James Earl Jones - # 330

James Earl Jones, Distinguished Actor and Voice of Darth Vader, Dies at 93

 

He was number 330 on the list.

James Earl Jones, the prolific film, TV and theater actor whose resonant, unmistakable baritone was most widely known as the voice of “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader, died Monday morning at his home in Dutchess County, N.Y., his rep confirmed to Variety. He was 93.

After overcoming a profound stutter as a child, Jones established himself as one of the pioneering Black actors of his generation, amassing a bountiful and versatile career spanning over 60 years, from his debut on Broadway in 1958 at the Cort Theatre — renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in 2022 — to his most recent performance in 2021’s “Coming 2 America.” For that film, Jones reprised his role as King Jaffe Joffer from the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy “Coming to America” — one of several roles, along with Darth Vader, that Jones revisited, including the voice of King Mufasa in Disney’s animated feature “The Lion King” in 1994, the 1998 direct-to-video sequel and the 2019 remake, and CIA deputy director Vice Admiral James Greer in three Jack Ryan movies, 1990’s “The Hunt for Red October,” 1992’s “Patriot Games” and 1994’s “Clear and Present Danger.”

Among his more than 80 film credits, Jones’ other notable movies include as a B-52 bombardier in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 Cold War satire “Dr. Strangelove” (his feature film debut), as the first Black president of the United States in 1972’s “The Man,” as the fearsome villain in 1982’s “Conan the Barbarian,” as a reclusive author in 1989’s “Field of Dreams,” as a blind former baseball star in 1993’s “The Sandlot,” and as a minister living in apartheid South Africa in 1995’s “Cry, the Beloved Country.”

Jones was nominated for four Tony Awards, and won two, in 1969 for playing boxer Jack Johnson in “The Great White Hope” (which he reprised on film in 1970, receiving his only Oscar nomination), and in 1987 for originating the role of Troy Maxson in August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Fences.” He was nominated for eight primetime Emmy awards, winning twice in 1991, for supporting actor in the miniseries “Heat Wave,” about the 1965 Watts riots, and for lead actor in the drama series “Gabriel’s Fire,” about a wrongfully imprisoned ex-cop who becomes a private detective. It was the first time an actor won two Emmys in the same year.

Jones earned a Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement award in 2009, an honorary Oscar in 2011 and a lifetime achievement Tony Award in 2017. His Grammy award in 1977 for spoken word album makes Jones only one a handful of actors to receive an EGOT.

Jones’ looming yet ultimately affable presence and rich speaking voice made him a natural for Shakespeare, and he played some of the great roles, such as Macbeth and Othello, for Joseph Papp’s American Shakespeare Festival. Jones narrated several documentaries, from 1972’s “Malcom X” to the 2007 Disneynature doc “Earth,” and, famously, he intoned the tagline “This is CNN” for the cable news channel.

His television credits, which number over 70, including many movies and miniseries such as “Roots” and “The Atlanta Child Murders,” recurring roles on “L.A. Law,” “Homicide: Life on the Street” and “Everwood,” and guest roles on shows like “The Simpsons,” “Picket Fences,” “Law & Order,” “Frasier” and “House.”

As for his most famous role, Jones was paid $7,000 to lend his voice to Darth Vader in 1977’s “Star Wars: A New Hope,” but he declined screen credit for that film and its sequel, 1980’s “The Empire Strikes Back,” out of deference to the actor who played the role on screen, David Prowse. By 1983’s “Return of the Jedi,” however, Jones had become fully synonymous with one of the most memorable and terrifying villains in cinema history, and received credit for his work. He returned to Vader’s voice again for 2005’s “Episode III — Revenge of the Sith” and 2016’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” but for the 2022 Disney+ series “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” Jones instead authorized Lucasfilm to use archival recordings and AI technology to recreate Vader’s voice.

When asked in 2014 by the New York Times about how he’d kept his career alive for so long, Jones’ response evoked the kind of plainspoken humility that he had so often brought to his performances as well.

“The secret is never forgetting that you’re a journeyman actor and that nothing is your final thing, nothing is your greatest thing, nothing is your worst thing,” Jones said. “I still consider myself a novice.”

James Earl Jones was born in 1931 on a farm in in Arkabutla, Miss. His father, Robert Earl Jones, left home soon after to pursue his own acting career (the two more-or-less reconciled when the younger Jones was in his 20s, and they even performed together). When Jones was 5, he moved with his maternal grandparents to Michigan. The shock of the relocation induced a stammer so severe that he often could communicate only in writing. It wasn’t until high school when he started to overcome his stutter, when his English teacher, upon learning that Jones composed poetry, encouraged him to read his writing aloud in class.

