ACTOR
James Earl Jones
Known for The Big Bang Theory · Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker · The Simpsons
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…
Snapshot 2026-10-15
- Born
- Jan 17, 1931
- Died
- Sep 9, 2024
- Birthplace
- Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA
- Known For
- 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.
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Known For
TV
The Big Bang TheoryJames Earl Jones · 2007
★ 7.9
★ 7.9
MOVIE
Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerDarth Vader (voice) · 2019
★ 6.2
★ 6.2
TV
The SimpsonsNarrator (voice) · 1989
★ 8.0
★ 8.0
MOVIE
The Lion KingMufasa (voice) · 2019
★ 7.1
★ 7.1
TV
HouseDibala · 2004
★ 8.6
★ 8.6
TV
Two and a Half MenJames Earl Jones · 2003
★ 7.4
★ 7.4
MOVIE
Mufasa: The Lion KingIn Memory Of · 2024
★ 7.3
★ 7.3
TV
Stargate SG-1Unas (Voice) · 1997
★ 8.3
★ 8.3
Filmography
Movies
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the BombLt. Lothar Zogg
1964
The ComediansDr. Magiot
1967
End of the RoadDoctor D
1970
King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to MemphisSelf (archive footage)
1970
The Great White HopeJack Jefferson
1970
Martin Luther King, Jr.: Legacy of a DreamNarrator
1971
Malcolm XBiographical Narration (voice)
1972
The ManDouglass Dilman
1972
ClaudineRupert D. "Roop" Marshall
1974
King LearKing Lear
1974
The CayTimothy
1974
Deadly HeroRabbit Shazam
1975
The UFO IncidentBarney Hill
1975
SwashbucklerNick Debrett
1976
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor KingsLeon
1976
The River NigerJohnny Williams
1976
A Piece of the ActionJoshua Burke
1977
Exorcist II: The HereticOlder Kokumo
1977
Star WarsDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
1977
The GreatestMalcolm X
1977
The Greatest Thing That Almost HappenedMorris Bird, Jr.
1977
The Last Remake of Beau GesteSheikh
1977
The Making of Star WarsDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
1977
Black Theatre: The Making of a MovementSelf
1978
The Star Wars Holiday SpecialDarth Vader (voice)
1978
The Story of the Faithful WookieeDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
1978
A Walking Tour of Sesame StreetSelf - Host
1979
Paul RobesonPaul Robeson
1979
The Empire Strikes BackDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
1980
The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love StoryDane Oliver
1980
The Me Nobody KnowsSelf
1980BA
Beauty and the BeastNarrator (voice)
1981
God's TrombonesNarrator (voice)
1981
Golden Book Video - Beauty and the BeastNarrator (voice)
1981
The Bushido BladeThe Prisoner
1981TC
The CreationNarrator (voice)
1981
There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagueshimself, voice
1981
Amy and the AngelGabriel
1982
Blood TideFrye
1982
Conan the BarbarianThulsa Doom
1982
Night of 100 StarsSelf
1982
The Flight of DragonsOmmadon (voice)
1982
Return of the JediDarth Vader (voice)
1983
The Vegas Strip WarJack Madrid
1984
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's EarsNarrator
1984
City LimitsAlbert
1985M
MosesPharaoh
1985
Night of 100 Stars IISelf
1985
Visual Pathfinders: Robert Abel & Associates
1985
Aladdin and His Wonderful LampGenie / Narrator
1986
Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of GoldUmslopogaas
1986
My Little GirlIke Bailey
1986
Soul ManProfessor Banks
1986
The Lone Star KidHolmes
1986AH
A House Divided
1987
Gardens of StoneSgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson
