James Earl Jones
Known for acting · Born 17 January 1931 · Died 9 September 2024 · aged 93 · Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA
266 credits
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
Conan the Barbarian
1982
The Lion King
1994
The Lion King
2019
Coming to America
1988
The Hunt for Red October
1990
3rd Rock from the Sun
1996
Field of Dreams
1989
Earth
2007
Best of the Best
1989
Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold
1986
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
2008
Fantasia 2000
2000
Acting (265)
2025Indiana Jones Adventure | Disneyland ResortMara (voice)Film
2024Butterfly in the SkyGuest Narrator (archive footage)Film
2024BET News & ET Present James Earl Jones: Life and LegacySelf (archive footage)Film
2022Obi-Wan KenobiDarth Vader (voice) · 4 episodesSeries
2021Coming 2 AmericaKing Jaffe JofferFilm
2021Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame StreetSelf (archive footage)Film
2019Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerDarth Vader (voice)Film
2019The Lion KingMufasa (voice)Film
2019The Movies That Made UsSelf (archive footage)Series
2019On BroadwaySelf (archive footage)Film
2019The Space: Theatre of SurvivalNarratorFilm
2019Words from a BearSelfFilm
2019Raúl Juliá: The World’s a StageSelfFilm
2018Warning ShotPendletonFilm
2017The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride LandsMufasa (voice)Film
2016Rogue One: A Star Wars StoryDarth Vader (voice)Film
2016The Lion Guard: Return of the RoarMufasa (voice)Film
2015Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of LothalDarth Vader (voice)Film
2015Driving Miss DaisyHoke ColburnFilm
2015August Wilson: The Ground on Which I StandSelfFilm
2014Star Wars RebelsDarth Vader (voice) · 2 episodesSeries
2014The Angriest Man in BrooklynRubenFilm
2014Star Wars Rebels: Spark of RebellionDarth Vader (voice)Film
2013BlackfishSelf (archive footage)Film
2013Gimme ShelterFrank McCarthyFilm
2013MiliusSelfFilm
2013Muse of FireSelfFilm
2012Joe Papp in Five ActsSelfFilm
2012An Amazing Time: A Conversation About End of the RoadSelfFilm
2011Strange Septembers: The Hill Abduction & the Exeter EncounterHimselfFilm
2010Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space OdysseyAdmiral (voice)Film
2009Waking Sleeping BeautySelf (archive footage)Film
2009Jack and the BeanstalkThe Giant (voice)Film
2008Welcome Home Roscoe JenkinsPapa JenkinsFilm
2007The Big Bang TheoryJames Earl JonesSeries
2007EarthNarrator (voice)Film
2007John, Paul, George and BenNarratorFilm
2007Our Paul: Remembering Paul RobesonSelfFilm
2006ClickNarrator of Michael's Past (voice) (uncredited)Film
2006Scary Movie 4Narrator (uncredited)Film
2006The BenchwarmersDarth Vader (voice)Film
2006The One ShowSelf - GuestSeries
2006Searching for OrsonSelfFilm
2006The Trail Of Tears: Cherokee LegacyNarratorFilm
2006The Best of The Tony Awards: The PlaysJack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope") / Troy Maxson (segment "Fences")Film
2005Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the SithDarth Vader (voice - uncredited)Film
2005RobotsVoice Box at Hardware Store (voice)Film
2005The Sandlot 2Mr. MertleFilm
2005The Reading RoomWilliamFilm
2005By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'NarratorFilm
2005Hollywood's Greatest VillainsSelfFilm
2004HouseDibalaSeries
2004Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars TrilogySelfFilm
2004The Story of Star WarsDarth Vader (archive footage)Film
2004Nine Dog ChristmasStoryteller (voice)Film
2004No Fighting in the War Room Or: 'Dr Strangelove' and the Nuclear ThreatSelfFilm
2004Black Indians: An American StoryNarratorFilm
2003Two and a Half MenJames Earl JonesSeries
2003The Simpsons: Treehouse of HorrorMaggie Simpson (voice)Film
2003Beneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October'SelfFilm
2003The Great YearNarratorFilm
2002EverwoodWill Cleveland · 3 episodesSeries
2002Fredericksburg: A Documentary FilmNarratorFilm
2001According to JimRoyal Flush Voice (voice)Series
2001Finder's FeeAvery PhillipsFilm
2001Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third StreetMister (voice)Film
2001Disney's American LegendsNarratorFilm
2001Feast of All SaintsOlder MarcelFilm
2001Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The WorldSelfFilm
2000Fantasia 2000Self - HostFilm
2000Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'Self - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg'Film
2000Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'SelfFilm
2000The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to StrangeloveSelfFilm
