James Earl Jones
With his deep resonant voice and imposing physical presence, James Earl Jones became one of the most easily recognizable figures in the entertainment industry. A native of Arkabutla, Mississippi, he spent most of his childhood in Michigan living with his grandparents. The move north was such a jarring event, that he developed a severe stutter and barely spoke until high school. With help, Jones overcame the stutter as a teenager and became involved in artistic pursuits. A theater major at the University of Michigan, he served in the military as an officer immediately after graduating. Once his service ended, he relocated to New York to pursue acting. He soon began appearing regularly both on and off Broadway. His voice and stature made him a natural for the lead role in Shakespeare's "Othello," a part that he would play in several productions throughout his career. He made his film debut when Stanley Kubrick cast him as a bombardier in his satire "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (1965). He had a prominent role in "The Comedians" (1967) opposite Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, but his biggest break was still in the offing. Jones took the part of boxer Jack Johnson in the Broadway production of "The Great White Hope," earning a Tony award and critical acclaim. He went on to star in the 1970 film version, picking up an Academy Award nomination. Firmly established as an actor, he worked steadily from then on in film, television and stage. In the mid-1970s, a young filmmaker named George Lucas cast Jones as the voice of the villain in his sci-fi adventure "Star Wars" (1977). The character, Darth Vader, would become one of the greatest bad guys in history, and Jones continued providing the character's voice through the initial two sequels, "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980) and "Return of the Jedi" (1983), as well as a variety of ancillary projects over the subsequent decades. His voice became perhaps his greatest calling card, with his basso profundo closely associated with ads for Bell Atlantic/Verizon and on-air promotion for cable news giant CNN. While he worked regularly in film and on television, including starring in the short-lived series "Me and Mom" (CBS, 1985), he enjoyed an on-screen renaissance in the late-'80s. He played the African king father of Eddie Murphy in the blockbuster comedy "Coming to America" (1988). He then memorably joined Kevin Costner for the sentimental baseball film "Field of Dreams" (1989) playing reclusive writer Terence Mann. His soliloquy from the movie extolling the virtues of baseball would be played for years to come at stadiums across the country. In the '90s, he tried his hand again at series television, starring in "Gabriel's Fire" (ABC, 1990-91) and a reworking of the premise called "Pros and Cons" (ABC, 1991-92). His voice, though, would again make a bigger impact. Disney cast the actor as Mufasa, the leader of a lion pride and father of the protagonist Simba, in the animated hit "The Lion King" (1994). As with Darth Vader, Jones became so closely aligned with the character that he was asked to provide the voice again for Jon Favreau's blockbuster remake of the film in 2019. When not appearing on screen, the actor returned regularly to the stage, including a starring role in the initial Broadway run of August Wilson's acclaimed play "Fences." Jones later returned to familiar territory once more, joining Murphy for the long-gestating sequel "Coming 2 America" (2021). Jones returned as the voice of Darth Vader in the limited series "Obi-Wan Kenobi" (Disney+, 2022). James Earl Jones died on September 9, 2024 in Dutchess County, NY at the age of 93.
Photos
James Earl Jones
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
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No Score Yet |
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Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi - 40th Anniversary | Darth Vader (Voice) | - | 2023 |
49% |
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Coming 2 America | King Jaffe Joffer (Character) | - | 2021 |
51% |
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The Lion King | Mufasa (Voice) | $543.6M | 2019 |
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Warning Shot | Pendleton (Character) | - | 2018 |
84% |
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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | Darth Vader (Voice) | $533.2M | 2016 |
No Score Yet |
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The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar | Mufasa (Voice) | - | 2015 |
9% |
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The Angriest Man in Brooklyn | Ruben (Character) | - | 2014 |
27% |
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Gimme Shelter | Frank McCarthy (Character) | $1.4M | 2014 |
No Score Yet |
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Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey | Admiral (Voice) | - | 2010 |
No Score Yet |
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Jack and the Beanstalk | The Giant (Voice) | - | 2009 |
23% |
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Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins | Papa Jenkins (Character) | $42.2M | 2008 |
87% |
|
Earth | Narrator | $32.0M | 2007 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Trail of Tears: Cherokee Legacy | Narrator | - | 2006 |
No Score Yet |
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The Reading Room | William (Character) | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Ultimate Super Heroes, Ultimate Super Villains, Ultimate Super Vixens | Interviewee (Character) | - | 2005 |
40% |
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The Sandlot 2 | Mr. Mertle (Character) | - | 2005 |
64% |
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Robots | Voice box at hardware store (Voice) | - | 2005 |
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Nine Dog Christmas | Unknown (Character) | - | 2004 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Great Year | Narrator | - | 2004 |
60% |
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Finder's Fee | Avery Phillips (Character) | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Black Indians: An American Story | Narrator | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
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American Legends | Unknown (Character) | - | 2001 |
