James Earl Jones
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA
- Died
- September 9, 2024
- Active Years
- 1944–2025 (82 Years)
- Total Credits
- 276 credits in database
Acting Born Jan 17, 1931 Died Sep 9, 2024 Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA 276 credits
Biography
James Earl Jones was an American actor born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA. He was known for his performances on stage and screen, described as one of America's most distinguished and versatile actors. He received three Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award throughout his career. Jones was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985 and 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. He was also recognized for his distinctive deep voice, described as a "stirring basso profondo that has lent gravel and gravitas" to his projects.
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Career overview
James Earl Jones was an American actor known for his performances on stage and screen. He received recognition for his work, earning three Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award. Jones was also inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985 and 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.
Throughout his career, Jones accumulated a large number of credits, with 265 known credits to his name. He was active in the entertainment industry for many years, with a career spanning multiple decades. Jones' performances were often praised for his distinctive voice, described as a "stirring basso profondo that has lent gravel and gravitas" to his projects.
Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA. He passed away on September 9, 2024, at the age of 93.
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Career timeline
Indiana Jones Adventure | Disneyland Resort
Mufasa: The Lion King · In Memory OfButterfly in the SkyBET News & ET Present James Earl Jones: Life and Legacy
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Coming 2 AmericaStreet Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
The Lion KingStar Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerThe Movies That Made UsRaúl Juliá: The World’s a StageOn Broadway
Warning Shot
The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride Lands
Rogue One: A Star Wars StoryThe Lion Guard: Return of the RoarGod Bless You, Mr Rosewater
Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of LothalDriving Miss DaisyAugust Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand
Star Wars RebelsThe Angriest Man in BrooklynStar Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion
BlackfishGimme ShelterMuse of FireMilius
Joe Papp in Five ActsAn Amazing Time: A Conversation About End of the Road
Strange Septembers: The Hill Abduction & the Exeter Encounter
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey
Waking Sleeping BeautyJack and the Beanstalk
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
The Big Bang TheoryEarthJohn, Paul, George and BenOur Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson
The One ShowScary Movie 4ClickThe BenchwarmersThe Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the SithRobotsThe Sandlot 2The Reading RoomHollywood's Greatest Villains
HouseThe Story of Star WarsNine Dog ChristmasEmpire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars TrilogyNo Fighting in the War Room Or: 'Dr Strangelove' and the Nuclear Threat
Two and a Half MenThe Simpsons: Treehouse of HorrorThe Great YearBeneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October'
EverwoodFredericksburg: A Documentary Film
According to JimFeast of All SaintsDisney's American LegendsFinder's FeeRecess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street
Fantasia 2000Sidney Poitier: One Bright LightAntietam: A Documentary FilmConan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to Strangelove
Undercover AngelOur Friend, MartinSanta and PeteThe Annihilation of FishSummer's End
Will & GraceThe Lion King II: Simba's PrideMerlinPrimary Colors
Stargate SG-1Gang RelatedCasper: A Spirited BeginningThe Second Civil WarWhat the Deaf Man Heard
3rd Rock from the SunLooking for RichardRebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' ManigaultA Family ThingTimepiece
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildJudge DreddUnder One RoofJefferson in ParisCry, the Beloved Country
The Lion KingTouched by an AngelNaked Gun 33⅓: The Final InsultClear and Present DangerThe Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics
Full Filmography
276 titles- Indiana Jones Adventure | Disneyland Resort (2025) as Mara (voice)
- Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) In Memory Of
- Butterfly in the Sky (2024) as Guest Narrator (archive footage)
- BET News & ET Present James Earl Jones: Life and Legacy (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) as Darth Vader (voice)
- Coming 2 America (2021) as King Jaffe Joffer
- Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- The Lion King (2019) as Mufasa (voice)
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) as Darth Vader (voice)
- The Movies That Made Us (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage (2019) as Self