As an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan, Jones initially set out to study medicine, but wound up more interested in drama. His first stage role was a small part in the 1957 Off Broadway production “Wedding in Japan.” He took side jobs to supplement occasional theater work in Broadway’s “Sunrise at Campobello,” “The Cool World” and “The Pretender.” He also appeared in summer stock.

In 1960, Jones joined Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival. The following year he made his first serious impact in a landmark Off Broadway production of Jean Genet’s “The Blacks” as the protagonist Deodatus. Afterwards, for Papp, he played Oberon in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the first of many heralded Shakespearean turns. His masterful 1964 performance as Othello for Papp was moved Off Broadway, where the production ran for almost a year.

Jones’ first big break into cinema came by way of Papp’s production of “The Merchant of Venice,” in which Jones played the Prince of Morocco to George C. Scott’s Shylock. When Stanley Kubrick came to see Scott, whom he was considering for one of the leads in “Dr. Strangelove,” the film director was so impressed that he cast Jones in the film, too. In 1966, Jones had the title role in “Macbeth” at the New York Shakespeare Festival, again to great acclaim. He also booked a recurring role on “As the World Turns” in 1966, marking the first time a Black actor had a continuing role on a daytime soap opera.

Still, he was almost one of Broadway’s best-kept secrets until 1968 with his performance in Howard Sackler’s “The Great White Hope” as Jack Johnson, the first Black man to win the world heavyweight boxing championship. The Tony, the acclaim and its timing in the late ’60s propelled Jones into the spotlight at a time when it was difficult for Black actors to secure quality roles. The actor, however, has said that the accolades he received for for both the play and its film adaptation did not do that much for his career.

It wasn’t until 1977, when Jones’ voice terrified audiences for the first time as Darth Vader, that things truly began to shift for him. That same year, Jones also appeared in ABC’s “Roots” playing the author Alex Haley, whose genealogical novel of the same title inspired the groundbreaking miniseries. He never quite became an outright star in the classic sense of the word, but the back-to-back successes that year did ultimately make Jones a household name, whose presence connoted a stature and gravitas to projects that might otherwise be lacking.

Theatre is where Jones most frequently was a box office draw in his own right — and well into his 80s. He returned to Broadway in 2005 for a production of “On Golden Pond” opposite Leslie Uggams, drawing another Tony nomination. In 2008, he played Big Daddy in a production of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” that featured an all-Black cast including Terrence Howard, Anika Noni Rose and Phylicia Rashad.

Two years later, he returned to Broadway in a revival of “Driving Miss Daisy” opposite Vanessa Redgrave; the production’s move to London in 2011 meant he had to miss the Honorary Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles. Instead, Sir Ben Kingsley surprised Jones with his statuette in person after he’d concluded a matinee performance of the show.

Jones was first married to actress-singer Julienne Marie. His second wife of 34 years, actress Cecilia Hart, died in 2016. He is survived his son, Flynn Earl Jones.

Actor

Ewan McGregor, James Earl Jones, Hayden Christensen, and Dmitrious Bistrevsky in Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)

Obi-Wan Kenobi

7.0

TV Mini Series

Darth Vader (voice)

2022

4 episodes

 

James Earl Jones, Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Arsenio Hall, John Amos, Paul Bates, Shari Headley, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Clint Smith, Akiley Love, Bella Murphy, Jermaine Fowler, Teyana Taylor, Rotimi, Nomzamo Mbatha, and KiKi Layne in Coming 2 America (2021)

Coming 2 America

5.3

King Jaffe Joffer

2021

 

Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Keri Russell, J.J. Abrams, Lynn Robertson Bruce, Hassan Taj, Oscar Isaac, Brian Herring, Jimmy Vee, Dave Chapman, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, Robin Guiver, Daisy Ridley, Lee Towersey, Joonas Suotamo, and Naomi Ackie in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker

6.4

Darth Vader (voice)

2019

 

James Earl Jones, Kathy Griffin, Alfre Woodard, Scott Adsit, Carlos Alazraqui, Kristen Alderson, Kristen Ariza, Michael Beattie, Bob Bergen, Sebastian Cavazza, Cedric The Entertainer, Dane Cook, Walt Dohrn, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Penny Johnson Jerald, John Kani, Florence Kasumba, Beyoncé, Phil LaMarr, Danny Mann, Mike Mitchell, Don Rickles, Seth Rogen, Amy Sedaris, Peter Sohn, Aron Warner, Christopher Knights, John Oliver, Keegan-Michael Key, Will.i.am, Kristen DeLuca, Christopher Lee Parson, J. Lee, Donald Glover, Eric André, Billy Eichner, Teri Reeves, Ryan Potter, Chance the Rapper, Kristen Phaneuf, JD McCrary, Josh McCrary, and Shahadi Wright Joseph in The Lion King (2019)