67% |
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Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World | Unknown (Character) | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Antietam: A Documentary Drama | Narrator | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | On the Q.T. | Leo (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
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Santa and Pete | Grandpa Nicholas (Character) | - | 1999 |
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Undercover Angel | The Judge (Character) | - | 1999 |
67% |
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The Annihilation of Fish | Fish (Character) | $2.2K | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
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Summer's End | Dr. William "Bill" Blakely (Character) | - | 1999 |
80% |
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Fantasia 2000 | Himself (Host) (segment "Carnival of the Animals") (Voice) | $60.5M | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
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Our Friend, Martin | Daddy King (Voice) | - | 1999 |
67% |
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The Lion King II: Simba's Pride | Mufasa (Voice) | - | 1998 |
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Alone | Grey (Character) | - | 1997 |
0% |
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Casper: A Spirited Beginning | Kibosh (Voice) | - | 1997 |
67% |
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The Second Civil War | Jim Kalla (Character) | - | 1997 |
50% |
|
Gang Related | Arthur Baylor (Character) | $5.9M | 1997 |
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What the Deaf Man Heard | Archibald Thacker (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Timepiece | Lawrence (Character) | - | 1996 |
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Good Luck | James Bing (uncredited) (Character) | $40.0K | 1996 |
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Rebound -- The Legend of Earl The Goat Manigault | Dr. McDuffie (Character) | - | 1996 |
73% |
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A Family Thing | Ray Murdock (Character) | $10.1M | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Who's in Rabbit's House? | Narrator | - | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Countdown to Freedom: 10 Days That Changed South Africa | Narrator | - | 1995 |
85% |
|
Cry, the Beloved Country | Rev Stephen Kumalo (Character) | $337.2K | 1995 |
31% |
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Jefferson in Paris | Madison Hemings (Character) | $2.5M | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics | Host | - | 1994 |
100% |
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Africa: The Serengeti | Narrator | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet |
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The Vernon Johns Story | Vernon Johns (Character) | - | 1994 |
81% |
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Clear and Present Danger | Adm. James Greer (Character) | $121.5M | 1994 |
93% |
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The Lion King | King Mufasa the Lion (Voice) | $95.6M | 1994 |
19% |
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Clean Slate | John Dolby (Character) | $7.3M | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Confessions: Two Faces of Evil | Charles Lloyd (Character) | - | 1994 |
27% |
|
The Meteor Man | Earnest Moses (Character) | $8.0M | 1993 |
65% |
|
The Sandlot | Mr. Mertle (Character) | $31.7M | 1993 |
63% |
|
Sommersby | Judge Barry Conrad Issacs (Character) | $46.4M | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Percy and Thunder | Percy (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hallelujah | Old Man Taylor (Character) | - | 1993 |
20% |
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Excessive Force | Jake (Character) | $1.1M | 1993 |
80% |
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Sneakers | Bernard Abbott, NSA (Character) | $50.6M | 1992 |
72% |
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Patriot Games | Adm. James Greer (Character) | $82.7M | 1992 |
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Scorchers | Bear (Character) | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dreamrider | William Perry (Character) | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet |
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Convicts | Ben Johnson (Character) | - | 1991 |
43% |
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True Identity | Self | $4.7M | 1991 |
No Score Yet |
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The Ambulance | Lt. Spencer (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Heat Wave | Junius Johnson (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet |
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By Dawn's Early Light | Alice (Character) | - | 1990 |
88% |
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The Hunt for Red October | Admiral James Greer (Character) | $119.1M | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Last Flight Out | Al Topping (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet |
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Grim Prairie Tales | Morrison (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Ivory Hunters | Inspector Nkuru (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet |
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Terrorgram | Unknown (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Last Elephant | Inspector Nkuru (Character) | - | 1990 |
14% |
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Three Fugitives | Dugan (Character) | $40.0M | 1989 |
33% |
|
Best of the Best | Frank Couzo (Character) | $5.9M | 1989 |
88% |
|
Field of Dreams | Terence Mann (Character) | $61.8M | 1989 |
73% |
|
Coming to America | King Jaffe Joffer (Character) | $128.1M | 1988 |
43% |
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Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night | Emperor of the Night (Voice) | $2.7M | 1987 |
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Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold | Umslopogaas (Character) | $2.0M | 1987 |
44% |
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Gardens of Stone | Sgt. Maj."Goody"Nelson (Character) | $4.4M | 1987 |
