JJ
James Earl Jones
Actor
Born January 17, 1931 (93 years)
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 maternal grandparents, but the adoption was traumatic and he developed a stutter so severe he refused to speak aloud. When he moved to Brethren, Michigan in later years a teacher at the Brethren schools started to help him with his stutter. He remained functionally mute for eight years until he reached high school. He credits his high school teacher, Donald Crouch, who discovered he had a gift for writing poetry, with helping him out of his silence. Jones attended the University of Michigan where he was a pre-med major. While there, he joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps, and excelled. During the course of his studies, Jones discovered he was not cut out to be a doctor. Instead he focused himself on drama, with the thought of doing something he enjoyed, before, he assumed, he would have to go off to fight in the Korean War. After four years of college, Jones left without his degree. In 1953 he found a part-time stage crew job at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, Michigan, which marked the beginning of his acting career. During the 1955–1957 seasons he was an actor and stage manager. He performed his first portrayal of Shakespeare’s Othello in this theater in 1955. After his discharge from the Military, Jones moved to New York, where he attended the American Theatre Wing to further his training and worked as a janitor to earn a living. His first film role was as a young and trim Lt. Lothar Zogg, the B-52 bombardier in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb in 1964. His first big role came with his portrayal of boxer Jack Jefferson in the film version of the Broadway play The Great White Hope, which was based on the life of boxer Jack Johnson. For his role, Jones was nominated Best Actor by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, making him the second African-American male performer (following Sidney Poitier) to receive a nomination. In 1969, Jones participated in making test films for a proposed children's television series; these shorts, combined with animated segments were the beginnings of the Sesame Street format. The next year, in the early 1970s, James appeared with Diahann Carroll in the film called Claudine. While he has appeared in many roles, he is well known as the voice of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy. Darth Vader was portrayed in costume by David Prowse in the original trilogy, with Jones dubbing Vader's dialogue in postproduction due to Prowse's strong West Country accent being unsuitable for the role. At his own request, he was originally uncredited for the release of the first two films (he would later be credited for the two in the 1997 re-release). His other voice roles include Mufasa in the 1994 film Disney animated blockbuster The Lion King, and its direct-to-video sequel, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. He also has done the CNN tagline, "This is CNN", as well as "This is CNN International", and the Bell Atlantic tagline, "Bell Atlantic: The heart of communication". When Bell Atlantic became Verizon, Jones used the tagline greeting of "Welcome to Verizon" or "Verizon 411" right before a phone call would go through. The opening for NBC's coverage of the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics; "the Big PI in the Sky" (God) in the computer game Under a Killing Moon; a Claymation film about The Creation; and several guest spots on The Simpsons. In addition to his film and voice over work, Jones is an accomplished stage actor as well; he has won Tony awards in 1969 for The Great White Hope and in 1987 for Fences. Othello, King Lear, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Abhorson in Measure for Measure, and Claudius in Hamlet are Shakespearean roles he has played. He received Kennedy Center Honors in 2002. Jones has been married to actress Cecilia Hart since 1982. They have one child, Flynn Earl Jones. He was previously married to American actress/singer Julienne Marie (born March 21, 1933, Toledo, Ohio); they had no children. Jones is a registered Republican.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