The Lion King

6.8

Mufasa (voice)

2019

 

James Earl Jones, Bruce Dern, Tammy Blanchard, and Onata Aprile in Warning Shot (2018)

Warning Shot

4.8

Pendleton

2018

 

James Earl Jones, Forest Whitaker, Wen Jiang, Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Daniel Naprous, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Spencer Wilding, and Riz Ahmed in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

7.8

Darth Vader (voice)

2016

 

Freddie Prinze Jr., Steve Blum, Vanessa Marshall, Dave Filoni, Tiya Sircar, and Taylor Gray in Star Wars: Rebels (2014)

Star Wars: Rebels

8.1

TV Series

Darth Vader (voice)

2014–2016

5 episodes

 

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015)

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar

5.6

TV Movie

Mufasa (voice)

2015

 

Jeff Hephner in Agent X (2015)

Agent X

6.1

TV Series

Chief Justice Caleb Thorne

2015

2 episodes

 

Great Performances (1971)

Great Performances

7.9

TV Series

Hoke

King Lear

1971–2014

2 episodes

 

Robin Williams, Mila Kunis, Peter Dinklage, and Melissa Leo in The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014)

The Angriest Man in Brooklyn

5.7

Ruben (Video store owner)

2014

 

Mayim Bialik, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Jim Parsons, Melissa Rauch, and Kunal Nayyar in The Big Bang Theory (2007)

The Big Bang Theory

8.1

TV Series

James Earl Jones

2014

1 episode

 

Vanessa Hudgens in Gimme Shelter (2013)

Gimme Shelter

6.4

Frank McCarthy

2013

 

Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella in The Lion King Read-Along (2011)

The Lion King Read-Along

6.4

Video

Mufasa (voice)

2011

 

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue (2011)

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

8.3

Short

Darth Vader (voice)

2011

 

Jim Belushi, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Taylor Atelian, and Billi Bruno in According to Jim (2001)

Season 3 According to Jim

6.8

Video

Royal Flush Voice (uncredited)

2011

 

Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey (2010)

Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey

5.1

Admiral (voice)

2010

 

Colin Ford and Chloë Grace Moretz in Jack and the Beanstalk (2009)

Jack and the Beanstalk

4.6

The Giant (voice)

2009

 

Hugh Laurie in House (2004)

House

8.7

TV Series

Dibala

2009

1 episode

 

La Premiere (2009)

La Premiere

8.6

Short

Narrator

2009

 

Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, and Angus T. Jones in Two and a Half Men (2003)

Two and a Half Men

7.1

TV Series

James Earl Jones

2008

1 episode

 

James Earl Jones, Martin Lawrence, Margaret Avery, Michael Clarke Duncan, Joy Bryant, Cedric The Entertainer, Mike Epps, Mo'Nique, and Nicole Ari Parker in Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins (2008)

Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins

5.5

Papa Jenkins

2008

 

Adam Sandler in Click (2006)

Click

6.4

Narrator of Michael's Past (uncredited)

2006

 

Carmen Electra, Craig Bierko, Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Shaquille O'Neal, Phil McGraw, and Garrett Masuda in Scary Movie 4 (2006)

Scary Movie 4

5.1

Narrator (uncredited)

2006

 

Rob Schneider, David Spade, and Jon Heder in The Benchwarmers (2006)

The Benchwarmers

5.5

Darth Vader (voice)

2006

 

James Earl Jones and Joanna Cassidy in The Reading Room (2005)

The Reading Room

7.2

TV Movie

William

2005

 

Samuel L. Jackson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, James Earl Jones, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Hayden Christensen, and Gene Bryant in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

7.6

Darth Vader (voice, uncredited)

2005

 

Brett Kelly, Cole Evan Weiss, Neilen Benvegnu, Sean Berdy, Max Lloyd-Jones, James Willson, and Samantha Burton in The Sandlot 2 (2005)

The Sandlot 2

4.5

Video

Mr. Mertle

2005

 

Ewan McGregor, Robin Williams, and Amanda Bynes in Robots (2005)

Robots

6.4

Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice)

2005

 

