James Earl Jones
Known for
Acting
Life
1931 – 2024 (aged 93)
Born in
Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA
Credits
View on IMDb209 acting credits
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
Star Wars
25 May 1977
The Lion King
15 Jun 1994
The Empire Strikes Back
20 May 1980
Return of the Jedi
25 May 1983
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
14 Dec 2016
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
17 May 2005
The Big Bang Theory
24 Sep 2007
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
18 Dec 2019
Photos
Filmography
2025
- Indiana Jones Adventure | Disneyland Resortas Mara (voice)
2024
- Butterfly in the Skyas Guest Narrator (archive footage)
2022
- Obi-Wan Kenobias Darth Vader (voice)4 episodes
2021
- Coming 2 Americaas King Jaffe Joffer
2019
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkeras Darth Vader (voice)
- The Lion Kingas Mufasa (voice)
- The Space: Theatre of Survivalas Narrator
2018
- Warning Shotas Pendleton
2017
- The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride Landsas Mufasa (voice)
2016
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Storyas Darth Vader (voice)
- God Bless You, Mr Rosewateras Kilgore Trout
- The Lion Guard: Return of the Roaras Mufasa (voice)
2015
- Driving Miss Daisyas Hoke Colburn
- Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothalas Darth Vader (voice)
2014
- Star Wars Rebelsas Darth Vader (voice)2 episodes
- Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellionas Darth Vader (voice)
- The Angriest Man in Brooklynas Ruben
2013
- Gimme Shelteras Frank McCarthy
2010
- Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odysseyas Admiral (voice)
2009
- Jack and the Beanstalkas The Giant (voice)
2008
- Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkinsas Papa Jenkins
2007
- Earthas Narrator (voice)
- The Big Bang Theoryas James Earl Jones1 episode
- John, Paul, George and Benas Narrator
2006
- Clickas Narrator of Michael's Past (voice) (uncredited)
- The Best of The Tony Awards: The Playsas Jack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope")
- Scary Movie 4as Narrator (uncredited)
- The Benchwarmersas Darth Vader (voice)
- The Trail Of Tears: Cherokee Legacyas Narrator
2005
- The Sandlot 2as Mr. Mertle
- The Reading Roomas William
- Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sithas Darth Vader (voice - uncredited)
- Robotsas Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice)
- By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X'as Narrator
2004
- Houseas Dibala1 episode
- Nine Dog Christmasas Storyteller (voice)
- The Story of Star Warsas Darth Vader (archive footage)
- Black Indians: An American Storyas Narrator
2003
- The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horroras Maggie Simpson (voice)
- Two and a Half Menas James Earl Jones1 episode
- The Great Yearas Narrator
2002
- Everwoodas Will Cleveland3 episodes
- Fredericksburg: A Documentary Filmas Narrator
2001
- Feast of All Saintsas Older Marcel
- Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Streetas Mister (voice)
- According to Jimas Royal Flush Voice (voice)1 episode
- Finder's Feeas Avery Phillips
- Disney's American Legendsas Narrator
2000
1999
- Santa and Peteas Grandpa Nicholas
- The Annihilation of Fishas Fish
- Undercover Angelas The Judge
- On the Q.T.as Leo
- Summer's Endas Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely
- Our Friend, Martinas Daddy King (voice)
1998
- The Lion King II: Simba's Prideas Mufasa (voice)
- Will & Graceas James Earl Jones1 episode
- Merlinas Rock of Ages2 episodes
- Primary Colorsas CNN Voiceover (voice)
1997
- Aloneas Grey
- The Second Civil Waras Jim Kalla
- What the Deaf Man Heardas Archibald Thacker
- Gang Relatedas Arthur Baylor
- Hitler's Forgotten Victimsas Narrator (voice) (DVD version)
- Casper: A Spirited Beginningas Kibosh (voice)
- Stargate SG-1as Unas (Voice)1 episode
- Good Luckas James Bing
1996
- Timepieceas Lawrence
- Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigaultas Dr. McDuffie
- A Family Thingas Ray Murdock
- 3rd Rock from the Sunas Narrator (voice) (uncredited)19 episodes
1995
- Cry, the Beloved Countryas Rev. Stephen Kumalo
- Who's in Rabbit's House?as Narrator (voice)
- Judge Dreddas Narrator (uncredited)
- The Making of 'Jurassic Park'as Host
- Jefferson in Parisas Madison Hemings
- Under One Roofas Neb Langston6 episodes
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Childas King Dakkar (voice)1 episode
- Circle of Life: An Environmental Fableas Mufasa
- Signs and Wondersas Diamond4 episodes
- People: A Musical Celebrationas The Storyteller (voice)
1994
- Bah, Humbug!: The Story of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'as Narrator
- Touched by an Angelas The Angel of Angels1 episode
- Clear and Present Dangeras Admiral James Greer
- The Lion Kingas Mufasa (voice)
- The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classicsas Host
- Clean Slateas John Dolby
- Africa: The Serengetias Narrator
- Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insultas James Earl Jones (uncredited)
- Confessions: Two Faces of Evilas Charles Lloyd
- The Vernon Johns Storyas Vernon Johns
1993
- Hallelujahas Old Man Taylor
- Frasieras Norman Royster1 episode
- Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Supermanas Franklin Stern1 episode
- Percy & Thunderas Percy Banks
- The Meteor Manas Earnest Moses
- Dreamrideras Bill Perry
- Excessive Forceas Jake
- The Sandlotas Mr. Mertle
- Sommersbyas Judge Barry Conrad Issacs
- Homicide: Life on the Streetas Felix Wilson3 episodes
1992
- Lincolnas Narrator (voice)
- Picket Fencesas Bryant Thomas1 episode
- Sneakersas Mr. Bernard Abbott
- Patriot Gamesas Adm. James Greer
- Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Storiesas Narrator (voice)1 episode
1991
- Pros and Consas Gabriel Bird12 episodes
- True Identityas James Earl Jones
- When It Was a Gameas (voice)
- Scorchersas Bear
- Portrait of Castro's Cubaas Host
- Visitors from the Unknownas Narrator (voice)
- Convictsas Ben Johnson
1990
- Grim Prairie Talesas Morrison
- Law & Orderas Defense Attorney Horace McCoy1 episode
- Gabriel's Fireas Gabriel Bird22 episodes
- Ivory Huntersas Inspector Nkuru
- Heat Waveas Junius Johnson
- Last Flight Outas Al Topping
- By Dawn's Early Lightas Alice
- The Ambulanceas Lt. Spencer
- The Hunt for Red Octoberas Vice ADM James Greer
- Teach 109as Dr. Winston
- Terrorgramas Retribution (voice)
1989
- The Simpsonsas Maggie Simpson (voice)1 episode
- 11-22-63: The Day the Nation Criedas Narrator
- Best of the Bestas Frank Couzo
- Field of Dreamsas Terrence Mann
- Long Ago and Far Awayas Host35 episodes
- Three Fugitivesas Dugan
- The Hunting of the Snarkas Narrator (voice)
- Stories to Remember: Noah's Arkas Narrator
1988
- Garfield and Friendsas Diablo1 episode
- Coming to Americaas King Jaffe Joffer
- Michael Jackson: The Legend Continuesas Narrator (voice)
1987
- Matewanas 'Few Clothes' Johnson
- Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Nightas Emperor of the Night (voice)
- Gardens of Stoneas Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson
- A House Divided
- Mathnetas Chief Thad Greene1 episode
1986
- Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Goldas Umslopogaas
- Soul Manas Professor Banks
- L.A. Lawas Lee Atkins1 episode
- My Little Girlas Ike Bailey
- Aladdin and His Wonderful Lampas Genie
- The Lone Star Kidas Holmes
1985
- Mosesas Pharaoh
- City Limitsas Albert
- Me & Mom6 episodes
- The Atlanta Child Murdersas Major Walker2 episodes
- Visual Pathfinders: Robert Abel & Associates
1984
- The Vegas Strip Waras Jack Madrid
- Highway to Heavenas Gabe Wilson1 episode
- CBS Schoolbreak Specialas Detective Robb1 episode
- Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Earsas Narrator
1983
- Return of the Jedias Darth Vader (voice)
1982
- Blood Tideas Frye
- Amy and the Angelas Gabriel
- Faerie Tale Theatreas Genie1 episode
- The Flight of Dragonsas Ommadon (voice)
- Conan the Barbarianas Thulsa Doom
- American Playhouseas Old Man Taylor1 episode
1981
- Golden Book Video - Beauty and the Beastas Narrator (voice)
- The Creationas Narrator (voice)
- The Bushido Bladeas The Prisoner
- Beauty and the Beastas Narrator (voice)
- God's Trombonesas Narrator (voice)
1980
- The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Storyas Dane Oliver
- The Empire Strikes Backas Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
- Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jonesas Father Divine2 episodes
1979
- Parisas Woody Paris13 episodes
- Roots: The Next Generationsas Alex Haley1 episode
- Paul Robesonas Paul Robeson
1978
- The Star Wars Holiday Specialas Darth Vader (voice)
- The Story of the Faithful Wookieeas Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
- The Magic of David Copperfield1 episode
1977
- The Greatest Thing That Almost Happenedas Morris Bird, Jr.
- A Piece of the Actionas Joshua Burke
- The Making of Star Warsas Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
- Exorcist II: The Hereticas Older Kokumo
- The Last Remake of Beau Gesteas Sheikh
- Star Warsas Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
- The Greatestas Malcolm X
- Jesus of Nazarethas Balthazar4 episodes
1976
- Swashbuckleras Nick Debrett
- The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kingsas Leon
- The River Nigeras Johnny Williams
1975
- Deadly Heroas Rabbit Shazam
- The UFO Incidentas Barney Hill
- Vegetable Soupas Long John Spoilsport57 episodes
1971
- Martin Luther King, Jr.: Legacy of a Dreamas Narrator
- Great Performancesas King Lear1 episode
1970
- The Great White Hopeas Jack Jefferson
- End of the Roadas Doctor D
1969
- Sesame Street1 episode
1967
- The Comediansas Dr. Magiot
1966
- Tarzan2 episodes
1964
- Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bombas Lt. Lothar Zogg
1963
- East Side/West Side1 episode
1961
- Dr. Kildareas Dr. Lou Rush3 episodes
- The Defendersas Reverend Harris Bonham1 episode
1951
- Hallmark Hall of Fameas Archibald Thacker1 episode
1948
- Lamp Unto My Feet1 episode