Balthazar
Vegetable Soup1975 · Series · Long John Spoilsport
Great Performances1971 · Series · King Lear
Sesame Street1969 · Series
Tarzan1966 · Series
East Side/West Side1963 · Series
Dr. Kildare1961 · Series · Dr. Lou Rush
The Defenders1961 · Series · Lieutenant Andrews
Lamp Unto My Feet1948 · Series