Treat Williams, Gregory Smith, and Emily VanCamp in Everwood (2002)

Everwood

7.5

TV Series

Will Cleveland

2003–2004

3 episodes

 

Jim Belushi, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Taylor Atelian, and Billi Bruno in According to Jim (2001)

According to Jim

6.5

TV Series

Royal Flush Voice (voice)

2004

1 episode

 

James Earl Jones Reads the Bible: King James Version (2003)

James Earl Jones Reads the Bible: King James Version

9.5

Video

Narrator (voice)

2003

 

Nine Dog Christmas (2002)

Nine Dog Christmas

5.2

Video

Narrator (voice)

2002

 

Gloria Reuben in The Feast of All Saints (2001)

The Feast of All Saints

6.5

TV Movie

Older Marcel

2001

 

Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street (2001)

Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street

6.2

Video

Santa Claus (voice)

2001

 

James Earl Jones, Matthew Lillard, Robert Forster, Erik Palladino, and Ryan Reynolds in Finder's Fee (2001)

Finder's Fee

6.2

Avery Phillips

2001

 

On the Q.T. (2001)

On the Q.T.

5.7

Leo

2001

 

Santa and Pete (1999)

Santa and Pete

6.2

TV Movie

Grandpa Nicholas

1999

 

The Annihilation of Fish (1999)

The Annihilation of Fish

6.9

Fish

1999

 

Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun (1999)

Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun

7.8

Video Game

General James Solomon

1999

 

Undercover Angel (1999)

Undercover Angel

6.5

The Judge

1999

 

Summer's End (1999)

Summer's End

7.1

TV Movie

Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely

1999

 

Our Friend, Martin (1999)

Our Friend, Martin

6.9

Video

Daddy King (voice)

1999

 

Rickey D'Shon Collins, Jason Davis, Ashley Johnson, Andrew Lawrence, Courtland Mead, and Pamela Adlon in Recess (1997)

Recess

7.8

TV Series

Santa Claus (voice)

1998

2 episodes

 

Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Ashley Edner, Cam Clarke, Robert Guillaume, Edward Hibbert, Michelle Horn, Ryan O'Donohue, Ernie Sabella, and Charity Walthrop in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998)

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

6.4

Video

Mufasa (voice)

1998

 

John Gielgud, Helena Bonham Carter, Rutger Hauer, Sam Neill, Miranda Richardson, Martin Short, and Lena Headey in Merlin (1998)

Merlin

7.1

TV Mini Series

Mountain King (voice)

1998

2 episodes

 

John Travolta, Emma Thompson, and Adrian Lester in Primary Colors (1998)

Primary Colors

6.7

CNN Voiceover (voice)

1998

 

Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and Yeardley Smith in The Simpsons (1989)

The Simpsons

8.7

TV Series

Narrator

Maggie Simpson

Moving Man (voice) ...

1990–1998

3 episodes

 

Monopoly Star Wars (1997)

Monopoly Star Wars

6.7

Video Game

Darth Vader (voice)

1997

 

What the Deaf Man Heard (1997)

What the Deaf Man Heard

7.0

TV Movie

Archibald Thacker

1997

 

Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)

Homicide: Life on the Street

8.7

TV Series

Felix Wilson

1997

3 episodes

 

Tupac Shakur and Jim Belushi in Gang Related (1997)

Gang Related

6.4

Arthur Baylor

1997

 

Richard Dean Anderson, Christopher Judge, Michael Shanks, and Amanda Tapping in Stargate SG-1 (1997)

Stargate SG-1

8.4

TV Series

Unas (voice)

1997

1 episode

 

Steve Guttenberg, Brendon Ryan Barrett, Bill Farmer, Jeremy Foley, Jess Harnell, Lori Loughlin, and Jim Ward in Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997)

Casper: A Spirited Beginning

4.5

Video

Kibosh (voice)

1997

 

Alone (1997)

Alone

5.7

TV Movie

Grey

1997

 

The Second Civil War (1997)

The Second Civil War

6.6

TV Movie

Jim Kalla

1997

 

Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Peri Gilpin, and Jane Leeves in Frasier (1993)

Frasier

8.2

TV Series

Norman Royster

1997

1 episode

 

Roma Downey, John Dye, and Della Reese in Touched by an Angel (1994)

Touched by an Angel

6.0

TV Series

The Angel of Angels

1997

1 episode

 

Timepiece (1996)

Timepiece

6.7

TV Movie

Lawrence

1996

 

The Magic 7 (1996)

The Magic 7

6.4

TV Movie

5-Toe (voice)

1996

 

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

Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault

7.6

TV Movie

Dr. McDuffie

1996

 

Vincent D'Onofrio and Gregory Hines in Good Luck (1996)

Good Luck

6.1

James Bing

1996

 

John Lithgow, Kristen Johnston, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and French Stewart in 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996)

3rd Rock from the Sun

7.8

TV Series

Narrator (voice, uncredited)

1996

19 episodes

 

A Family Thing (1996)

A Family Thing

7.1

Ray Murdock

1996

 

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

Who's in Rabbit's House?