- On Broadway (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Words from a Bear (2019) as Self
- The Space: Theatre of Survival (2019) as Narrator
- Warning Shot (2018) as Pendleton
- The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride Lands (2017) as Mufasa (voice)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) as Darth Vader (voice)
- The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2016) as Mufasa (voice)
- God Bless You, Mr Rosewater (2016) as Kilgore Trout
- Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal (2015) as Darth Vader (voice)
- Driving Miss Daisy (2015) as Hoke Colburn
- August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand (2015) as Self
- Star Wars Rebels (2014) as Darth Vader (voice)
- The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014) as Ruben
- Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion (2014) as Darth Vader (voice)
- Blackfish (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- Gimme Shelter (2013) as Frank McCarthy
- Muse of Fire (2013) as Self
- Milius (2013) as Self
- Joe Papp in Five Acts (2012) as Self
- An Amazing Time: A Conversation About End of the Road (2012) as Self
- Strange Septembers: The Hill Abduction & the Exeter Encounter (2011) as Himself
- Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey (2010) as Admiral (voice)
- Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009) as Self (archive footage)
- Jack and the Beanstalk (2009) as The Giant (voice)
- Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008) as Papa Jenkins
- The Big Bang Theory (2007) as James Earl Jones
- Earth (2007) as Narrator (voice)
- John, Paul, George and Ben (2007) as Narrator
- Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson (2007) as Self
- The One Show (2006) as Self - Guest
- Scary Movie 4 (2006) as Narrator (uncredited)
- Click (2006) as Narrator of Michael's Past (voice) (uncredited)
- The Benchwarmers (2006) as Darth Vader (voice)
- The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays (2006) as Jack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope") / Troy Maxson (segment "Fences")
- Searching for Orson (2006) as Self
- The Trail Of Tears: Cherokee Legacy (2006) as Narrator
- Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) as Darth Vader (voice - uncredited)
- Robots (2005) as Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice)
- The Sandlot 2 (2005) as Mr. Mertle
- The Reading Room (2005) as William
- Hollywood's Greatest Villains (2005) as Self
- By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X' (2005) as Narrator
- House (2004) as Dibala
- The Story of Star Wars (2004) as Darth Vader (archive footage)
- Nine Dog Christmas (2004) as Storyteller (voice)
- Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy (2004) as Self
- No Fighting in the War Room Or: 'Dr Strangelove' and the Nuclear Threat (2004) as Self
- Black Indians: An American Story (2004) as Narrator
- Two and a Half Men (2003) as James Earl Jones
- The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror (2003) as Maggie Simpson (voice)
- The Great Year (2003) as Narrator
- Beneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October' (2003) as Self
- Everwood (2002) as Will Cleveland
- Fredericksburg: A Documentary Film (2002) as Narrator
- According to Jim (2001) as Royal Flush Voice (voice)
- Feast of All Saints (2001) as Older Marcel
- Disney's American Legends (2001) as Narrator
- Finder's Fee (2001) as Avery Phillips
- Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street (2001) as Mister (voice)
- Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World (2001) as Self
- Fantasia 2000 (2000) as Self - Host
- Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light (2000)
- Antietam: A Documentary Film (2000) as Narrator
- Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan' (2000) as Self
- The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to Strangelove (2000) as Self
- Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb' (2000) as Self - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg'
- Undercover Angel (1999) as The Judge
- Our Friend, Martin (1999) as Daddy King (voice)
- Santa and Pete (1999) as Grandpa Nicholas
- The Annihilation of Fish (1999) as Fish
- Summer's End (1999) as Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely
- On the Q.T. (1999) as Leo
- Will & Grace (1998) as James Earl Jones
- The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998) as Mufasa (voice)
- Merlin (1998) as Rock of Ages
- Primary Colors (1998) as CNN Voiceover (voice)
- Stargate SG-1 (1997) as Unas (Voice)
- Gang Related (1997) as Arthur Baylor
- Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997) as Kibosh (voice)
- The Second Civil War (1997) as Jim Kalla
- What the Deaf Man Heard (1997) as Archibald Thacker
- Good Luck (1997) as James Bing
- Alone (1997) as Grey
- Sports on the Silver Screen (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Afro Promo (1997) as Self (archive footage)
- Hitler's Forgotten Victims (1997) as Narrator (voice) (DVD version)
- Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery (1997) as Self