1987
Matewan'Few Clothes' Johnson
1987
Pinocchio and the Emperor of the NightEmperor of the Night (voice)
1987
Coming to AmericaKing Jaffe Joffer
1988
Michael Jackson: The Legend ContinuesNarrator (voice)
1988
11-22-63: The Day the Nation CriedNarrator
1989
Best of the BestFrank Couzo
1989
Field of DreamsTerrence Mann
1989
Stories to Remember: Noah's ArkNarrator
1989
The Hunting of the SnarkNarrator (voice)
1989
Three FugitivesDugan
1989
By Dawn's Early LightAlice
1990
Grim Prairie TalesMorrison
1990
Heat WaveJunius Johnson
1990
Ivory HuntersInspector Nkuru
1990
Last Flight OutAl Topping
1990
Teach 109Dr. Winston
1990
TerrorgramRetribution (voice)
1990
The AmbulanceLt. Spencer
1990
The Hunt for Red OctoberVice ADM James Greer
1990
ConvictsBen Johnson
1991PO
Portrait of Castro's CubaHost/Narrator
1991
ScorchersBear
1991
True IdentityJames Earl Jones
1991
Visitors from the UnknownNarrator (voice)
1991
When It Was a Game(voice)
1991L
LincolnNarrator (voice)
1992
Patriot GamesAdm. James Greer
1992
SneakersMr. Bernard Abbott
1992
The JFK ConspiracySelf - Host
1992
DreamriderBill Perry
1993
Excessive ForceJake
1993H
HallelujahOld Man Taylor
1993
Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short FilmsSelf (voice) (uncredited)
1993
Percy & ThunderPercy Banks
1993
SommersbyJudge Barry Conrad Issacs
1993
The Meteor ManEarnest Moses
1993
The SandlotMr. Mertle
1993
Africa: The SerengetiNarrator
1994BH
Bah, Humbug!: The Story of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'Narrator
1994
Clean SlateJohn Dolby
1994
Clear and Present DangerAdmiral James Greer
1994
Confessions: Two Faces of EvilCharles Lloyd
1994
Gangs: Turning the CornerSelf
1994
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final InsultJames Earl Jones (uncredited)
1994
The Lion KingMufasa (voice)
1994
The Making of the Lion KingSelf
1994
The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost ClassicsHost
1994
The Vernon Johns StoryVernon Johns
1994
Circle of Life: An Environmental FableMufasa
1995
Cry, the Beloved CountryRev. Stephen Kumalo
1995
Jefferson in ParisMadison Hemings
1995
Judge DreddNarrator (uncredited)
1995
People: A Musical CelebrationThe Storyteller (voice)
1995
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American MoviesSelf
1995
The Making of 'Jurassic Park'Host
1995
Who's in Rabbit's House?Narrator (voice)
1995
A Family ThingRay Murdock
1996C
CorwinSelf
1996
Looking for RichardSelf - Interviewee
1996
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' ManigaultDr. McDuffie
1996
TimepieceLawrence
1996
Afro PromoSelf (archive footage)
1997
AloneGrey
1997
Casper: A Spirited BeginningKibosh (voice)
1997
Gang RelatedArthur Baylor
1997
Good LuckJames Bing
1997HF
Hitler's Forgotten VictimsNarrator (voice) (DVD version)
1997
Sports on the Silver ScreenSelf (archive footage)
1997
Star Wars: The Magic & the MysterySelf
1997
The Second Civil WarJim Kalla
1997
What the Deaf Man HeardArchibald Thacker
1997
Primary ColorsCNN Voiceover (voice)
1998
The Lion King II: Simba's PrideMufasa (voice)
1998
On the Q.T.Leo
1999
Our Friend, MartinDaddy King (voice)
1999
Santa and PeteGrandpa Nicholas
1999
Summer's EndDr. William 'Bill' Blakely
1999
The Annihilation of FishFish
1999
Undercover AngelThe Judge
1999
Antietam: A Documentary FilmNarrator
2000
Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'Self
2000EG
Ennis' GiftSelf
2000
Fantasia 2000Self - Host
2000
Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'Self - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg'