7.1

Short

Narrator (voice)

1995

 

People: A Musical Celebration (1995)

People: A Musical Celebration

7.4

TV Movie

The Storyteller (voice)

1995

 

Cry, the Beloved Country (1995)

Cry, the Beloved Country

6.8

Rev. Stephen Kumalo

1995

 

Judge Dredd (1995)

Judge Dredd

5.6

Narrator (voice, uncredited)

1995

 

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

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

6.9

TV Series

King Dakkar (voice)

1995

1 episode

 

Under One Roof (1995)

Under One Roof

8.7

TV Series

Neb Langston

1995

6 episodes

 

Nick Nolte, Greta Scacchi, and Thandiwe Newton in Jefferson in Paris (1995)

Jefferson in Paris

5.7

Madison Hemings

1995

 

Signs and Wonders (1995)

Signs and Wonders

7.7

TV Series

Diamond

1995

4 episodes

 

Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable (1995)

Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable

6.6

Short

Mufasa (voice)

1995

 

Rowan Atkinson, Nathan Lane, Cam Clarke, and Ernie Sabella in Animated StoryBook: The Lion King (1994)

Animated StoryBook: The Lion King

7.4

Video Game

Mufasa (voice)

1994

 

Under a Killing Moon (1994)

Under a Killing Moon

8.6

Video Game

Great P.I. of the Universe (voice)

1994

 

Clear and Present Danger (1994)

Clear and Present Danger

6.9

Admiral Greer

1994

 

Matthew Broderick in The Lion King (1994)

The Lion King

8.5

Mufasa (voice)

1994

 

Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993)

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

6.7

TV Series

Franklin Stern

1994

1 episode

 

Valeria Golino and Dana Carvey in Clean Slate (1994)

Clean Slate

5.7

John Dolby

1994

 

Picket Fences (1992)

Picket Fences

7.8

TV Series

Bryant Thomas

1994

1 episode

 

Leslie Nielsen in Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994)

Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult

6.5

James Earl Jones (uncredited)

1994

 

Confessions: Two Faces of Evil (1994)

Confessions: Two Faces of Evil

5.1

TV Movie

Charles Lloyd

1994

 

James Earl Jones in The Vernon Johns Story (1994)

The Vernon Johns Story

7.5

TV Movie

Vernon Johns

1994

 

American Playhouse (1980)

American Playhouse

7.3

TV Series

Old Man Taylor

1993

1 episode

 

Tony Goldwyn, Camryn Manheim, Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott, Mehcad Brooks, and Odelya Halevi in Law & Order (1990)

Law & Order

7.8

TV Series

Horace McCoy

1993

1 episode

 

Percy & Thunder (1993)

Percy & Thunder

6.0

TV Movie

Percy

1993

 

James Earl Jones, Bill Cosby, Marla Gibbs, Sinbad, Luther Vandross, Eddie Griffin, Robert Guillaume, Big Daddy Kane, Robert Townsend, and Another Bad Creation in The Meteor Man (1993)

The Meteor Man

5.2

Mr. Moses

1993

 

Dreamrider (1993)

Dreamrider

5.5

William Perry

1993

 

Thomas Ian Griffith in Excessive Force (1993)

Excessive Force

5.3

Jake

1993

 

Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, David Rudman, Matt Vogel, and Ryan Dillon in Sesame Street (1969)

Sesame Street

8.1

TV Series

Lemming #30 (voice)

1993

1 episode

 

The Sandlot (1993)

The Sandlot

7.8

Mr. Mertle

1993

 

Jodie Foster and Richard Gere in Sommersby (1993)

Sommersby

6.3

Judge Issacs

1993

 

Columbus: Encounter, Discovery and Beyond (1992)

Columbus: Encounter, Discovery and Beyond

Video Game

Narrator

1992

 

The Second Coming (1992)

The Second Coming

8.2

Short

Narrator

1992

 

Lincoln (1992)

Lincoln

7.0

TV Movie

Narrator (voice)

1992

 

Gregg Berger and Lorenzo Music in Garfield and Friends (1988)

