James Earl Jones

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.

Known For

Law & Order

The Simpsons

The Simpsons

The Simpsons

House

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Sesame Street

Stargate SG-1

All Movies (202)

• Indiana Jones Adventure | Disneyland Resort2025 · as Mara (voice)
• BET News & ET Present James Earl Jones: Life and Legacy2024 · as Self (archive footage)
• Butterfly in the Sky2024 · as Guest Narrator (archive footage)
• Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street2021 · as Self (archive footage)
• Coming 2 America2021 · as King Jaffe Joffer
• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker2019 · as Darth Vader (voice)
• On Broadway2019 · as Self (archive footage)
• Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage2019 · as Self
• The Lion King2019 · as Mufasa (voice)
• The Space: Theatre of Survival2019 · as Narrator
• Words from a Bear2019 · as Self
• Warning Shot2018 · as Pendleton
• The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride Lands2017 · as Mufasa (voice)
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story2016 · as Darth Vader (voice)
• God Bless You, Mr Rosewater2016 · as Kilgore Trout
• The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar2016 · as Mufasa (voice)
• Driving Miss Daisy2015 · as Hoke Colburn
• Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal2015 · as Darth Vader (voice)
• August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand2015 · as Self
• Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion2014 · as Darth Vader (voice)
• The Angriest Man in Brooklyn2014 · as Ruben
• Gimme Shelter2013 · as Frank McCarthy
• Muse of Fire2013 · as Self
• Blackfish2013 · as Self (archive footage)
• Milius2013 · as Self
• An Amazing Time: A Conversation About End of the Road2012 · as Self
• Joe Papp in Five Acts2012 · as Self
• Strange Septembers: The Hill Abduction & the Exeter Encounter2011 · as Himself
• Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey2010 · as Admiral (voice)
• Jack and the Beanstalk2009 · as The Giant (voice)
• Waking Sleeping Beauty2009 · as Self (archive footage)
• Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins2008 · as Papa Jenkins
• Earth2007 · as Narrator (voice)
• Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson2007 · as Self
• John, Paul, George and Ben2007 · as Narrator
• Searching for Orson2006 · as Self
• Click2006 · as Narrator of Michael's Past (voice) (uncredited)
• The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays2006 · as Jack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope") / Troy Maxson (segment "Fences")
• Scary Movie 42006 · as Narrator (uncredited)
• The Benchwarmers2006 · as Darth Vader (voice)
• The Trail Of Tears: Cherokee Legacy2006 · as Narrator
• Hollywood's Greatest Villains2005 · as Self
• The Sandlot 22005 · as Mr. Mertle
• The Reading Room2005 · as William
• Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith2005 · as Darth Vader (voice - uncredited)
• Robots2005 · as Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice)
• By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'2005 · as Narrator
• No Fighting in the War Room Or: 'Dr Strangelove' and the Nuclear Threat2004 · as Self
• Nine Dog Christmas2004 · as Storyteller (voice)
• Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy2004 · as Self
• The Story of Star Wars2004 · as Darth Vader (archive footage)
• Black Indians: An American Story2004 · as Narrator
• The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror2003 · as Maggie Simpson (voice)
• The Great Year2003 · as Narrator
• Beneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October'2003 · as Self
• Fredericksburg: A Documentary Film2002 · as Narrator
• Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World2001 · as Self
• Feast of All Saints2001 · as Older Marcel
• Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street2001 · as Mister (voice)
• Finder's Fee2001 · as Avery Phillips
• Disney's American Legends2001 · as Narrator
• Antietam: A Documentary Film2000 · as Narrator
• Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'2000 · as Self
• Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'2000 · as Self - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg'
• The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to Strangelove2000 · as Self
• Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light2000
• Fantasia 20002000 · as Self - Host
• Santa and Pete1999 · as Grandpa Nicholas
• The Annihilation of Fish1999 · as Fish
• Undercover Angel1999 · as The Judge
• On the Q.T.1999 · as Leo
• Summer's End1999 · as Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely
• Our Friend, Martin1999 · as Daddy King (voice)
• The Lion King II: Simba's Pride1998 · as Mufasa (voice)
• Primary Colors1998 · as CNN Voiceover (voice)
• Alone1997 · as Grey
• The Second Civil War1997 · as Jim Kalla
• What the Deaf Man Heard1997 · as Archibald Thacker
• Gang Related1997 · as Arthur Baylor
• Hitler's Forgotten Victims1997 · as Narrator (voice) (DVD version)
• Casper: A Spirited Beginning1997 · as Kibosh (voice)
• Sports on the Silver Screen1997 · as Self (archive footage)
• Good Luck1997 · as James Bing
• Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery1997 · as Self
• Afro Promo1997 · as Self (archive footage)
• Timepiece1996 · as Lawrence
• Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault1996 · as Dr. McDuffie
• Looking for Richard1996 · as Self - Interviewee
• Corwin1996 · as Self
• A Family Thing1996 · as Ray Murdock
• Cry, the Beloved Country1995 · as Rev. Stephen Kumalo