2000Sidney Poitier: One Bright LightFilm
2000Antietam: A Documentary FilmNarratorFilm
2000Ennis' GiftSelfFilm
1999Undercover AngelThe JudgeFilm
1999The Annihilation of FishFishFilm
1999Our Friend, MartinDaddy King (voice)Film
1999Summer's EndDr. William 'Bill' BlakelyFilm
1999On the Q.T.LeoFilm
1999Santa and PeteGrandpa NicholasFilm
1998The Lion King II: Simba's PrideMufasa (voice)Film
1998Will & GraceJames Earl JonesSeries
1998Primary ColorsCNN Voiceover (voice)Film
1998MerlinRock of Ages · 2 episodesSeries
1997Stargate SG-1Unas (Voice)Series
1997Casper: A Spirited BeginningKibosh (voice)Film
1997Gang RelatedArthur BaylorFilm
1997The Second Civil WarJim KallaFilm
1997What the Deaf Man HeardArchibald ThackerFilm
1997Good LuckJames BingFilm
1997AloneGreyFilm
1997Sports on the Silver ScreenSelf (archive footage)Film
1997Star Wars: The Magic & the MysterySelfFilm
1997Afro PromoSelf (archive footage)Film
1997Hitler's Forgotten VictimsNarrator (voice) (DVD version)Film
19963rd Rock from the SunNarrator (voice) (uncredited) · 19 episodesSeries
1996Looking for RichardSelf - IntervieweeFilm
1996A Family ThingRay MurdockFilm
1996Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' ManigaultDr. McDuffieFilm
1996TimepieceLawrenceFilm
1996CorwinSelfFilm
1995Judge DreddNarrator (uncredited)Film
1995Jefferson in ParisMadison HemingsFilm
1995Cry, the Beloved CountryRev. Stephen KumaloFilm
1995The Making of 'Jurassic Park'HostFilm
1995Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildKing Dakkar (voice)Series
1995The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American MoviesSelfFilm
1995People: A Musical CelebrationThe Storyteller (voice)Film
1995Circle of Life: An Environmental FableMufasaFilm
1995Under One RoofNeb Langston · 6 episodesSeries
1995Signs and WondersDiamond · 4 episodesSeries
1995Who's in Rabbit's House?Narrator (voice)Film
1994The Lion KingMufasa (voice)Film
1994Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final InsultJames Earl Jones (uncredited)Film
1994Clear and Present DangerAdmiral James GreerFilm
1994Touched by an AngelThe Angel of AngelsSeries
1994Clean SlateJohn DolbyFilm
1994The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost ClassicsHostFilm
1994Africa: The SerengetiNarratorFilm
1994Confessions: Two Faces of EvilCharles LloydFilm
1994The Vernon Johns StoryVernon JohnsFilm
1994The Making of the Lion KingSelfFilm
1994Bah, Humbug!: The Story of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'NarratorFilm
1994Gangs: Turning the CornerSelfFilm
1993The SandlotMr. MertleFilm
1993FrasierNorman RoysterSeries
1993Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanFranklin SternSeries
1993SommersbyJudge Barry Conrad IssacsFilm
1993The Meteor ManEarnest MosesFilm
1993Homicide: Life on the StreetFelix Wilson · 3 episodesSeries
1993Excessive ForceJakeFilm
1993Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short FilmsSelf (voice) (uncredited)Film
1993DreamriderBill PerryFilm
1993HallelujahOld Man TaylorFilm
1993Percy & ThunderPercy BanksFilm
1992Patriot GamesAdm. James GreerFilm
1992SneakersMr. Bernard AbbottFilm
1992Picket FencesBryant ThomasSeries
1992LincolnNarrator (voice)Film
1992The JFK ConspiracySelf - HostFilm
1992Shelley Duvall's Bedtime StoriesNarrator (voice)Series
1991True IdentityJames Earl JonesFilm
1991ConvictsBen JohnsonFilm
1991ScorchersBearFilm
1991Pros and ConsGabriel Bird · 12 episodesSeries
1991Visitors from the UnknownNarrator (voice)Film
1991When It Was a Game(voice)Film
1991Portrait of Castro's CubaHost/NarratorFilm
1990The Hunt for Red OctoberVice ADM James GreerFilm
1990Law & OrderDefense Attorney Horace McCoySeries
1990The AmbulanceLt. SpencerFilm
1990By Dawn's Early LightAliceFilm
1990Grim Prairie TalesMorrisonFilm
1990TerrorgramRetribution (voice)Film
1990Gabriel's FireGabriel Bird · 22 episodesSeries
1990Ivory HuntersInspector NkuruFilm
1990Heat WaveJunius JohnsonFilm
1990Teach 109Dr. WinstonFilm
1990Last Flight OutAl ToppingFilm
1989The SimpsonsNarrator (voice), Moving Man / Serak the Preparer / Narrator (voice), Maggie Simpson (voice)Series
1989Field of DreamsTerrence MannFilm
1989Best of the BestFrank CouzoFilm
1989Three FugitivesDuganFilm
1989Stories to Remember: Noah's ArkNarratorFilm
1989Long Ago and Far AwayHost · 35 episodesSeries
198911-22-63: The Day the Nation CriedNarratorFilm
1989The Hunting of the SnarkNarrator (voice)Film
1988Coming to AmericaKing Jaffe JofferFilm
1988Garfield and FriendsDiabloSeries
1988Michael Jackson: The Legend ContinuesNarrator (voice)Film
1987Matewan'Few Clothes' JohnsonFilm
1987Gardens of StoneSgt. Maj.'Goody' NelsonFilm