Garfield and Friends

7.2

TV Series

Diablo (voice)

1992

1 episode

 

Square One Television (1987)

Square One Television

8.4

TV Series

Announcer

Chief Thad Green

1987–1992

4 episodes

 

Dan Aykroyd, River Phoenix, Robert Redford, David Strathairn, Mary McDonnell, and Sidney Poitier in Sneakers (1992)

Sneakers

7.1

Mr. Bernard Abbott

1992

 

Jenny Agutter, Brian Blessed, Ben Kingsley, Phyllis Logan, Victor Maddern, John Sessions, and Billie Whitelaw in Freddie as F.R.O.7. (1992)

Freddie as F.R.O.7.

5.2

Narrator (American version) (voice)

1992

 

Harrison Ford, Anne Archer, and Sean Bean in Patriot Games (1992)

Patriot Games

6.8

Admiral Greer

1992

 

James Earl Jones and Richard Crenna in Pros and Cons (1991)

Pros and Cons

6.6

TV Series

Gabriel Bird

1991–1992

12 episodes

 

Joe Howard and Beverly Leech in Mathnet (1987)

Mathnet

8.5

TV Series

Chief Thad Green

Chief Thad Greene

1987–1991

9 episodes

 

Robert Duvall, James Earl Jones, and Lukas Haas in Convicts (1991)

Convicts

5.7

Ben Johnson

1991

 

True Identity (1991)

True Identity

5.1

James Earl Jones

1991

 

Scorchers (1991)

Scorchers

5.6

Bear

1991

 

Gabriel's Fire (1990)

Gabriel's Fire

7.3

TV Series

Gabriel Bird

1990–1991

22 episodes

 

Terrorgram (1990)

Terrorgram

5.0

Retribution (voice)

1990

 

James Earl Jones, Eric Roberts, and Janine Turner in The Ambulance (1990)

The Ambulance

5.9

Lt. Spencer

1990

 

Ivory Hunters (1990)

Ivory Hunters

5.0

TV Movie

Inspector Nkuru

1990

 

Heat Wave (1990)

Heat Wave

6.8

TV Movie

Junius Johnson

1990

 

Grim Prairie Tales (1990)

Grim Prairie Tales

5.4

Morrison

1990

 

Last Flight Out (1990)

Last Flight Out

5.7

TV Movie

Al Topping

1990

 

Rebecca De Mornay, James Earl Jones, Powers Boothe, and Martin Landau in By Dawn's Early Light (1990)

By Dawn's Early Light

6.9

TV Movie

Alice

1990

 

Sean Connery in The Hunt for Red October (1990)

The Hunt for Red October

7.5

Admiral Greer

1990

 

The Hunting of the Snark (1989)

The Hunting of the Snark

6.2

Short

Narrator

1989

 

James Earl Jones, Sally Kirkland, and Eric Roberts in Best of the Best (1989)

Best of the Best

6.4

Frank Couzo

1989

 

27 Wagons Full of Cotton (1990)

American Playwrights Theater: The One-Acts

7.0

TV Series

Willie

1989

1 episode

 

Saturday Night with Connie Chung

7.1

TV Series

Vernon Johns

1989

1 episode

 

James Earl Jones, Emily Lloyd, Jason Patric, Elizabeth Perkins, and Lou Diamond Phillips in Override (1994)

Teach 109

4.9

TV Movie

Dr. Winston

1989

 

Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams (1989)

Field of Dreams

7.5

Terence Mann

1989

 

Three Fugitives (1989)

Three Fugitives

6.2

Dugan

1989

 

L.A. Law (1986)

L.A. Law

7.1

TV Series

Lee Atkins

1988–1989

2 episodes

 

Eddie Murphy in Coming to America (1988)

Coming to America

7.1

King Jaffe Joffer

1988

 

CBS Schoolbreak Special (1984)

CBS Schoolbreak Special

6.8

TV Series

Detective Robb

1987

1 episode

 

Lana Beeson, Scott Grimes, Jonathan Harris, Rickie Lee Jones, Don Knotts, and William Windom in Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night (1987)

Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night

6.2

Emperor of the Night (voice)

1987

 

Matewan (1987)

Matewan

7.9

Few Clothes Johnson

1987

 

Mary Stuart Masterson and D.B. Sweeney in Gardens of Stone (1987)

Gardens of Stone

6.4

'Goody' Nelson

1987

 

Michael Landon in Highway to Heaven (1984)

Highway to Heaven

6.8

TV Series

Gabe Wilson

1987

1 episode

 

