James Earl Jones

Actor

James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is a multi-award-winning American actor of theater and film, well known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership. He is known for providing the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise and the tagline for CNN. James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, the son of Ruth (née Connolly) and Robert Earl Jones. At the age of five, he moved to Jackson, Michigan, to be raised by his...

Place of Birth: Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA

Date of Birth: Jan 17, 1931

Photos

20 Photos

Filmography

Actor (229 Known Credits)

On Broadway

Self (archive footage)

Coming 2 America

Roi Jaffe Joffer

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Darth Vader (voice)

The Lion King

Mufasa (voice)

Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage

Himself

The Movies That Made Us

Self (Archival Footage)

The Space: Theatre of Survival

Narrator

Warning Shot

Pendleton

Street Gang

Self (archive footage)

The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride Lands

Mufasa

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Darth Vader (voice)

God Bless You, Mr Rosewater

Kilgore Trout

Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal

Darth Vader (voice)

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar

Mufasa (voice)

Star Wars Rebels

Anakin Skywalker (voice)

Star Wars Rebels

Darth Vader (voice)

The Angriest Man in Brooklyn

Ruben

Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion

Darth Vader (voice)

Driving Miss Daisy

Hoke Colburn

Blackfish

Himself (archive footage)

Milius

Himself

Gimme Shelter

Frank McCarthy

Muse of Fire

Himself

Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey

Admiral (voice)

An Amazing Time: A Conversation About End of the Road

Self

Jack and the Beanstalk

The Giant (voice)

Waking Sleeping Beauty

Self (archive footage)

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins

Papa Jenkins

The Big Bang Theory

Himself

Earth

Narrator

John, Paul, George and Ben

Narrator

Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson

Self

The One Show

Self - Guest

Scary Movie 4

Narrator (uncredited)

Click

Narrator of Michael's Past (uncredited)

The Benchwarmers

Darth Vader (voice)

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays

Jack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope") / Troy Maxson (segment "Fences")

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Darth Vader (voice)

Robots

Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice)

The Sandlot 2

Mr. Mertle

By Any Means Necessary: The Making of Malcolm X

Narrator

House

Dibala

Nine Dog Christmas

Narrator

Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy

Himself

Black Indians: An American Story

Narrator

No Fighting in the War Room Or: Dr Strangelove and the Nuclear Threat

Himself

The Story of Star Wars

Darth Vader

Two and a Half Men

Himself

The Great Year

Narrator

Beneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October'

Himself

Everwood

Will Cleveland

Fredericksburg: A Documentary Film

Narrator

According to Jim

Royal Flush Voice (voice)

Finder's Fee

Avery Phillips

Disney's American Legends

Narrator

Feast of All Saints

Older Marcel

Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street

Mister (voice)

Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World

Self

Visitors from the Unknown

Narrator

Summer's End

Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely

Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'

Himself

The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to Strangelove

Himself

Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'

Himself - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg'

Antietam: A Documentary Film

Narrator

Undercover Angel

The Judge

The Annihilation of Fish

Fish

Himself - Host

James Earl Jones

Daddy King (voice)

Leo

Self

Rock of Ages

CNN Voiceover (voice)

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

Mufasa (voice)

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies

Self

Stargate SG-1

Unas (Voice)

Gang Related

Arthur Baylor

Casper: A Spirited Beginning

Kibosh (voice)

The Second Civil War

Jim Kalla

What the Deaf Man Heard

Archibald Thacker

Alone

Grey

Afro Promo

Himself (archive footage)

Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery

Self

Sports on the Silver Screen

Self (archive footage)

Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault

Dr. McDuffie

A Family Thing

Ray Murdock

Looking for Richard

Himself/Interview

Timepiece

Lawrence

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

King Dakkar (voice)

Judge Dredd

Narrator (uncredited)

Cry, the Beloved Country

Rev. Stephen Kumalo

Jefferson in Paris

Madison Hemings

The Making of 'Jurassic Park'

Host

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies

Self

People

The Storyteller (voice)

Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable

Mufasa (voice)

Under One Roof

Neb Langston

Who's in Rabbit's House?

