American actor James Earl Jones had an extensive career in various film, television, and theater. He started out in film by appearing in the 1964 political satire film Dr. Strangelove as Lt. Lothar Zogg. He then went on to star in the 1970 film The Great White Hope as Jack Jefferson, a role he first played in the Broadway production of the same name. The film role earned him two Golden Globe nominations, one for Best Actor and winning one for New Star of the Year. He also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. His other work in the 1970s included playing the title character in Malcolm X (1972), Johnny Williams in The River Niger (1976), Nick Debrett in Swashbuckler (1976), Malcolm X again in The Greatest (1977), and The Bushido Blade with Richard Boone (1979).

Jones had notably voiced the antagonist Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, first in the original trilogy films—Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983) then again in the third installment of the prequel trilogy, Revenge of the Sith, first installment of the Star Wars anthology series—Rogue One (2016), and the third installment of the sequel trilogy, The Rise of Skywalker. He was also notable for voicing the Disney character Mufasa, first in the 1994 animated film The Lion King, its sequel The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998), and the 2019 photorealistic computer-animated remake of the same name.

In the 1980s, Jones had co-starring roles in the films Conan the Barbarian with Arnold Schwarzenegger (1982), Soul Man with C. Thomas Howell (1986), Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold with Richard Chamberlain (1987), Matewan with Chris Cooper (1987), Coming to America with Eddie Murphy (1988) and its sequel, Coming 2 America (2021), and Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner (1989). In 1990, Jones was first cast as the role of Admiral James Greer in the action thriller film The Hunt for Red October, a film based on Tom Clancy's novel of the same name. He reprised the role again in Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and Present Danger (1994), both films he co-starred with Harrison Ford, who was also in the first three Star Wars franchise films. He also played Mr. Mertle in The Sandlot (1993), a role he reprised again in The Sandlot 2 (2005). His later roles include Gimme Shelter with Rosario Dawson (2013), and The Angriest Man in Brooklyn with Robin Williams (2014), one of Williams' last films before his death. In 2008 and 2011, Jones won the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award and Academy Honorary Award respectively for his career in film.

Jones' television work included playing Woodrow Paris in the series Paris between 1979 and 1980. He voiced various characters on the animated series The Simpsons in three separate seasons (1990, 1994, 1998). He then was cast as Gabriel Bird, the lead role in the series Gabriel's Fire which aired from 1990 to 1991. For that role, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and was nominated for his fourth Golden Globe Award, this time for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama. He played Bird again in the series Pros and Cons, which ran from 1991 to 1992; that earned him his fifth and final Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama. He then had small appearances in the series Law & Order (1993), Picket Fences (1994), Mad About You (1997), Touched by an Angel (1997), Frasier (1997). His role in Picket Fences earned him another Primetime Emmy Award nomination, one for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. His later television work includes small roles in Everwood (2003–2004), Two and a Half Men (2008), House (2009), and The Big Bang Theory (2014).

Jones' theater work included numerous Broadway plays, including: Sunrise at Campobello (19581959), Danton's Death (1965), The Iceman Cometh (19731974), Of Mice and Men (19741975), Othello (1982), On Golden Pond (2005), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008) and You Can't Take It with You (20142015). He was also in various off Broadway productions and Shakespeare stage adaptations such as The Merchant of Venice (1962), The Winter's Tale (1963), Othello (19641965), Coriolanus (1965), Hamlet (1972), and King Lear (1973). His roles in The Great White Hope (1969) and Fences (1987) earned him two Tony Awards, both for Best Leading Actor in a Play.