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986)

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold

4.6

Umslopogaas

1986

 

C. Thomas Howell in Soul Man (1986)

Soul Man

5.3

Professor Banks

1986

 

Jennifer Lopez, James Earl Jones, Mary Stuart Masterson, Peter Gallagher, Erika Alexander, Jordan Charney, Peter Michael Goetz, Page Hannah, Traci Lind, Anne Meara, George Newbern, Geraldine Page, and Pamela Payton-Wright in My Little Girl (1986)

My Little Girl

4.8

Mr. Bailey

1986

 

Faerie Tale Theatre (1982)

Faerie Tale Theatre

8.3

TV Series

Genie of the Lamp

Genie of the Ring

1986

1 episode

 

Moses (1986)

Moses

7.5

Video

Pharaoh (voice)

1986

 

James N. Harrell in Lone Star Kid (1986)

Lone Star Kid

6.9

TV Movie

M. Holmes

1986

 

The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible (1985)

The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible

7.4

TV Series

Pharoah (voice)

1985

1 episode

 

James Earl Jones, Lisa Eilbacher, and Holland Taylor in Me and Mom (1985)

Me and Mom

2.9

TV Series

Lou Garfield

1985

6 episodes

 

James Earl Jones, Martin Sheen, Jason Robards, Rip Torn, and Calvin Levels in The Atlanta Child Murders (1985)

The Atlanta Child Murders

6.7

TV Mini Series

Major Walker

1985

2 episodes

 

Sharon Stone, James Earl Jones, and Rock Hudson in The Vegas Strip War (1984)

The Vegas Strip War

5.5

TV Movie

Jack Madrid

1984

 

Rae Dawn Chong, John Stockwell, and Darrell Larson in City Limits (1984)

City Limits

2.5

Albert

1984

 

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

7.5

Short

Narrator (English version, voice)

1984

 

Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, Warwick Davis, David Prowse, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Carter, and Larry Ward in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

8.3

Darth Vader (voice)

1983

 

Deborah Shelton in Bloodtide (1982)

Bloodtide

4.3

Frye

1982

 

ABC Afterschool Specials (1972)

ABC Afterschool Specials

7.1

TV Series

Gabriel

1982

1 episode

 

John Ritter, Cosie Costa, and Harry Morgan in The Flight of Dragons (1982)

The Flight of Dragons

7.6

Video

Ommadon (voice)

1982

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sandahl Bergman in Conan the Barbarian (1982)

Conan the Barbarian

6.9

Thulsa Doom

1982

 

The Creation (1981)

The Creation

6.4

Short

Narrator (voice)

1981

 

The Bushido Blade (1981)

The Bushido Blade

5.3

The Prisoner

1981

 

CBS Library (1979)

CBS Library

6.2

TV Series

Narrator - Beauty and the Beast

1981

1 episode

 

Beauty and the Beast (1981)

Beauty and the Beast

6.4

Short

Narrator (voice)

1981

 

Paris (1979)

Paris

6.0

TV Series

Woody Paris

1979–1980

13 episodes

 

The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story (1980)

The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story

5.1

TV Movie

Dane Oliver

1980

 

Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, and Peter Mayhew in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

8.7

Darth Vader (voice, uncredited)

1980

 

Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980)

Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones

7.5

TV Movie

Father Divine

1980

 

Paul Robeson (1979)

Paul Robeson

7.5

TV Movie

Paul Robeson

1979

 

Roots: The Next Generations (1979)

Roots: The Next Generations

7.8

TV Mini Series

Alex Haley

1979

1 episode

 

The Story of the Faithful Wookiee (1978)

The Story of the Faithful Wookiee

6.0

Short

Darth Vader (voice, uncredited)

1978

 

Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Kenny Baker, and Peter Mayhew in The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

The Star Wars Holiday Special

2.2

TV Movie

Darth Vader (voice)

1978

 

Anson Downes, Ned Gill, Kevin Hooks, Brian Kerwin, Daniel Tamm, and Jimmie 'JJ' Walker in The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened (1977)

The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened

6.6

TV Movie

Morris Bird Jr.