2000
Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light
2000
The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to StrangeloveSelf
2000
Disney's American LegendsNarrator
2001
Feast of All SaintsOlder Marcel
2001
Finder's FeeAvery Phillips
2001
Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The WorldSelf
2001
Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third StreetMister (voice)
2001
Fredericksburg: A Documentary FilmNarrator
2002
Beneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October'Self
2003
The Great YearNarrator
2003
The Simpsons: Treehouse of HorrorMaggie Simpson (voice)
2003
Black Indians: An American StoryNarrator
2004
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars TrilogySelf
2004
Nine Dog ChristmasStoryteller (voice)
2004
No Fighting in the War Room Or: 'Dr Strangelove' and the Nuclear ThreatSelf
2004
The Story of Star WarsDarth Vader (archive footage)
2004
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'Narrator
2005
Hollywood's Greatest VillainsSelf
2005
RobotsVoice Box at Hardware Store (voice)
2005
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the SithDarth Vader (voice - uncredited)
2005
The Reading RoomWilliam
2005
The Sandlot 2Mr. Mertle
2005
ClickNarrator of Michael's Past (voice) (uncredited)
2006
Scary Movie 4Narrator (uncredited)
2006
Searching for OrsonSelf
2006
The BenchwarmersDarth Vader (voice)
2006
The Best of The Tony Awards: The PlaysJack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope") / Troy Maxson (segment "Fences")
2006
The Trail Of Tears: Cherokee LegacyNarrator
2006
EarthNarrator (voice)
2007
John, Paul, George and BenNarrator
2007OP
Our Paul: Remembering Paul RobesonSelf
2007
Welcome Home Roscoe JenkinsPapa Jenkins
2008
Jack and the BeanstalkThe Giant (voice)
2009
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space OdysseyAdmiral (voice)
2010
Waking Sleeping BeautySelf (archive footage)
2010
Strange Septembers: The Hill Abduction & the Exeter EncounterHimself
2011
An Amazing Time: A Conversation About End of the RoadSelf
2012
Joe Papp in Five ActsSelf
2012
BlackfishSelf (archive footage)
2013
Gimme ShelterFrank McCarthy
2013
MiliusSelf
2013
Muse of FireSelf
2013
Star Wars Rebels: Spark of RebellionDarth Vader (voice)
2014
The Angriest Man in BrooklynRuben
2014
August Wilson: The Ground on Which I StandSelf
2015
Driving Miss DaisyHoke Colburn
2015
Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of LothalDarth Vader (voice)
2015
Rogue One: A Star Wars StoryDarth Vader (voice)
2016
The Lion Guard: Return of the RoarMufasa (voice)
2016
The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride LandsMufasa (voice)
2017
Warning ShotPendleton
2018
On BroadwaySelf (archive footage)
2019
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a StageSelf
2019
Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerDarth Vader (voice)
2019
The Lion KingMufasa (voice)
2019
The Space: Theatre of SurvivalNarrator
2019
Words from a BearSelf
2019
Coming 2 AmericaKing Jaffe Joffer
2021
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame StreetSelf (archive footage)
2021
BET News & ET Present James Earl Jones: Life and LegacySelf (archive footage)
2024
Butterfly in the SkyGuest Narrator (archive footage)
2024
Mufasa: The Lion KingIn Memory Of
2024
Indiana Jones Adventure | Disneyland ResortMara (voice)
2025
Broadway: The Next GenerationSelf
DO
Diamonds on the Silver ScreenSelf