| 2023 | Dark Suns · as Darth Vader |
| 2022 | Butterfly in the Sky · as Guest Narrator (archive Footage) |
| 2022 | Obi-Wan Kenobi (TV Series) · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 2021 | Coming 2 America · as King Jaffe Joffer |
| 2020 | Giving Voice · as Troy Maxson |
| 2019 | Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 2019 | The Lion King · as Mufasa (voice) |
| 2019 | The Space - Theatre of Survival · as Narrator |
| 2018 | Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures (TV Series) · as Darth Vader |
| 2018 | Warning Shot · as Pendleton |
| 2017 | The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride Lands · as Mufasa (voice) |
| 2016 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 2015 | The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar · as Mufasa (voice) |
| 2015 | Agent X (TV Series) · as Chief Justice Caleb Thorne |
| 2015 | Driving Miss Daisy · as Hoke Colburn |
| 2015 | Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 2015 | |
| 2014 | Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 2014 | Star Wars Rebels (TV Series) · as Anakin Skywalker (voice) |
| 2014 | The Angriest Man in Brooklyn · as Ruben |
| 2013 | Gimme Shelter · as Frank Mccarthy |
| 2011 | The Loving Story · as Jack Jefferson |
| 2011 | Star Tours: The Adventures Continue · as Darth Vader |
| 2010 | Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey · as Admiral (voice) |
| 2009 | Jack and the Beanstalk · as The Giant (voice) |
| 2008 | Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins · as Papa Jenkins |
| 2007 | Earth · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2007 | John, Paul, George & Ben · as Narrator |
| 2006 | Click · as Narrator Of Michael's Past (voice) (uncredited) |
| 2006 | Scary Movie 4 · as Narrator (uncredited) |
| 2006 | The Benchwarmers · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 2005 | The Reading Room · as William |
| 2005 | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith · as Darth Vader (voice - Uncredited) |
| 2005 | The Sandlot 2 · as Mr. Mertle |
| 2005 | Robots · as Voice Box At Hardware Store (voice) |
| 2005 | By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X' · as Narrator |
| 2004 | House (TV Series) · as Dibala |
| 2004 | The Story of Star Wars · as Darth Vader (archive Footage) |
| 2004 | Athens 2004 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony · as Voice-Over |
| 2004 | The Great Year · as Narrator |
| 2003 | The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror · as Maggie Simpson (voice) |
| 2002 | Nine Dog Christmas · as Narrator |
| 2002 | Everwood (TV Series) · as Will Cleveland |
| 2001 | Finder's Fee · as Avery Phillips |
| 2001 | Black Indians: An American Story · as Narrator |
| 2001 | The Feast of All Saints · as Older Marcel |
| 2001 | Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street · as Mister (voice) |
| 2001 | According to Jim (TV Series) · as Royal Flush Voice (voice) |
| 2001 | American Legends · as Narrator |
| 2001 | On the Q.T. · as Leo |
| 2000 | Antietam: A Documentary Drama · as Narrator |
| 2000 | Tina Turner: One Last Time Live in Concert · as Announcer |
| 2000 | |
| 1999 | In Search of Liberty Bell 7 · as Narrator |
| 1999 | The Annihilation of Fish · as Fish |
| 1999 | Undercover Angel · as The Judge |
| 1999 | Summer's End · as Dr. William 'bill' Blakely |
| 1999 | Our Friend, Martin · as Daddy King (voice) |
| 1998 | Anatomy of a 'Homicide: Life on the Street' · as Felix Wilson |
| 1998 | The Lion King II: Simba's Pride · as Mufasa (voice) |
| 1998 | Merlin (1998) (TV Series) · as Rock Of Ages |
| 1998 | Primary Colors · as Cnn Voiceover (voice) |
| 1997 | Alone · as Grey |
| 1997 | What the Deaf Man Heard · as Archibald Thacker |
| 1997 | Gang Related · as Arthur Baylor |
| 1997 | Recess (TV Series) · as Santa Claus |
| 1997 | Casper: A Spirited Beginning · as Kibosh (voice) |
| 1997 | Stargate SG-1 (TV Series) · as Unas (voice) |