1977

 

James Earl Jones, Bill Cosby, Sidney Poitier, Denise Nicholas, and Tracy Reed in A Piece of the Action (1977)

A Piece of the Action

6.4

Joshua Burke

1977

 

Ann-Margret, Marty Feldman, and Michael York in The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977)

The Last Remake of Beau Geste

6.0

Sheikh

1977

 

Richard Burton, Linda Blair, James Earl Jones, Louise Fletcher, Max von Sydow, and Paul Henreid in Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

Exorcist II: The Heretic

3.8

Older Kokumo

1977

 

Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, and Kenny Baker in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

8.6

Darth Vader (voice, uncredited)

1977

 

Muhammad Ali in The Greatest (1977)

The Greatest

5.9

Malcolm X

1977

 

Robert Powell in Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

Jesus of Nazareth

8.5

TV Mini Series

Balthazar

1977

4 episodes

 

Swashbuckler (1976)

Swashbuckler

6.0

Nick Debrett

1976

 

James Earl Jones, Richard Pryor, and Billy Dee Williams in The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976)

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings

6.8

Leon Carter, All-Star (C)

1976

 

James Earl Jones, Louis Gossett Jr., Cicely Tyson, Jonelle Allen, and Glynn Turman in The River Niger (1976)

The River Niger

6.0

Johnny Williams

1976

 

Vegetable Soup

8.4

TV Series

Long John Spoilsport

1975–1978

 

Deadly Hero (1975)

Deadly Hero

5.7

Rabbit Shazam

1975

 

The UFO Incident (1975)

The UFO Incident

6.5

TV Movie

Barney Hill

1975

 

Happy Endings

TV Movie

Big Joe (segment: "Big Joe and Kansas")

1975

 

The Cay (1974)

The Cay

6.6

TV Movie

Timothy

1974

 

James Earl Jones, Tamu Blackwell, Diahann Carroll, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Eric Jones, and Socorro Stephens in Claudine (1974)

Claudine

7.3

Roop

1974

 

James Earl Jones, Martin Balsam, Barbara Rush, and William Windom in The Man (1972)

The Man

6.9

Douglass Dilman

1972

 

James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander in The Great White Hope (1970)

The Great White Hope

6.9

Jack Jefferson

1970

 

Stacy Keach, Dorothy Tristan, and Harris Yulin in End of the Road (1970)

End of the Road

6.4

Doctor D

1970

 

N.Y.P.D. (1967)

N.Y.P.D.

7.4

TV Series

Candy Latsen

Candy Lateen

1969

2 episodes

 

NET Playhouse (1964)

NET Playhouse

7.4

TV Series

Reverend Ridgley Washington

1968

1 episode

 

Tarzan (1966)

Tarzan

7.0

TV Series

Nerlan

Chief Bella

1967–1968

2 episodes

 

The Comedians (1967)

The Comedians

6.3

Dr. Magiot

1967

 

Dr. Kildare (1961)

Dr. Kildare

7.0

TV Series

Dr. Lou Rush

1966

4 episodes

 

Natalie Wood and Jacques Sernas in Camera Three (1955)

Camera Three

7.5

TV Series

Zach

1964

2 episodes

 

Robert Reed and E.G. Marshall in The Defenders (1961)

The Defenders

8.0

TV Series

Reverend Harris Bonham

Lieutenant Andrews

1962–1964

2 episodes

 

Channing (1963)

Channing

7.2

TV Series

Dr. Peter Cooke

1964

1 episode

 

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

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

8.3

Lt. Lothar Zogg

1964

 

George C. Scott in East Side/West Side (1963)

East Side/West Side

8.5

TV Series

Joe Goodwin

1963

1 episode

 

Look Up and Live (1954)

Look Up and Live

5.9

TV Series

Book

1963

1 episode

 

Monitor (1958)

Monitor

8.7

TV Series

Prince of Morocco

1962

1 episode

 

As the World Turns (1956)

As the World Turns

6.2

TV Series

Dr. Jerry Turner (1966)

1956–2010

 

Guiding Light (1952)

Guiding Light

6.5

TV Series

Dr. Jim Frazier #2 (1966)

1952–2009

 

Soundtrack

Beyoncé, Folajomi 'FJ' Akinmurele, Emmanuel Adjei, and Blitz Bazawule in Black Is King (2020)

Black Is King

5.9

performer: "Remember (Mufasa Interlude)", "Balance (Mufasa Interlude)", "The Stars (Mufasa Interlude)", "I'm Home (Mufasa, Sarabi & Simba Interlude)"

2020

 

Mayim Bialik, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Jim Parsons, Melissa Rauch, and Kunal Nayyar in The Big Bang Theory (2007)

The Big Bang Theory

8.1

TV Series

performer: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" (uncredited)

2014

1 episode

 

Mary Stuart Masterson and D.B. Sweeney in Gardens of Stone (1987)

Gardens of Stone

6.4

performer: "Streets of Laredo" (uncredited)

1987