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James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones

Highest Rated: 100% Africa: The Serengeti (1994)

Lowest Rated: 0% Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997)

Birthday: Jan 17, 1931

Birthplace: Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA

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.

Highest rated movies

98% 94% Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
94% 93% Matewan
88% 88% The Hunt for Red October 88% 86% Field of Dreams
87% 65% The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings
85% 73% Cry, the Beloved Country
81% 74% Clear and Present Danger 80% 80% Sneakers

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 99% Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi - 40th Anniversary Darth Vader (Voice) - 2023
49% 38% Coming 2 America King Jaffe Joffer (Character) - 2021
52% 88% The Lion King Mufasa (Voice) $543.6M 2019
No Score Yet 65% Warning Shot Pendleton (Character) - 2018
84% 87% Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Darth Vader (Voice) $533.2M 2016
No Score Yet 62% The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar Mufasa (Voice) - 2015
9% 30% The Angriest Man in Brooklyn Ruben (Character) - 2014
27% 63% Gimme Shelter Frank McCarthy (Character) $1.4M 2014
No Score Yet 71% Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey Admiral (Voice) - 2010
No Score Yet 31% Jack and the Beanstalk The Giant (Voice) - 2009
23% 63% Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins Papa Jenkins (Character) $42.2M 2008
87% 82% Earth Narrator $32.0M 2007
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Trail of Tears: Cherokee Legacy Narrator - 2006
No Score Yet 77% 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% 41% The Sandlot 2 Mr. Mertle (Character) - 2005
64% 54% Robots Voice box at hardware store (Voice) - 2005
No Score Yet 62% Nine Dog Christmas Unknown (Character) - 2004
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Great Year Narrator - 2004
60% 58% Finder's Fee Avery Phillips (Character) - 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet Black Indians: An American Story Narrator - 2001
No Score Yet 67% American Legends Unknown (Character) - 2001
67% 92% 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 73% Santa and Pete Grandpa Nicholas (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet 74% Undercover Angel The Judge (Character) - 1999
67% 80% The Annihilation of Fish Fish (Character) $2.2K 1999
No Score Yet 58% Summer's End Dr. William "Bill" Blakely (Character) - 1999
80% 75% Fantasia 2000 Himself (Host) (segment "Carnival of the Animals") (Voice) $60.5M 1999
No Score Yet 66% Our Friend, Martin Daddy King (Voice) - 1999
67% 61% The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Mufasa (Voice) - 1998
No Score Yet 0% Alone Grey (Character) - 1997
0% 42% Casper: A Spirited Beginning Kibosh (Voice) - 1997
67% 61% The Second Civil War Jim Kalla (Character) - 1997
50% 65% Gang Related Arthur Baylor (Character) $5.9M 1997
No Score Yet 88% What the Deaf Man Heard Archibald Thacker (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet Timepiece Lawrence (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet 63% Good Luck James Bing (uncredited) (Character) $40.0K 1996
No Score Yet 94% Rebound -- The Legend of Earl The Goat Manigault Dr. McDuffie (Character) - 1996
73% 72% 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% 73% Cry, the Beloved Country Rev Stephen Kumalo (Character) $337.2K 1995
31% 35% 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% 70% Africa: The Serengeti Narrator - 1994
No Score Yet 83% The Vernon Johns Story Vernon Johns (Character) - 1994
81% 74% Clear and Present Danger Adm. James Greer (Character) $121.5M 1994
92% 93% The Lion King King Mufasa the Lion (Voice) $95.6M 1994
19% 36% Clean Slate John Dolby (Character) $7.3M 1994
No Score Yet No Score Yet Confessions: Two Faces of Evil Charles Lloyd (Character) - 1994
25% 36% The Meteor Man Earnest Moses (Character) $8.0M 1993
65% 89% The Sandlot Mr. Mertle (Character) $31.7M 1993
63% 59% 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% 36% Excessive Force Jake (Character) $1.1M 1993
80% 80% Sneakers Bernard Abbott, NSA (Character) $50.6M 1992
72% 72% Patriot Games Adm. James Greer (Character) $82.7M 1992
No Score Yet 68% Scorchers Bear (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dreamrider William Perry (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet 32% Convicts Ben Johnson (Character) - 1991
50% 24% True Identity Self $4.7M 1991
No Score Yet 48% The Ambulance Lt. Spencer (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Heat Wave Junius Johnson (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet 74% By Dawn's Early Light Alice (Character) - 1990
88% 88% 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 43% Grim Prairie Tales Morrison (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Ivory Hunters Inspector Nkuru (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet 86% Terrorgram Unknown (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Last Elephant Inspector Nkuru (Character) - 1990
14% 50% Three Fugitives Dugan (Character) $40.0M 1989
33% 73% Best of the Best Frank Couzo (Character) $5.9M 1989
88% 86% Field of Dreams Terence Mann (Character) $61.8M 1989
73% 85% Coming to America King Jaffe Joffer (Character) $128.1M 1988
43% 61% Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night Emperor of the Night (Voice) $2.7M 1987
40% 22% Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold Umslopogaas (Character) $2.0M 1987
44% 55% Gardens of Stone Sgt. Maj."Goody"Nelson (Character) $4.4M 1987
94% 93% Matewan 'Few Clothes' Johnson (Character) $23.9K 1987
17% 35% Soul Man Professor Banks (Character) $27.3M 1986
No Score Yet 38% My Little Girl Ike Bailey (Character) - 1986
No Score Yet 8% City Limits Albert (Character) - 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Vegas Strip Wars Jack Madrid (Character) - 1984
82% 94% 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 92% The Flight of Dragons Bryagh/Smrgol (Voice) - 1982
67% 74% Conan the Barbarian Thulsa Doom (Character) - 1982
No Score Yet 33% The Bushido Blade The Prisoner (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet 10% Blood Tide Frye (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Demon Island Frye (Character) - 1981
95% 97% Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Darth Vader (voice) (Voice) $291.9M 1980
25% 25% Star Wars: Holiday Special Darth Vader (Voice) - 1978
50% 63% The Last Remake of Beau Geste Sheikh (Character) - 1977
No Score Yet 81% A Piece of the Action Joshua Burke (Character) - 1977
11% 13% Exorcist II: The Heretic Older Kokumo (Character) - 1977
93% 96% Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope Darth Vader (voice) (Voice) $345 1977
20% 47% 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 75% Deadly Hero Rabbit (Character) - 1976
87% 65% The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings Leon Carter (Character) - 1976
40% 56% Swashbuckler Nick Debrett (Character) - 1976
No Score Yet 44% The River Niger Johnny Williams (Character) - 1976
No Score Yet 53% The UFO Incident Barney Hill (Character) - 1975
67% 91% Claudine Roop (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet King Lear King Lear (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet 100% Malcolm X Narrator - 1972
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Man Douglass Dilman (Character) - 1971
No Score Yet 31% End of the Road Doctor D (Character) - 1970
43% 67% The Great White Hope Jack Jefferson (Character) - 1970
27% 47% The Comedians Dr. Magiot (Character) - 1967
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Comedians In Africa Self - 1967
98% 94% 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/Narrator (Guest Voice) 1990 1994 1998
91% 89% Homicide: Life on the Street Unknown (Guest Star) 1997
95% 94% 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% 86% 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 66% 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