Television
Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee / Presenter · 1 eps
1944
Lamp Unto My Feet1 eps
1948
Hallmark Hall of FameArchibald Thacker · 1 eps
1951
Tony AwardsSelf - Winner / Performer · 2 eps
1956Tony AwardsSelf - Presenter · 9 eps
1956Tony AwardsSelf (archive footage) · 1 eps
1956Tony AwardsSelf - Nominee / Presenter · 1 eps
1956Tony AwardsSelf - Nominee · 1 eps
1956Tony AwardsSelf - Winner · 1 eps
1956
Dr. KildareDr. Lou Rush · 3 eps
1961
The DefendersLieutenant Andrews · 1 eps
1961The DefendersReverend Harris Bonham · 1 eps
1961
The Mike Douglas ShowSelf · 11 eps
1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf - Co-Host · 1 eps
1961
The Merv Griffin ShowSelf · 1 eps
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 6 eps
1962
East Side/West Side1 eps
1963
Tarzan2 eps
1966
The Dick Cavett ShowSelf - Guest · 2 eps
1968
Sesame Street1 eps
1969
Great PerformancesKing Lear · 1 eps
1971
Black OmnibusSelf - Host · 13 eps
1973
The American Film Institute Salute to ...Self · 1 eps
1973
Dinah!Self · 1 eps
1974
Vegetable SoupLong John Spoilsport · 57 eps
1975
Jesus of NazarethBalthazar · 4 eps
1977
The Kennedy Center HonorsSelf · 1 eps
1978
The Magic of David Copperfield1 eps
1978
ParisWoody Paris · 13 eps
1979
Roots: The Next GenerationsAlex Haley · 1 eps
1979
Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim JonesFather Divine · 2 eps
1980
American PlayhouseDr. Winston (segment 'Teach 109') · 1 eps
1982American PlayhouseOld Man Taylor · 1 eps
1982
Faerie Tale TheatreGenie / Narrator (voice) · 1 eps
1982
Reading RainbowSelf - Narrator (voice) · 1 eps
1983
CBS Schoolbreak SpecialDetective Robb · 1 eps
1984
Highway to HeavenGabe Wilson · 1 eps
1984M&
Me & Mom6 eps
1985
The Atlanta Child MurdersMajor Walker · 2 eps
1985
L.A. LawLee Atkins · 1 eps
1986
MathnetChief Thad Green · 3 eps
1987MathnetChief Thad Green (voice) · 1 eps
1987MathnetChief Thad Greene · 1 eps
1987
Garfield and FriendsDiablo · 1 eps
1988LA
Long Ago and Far AwayHost · 35 eps
1989
The SimpsonsNarrator (voice) · 1 eps
1989The SimpsonsMoving Man / Serak the Preparer / Narrator (voice) · 1 eps
1989The SimpsonsMaggie Simpson (voice) · 1 eps
1989
Gabriel's FireGabriel Bird · 22 eps
1990
Law & OrderDefense Attorney Horace McCoy · 1 eps
1990
Pros and ConsGabriel Bird · 12 eps
1991
Picket FencesBryant Thomas · 1 eps
1992
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime StoriesNarrator (voice) · 1 eps
1992
FrasierNorman Royster · 1 eps
1993
Homicide: Life on the StreetFelix Wilson · 3 eps
1993
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanFranklin Stern · 1 eps
1993
Touched by an AngelThe Angel of Angels · 1 eps
1994
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildKing Dakkar (voice) · 1 eps
1995
Signs and WondersDiamond · 4 eps
1995UO
Under One RoofNeb Langston · 6 eps
1995
3rd Rock from the SunNarrator (voice) (uncredited) · 19 eps
1996
Stargate SG-1Unas (Voice) · 1 eps
1997
MerlinRock of Ages · 2 eps
1998
Will & GraceJames Earl Jones · 1 eps
1998
According to JimRoyal Flush Voice (voice) · 1 eps
2001
EverwoodWill Cleveland · 3 eps
2002
Two and a Half MenJames Earl Jones · 1 eps
2003
HouseDibala · 1 eps
2004
The One ShowSelf - Guest · 1 eps
2006
The Big Bang TheoryJames Earl Jones · 1 eps
2007
Star Wars RebelsDarth Vader (voice) · 2 eps
2014
The Movies That Made UsSelf (archive footage) · 1 eps
2019
Obi-Wan KenobiDarth Vader (voice) · 4 eps
2022Photos
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