JJ
James Earl Jones
Actor
Born January 17, 1931 (91 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.
Filmography
| 2022 | Obi-Wan Kenobi (TV Series) · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 2022 | Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Patterson Cut · as Darth Vader (Voice) |
| 2022 | Kenobi - A Star Wars Story · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 2021 | Coming 2 America · as King Jaffe Joffer |
| 2020 | Giving Voice · as Troy Maxson |
| 2019 | Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 2019 | The Lion King · as Mufasa (voice) |
| 2019 | Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell · as James Earl Jones (archive footage) |
| 2019 | The Space - Theatre of Survival · as Narrator |
| 2018 | Warning Shot · as Pendleton |
| 2017 | The Lion Guard: Life In The Pride Lands · as Mufasa |
| 2016 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 2015 | The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar · as Mufasa (voice) |
| 2015 | August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand · as Unknown |
| 2015 | Driving Miss Daisy · as Hoke Colburn |
| 2015 | Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 2015 | Agent X (TV Series) · as Chief Justice Caleb Thorne |
| 2014 | The Angriest Man in Brooklyn · as Ruben |
| 2014 | Star Wars Rebels (TV Series) · as Anakin Skywalker (voice) |
| 2013 | Gimme Shelter · as Frank McCarthy |
| 2011 | The Loving Story · as Jack Jefferson |
| 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 |
| 2007 | John, Paul, George & Ben · as Narrator |
| 2006 | Scary Movie 4 · as Narrator (uncredited) |
| 2006 | The Benchwarmers · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 2006 | Click · as Narrator of Michael's Past (uncredited) |
| 2005 | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith · as Darth Vader (voice - uncredited) |
| 2005 | Robots · as Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice) |
| 2005 | The Sandlot 2 · as Mr. Mertle |
| 2005 | The Reading Room · as Unknown |
| 2005 | By Any Means Necessary: The Making of 'Malcolm X' · as Narrator |
| 2004 | House (TV Series) · as Dibala |
| 2004 | Athens 2004 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony · as Voice-over |
| 2002 | Everwood (TV Series) · as Will Cleveland |
| 2001 | Finder's Fee · as Avery Phillips |
| 2001 | American Legends · as Narrator |
| 2001 | The Feast of All Saints · as Older Marcel |
| 2001 | Muhammad Ali: Through the Eyes of the World · as Unknown |
| 2001 | Black Indians: An American Story · as Narrator |
| 2001 | On the Q.T. · as Leo |
| 2001 | According to Jim (TV Series) · as Royal Flush Voice (voice) |
| 2000 | Tina Turner: One Last Time Live in Concert · as Announcer |
| 2000 | The Prince of Light · as Narrator |
| 2000 | Antietam: A Documentary Drama · as Narrator |
| 1999 | Undercover Angel · as The Judge |
| 1999 | The Annihilation of Fish · as Fish |
| 1999 | Santa and Pete · as James Earl Jones |
| 1999 | Summer's End · as Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely |
| 1998 | Primary Colors · as CNN Voiceover (voice) |
| 1998 | The Lion King II: Simba's Pride · as Mufasa (voice) |
| 1998 | Merlin (TV Series) · as Rock of Ages |
| 1997 | Gang Related · as Arthur Baylor |
| 1997 | Casper: A Spirited Beginning · as Kibosh (voice) |
| 1997 | The Second Civil War · as Jim Kalla |
| 1997 | What the Deaf Man Heard · as Archibald Thacker |
| 1997 | Alone · as Grey |
| 1997 | Recess (TV Series) · as Santa Claus |
| 1997 | Stargate SG-1 (TV Series) · as Unas (Voice) |
| 1996 | Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault · as Dr. McDuffie |
| 1996 | A Family Thing · as Ray Murdock |
| 1996 | Timepiece · as Lawrence |
| 1996 | Good Luck · as James Bing |
| 1996 | 3rd Rock from the Sun (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1995 | Judge Dredd · as Narrator (uncredited) |
| 1995 | Cry, the Beloved Country · as Rev. Stephen Kumalo |
| 1995 | Jefferson in Paris · as Madison Hemings |
| 1995 | |
| 1995 | People: A Musical Celebration · as The Storyteller (voice) |
| 1995 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (TV Series) · as King Dakkar (voice) |
| 1995 | Who's in Rabbit's House? · as Narrator (voice) |
| 1994 | The Lion King · as King Mufasa (voice) |
| 1994 | Clear and Present Danger · as Admiral James Greer |
| 1994 | Clean Slate · as John Dolby |
| 1994 | |
| 1994 | Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult · as James Earl Jones |
| 1994 | The Vernon Johns Story · as Vernon Johns |
| 1994 | Confessions: Two Faces of Evil · as Charles Lloyd |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as The Angel of Angels |