| 1997 | The Second Civil War · as Jim Kalla |
| 1996 | Good Luck · as James Bing |
| 1996 | |
| 1996 | Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault · as Dr. Mcduffie |
| 1996 | A Family Thing · as Ray Murdock |
| 1996 | 3rd Rock from the Sun (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1995 | Cry, the Beloved Country · as Rev. Stephen Kumalo |
| 1995 | People: A Musical Celebration · as The Storyteller (voice) |
| 1995 | Who's in Rabbit's House? · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1995 | Judge Dredd · as Narrator (uncredited) |
| 1995 | The Making of 'Jurassic Park' · as Host |
| 1995 | Jefferson in Paris · as Madison Hemings |
| 1995 | Under One Roof (TV Series) · as Neb Langston |
| 1995 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV Series) · as King Dakkar (voice) |
| 1995 | Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable · as Mufasa (voice) |
| 1995 | Signs and Wonders (TV Series) · as Diamond |
| 1994 | |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as The Angel Of Angels |
| 1994 | Clear and Present Danger · as Admiral James Greer |
| 1994 | The Lion King · as Mufasa (voice) |
| 1994 | |
| 1994 | Clean Slate · as John Dolby |
| 1994 | Africa: The Serengeti · as Narrator |
| 1994 | Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult · as James Earl Jones (uncredited) |
| 1994 | Confessions: Two Faces of Evil · as Charles Lloyd |
| 1994 | The Vernon Johns Story · as Vernon Johns |
| 1993 | Frasier (TV Series) · as Norman Royster |
| 1993 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) · as Franklin Stern |
| 1993 | Percy & Thunder · as Percy Banks |
| 1993 | The Meteor Man · as Earnest Moses |
| 1993 | Dreamrider · as Bill Perry |
| 1993 | Excessive Force · as Jake |
| 1993 | The Sandlot · as Mr. Mertle |
| 1993 | |
| 1993 | Homicide: Life on the Street (TV Series) |
| 1992 | Lincoln · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1992 | Diamonds on the Silver Screen · as Narrator |
| 1992 | Picket Fences (TV Series) · as Bryant Thomas |
| 1992 | Sneakers · as Mr. Bernard Abbott |
| 1992 | Freddie as F.R.O.7. · as Narrator (american Version) |
| 1992 | Patriot Games · as Adm. James Greer |
| 1992 | Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1991 | Scorchers · as Bear |
| 1991 | Visitors from the Unknown · as Narrator |
| 1991 | Convicts · as Ben Johnson |
| 1990 | The Ambulance · as Lt. Spencer |
| 1990 | Grim Prairie Tales · as Morrison |
| 1990 | Law & Order (TV Series) · as Defense Attorney Horace Mccoy |
| 1990 | Gabriel's Fire (TV Series) · as Gabriel Bird |
| 1990 | Ivory Hunters · as Inspector Nkuru |
| 1990 | Heat Wave · as Junius Johnson |
| 1990 | Last Flight Out · as Al Topping |
| 1990 | By Dawn's Early Light · as Alice |
| 1990 | The Hunt for Red October · as Admiral Greer |
| 1990 | World of Discovery (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1990 | Terrorgram · as Retribution (voice) |
| 1989 | Teach 109 · as Dr. Winston |
| 1989 | The Simpsons (TV Series) · as Maggie Simpson (voice) |
| 1989 | Best of the Best · as Frank Couzo |
| 1989 | Golden Book Video - Beauty and the Beast · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1989 | Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1989 | Field of Dreams · as Terrence Mann |
| 1989 | Long Ago and Far Away (TV Series) · as Host |
| 1989 | Three Fugitives · as Dugan |
| 1989 | Stories to Remember: Noah's Ark · as Narrator |
| 1988 | 11-22-63: The Day the Nation Cried · as Narrator |
| 1988 | Garfield and Friends (TV Series) · as Diablo |
| 1988 | Coming to America · as King Jaffe Joffer |
| 1987 | Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night · as Emperor Of The Night (voice) |
| 1987 | Matewan · as 'few Clothes' Johnson |
| 1987 | Gardens of Stone · as Sgt. Maj.'goody' Nelson |
| 1987 | Square One TV (TV Series) · as Announcer |
| 1987 | Mathnet (TV Series) · as Chief Thad Green |
| 1986 | My Little Girl · as Ike Bailey |
| 1986 | Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold · as Umslopogaas |