• Who's in Rabbit's House?1995 · as Narrator (voice)
• Judge Dredd1995 · as Narrator (uncredited)
• The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies1995 · as Self
• The Making of 'Jurassic Park'1995 · as Host
• Jefferson in Paris1995 · as Madison Hemings
• Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable1995 · as Mufasa
• People: A Musical Celebration1995 · as The Storyteller (voice)
• Bah, Humbug!: The Story of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'1994 · as Narrator
• Clear and Present Danger1994 · as Admiral James Greer
• The Making of the Lion King1994 · as Self
• The Lion King1994 · as Mufasa (voice)
• The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics1994 · as Host
• Clean Slate1994 · as John Dolby
• Africa: The Serengeti1994 · as Narrator
• Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult1994 · as James Earl Jones (uncredited)
• Gangs: Turning the Corner1994 · as Self
• Confessions: Two Faces of Evil1994 · as Charles Lloyd
• The Vernon Johns Story1994 · as Vernon Johns
• Hallelujah1993 · as Old Man Taylor
• Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short Films1993 · as Self (voice) (uncredited)
• Percy & Thunder1993 · as Percy Banks
• The Meteor Man1993 · as Earnest Moses
• Dreamrider1993 · as Bill Perry
• Excessive Force1993 · as Jake
• The Sandlot1993 · as Mr. Mertle
• Sommersby1993 · as Judge Barry Conrad Issacs
• Lincoln1992 · as Narrator (voice)
• Sneakers1992 · as Mr. Bernard Abbott
• Patriot Games1992 · as Adm. James Greer
• The JFK Conspiracy1992 · as Self - Host
• True Identity1991 · as James Earl Jones
• When It Was a Game1991 · as (voice)
• Scorchers1991 · as Bear
• Portrait of Castro's Cuba1991 · as Host/Narrator
• Visitors from the Unknown1991 · as Narrator (voice)
• Convicts1991 · as Ben Johnson
• Grim Prairie Tales1990 · as Morrison
• Ivory Hunters1990 · as Inspector Nkuru
• Heat Wave1990 · as Junius Johnson
• Last Flight Out1990 · as Al Topping
• By Dawn's Early Light1990 · as Alice
• The Ambulance1990 · as Lt. Spencer
• The Hunt for Red October1990 · as Vice ADM James Greer
• Teach 1091990 · as Dr. Winston
• Terrorgram1990 · as Retribution (voice)
• 11-22-63: The Day the Nation Cried1989 · as Narrator
• Best of the Best1989 · as Frank Couzo
• Field of Dreams1989 · as Terrence Mann
• Three Fugitives1989 · as Dugan
• The Hunting of the Snark1989 · as Narrator (voice)
• Stories to Remember: Noah's Ark1989 · as Narrator
• Coming to America1988 · as King Jaffe Joffer
• Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues1988 · as Narrator (voice)
• Matewan1987 · as 'Few Clothes' Johnson
• Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night1987 · as Emperor of the Night (voice)
• Gardens of Stone1987 · as Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson
• A House Divided1987
• Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold1986 · as Umslopogaas
• Soul Man1986 · as Professor Banks
• My Little Girl1986 · as Ike Bailey
• Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp1986 · as Genie / Narrator
• The Lone Star Kid1986 · as Holmes
• Moses1985 · as Pharaoh
• City Limits1985 · as Albert
• Night of 100 Stars II1985 · as Self
• Visual Pathfinders: Robert Abel & Associates1985
• The Vegas Strip War1984 · as Jack Madrid
• Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears1984 · as Narrator
• Return of the Jedi1983 · as Darth Vader (voice)
• Blood Tide1982 · as Frye
• Amy and the Angel1982 · as Gabriel
• The Flight of Dragons1982 · as Ommadon (voice)
• Conan the Barbarian1982 · as Thulsa Doom
• Night of 100 Stars1982 · as Self
• Golden Book Video - Beauty and the Beast1981 · as Narrator (voice)
• The Creation1981 · as Narrator (voice)
• The Bushido Blade1981 · as The Prisoner
• There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagues1981 · as himself, voice
• Beauty and the Beast1981 · as Narrator (voice)
• God's Trombones1981 · as Narrator (voice)
• The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story1980 · as Dane Oliver
• The Empire Strikes Back1980 · as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
• The Me Nobody Knows1980 · as Self
• A Walking Tour of Sesame Street1979 · as Self - Host
• Paul Robeson1979 · as Paul Robeson
• Black Theatre: The Making of a Movement1978 · as Self
• The Star Wars Holiday Special1978 · as Darth Vader (voice)
• The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened1977 · as Morris Bird, Jr.
• A Piece of the Action1977 · as Joshua Burke
• The Making of Star Wars1977 · as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
• Exorcist II: The Heretic1977 · as Older Kokumo
• The Last Remake of Beau Geste1977 · as Sheikh
• Star Wars1977 · as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
• The Greatest1977 · as Malcolm X
• Swashbuckler1976 · as Nick Debrett
• The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings1976 · as Leon
• The River Niger1976 · as Johnny Williams
• Deadly Hero1975 · as Rabbit Shazam
• The UFO Incident1975 · as Barney Hill
• The Cay1974 · as Timothy
• Claudine1974 · as Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall
• King Lear1974 · as King Lear
• The Man1972 · as Douglass Dilman
• Malcolm X1972 · as Biographical Narration (voice)
• Martin Luther King, Jr.: Legacy of a Dream1971 · as Narrator
• The Great White Hope1970 · as Jack Jefferson
• King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis1970 · as Self (archive footage)
• End of the Road1970 · as Doctor D
• The Comedians1967 · as Dr. Magiot
• Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb1964 · as Lt. Lothar Zogg
• Broadway: The Next Generation— · as Self