Narrator (voice)

The Lion King

King Mufasa (voice)

Clear and Present Danger

Admiral James Greer

Africa: The Serengeti

Narrator

Clean Slate

John Dolby

Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics

Host

Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult

James Earl Jones

The Vernon Johns Story

Vernon Johns

Confessions: Two Face of Evil

Charles Lloyd

The Making of the Lion King

Self

Gangs: Turning the Corner

Self

Frasier

Norman Royster

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Franklin Stern

Sommersby

Judge Barry Conrad Issacs

The Meteor Man

Earnest Moses

The Sandlot

Mr. Mertle

Excessive Force

Jake

Michael Jackson - Dangerous - The Short Films

Himself (Superbowl Heal The World) Voice

Bill Perry

Old Man Taylor

Percy Banks

NSA Agent Bernard Abbott

Adm. James Greer

Narrator (voice)

Gabriel Bird

Himself

Bear

Ben Johnson

Portrait of Castro's Cuba

Host/Narrator

Law & Order

Attorney Horace McCoy

Gabriel's Fire

Gabriel Bird

The Hunt for Red October

Admiral James Greer

By Dawn's Early Light

Looking Glass General - 'Alice'

Morrison

Lt. Spencer

Inspector Nkuru

Junius Johnson

Dr. Winston

Al Topping

Maggie Simpson (voice, as James Earl Boggins Jones)

The Simpsons

Moving Man / Serak the Preparer / Narrator (voice)

The Simpsons

Narrator (voice)

Long Ago and Far Away

Host

Field of Dreams

Terrence Mann

Three Fugitives

Dugan

Best of the Best

Frank Couzo

Stories to Remember: Noah's Ark

Narrator

The Hunting of the Snark

Narrator (voice)

11-22-63: The Day the Nation Cried

Narrator

Coming to America

King Jaffe Joffer

Terrorgram

Retribution (voice)

Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues

Narrator (voice)

Mathnet

Chief Thad Green

Mathnet

Chief Thad Green (voice)

Matewan

'Few Clothes' Johnson

Gardens of Stone

Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson

Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night

Emperor of the Night (voice)

L.A. Law

Lee Atkins

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold

Umslopogaas

Soul Man

Professor Banks

My Little Girl

Ike Bailey

Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp

Genie / Narrator

The Lone Star Kid

Holmes

The Atlanta Child Murders

Major Walker

Night of 100 Stars II

Self

City Limits

Albert

The Vegas Strip War

Jack Madrid

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

Narrator

Reading Rainbow

Himself - Narrator (voice)

Return of the Jedi

Voice of Darth Vader (voice)

Faerie Tale Theatre

Genie / Narrator (voice)

Conan the Barbarian

Thulsa Doom

The Flight of Dragons

Omadon

Frye

Self

Gabriel

The Prisoner

Narrator

Himself - Narrator (segment "The Creation")

There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagues

himself, voice

Beauty and the Beast

Narrator (voice)

CBS Schoolbreak Special

Detective Robb

The Empire Strikes Back

Darth Vader (Voice)

The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story

Dane Oliver

Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones

Father Divine

The Me Nobody Knows

Self

Paris

Woody Paris

Roots: The Next Generations

Alex Haley

Paul Robeson

A Walking Tour of Sesame Street

Himself

The Kennedy Center Honors

Self

The Star Wars Holiday Special

Darth Vader (voice)

The Story of the Faithful Wookiee

Darth Vader (voice)

Black Theatre: The Making of a Movement

Self

Star Wars

Darth Vader (voice)

Exorcist II: The Heretic

Older Kokumo

A Piece of the Action

Joshua Burke

The Last Remake of Beau Geste

Sheikh

The Greatest

Malcolm X

The Making of 'Star Wars'

Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)

The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened

Morris Bird, Jr.

