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Portrait of James Earl Jones

Acting

James Earl Jones

Career

Active from 1964 to 2025, busiest in 1990 with 10 main titles.

Leading roles
91
top three billing
Average score
GoodWatch score60/100
Highest rated
Poster for When It Was a Game
When It Was a Game
GoodWatch score92/100

Awards

Reported results for this person. Coverage is incomplete; these results don't establish award totals.

  • Academy Awards · Academy Honorary Award

    2011 · Won

    Source: Wikidata

  • Screen Actors Guild Awards · SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award

    2008 · Won

    Source: Wikidata

  • Daytime Emmy Awards · Outstanding Children's Special

    2000 · Won · 27th Daytime Emmy Awards

    Summer's End

    Source: Wikidata

  • Primetime Emmy Awards · Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie

    1991 · Won · 43rd Primetime Emmy Awards

    Heat Wave

    Source: Wikidata

  • Primetime Emmy Awards · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

    1991 · Won · 43rd Primetime Emmy Awards

    Gabriel's Fire

    Source: Wikidata

  • Golden Globe Awards · New Star of the Year – Actor

    1971 · Won · 28th Golden Globe Awards

    The Great White Hope

    Source: Wikidata

  • Primetime Emmy Awards · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

    2004 · Nominated · 56th Primetime Emmy Awards

    Everwood

    Source: Wikidata

  • Primetime Emmy Awards · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

    1997 · Nominated · 49th Primetime Emmy Awards

    Frasier

    Source: Wikidata

  • Screen Actors Guild Awards · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

    1997 · Nominated · 2nd Screen Actors Guild Awards

    Cry, the Beloved Country

    Source: Wikidata

  • Primetime Emmy Awards · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

    1995 · Nominated · 47th Primetime Emmy Awards

    Under One Roof

    Source: Wikidata

  • Primetime Emmy Awards · Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

    1994 · Nominated · 46th Primetime Emmy Awards

    Picket Fences

    Source: Wikidata

  • Daytime Emmy Awards · Outstanding Children's Special

    1988 · Nominated · 15th Daytime Emmy Awards

    CBS Schoolbreak Special

    Source: Wikidata

  • Academy Awards · Actor in a Leading Role

    1971 · Nominated · 43rd Academy Awards

    The Great White Hope

    Source: Wikidata

Characters

13

The characters James Earl Jones played, best-known titles first.

James Earl Jones as King Mufasa (voice)
James Earl Jones as Darth Vader
James Earl Jones as Darth Vader
James Earl Jones as Mufasa (voice)
James Earl Jones as Darth Vader
James Earl Jones as King Jaffe Joffer
James Earl Jones as Admiral James Greer
James Earl Jones as Darth Vader
James Earl Jones as Terrence Mann
James Earl Jones as King Jaffe Joffer
James Earl Jones as Darth Vader
James Earl Jones as Host
James Earl Jones as Woody Paris

Character images: TheTVDB

What stands out

Compared with the average well-known movie, over 125 of their titles. Select a trait to filter titles.

Energy: 4.5 versus catalog average 4.5EnergyHeart: 4.7 versus catalog average 4.2HeartHumor: 2.7 versus catalog average 2.6HumorWorld: 5.5 versus catalog average 5.6WorldCraft: 5.2 versus catalog average 5.3CraftStyle: 5.8 versus catalog average 5.9Style
James Earl Jones Catalog average

Rarely in their work

  • Contemporary Realism
    4.3, average 5.4
  • Uncanny
    1.8, average 2.5
  • Eroticism
    1.2, average 1.8
  • Showbiz
    0.7, average 1.2

Main genres

Select a genre to see those titles.

Recurring tags

  • Social Commentary 17
  • Character-Driven 11
  • Underdog Story 5
  • Character Study 5
  • Family-Friendly 4
  • Fast-Paced 4
  • Redemption 4
  • Educational 4
  • Political Intrigue 3
  • Social Justice 3
  • Historical Drama 3
  • Family Drama 3

Works often with

People in at least two of their main titles.

Movies and TV shows

201
Type
Role
Score
Decade
Genre
Group by

2020s

4 titles · average score 60
Indiana Jones Adventure | Disneyland Resort
Indiana Jones Adventure | Disneyland Resort (2025)

as Mara (voice)

Mufasa: The Lion King
Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)
GoodWatch score 61

In Memory Of

Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
GoodWatch score 70

TV show · as Darth Vader (voice)

Coming 2 America
Coming 2 America (2021)
GoodWatch score 49

as King Jaffe Joffer

2010s

14 titles · average score 62
The Lion King
The Lion King (2019)
GoodWatch score 60

as Mufasa (voice)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
GoodWatch score 55

as Darth Vader (voice)

The Space: Theatre of Survival
The Space: Theatre of Survival (2019)

as Narrator

Warning Shot
Warning Shot (2018)
GoodWatch score 54

as Pendleton

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
GoodWatch score 70

as Darth Vader (voice)

The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2016)
GoodWatch score 60

as Mufasa (voice)

Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal (2015)
GoodWatch score 83

as Darth Vader (voice)

Driving Miss Daisy
Driving Miss Daisy (2015)
GoodWatch score 79

as Hoke Colburn

The Angriest Man in Brooklyn
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014)
GoodWatch score 32

as Ruben

Star Wars Rebels
Star Wars Rebels (2014)
GoodWatch score 77

TV show · as Darth Vader (voice)