- 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996) as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- Looking for Richard (1996) as Self - Interviewee
- Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (1996) as Dr. McDuffie
- A Family Thing (1996) as Ray Murdock
- Timepiece (1996) as Lawrence
- Corwin (1996) as Self
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995) as King Dakkar (voice)
- Judge Dredd (1995) as Narrator (uncredited)
- Under One Roof (1995) as Neb Langston
- Jefferson in Paris (1995) as Madison Hemings
- Cry, the Beloved Country (1995) as Rev. Stephen Kumalo
- The Making of 'Jurassic Park' (1995) as Host
- The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995) as Self
- Signs and Wonders (1995) as Diamond
- People: A Musical Celebration (1995) as The Storyteller (voice)
- Who's in Rabbit's House? (1995) as Narrator (voice)
- Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable (1995) as Mufasa
- The Lion King (1994) as Mufasa (voice)
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as The Angel of Angels
- Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994) as James Earl Jones (uncredited)
- Clear and Present Danger (1994) as Admiral James Greer
- The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics (1994) as Host
- Africa: The Serengeti (1994) as Narrator
- Clean Slate (1994) as John Dolby
- The Making of the Lion King (1994) as Self
- Confessions: Two Faces of Evil (1994) as Charles Lloyd
- The Vernon Johns Story (1994) as Vernon Johns
- Gangs: Turning the Corner (1994) as Self
- Bah, Humbug!: The Story of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' (1994) as Narrator
- Frasier (1993) as Norman Royster
- Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993) as Franklin Stern
- Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) as Felix Wilson
- The Sandlot (1993) as Mr. Mertle
- Sommersby (1993) as Judge Barry Conrad Issacs
- Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short Films (1993) as Self (voice) (uncredited)
- The Meteor Man (1993) as Earnest Moses
- Excessive Force (1993) as Jake
- Dreamrider (1993) as Bill Perry
- Percy & Thunder (1993) as Percy Banks
- Hallelujah (1993) as Old Man Taylor
- Picket Fences (1992) as Bryant Thomas
- Sneakers (1992) as Mr. Bernard Abbott
- Patriot Games (1992) as Adm. James Greer
- Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (1992) as Narrator (voice)
- Lincoln (1992) as Narrator (voice)
- The JFK Conspiracy (1992) as Self - Host
- True Identity (1991) as James Earl Jones
- When It Was a Game (1991) as (voice)
- Visitors from the Unknown (1991) as Narrator (voice)
- Pros and Cons (1991) as Gabriel Bird
- Scorchers (1991) as Bear
- Convicts (1991) as Ben Johnson
- Portrait of Castro's Cuba (1991) as Host/Narrator
- Law & Order (1990) as Defense Attorney Horace McCoy
- The Hunt for Red October (1990) as Vice ADM James Greer
- Gabriel's Fire (1990) as Gabriel Bird
- The Ambulance (1990) as Lt. Spencer
- By Dawn's Early Light (1990) as Alice
- Grim Prairie Tales (1990) as Morrison
- Last Flight Out (1990) as Al Topping
- Terrorgram (1990) as Retribution (voice)
- Heat Wave (1990) as Junius Johnson
- Teach 109 (1990) as Dr. Winston
- Ivory Hunters (1990) as Inspector Nkuru
- The Simpsons (1989) as Narrator (voice)
- The Simpsons (1989) as Moving Man / Serak the Preparer / Narrator (voice)
- The Simpsons (1989) as Maggie Simpson (voice)
- Field of Dreams (1989) as Terrence Mann
- Best of the Best (1989) as Frank Couzo
- Three Fugitives (1989) as Dugan
- Long Ago and Far Away (1989) as Host
- 11-22-63: The Day the Nation Cried (1989) as Narrator
- The Hunting of the Snark (1989) as Narrator (voice)
- Stories to Remember: Noah's Ark (1989) as Narrator
- Garfield and Friends (1988) as Diablo
- Coming to America (1988) as King Jaffe Joffer
- Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues (1988) as Narrator (voice)
- Mathnet (1987) as Chief Thad Green
- Mathnet (1987) as Chief Thad Green (voice)
- Mathnet (1987) as Chief Thad Greene
- Matewan (1987) as 'Few Clothes' Johnson
- A House Divided (1987)
- Gardens of Stone (1987) as Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson
- Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night (1987) as Emperor of the Night (voice)
- L.A. Law (1986) as Lee Atkins
- Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986) as Umslopogaas
- Soul Man (1986) as Professor Banks
- My Little Girl (1986) as Ike Bailey
- Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp (1986) as Genie / Narrator
- The Lone Star Kid (1986) as Holmes
- The Atlanta Child Murders (1985) as Major Walker
- Night of 100 Stars II (1985) as Self
- Visual Pathfinders: Robert Abel & Associates (1985)
- City Limits (1985) as Albert
- Moses (1985) as Pharaoh
- Me & Mom (1985)
- Highway to Heaven (1984) as Gabe Wilson
- CBS Schoolbreak Special (1984) as Detective Robb
- The Vegas Strip War (1984) as Jack Madrid
- Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears (1984) as Narrator
- Reading Rainbow (1983) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Return of the Jedi (1983) as Darth Vader (voice)
- American Playhouse (1982) as Dr. Winston (segment 'Teach 109')
- American Playhouse (1982) as Old Man Taylor
- Faerie Tale Theatre (1982) as Genie / Narrator (voice)
