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James Earl Jones

Actor

James Earl Jones

Born January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi, USADied September 9, 2024135 films

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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The best way into James Earl Jones's work
The Empire Strikes Back posterFirst watchThe Empire Strikes Back19808.4as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Star Wars poster8.2Star Wars1977The Lion King poster8.3The Lion King1994Return of the Jedi poster7.9Return of the Jedi1983Rogue One: A Star Wars Story poster7.5Rogue One: A Star Wars Story2016Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith poster7.5Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith2005Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb poster8.1Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb1964The Lion King poster7.1The Lion King2019The Hunt for Red October poster7.4The Hunt for Red October1990

Filmography

135 films as actor
  1. 2021Coming 2 AmericaKing Jaffe Joffer
  2. 2019Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerDarth Vader (voice)
  3. 2019The Lion KingMufasa (voice)
  4. 2018Warning ShotPendleton
  5. 2017The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride LandsMufasa (voice)
  6. 2016Rogue One: A Star Wars StoryDarth Vader (voice)
  7. 2016The Lion Guard: Return of the RoarMufasa (voice)
  8. 2015Driving Miss DaisyHoke Colburn
  9. 2015Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of LothalDarth Vader (voice)
  10. 2014Star Wars Rebels: Spark of RebellionDarth Vader (voice)
  11. 2014The Angriest Man in BrooklynRuben
  12. 2013Gimme ShelterFrank McCarthy
  13. 2010Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space OdysseyAdmiral (voice)
  14. 2009Jack and the BeanstalkThe Giant (voice)
  15. 2008Welcome Home Roscoe JenkinsPapa Jenkins
  16. 2007John, Paul, George and BenNarrator
  17. 2006ClickNarrator of Michael's Past (voice) (uncredited)
  18. 2006Scary Movie 4Narrator (uncredited)
  19. 2006The BenchwarmersDarth Vader (voice)
  20. 2005The Sandlot 2Mr. Mertle
  21. 2005The Reading RoomWilliam
  22. 2005Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the SithDarth Vader (voice - uncredited)
  23. 2005RobotsVoice Box at Hardware Store (voice)
  24. 2004Nine Dog ChristmasStoryteller (voice)
  25. 2003The Simpsons: Treehouse of HorrorMaggie Simpson (voice)
  26. 2001Feast of All SaintsOlder Marcel
  27. 2001Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third StreetMister (voice)
  28. 2001Finder's FeeAvery Phillips
  29. 2001Disney's American LegendsNarrator
  30. 1999Santa and PeteGrandpa Nicholas
  31. 1999The Annihilation of FishFish
  32. 1999Undercover AngelThe Judge
  33. 1999On the Q.T.Leo
  34. 1999Summer's EndDr. William 'Bill' Blakely
  35. 1999Our Friend, MartinDaddy King (voice)
  36. 1998The Lion King II: Simba's PrideMufasa (voice)
  37. 1998Primary ColorsCNN Voiceover (voice)
  38. 1997AloneGrey
  39. 1997The Second Civil WarJim Kalla
  40. 1997What the Deaf Man HeardArchibald Thacker
  41. 1997Gang RelatedArthur Baylor
  42. 1997Casper: A Spirited BeginningKibosh (voice)
  43. 1997Good LuckJames Bing
  44. 1996TimepieceLawrence
  45. 1996Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' ManigaultDr. McDuffie
  46. 1996A Family ThingRay Murdock
  47. 1995Cry, the Beloved CountryRev. Stephen Kumalo
  48. 1995Who's in Rabbit's House?Narrator (voice)
  49. 1995Judge DreddNarrator (uncredited)
  50. 1995Jefferson in ParisMadison Hemings
  51. 1995Circle of Life: An Environmental FableMufasa
  52. 1995People: A Musical CelebrationThe Storyteller (voice)
  53. 1994Bah, Humbug!: The Story of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'Narrator
  54. 1994Clear and Present DangerAdmiral James Greer
  55. 1994The Lion KingMufasa (voice)
  56. 1994The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost ClassicsHost
  57. 1994Clean SlateJohn Dolby
  58. 1994Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final InsultJames Earl Jones (uncredited)
  59. 1994Confessions: Two Faces of EvilCharles Lloyd
  60. 1994The Vernon Johns StoryVernon Johns
  61. 1993HallelujahOld Man Taylor
  62. 1993Percy & ThunderPercy Banks
  63. 1993The Meteor ManEarnest Moses
  64. 1993DreamriderBill Perry
  65. 1993Excessive ForceJake
  66. 1993The SandlotMr. Mertle
  67. 1993SommersbyJudge Barry Conrad Issacs
  68. 1992SneakersMr. Bernard Abbott
  69. 1992Patriot GamesAdm. James Greer
  70. 1991True IdentityJames Earl Jones
  71. 1991ScorchersBear
  72. 1991ConvictsBen Johnson
  73. 1990Grim Prairie TalesMorrison
  74. 1990Ivory HuntersInspector Nkuru
  75. 1990Heat WaveJunius Johnson
  76. 1990Last Flight OutAl Topping
  77. 1990By Dawn's Early LightAlice
  78. 1990The AmbulanceLt. Spencer
  79. 1990The Hunt for Red OctoberVice ADM James Greer
  80. 1990Teach 109Dr. Winston
  81. 1990TerrorgramRetribution (voice)
  82. 1989Best of the BestFrank Couzo
  83. 1989Field of DreamsTerrence Mann
  84. 1989Three FugitivesDugan
  85. 1989The Hunting of the SnarkNarrator (voice)
  86. 1989Stories to Remember: Noah's ArkNarrator
  87. 1988Coming to AmericaKing Jaffe Joffer
  88. 1987Matewan'Few Clothes' Johnson
  89. 1987Pinocchio and the Emperor of the NightEmperor of the Night (voice)
  90. 1987Gardens of StoneSgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson
  91. 1986Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of GoldUmslopogaas
  92. 1986Soul ManProfessor Banks
  93. 1986My Little GirlIke Bailey
  94. 1986Aladdin and His Wonderful LampGenie / Narrator
  95. 1986The Lone Star KidHolmes
  96. 1985MosesPharaoh
  97. 1985City LimitsAlbert
  98. 1985Visual Pathfinders: Robert Abel & Associates
  99. 1984The Vegas Strip WarJack Madrid
  100. 1984Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's EarsNarrator
  101. 1983Return of the JediDarth Vader (voice)
  102. 1982Blood TideFrye
  103. 1982Amy and the AngelGabriel
  104. 1982The Flight of DragonsOmmadon (voice)
  105. 1982Conan the BarbarianThulsa Doom
  106. 1981Golden Book Video - Beauty and the BeastNarrator (voice)
  107. 1981The CreationNarrator (voice)
  108. 1981The Bushido BladeThe Prisoner
  109. 1981Beauty and the BeastNarrator (voice)
  110. 1981God's TrombonesNarrator (voice)
  111. 1980The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love StoryDane Oliver
  112. 1980The Empire Strikes BackDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
  113. 1979Paul RobesonPaul Robeson
  114. 1978The Star Wars Holiday SpecialDarth Vader (voice)
  115. 1978The Story of the Faithful WookieeDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
  116. 1977The Greatest Thing That Almost HappenedMorris Bird, Jr.
  117. 1977A Piece of the ActionJoshua Burke
  118. 1977Exorcist II: The HereticOlder Kokumo
  119. 1977The Last Remake of Beau GesteSheikh
  120. 1977Star WarsDarth Vader (voice) (uncredited)