1987Pinocchio and the Emperor of the NightEmperor of the Night (voice)Film
1987MathnetChief Thad Green · 3 episodes, Chief Thad Green (voice), Chief Thad GreeneSeries
1987A House DividedFilm
1986Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of GoldUmslopogaasFilm
1986Soul ManProfessor BanksFilm
1986L.A. LawLee AtkinsSeries
1986My Little GirlIke BaileyFilm
1986Aladdin and His Wonderful LampGenie / NarratorFilm
1986The Lone Star KidHolmesFilm
1985City LimitsAlbertFilm
1985The Atlanta Child MurdersMajor Walker · 2 episodesSeries
1985Night of 100 Stars IISelfFilm
1985Me & Mom · 6 episodesSeries
1985Visual Pathfinders: Robert Abel & AssociatesFilm
1985MosesPharaohFilm
1984Highway to HeavenGabe WilsonSeries
1984The Vegas Strip WarJack MadridFilm
1984CBS Schoolbreak SpecialDetective RobbSeries
1984Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's EarsNarratorFilm
1983Return of the JediDarth Vader (voice)Film
1983Reading RainbowSelf - Narrator (voice)Series
1982Conan the BarbarianThulsa DoomFilm
1982The Flight of DragonsOmmadon (voice)Film
1982Blood TideFryeFilm
1982Faerie Tale TheatreGenie / Narrator (voice)Series
1982American PlayhouseDr. Winston (segment 'Teach 109'), Old Man TaylorSeries
1982Night of 100 StarsSelfFilm
1982Amy and the AngelGabrielFilm
1981The Bushido BladeThe PrisonerFilm
1981The CreationNarrator (voice)Film
1981Beauty and the BeastNarrator (voice)Film
1981Golden Book Video - Beauty and the BeastNarrator (voice)Film
1981God's TrombonesNarrator (voice)Film
1981There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagueshimself, voiceFilm
1980The Empire Strikes BackDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)Film
1980Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim JonesFather Divine · 2 episodesSeries
1980The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love StoryDane OliverFilm
1980The Me Nobody KnowsSelfFilm
1979Roots: The Next GenerationsAlex HaleySeries
1979ParisWoody Paris · 13 episodesSeries
1979Paul RobesonPaul RobesonFilm
1979A Walking Tour of Sesame StreetSelf - HostFilm
1978The Star Wars Holiday SpecialDarth Vader (voice)Film
1978The Kennedy Center HonorsSelfSeries
1978The Magic of David CopperfieldSeries
1978The Story of the Faithful WookieeDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)Film
1978Black Theatre: The Making of a MovementSelfFilm
1977Star WarsDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)Film
1977Exorcist II: The HereticOlder KokumoFilm
1977Jesus of NazarethBalthazar · 4 episodesSeries
1977The Last Remake of Beau GesteSheikhFilm
1977The Making of Star WarsDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)Film
1977A Piece of the ActionJoshua BurkeFilm
1977The GreatestMalcolm XFilm
1977The Greatest Thing That Almost HappenedMorris Bird, Jr.Film
1976SwashbucklerNick DebrettFilm
1976The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor KingsLeonFilm
1976The River NigerJohnny WilliamsFilm
1975The UFO IncidentBarney HillFilm
1975Deadly HeroRabbit ShazamFilm
1975Vegetable SoupLong John Spoilsport · 57 episodesSeries
1974ClaudineRupert D. "Roop" MarshallFilm
1974The CayTimothyFilm
1974Dinah!SelfSeries
1974King LearKing LearFilm
1973The American Film Institute Salute to ...SelfSeries
1973Black OmnibusSelf - Host · 13 episodesSeries
1972Malcolm XBiographical Narration (voice)Film
1972The ManDouglass DilmanFilm
1971Great PerformancesKing LearSeries
1971Martin Luther King, Jr.: Legacy of a DreamNarratorFilm
1970The Great White HopeJack JeffersonFilm
1970King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to MemphisSelf (archive footage)Film
1970End of the RoadDoctor DFilm
1969Sesame StreetSeries
1968The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest · 2 episodesSeries
1967The ComediansDr. MagiotFilm
1966Tarzan · 2 episodesSeries
1964Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombLt. Lothar ZoggFilm
1963East Side/West SideSeries
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 6 episodesSeries
1962The Merv Griffin ShowSelfSeries
1961Dr. KildareDr. Lou Rush · 3 episodesSeries
1961The DefendersLieutenant Andrews, Reverend Harris BonhamSeries
1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf · 11 episodes, Self - Co-HostSeries
1956Tony AwardsSelf - Winner / Performer · 2 episodes, Self - Presenter · 9 episodes, Self (archive footage), Self - Nominee / PresenterSeries
1951Hallmark Hall of FameArchibald ThackerSeries
1948Lamp Unto My FeetSeries
1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee / PresenterSeries
—Broadway: The Next GenerationSelfFilm
—Diamonds on the Silver ScreenSelfFilm
Crew (1)
2024Mufasa: The Lion KingIn Memory OfFilm