- Conan the Barbarian (1982) as Thulsa Doom
- The Flight of Dragons (1982) as Ommadon (voice)
- Night of 100 Stars (1982) as Self
- Amy and the Angel (1982) as Gabriel
- Blood Tide (1982) as Frye
- The Bushido Blade (1981) as The Prisoner
- Beauty and the Beast (1981) as Narrator (voice)
- God's Trombones (1981) as Narrator (voice)
- The Creation (1981) as Narrator (voice)
- Golden Book Video - Beauty and the Beast (1981) as Narrator (voice)
- There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagues (1981) as himself, voice
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980) as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
- Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980) as Father Divine
- The Me Nobody Knows (1980) as Self
- The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story (1980) as Dane Oliver
- Roots: The Next Generations (1979) as Alex Haley
- Paris (1979) as Woody Paris
- Paul Robeson (1979) as Paul Robeson
- A Walking Tour of Sesame Street (1979) as Self - Host
- The Kennedy Center Honors (1978) as Self
- The Magic of David Copperfield (1978)
- The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) as Darth Vader (voice)
- Black Theatre: The Making of a Movement (1978) as Self
- Star Wars (1977) as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
- Jesus of Nazareth (1977) as Balthazar
- Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) as Older Kokumo
- The Making of Star Wars (1977) as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
- A Piece of the Action (1977) as Joshua Burke
- The Greatest (1977) as Malcolm X
- The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977) as Sheikh
- The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened (1977) as Morris Bird, Jr.
- Swashbuckler (1976) as Nick Debrett
- The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976) as Leon
- The River Niger (1976) as Johnny Williams
- Vegetable Soup (1975) as Long John Spoilsport
- The UFO Incident (1975) as Barney Hill
- Deadly Hero (1975) as Rabbit Shazam
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- Claudine (1974) as Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall
- The Cay (1974) as Timothy
- King Lear (1974) as King Lear
- The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973) as Self
- Black Omnibus (1973) as Self - Host
- The Man (1972) as Douglass Dilman
- Malcolm X (1972) as Biographical Narration (voice)
- Great Performances (1971) as King Lear
- Martin Luther King, Jr.: Legacy of a Dream (1971) as Narrator
- The Great White Hope (1970) as Jack Jefferson
- End of the Road (1970) as Doctor D
- King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970) as Self (archive footage)
- Sesame Street (1969)
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- The Comedians (1967) as Dr. Magiot
- Tarzan (1966)
- Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) as Lt. Lothar Zogg
- East Side/West Side (1963)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Host
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Dr. Lou Rush
- The Defenders (1961) as Lieutenant Andrews
- The Defenders (1961) as Reverend Harris Bonham
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Winner / Performer
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self (archive footage)
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee / Presenter
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Winner
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Archibald Thacker
- Lamp Unto My Feet (1948)
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee / Presenter
- Broadway: The Next Generation as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is James Earl Jones best known for?
James Earl Jones is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Mufasa: The Lion King (2024), Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022), Coming 2 America (2021), Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (2021).
When and where was James Earl Jones born?
James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA. They passed away on September 9, 2024.
How many credits does James Earl Jones have?
James Earl Jones has accumulated over 276 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2025.
What is James Earl Jones's background in cinema and television?
James Earl Jones was an American actor born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA. He was known for his performances on stage and screen, described as one of America's most distinguished and versatile actors. He received three Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award throughout his career. Jones w...
James Earl Jones by the numbers
276credits
203films
73TV series
1944–2025active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Archibald Thacker — aged about 20
- House (2004) as Dibala — aged about 73
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980) as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited) — aged about 49
- Stargate SG-1 (1997) as Unas (Voice) — aged about 66
- The Lion King (1994) as Mufasa (voice) — aged about 63
- Reading Rainbow (1983) as Self - Narrator (voice) — aged about 52
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