Jesus of Nazareth

Balthazar

Swashbuckler

Nick Debrett

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

Leon Carter

Johnny Williams

Long John Spoilsport

Rabbit Shazam

Barney Hill

Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall

The Cay

Timothy

King Lear

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

Self

Black Omnibus

Self - Host

Malcolm X

Biographical Narration (voice)

The Man

Douglass Dilman

Great Performances

King Lear

The Great White Hope

Jack Jefferson

King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis

Self (archive footage)

End of the Road

Doctor D

The Dick Cavett Show

Himself - Guest

The Comedians

Dr. Magiot

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Lt. Lothar Zogg

Dr. Kildare

Dr. Lou Rush

The Defenders

Lieutenant Andrews

The Defenders

Reverend Harris Bonham

Tony Awards

Himself - Nominee / Performer

Tony Awards

Self - Presenter

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Archibald Thacker

The Ed Sullivan Show

Jack Jefferson (archive footage)

Hollywood's Greatest Villains

Himself

Untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi Series

Darth Vader (voice)

Searching for Orson

Self

On Broadway (2021)

Self (archive footage)

Coming 2 America (2020)

Roi Jaffe Joffer

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Darth Vader (voice)

The Lion King (2019)

Mufasa (voice)

Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage (2019)

Himself

The Movies That Made Us (2019)

Self (Archival Footage)

The Space: Theatre of Survival (2019)

Narrator

Warning Shot (2018)

Pendleton

Street Gang (2018)

Self (archive footage)

The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride Lands (2017)

Mufasa

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Darth Vader (voice)

God Bless You, Mr Rosewater (2016)

Kilgore Trout

Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal (2015)

Darth Vader (voice)

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015)

Mufasa (voice)

Star Wars Rebels (2014 - 2018)

Anakin Skywalker (voice)

Star Wars Rebels (2014 - 2018)

Darth Vader (voice)

The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014)

Ruben

Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion (2014)

Darth Vader (voice)

Driving Miss Daisy (2014)

Hoke Colburn

Blackfish (2013)

Himself (archive footage)

Milius (2013)

Himself

Gimme Shelter (2013)

Frank McCarthy

Muse of Fire (2013)

Himself

Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey (2012)

Admiral (voice)

An Amazing Time: A Conversation About End of the Road (2012)

Self

Jack and the Beanstalk (2009)

The Giant (voice)

Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009)

Self (archive footage)

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008)

Papa Jenkins

The Big Bang Theory (2007 - 2019)

Himself

Earth (2007)

Narrator

John, Paul, George and Ben (2007)

Narrator

Our Paul: Remembering Paul Robeson (2007)

Self

The One Show (2006 - 2019)

Self - Guest

Scary Movie 4 (2006)

Narrator (uncredited)

Click (2006)

Narrator of Michael's Past (uncredited)

The Benchwarmers (2006)

Darth Vader (voice)

The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays (2006)

Jack Jefferson (segment "The Great White Hope") / Troy Maxson (segment "Fences")

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Darth Vader (voice)

Robots (2005)

Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice)

The Sandlot 2 (2005)

Mr. Mertle

By Any Means Necessary: The Making of Malcolm X (2005)

Narrator

House (2004 - 2012)

Dibala

Nine Dog Christmas (2004)

Narrator

Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy (2004)

Himself

Black Indians: An American Story (2004)

Narrator

No Fighting in the War Room Or: Dr Strangelove and the Nuclear Threat (2004)

Himself

The Story of Star Wars (2004)

Darth Vader

Two and a Half Men (2003 - 2015)

Himself

The Great Year (2003)

Narrator

Beneath the Surface: The Making of 'The Hunt for Red October' (2003)

Himself

Everwood (2002 - 2006)

Will Cleveland

Fredericksburg: A Documentary Film (2002)

Narrator

According to Jim (2001 - 2009)

Royal Flush Voice (voice)

Finder's Fee (2001)

Avery Phillips

Disney's American Legends (2001)

Narrator

Feast of All Saints (2001)

Older Marcel

Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street (2001)

Mister (voice)

Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World (2001)

Self

Visitors from the Unknown (2001)

Narrator

Summer's End (2000)

Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely

Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan' (2000)

Himself

The Art of Stanley Kubrick: From Short Films to Strangelove (2000)

Himself

Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb' (2000)

Himself - 'Lieutenant Lothar Zogg'

Antietam: A Documentary Film (2000)

Narrator

Undercover Angel (1999)

The Judge

The Annihilation of Fish (1999)

Fish

Fantasia 2000 (1999)

Himself - Host

Santa and Pete (1999)

James Earl Jones

Our Friend, Martin (1999)

Daddy King (voice)

On the Q.T. (1999)