| 1994 | Africa: The Serengeti · as Narrator |
| 1993 | Sommersby · as Judge Barry Conrad Issacs |
| 1993 | The Sandlot · as Mr. Mertle |
| 1993 | The Meteor Man · as Earnest Moses |
| 1993 | Excessive Force · as Jake |
| 1993 | Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama · as Narrator |
| 1993 | Dreamrider · as William Perry |
| 1993 | Homicide: Life On The Street (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1993 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series) · as Franklin Stern |
| 1993 | Frasier (TV Series) · as Norman Royster |
| 1993 | Percy & Thunder · as Percy |
| 1992 | Sneakers · as NSA Agent Bernard Abbott |
| 1992 | Patriot Games · as Adm. James Greer |
| 1992 | Freddie as F.R.O.7. · as Narrator (American version) |
| 1992 | Picket Fences (TV Series) · as Bryant Thomas |
| 1991 | Scorchers · as Bear |
| 1991 | Convicts · as Ben Johnson |
| 1991 | Visitors from the Unknown · as Narrator |
| 1990 | The Hunt for Red October · as Admiral James Greer |
| 1990 | By Dawn's Early Light · as Looking Glass General - 'Alice' |
| 1990 | Grim Prairie Tales · as Morrison |
| 1990 | The Ambulance · as Lt. Spencer |
| 1990 | Terrorgram · as Retribution (voice) |
| 1990 | Heat Wave · as Junius Johnson |
| 1990 | Last Flight Out · as Al Topping |
| 1990 | Law & Order (TV Series) · as Defense Attorney Horace McCoy |
| 1990 | Gabriel's Fire (TV Series) · as Gabriel Bird |
| 1990 | World of Discovery (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1989 | Field of Dreams · as Terrence Mann |
| 1989 | Three Fugitives · as Dugan |
| 1989 | Best of the Best · as Frank Couzo |
| 1989 | Stories to Remember: Noah's Ark · as Narrator |
| 1989 | The Simpsons (TV Series) · as Moving Man / Serak the Preparer / Narrator (voice) |
| 1988 | Coming to America · as King Jaffe Joffer |
| 1988 | Garfield and Friends (TV Series) · as Diablo |
| 1987 | Gardens of Stone · as Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson |
| 1987 | Matewan · as 'Few Clothes' Johnson |
| 1987 | Square One TV (TV Series) · as Announcer |
| 1987 | Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night · as Emperor of the Night (voice) |
| 1986 | Soul Man · as Professor Banks |
| 1986 | My Little Girl · as Ike Bailey |
| 1986 | Lone Star Kid · as Holmes |
| 1986 | L.A. Law (TV Series) · as Lee Atkins |
| 1986 | Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold · as Umslopogaas |
| 1985 | The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible (TV Series) · as Pharoah |
| 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 |
| 1983 | Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi · as Voice of Darth Vader (voice) |
| 1982 | Conan the Barbarian · as Thulsa Doom |
| 1982 | Bloodtide · as Frye |
| 1982 | Night of 100 Stars · as Unknown |
| 1982 | Faerie Tale Theatre (TV Series) · as Genie / Narrator |
| 1982 | The Flight of Dragons · as Ommadon |
| 1981 | The Bushido Blade · as The Prisoner |
| 1980 | Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back · as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited) |
| 1980 | Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones · as Father Divine |
| 1979 | Paul Robeson · as Paul Robeson |
| 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 (voice) |
| 1977 | Star Wars · as Darth Vader (voice) |
| 1977 | A Piece of the Action · as Joshua Burke |
| 1977 | The Last Remake of Beau Geste · as Sheikh |
| 1977 | The Greatest · as Malcolm X |
| 1977 | The Making of 'Star Wars' · as Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited) |
| 1977 | Jesus of Nazareth (TV Series) · as Balthazar |
| 1977 | Exorcist II: The Heretic · as Older Kokumo |
| 1976 | Swashbuckler · as Nick Debrett |
| 1976 | The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings · as Leon Carter |
| 1976 | The River Niger · as Johnny Williams |
| 1976 | America at the Movies · as Lt. Lothar Zogg |
| 1975 | Deadly Hero · as Rabbit Shazam |
| 1974 | Claudine · as Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall |
| 1972 | Malcolm X · as Biographical Narration (voice) |
| 1972 | The Man · as Douglass Dilman |
| 1971 | Great Performances (TV Series) · as King Lear |
| 1969 | Sesame Street (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1967 | The Comedians · as Dr. Magiot |
| 1966 | Tarzan (1966) (TV Series) · as Unknown |
| 1964 | Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb · as Lt. Lothar Zogg |
| 1958 | Monitor (TV Series) · as Prince of Morocco |
| 1956 | As The World Turns (TV Series) · as Dr. Jerry Turner (1966) |
| 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) |