94% |
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Matewan | 'Few Clothes' Johnson (Character) | $23.9K | 1987 |
17% |
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Soul Man | Professor Banks (Character) | $27.3M | 1986 |
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My Little Girl | Ike Bailey (Character) | - | 1986 |
No Score Yet |
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City Limits | Albert (Character) | - | 1985 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Vegas Strip Wars | Jack Madrid (Character) | - | 1984 |
82% |
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Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi | Darth Vader (Voice) | $314.3M | 1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp | Genie (Voice) | - | 1983 |
No Score Yet |
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The Flight of Dragons |
Bryagh/ |
- | 1982 |
67% |
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Conan the Barbarian | Thulsa Doom (Character) | - | 1982 |
No Score Yet |
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The Bushido Blade | The Prisoner (Character) | - | 1981 |
No Score Yet |
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Blood Tide | Frye (Character) | - | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Demon Island | Frye (Character) | - | 1981 |
95% |
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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back | Darth Vader (voice) (Voice) | $291.9M | 1980 |
25% |
|
Star Wars: Holiday Special | Darth Vader (Voice) | - | 1978 |
50% |
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The Last Remake of Beau Geste | Sheikh (Character) | - | 1977 |
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A Piece of the Action | Joshua Burke (Character) | - | 1977 |
11% |
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Exorcist II: The Heretic | Older Kokumo (Character) | - | 1977 |
93% |
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Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope | Darth Vader (voice) (Voice) | $345 | 1977 |
20% |
|
The Greatest | Malcolm X (Character) | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened | Jr. Morris Bird (Character) | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet |
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Deadly Hero | Rabbit (Character) | - | 1976 |
87% |
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The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings | Leon Carter (Character) | - | 1976 |
40% |
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Swashbuckler | Nick Debrett (Character) | - | 1976 |
No Score Yet |
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The River Niger | Johnny Williams (Character) | - | 1976 |
No Score Yet |
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The UFO Incident | Barney Hill (Character) | - | 1975 |
67% |
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Claudine | Roop (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | King Lear | King Lear (Character) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet |
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Malcolm X | Narrator | - | 1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Man | Douglass Dilman (Character) | - | 1971 |
No Score Yet |
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End of the Road | Doctor D (Character) | - | 1970 |
43% |
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The Great White Hope | Jack Jefferson (Character) | - | 1970 |
27% |
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The Comedians | Dr. Magiot (Character) | - | 1967 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Comedians In Africa | Self | - | 1967 |
98% |
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Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb | Lt. Lothar Zogg (Character) | - | 1964 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Rachael Ray | Guest | 2016 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Great Performances | Unknown (Character) | 2015 |
98% | 85% | Star Wars Rebels | Darth Vader (Guest Star) | 2015 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | PBS NewsHour Weekend | Guest | 2014 |
81% | 84% | The Big Bang Theory | James Earl Jones (Guest Star) | 2014 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Wendy Williams Show | Guest | 2011 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Late Night With Jimmy Fallon | Guest | 2010 |
90% | 96% | House | Dibala (Guest Star) | 2009 |
65% | 66% | Two and a Half Men | James Earl Jones (Guest Star) | 2008 |
93% | No Score Yet | Everwood | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003-2004 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Sesame Street |
Unknown (Guest Star), Guest |
1969 2004 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | According to Jim | Royal Flush Voice (Guest Star) | 2004 |
No Score Yet | 88% | Will & Grace | Himself (Guest Star) | 2003 |
85% | 76% | The Simpsons |
Serak the preparer/ |
1990 1994 1998 |
91% | 90% | Homicide: Life on the Street | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997 |
95% | 95% | Frasier | Norman Royster (Guest Star) | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Touched by an Angel | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Mad About You | Himself (Guest Voice) | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Masterpiece Theatre | Unknown (Character) | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Unknown (Voice) | 1995 |
86% | No Score Yet | Under One Roof | Neb Langston (Character) | 1995 |
86% | 88% | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1994 |
No Score Yet | 83% | Law & Order | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1993 |
75% | No Score Yet | Gabriel's Fire | Gabriel Bird (Character) | 1990-1992 |
No Score Yet | 64% | Highway to Heaven | Gabe Wilson (Guest Star) | 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Atlanta Child Murders | Major Walker (Character) | 1985 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | What's My Line? | Guest | 1969 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tarzan | Nerlan (Guest Star) | 1967-1968 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dr. Kildare | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1966 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | East Side/West Side | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1963 |