Leo

Will & Grace (1998 - 2006)

Self

Merlin (1998 - 2006)

Rock of Ages

Primary Colors (1998)

CNN Voiceover (voice)

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998)

Mufasa (voice)

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies (1998)

Self

Stargate SG-1 (1997 - 2007)

Unas (Voice)

Gang Related (1997)

Arthur Baylor

Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997)

Kibosh (voice)

The Second Civil War (1997)

Jim Kalla

What the Deaf Man Heard (1997)

Archibald Thacker

Alone (1997)

Grey

Afro Promo (1997)

Himself (archive footage)

Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery (1997)

Self

Sports on the Silver Screen (1997)

Self (archive footage)

Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (1996)

Dr. McDuffie

A Family Thing (1996)

Ray Murdock

Looking for Richard (1996)

Himself/Interview

Timepiece (1996)

Lawrence

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995 - 2000)

King Dakkar (voice)

Judge Dredd (1995)

Narrator (uncredited)

Cry, the Beloved Country (1995)

Rev. Stephen Kumalo

Jefferson in Paris (1995)

Madison Hemings

The Making of 'Jurassic Park' (1995)

Host

The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995)

Self

People (1995)

The Storyteller (voice)

Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable (1995)

Mufasa (voice)

Under One Roof (1995)

Neb Langston

Who's in Rabbit's House? (1995)

Narrator (voice)

The Lion King (1994)

King Mufasa (voice)

Clear and Present Danger (1994)

Admiral James Greer

Africa: The Serengeti (1994)

Narrator

Clean Slate (1994)

John Dolby

Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics (1994)

Host

Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994)

James Earl Jones

The Vernon Johns Story (1994)

Vernon Johns

Confessions: Two Face of Evil (1994)

Charles Lloyd

The Making of the Lion King (1994)

Self

Gangs: Turning the Corner (1994)

Self

Frasier (1993 - 2004)

Norman Royster

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993 - 1997)

Franklin Stern

Sommersby (1993)

Judge Barry Conrad Issacs

The Meteor Man (1993)

Earnest Moses

The Sandlot (1993)

Mr. Mertle

Excessive Force (1993)

Jake

Michael Jackson - Dangerous - The Short Films (1993)

Himself (Superbowl Heal The World) Voice

Dreamrider (1993)

Bill Perry

Hallelujah (1993)

Old Man Taylor

Percy & Thunder (1993)

Percy Banks

Sneakers (1992)

NSA Agent Bernard Abbott

Patriot Games (1992)

Adm. James Greer

Lincoln (1992)

Narrator (voice)

Pros and Cons (1991 - 1992)

Gabriel Bird

True Identity (1991)

Himself

Scorchers (1991)

Bear

Convicts (1991)

Ben Johnson

Portrait of Castro's Cuba (1991)

Host/Narrator

Law & Order (1990 - 2010)

Attorney Horace McCoy

Gabriel's Fire (1990 - 1992)

Gabriel Bird

The Hunt for Red October (1990)

Admiral James Greer

By Dawn's Early Light (1990)

Looking Glass General - 'Alice'

Grim Prairie Tales (1990)

Morrison

The Ambulance (1990)

Lt. Spencer

Ivory Hunters (1990)

Inspector Nkuru

Heat Wave (1990)

Junius Johnson

Teach 109 (1990)

Dr. Winston

Last Flight Out (1990)

Al Topping

The Simpsons (1989 - 2023)

Maggie Simpson (voice, as James Earl Boggins Jones)

The Simpsons (1989 - 2023)

Moving Man / Serak the Preparer / Narrator (voice)

The Simpsons (1989 - 2023)

Narrator (voice)

Long Ago and Far Away (1989 - 1992)

Host

Field of Dreams (1989)

Terrence Mann

Three Fugitives (1989)

Dugan

Best of the Best (1989)

Frank Couzo

Stories to Remember: Noah's Ark (1989)

Narrator

The Hunting of the Snark (1989)

Narrator (voice)

11-22-63: The Day the Nation Cried (1989)

Narrator

Coming to America (1988)

King Jaffe Joffer

Terrorgram (1988)

Retribution (voice)

Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues (1988)

Narrator (voice)

Mathnet (1987 - 1991)