All TV Shows (71)

• Obi-Wan Kenobi2022 · as Darth Vader (voice)
• The Movies That Made Us2019 · as Self (archive footage)
• Star Wars Rebels2014 · as Darth Vader (voice)
• The Big Bang Theory2007 · as James Earl Jones
• The One Show2006 · as Self - Guest
• House2004 · as Dibala
• Two and a Half Men2003 · as James Earl Jones
• Everwood2002 · as Will Cleveland
• According to Jim2001 · as Royal Flush Voice (voice)
• Will & Grace1998 · as James Earl Jones
• Merlin1998 · as Rock of Ages
• Stargate SG-11997 · as Unas (Voice)
• 3rd Rock from the Sun1996 · as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
• Under One Roof1995 · as Neb Langston
• Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child1995 · as King Dakkar (voice)
• Signs and Wonders1995 · as Diamond
• Touched by an Angel1994 · as The Angel of Angels
• Frasier1993 · as Norman Royster
• Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman1993 · as Franklin Stern
• Homicide: Life on the Street1993 · as Felix Wilson
• Picket Fences1992 · as Bryant Thomas
• Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories1992 · as Narrator (voice)
• Pros and Cons1991 · as Gabriel Bird
• Law & Order1990 · as Defense Attorney Horace McCoy
• Gabriel's Fire1990 · as Gabriel Bird
• The Simpsons1989 · as Narrator (voice)
• The Simpsons1989 · as Moving Man / Serak the Preparer / Narrator (voice)
• The Simpsons1989 · as Maggie Simpson (voice)
• Long Ago and Far Away1989 · as Host
• Garfield and Friends1988 · as Diablo
• Mathnet1987 · as Chief Thad Green (voice)
• Mathnet1987 · as Chief Thad Green
• Mathnet1987 · as Chief Thad Greene
• L.A. Law1986 · as Lee Atkins
• Me & Mom1985
• The Atlanta Child Murders1985 · as Major Walker
• Highway to Heaven1984 · as Gabe Wilson
• CBS Schoolbreak Special1984 · as Detective Robb
• Reading Rainbow1983 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
• Faerie Tale Theatre1982 · as Genie / Narrator (voice)
• Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones1980 · as Father Divine
• Paris1979 · as Woody Paris
• Roots: The Next Generations1979 · as Alex Haley
• The Kennedy Center Honors1978 · as Self
• The Magic of David Copperfield1978
• Jesus of Nazareth1977 · as Balthazar
• Vegetable Soup1975 · as Long John Spoilsport
• Dinah!1974 · as Self
• The American Film Institute Salute to ...1973 · as Self
• Black Omnibus1973 · as Self - Host
• Great Performances1971 · as King Lear
• Sesame Street1969
• The Dick Cavett Show1968 · as Self - Guest
• Tarzan1966
• East Side/West Side1963
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self - Co-Host
• Dr. Kildare1961 · as Dr. Lou Rush
• The Defenders1961 · as Lieutenant Andrews
• The Defenders1961 · as Reverend Harris Bonham
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Winner / Performer
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Presenter
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self (archive footage)
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Nominee / Presenter
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Nominee
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Winner
• Hallmark Hall of Fame1951 · as Archibald Thacker
• Lamp Unto My Feet1948
• Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Nominee / Presenter