| 1986 | Soul Man · as Professor Banks |
| 1986 | L.A. Law (TV Series) · as Lee Atkins |
| 1986 | Moses · as Pharaoh |
| 1986 | Lone Star Kid · as Holmes |
| 1985 | The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible (TV Series) · as Pharoah |
| 1985 | Me & Mom (TV Series) |
| 1985 | The Atlanta Child Murders (TV Series) · as Major Walker |
| 1984 | City Limits · as Albert |
| 1984 | The Vegas Strip War · as Jack Madrid |
| 1984 | Highway to Heaven (TV Series) · as Gabe Wilson |
| 1984 | Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears · as Narrator |
| 1984 | CBS Schoolbreak Special (TV Series) · as Detective Robb |
| 1983 | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 1982 | The Flight of Dragons · as Ommadon (voice) |
| 1982 | |
| 1982 | Faerie Tale Theatre (TV Series) · as Genie / Narrator (voice) |
| 1982 | Conan the Barbarian · as Thulsa Doom |
| 1981 | The Bushido Blade · as The Prisoner |
| 1980 | American Playhouse (TV Series) · as Old Man Taylor |
| 1980 | Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones · as Father Divine |
| 1980 | The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story · as Dane Oliver |
| 1980 | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back · as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited) |
| 1980 | Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (TV Series) · as Father Divine |
| 1979 | CBS Library (TV Series) · as Narrator - Beauty And The Beast |
| 1979 | Paul Robeson · as Paul Robeson |
| 1979 | Paris (TV Series) · as Woody Paris |
| 1979 | Roots: The Next Generations (TV Series) · as Alex Haley |
| 1978 | The Star Wars Holiday Special · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 1978 | The Story of the Faithful Wookiee · as Darth Vader |
| 1977 | A Piece of the Action · as Joshua Burke |
| 1977 | The Last Remake of Beau Geste · as Sheikh |
| 1977 | The Greatest Thing That Almost Happened · as Morris Bird, Jr. |
| 1977 | The Making of 'Star Wars' · as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited) |
| 1977 | Exorcist II: The Heretic · as Older Kokumo |
| 1977 | Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope · as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited) |
| 1977 | The Greatest · as Malcolm X |
| 1977 | Jesus of Nazareth (TV Series) · as Balthazar |
| 1976 | America at the Movies · as Lt. Lothar Zogg |
| 1976 | |
| 1976 | Swashbuckler · as Nick Debrett |
| 1976 | The River Niger · as Johnny Williams |
| 1975 | Deadly Hero · as Rabbit Shazam |
| 1975 | Vegetable Soup (TV Series) · as Long John Spoilsport |
| 1975 | The UFO Incident · as Barney Hill |
| 1974 | The Cay · as Timothy |
| 1974 | Claudine · as Rupert D. "roop" Marshall |
| 1972 | The ABC Afterschool Special (TV Series) · as Gabriel |
| 1972 | The Man · as Douglass Dilman |
| 1972 | Malcolm X · as Biographical Narration (voice) |
| 1971 | Martin Luther King, Jr. · as Narrator |
| 1971 | Great Performances (TV Series) · as King Lear |
| 1970 | The Great White Hope · as Jack Jefferson |
| 1970 | End of the Road · as Doctor D |
| 1969 | Sesame Street (TV Series) |
| 1967 | The Comedians · as Dr. Magiot |
| 1967 | N.Y.P.D. (TV Series) · as Candy Lateen |
| 1966 | Tarzan (1966) (TV Series) |
| 1964 | NET Playhouse (TV Series) · as Reverend Ridgley Washington |
| 1964 | Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb · as Lt. Lothar Zogg |
| 1963 | East Side/West Side (TV Series) |
| 1963 | Channing (TV Series) · as Dr. Peter Cooke |
| 1961 | Dr. Kildare (TV Series) · as Dr. Lou Rush |
| 1961 | The Defenders (TV Series) · as Reverend Harris Bonham |
| 1958 | Monitor (TV Series) · as Prince Of Morocco |
| 1956 | As The World Turns (TV Series) · as Dr. Jerry Turner (1966) |
| 1955 | Camera Three (TV Series) · as Zach |
| 1952 | Guiding Light (TV Series) · as Dr. Jim Frazier #2 (1966) |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall Of Fame (TV Series) · as Archibald Thacker |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) · as Jack Jefferson (archive Footage) |
Mother Earth (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice) | |