Gimme Shelter
Gimme Shelter (2013)
GoodWatch score 49

as Frank McCarthy

Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey (2010)
GoodWatch score 60

as Admiral (voice)

2000s

30 titles · average score 62
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008)
GoodWatch score 45

as Papa Jenkins

Earth
Earth (2007)
GoodWatch score 78

as Narrator (voice)

The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory (2007)
GoodWatch score 69

TV show · as James Earl Jones

The Reading Room
The Reading Room (2005)
GoodWatch score 74

as William

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

as Narrator

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
GoodWatch score 73

as Darth Vader (voice - uncredited)

House
House (2004)
GoodWatch score 80

TV show · as Dibala

Nine Dog Christmas
Nine Dog Christmas (2004)

as Storyteller (voice)

Two and a Half Men
Two and a Half Men (2003)
GoodWatch score 67

TV show · as James Earl Jones

Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street
Recess Christmas: Miracle On Third Street (2001)
GoodWatch score 56

as Mister (voice)

Finder's Fee
Finder's Fee (2001)
GoodWatch score 60

as Avery Phillips

According to Jim
According to Jim (2001)
GoodWatch score 72

TV show · as Royal Flush Voice (voice)

1990s

72 titles · average score 64
Santa and Pete
Santa and Pete (1999)
GoodWatch score 64

as Grandpa Nicholas

A Family Thing
A Family Thing (1996)
GoodWatch score 71

as Ray Murdock

Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (1996)
GoodWatch score 80

as Dr. McDuffie

Cry, the Beloved Country
Cry, the Beloved Country (1995)
GoodWatch score 65

as Rev. Stephen Kumalo

Signs and Wonders
Signs and Wonders (1995)

TV show · as Diamond

Under One Roof
Under One Roof (1995)

TV show · as Neb Langston

The Lion King
The Lion King (1994)
GoodWatch score 88

as Mufasa (voice)

Clean Slate
Clean Slate (1994)
GoodWatch score 32

as John Dolby

The Hunt for Red October
The Hunt for Red October (1990)
GoodWatch score 66

as Vice ADM James Greer

Gabriel's Fire
Gabriel's Fire (1990)
GoodWatch score 71

TV show · as Gabriel Bird

The Ambulance
The Ambulance (1990)
GoodWatch score 57

as Lt. Spencer

By Dawn's Early Light
By Dawn's Early Light (1990)
GoodWatch score 67

as Alice

1980s

43 titles · average score 61
Best of the Best
Best of the Best (1989)
GoodWatch score 45

as Frank Couzo

Field of Dreams
Field of Dreams (1989)
GoodWatch score 74

as Terrence Mann

The Simpsons
The Simpsons (1989)
GoodWatch score 84

TV show · as Narrator (voice) / Maggie Simpson (voice)

Coming to America
Coming to America (1988)
GoodWatch score 66

as King Jaffe Joffer

Matewan
Matewan (1987)
GoodWatch score 82

as 'Few Clothes' Johnson

Gardens of Stone
Gardens of Stone (1987)
GoodWatch score 47

as Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold
Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986)
GoodWatch score 41

as Umslopogaas

Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp (1986)
GoodWatch score 62

as Genie / Narrator

The Atlanta Child Murders
The Atlanta Child Murders (1985)
GoodWatch score 62

TV show · as Major Walker

The Vegas Strip War
The Vegas Strip War (1984)
GoodWatch score 47

as Jack Madrid

Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
GoodWatch score 63

as Thulsa Doom

Blood Tide
Blood Tide (1982)
GoodWatch score 35

as Frye

1970s

29 titles · average score 59
Paris
Paris (1979)

TV show · as Woody Paris

The Star Wars Holiday Special
The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
GoodWatch score 28

as Darth Vader (voice)

A Piece of the Action
A Piece of the Action (1977)
GoodWatch score 66

as Joshua Burke

Exorcist II: The Heretic
Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
GoodWatch score 30

as Older Kokumo

Swashbuckler
Swashbuckler (1976)
GoodWatch score 50

as Nick Debrett

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976)
GoodWatch score 76

as Leon

Vegetable Soup
Vegetable Soup (1975)

TV show · as Long John Spoilsport

The UFO Incident
The UFO Incident (1975)
GoodWatch score 57

as Barney Hill

Deadly Hero
Deadly Hero (1975)
GoodWatch score 64

as Rabbit Shazam

Claudine
Claudine (1974)
GoodWatch score 72

as Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall

The Great White Hope
The Great White Hope (1970)
GoodWatch score 46

as Jack Jefferson

End of the Road
End of the Road (1970)
GoodWatch score 47

as Doctor D

1960s

7 titles · average score 69
Sesame Street
Sesame Street (1969)
GoodWatch score 69

TV show

The Comedians
The Comedians (1967)
GoodWatch score 41

as Dr. Magiot

Tarzan
Tarzan (1966)
GoodWatch score 70

TV show

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
GoodWatch score 91

as Lt. Lothar Zogg

East Side/West Side
East Side/West Side (1963)
GoodWatch score 82

TV show

Dr. Kildare
Dr. Kildare (1961)
GoodWatch score 63

TV show · as Dr. Lou Rush

The Defenders
The Defenders (1961)
GoodWatch score 71

TV show · as Lieutenant Andrews / Reverend Harris Bonham

1950s

1 title · average score 84
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)
GoodWatch score 84

TV show · as Archibald Thacker

1940s

1 title
Lamp Unto My Feet
Lamp Unto My Feet (1948)

TV show