Chief Thad Green

Mathnet (1987 - 1991)

Chief Thad Green (voice)

Matewan (1987)

'Few Clothes' Johnson

Gardens of Stone (1987)

Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson

Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night (1987)

Emperor of the Night (voice)

L.A. Law (1986 - 1991)

Lee Atkins

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986)

Umslopogaas

Soul Man (1986)

Professor Banks

My Little Girl (1986)

Ike Bailey

Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp (1986)

Genie / Narrator

The Lone Star Kid (1986)

Holmes

The Atlanta Child Murders (1985)

Major Walker

Night of 100 Stars II (1985)

Self

City Limits (1984)

Albert

The Vegas Strip War (1984)

Jack Madrid

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears (1984)

Narrator

Reading Rainbow (1983 - 1988)

Himself - Narrator (voice)

Return of the Jedi (1983)

Voice of Darth Vader (voice)

Faerie Tale Theatre (1982 - 1987)

Genie / Narrator (voice)

Conan the Barbarian (1982)

Thulsa Doom

The Flight of Dragons (1982)

Omadon

Blood Tide (1982)

Frye

Night of 100 Stars (1982)

Self

Amy and The Angel (1982)

Gabriel

The Bushido Blade (1981)

The Prisoner

The Creation (1981)

Narrator

God's Trombones (1981)

Himself - Narrator (segment "The Creation")

There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagues (1981)

himself, voice

Beauty and the Beast (1981)

Narrator (voice)

CBS Schoolbreak Special (1980 - 1994)

Detective Robb

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Darth Vader (Voice)

The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story (1980)

Dane Oliver

Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980)

Father Divine

The Me Nobody Knows (1980)

Self

Paris (1979 - 1980)

Woody Paris

Roots: The Next Generations (1979)

Alex Haley

Paul Robeson (1979)

Paul Robeson

A Walking Tour of Sesame Street (1979)

Himself

The Kennedy Center Honors (1978 - 2018)

Self

The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

Darth Vader (voice)

The Story of the Faithful Wookiee (1978)

Darth Vader (voice)

Black Theatre: The Making of a Movement (1978)

Self

Star Wars (1977)

Darth Vader (voice)

Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

Older Kokumo

A Piece of the Action (1977)

Joshua Burke

The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977)

Sheikh

The Greatest (1977)

Malcolm X

The Making of 'Star Wars' (1977)

Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)

The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened (1977)

Morris Bird, Jr.

Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

Balthazar

Swashbuckler (1976)

Nick Debrett

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976)

Leon Carter

The River Niger (1976)

Johnny Williams

Vegetable Soup (1975 - 1978)

Long John Spoilsport

Deadly Hero (1975)

Rabbit Shazam

The UFO Incident (1975)

Barney Hill

Claudine (1974)

Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall

The Cay (1974)

Timothy

King Lear (1974)

King Lear

The American Film Institute Salute to ... (1973 - 2009)

Self

Black Omnibus (1973)

Self - Host

Malcolm X (1972)

Biographical Narration (voice)

The Man (1972)

Douglass Dilman

Great Performances (1971 - 2020)

King Lear

The Great White Hope (1970)

Jack Jefferson

King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970)

Self (archive footage)

End of the Road (1970)

Doctor D

The Dick Cavett Show (1968 - 1995)

Himself - Guest

The Comedians (1967)

Dr. Magiot

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Lt. Lothar Zogg

Dr. Kildare (1961 - 1966)

Dr. Lou Rush

The Defenders (1961 - 1965)

Lieutenant Andrews

The Defenders (1961 - 1965)

Reverend Harris Bonham

Tony Awards (1956 - 2022)

Himself - Nominee / Performer

Tony Awards (1956 - 2022)

Self - Presenter

Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951 - 2011)

Archibald Thacker

The Ed Sullivan Show (1948 - 1971)

Jack Jefferson (archive footage)

Hollywood's Greatest Villains

Himself

Untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi Series

Darth Vader (voice)

Searching for Orson

Self

Age At Time Of Release

Star Wars

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Sommersby

The Hunt for Red October

The Empire Strikes Back

James Earl Jones

Actor

Photos

Actor (229 Known Credits) List Grid

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Actor (229 Known Credits)