Film

Year Title Role Notes 1964 Dr. Strangelove 1967 Krafsur 1997, pg. 193 Himself Short film 1970 End of the Road Doctor D Krafsur 1997, pg. 303 Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actor Krafsur 1997, pg. 429 1972 1974 Claudine 1975 Deadly Hero 1976 Swashbuckler 1977 Malcolm X Star Wars Darth Vader Voice role, originally uncredited (credited in reissues) Exorcist II: The Heretic Older Kokumo Sheikh 1979 Harpooner 1980 Darth Vader Voice role, originally uncredited (credited in reissues) 1982 Ommadon Voice role Conan the Barbarian Blood Tide Frye aka Demon Island and The Red Tide 1983 Return of the Jedi Darth Vader Voice role 1985 City Limits Albert 1986 Soul Man Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold Umslopogaas 1987 Gardens of Stone My Little Girl Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night Emperor of the NightVoice role Matewan Few Clothes 1988 Coming to America 1989 Three Fugitives Field of Dreams Best of the Best 1990 Convicts Grim Prairie Tales Morrison 1991 Scorchers Bear True Identity Himself 1992 Patriot Games Sneakers 1993 Dreamrider Sommersby Excessive Force Jake 1994 Naked Gun : The Final Insult Himself Cameo Clean Slate Dolby Mufasa Voice role Clear and Present Danger 1995 Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye Mara Voice role, Theme park dark ride Jefferson in Paris Cry, the Beloved Country 1996 Good Luck 1997 Casper: A Spirited Beginning Kibosh Voice, direct-to-video Gang Related 1998 Primary Colors CNN Voiceover Voice cameo Mufasa Voice role, direct-to-video 1999 Our Friend, Martin On the Q.T. Leo Undercover Angel The Judge Fish Fantasia 2000 Himself 2001 Finder's Fee 2005 Robots Voice Box at Hardware Store Voice role Direct-to-video Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith Darth Vader Voice role 2006 Voice cameo Click Narrator of Michael's Past / Himself Uncredited voice cameo Scary Movie 4 Narrator / Himself Uncredited cameo 2008 Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins 2009 Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey The Professor, The Admiral Voice role Jack and the Beanstalk The Giant 2011 Star Tours – The Adventures Continue Darth Vader Voice role, short film 2013 Gimme Shelter 2014 Ruben Driving Miss Daisy Theatrical release of stage production 2016 Rogue One Darth Vader Voice role 2018 Warning Shot Pendleton 2019 Mufasa Voice role Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Palpatine impersonating Darth Vader Voice cameo 2021 Coming 2 America Final film role 2024 Mufasa: The Lion King Adult Mufasa Posthumous release, Dedicated to his Memory

Television series Year Title Role Notes 1962 The Defenders Guest role 1963 East Side/West Side Joe Goodwin Episode: "Who Do You Kill?" 1963 Channing Guest role 1966 Dr. Kildare As the World Turns Dr. Jerry Turner 1969 N.Y.P.D. 2 episodes Sesame Street Himself 1974 NBC Children's Theater Episode: "Super Plastic Elastic Goggles" 1977 Jesus of Nazareth Balthazar Episode: "Part 1" 1978 Sesame Street Movie Star Episode: 1148 1979 Roots: The Next Generations Episode: "1.7" 1979–80 Paris 13 episodes 1985 The Atlanta Child Murders 2 episodes Me and Mom 6 episodes 1986 Faerie Tale Theatre Genie of the Lamp, Genie of the Ring Episode: "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp" 1987 Highway to Heaven 1 episode: "A Song of Songs" 1987; 1990–92 Square One TelevisionAnnouncer, 4 episodes 1987–91 Mathnet 5 episodes 1988–89 L.A. Law 2 episodes 1989 Saturday Night with Connie Chung Episode: "God's Bad Boy" 1989–92 Long Ago and Far Away Himself/host 35 episodes 1990, 1994, 1998 Moving Man, Serak the Preparer, Narrator, Maggie Simpson Voice, 3 episodes 1990–91 Gabriel's Fire 22 episodes 1991–92 Pros and Cons 12 episodes 1992 Garfield and Friends Diablo Voice, episode: "Ghost of a Chance" 1993 ABC Weekend Special Episode: "The Parsley Garden" Law & Order Episode: "Profile" American Playhouse Old Man Taylor Episode: "Hallelujah" 1994 Picket Fences Episode: "System Down" Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Episode: "The House of Luthor" 1995 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Voice, episode: "The Valiant Little Tailor" Signs and Wonders Diamond 4 episodes Under One Roof 6 episodes 1997 Mad About You Himself Episode: "Chicken Man" James Wright Voice, episode: "In the City" Touched by an Angel Angel of Angels Episode: "Clipped Wings" Frasier Episode: "Roz's Krantz & Gouldenstein Are Dead" Stargate SG-1 Unas Episode: "Thor's Hammer" Homicide: Life on the Street 3 episodes 1998 Merlin Mountain King Voice, 3 episodes Recess Santa Claus Voice, episode: "Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave" 2003 Will & Grace Himself Episode: "Me and Mr. Jones" 2003–04 Everwood 3 episodes 2004 According to Jim Royal Flush XP Toilet Voice, episode: "The Toilet" Sesame StreetHimself Episode: 4077 2008 Two and a Half Men Episode: "The Devil's Lube" 2009 House Dibala Episode: "The Tyrant" 2010 SpongeBob SquarePants Keeper of the Hornet Forest Episode: "Squidward in Clarinetland" 2014 Himself Episode: "The Convention Conundrum" 2014–16 Star Wars Rebels Darth Vader Voice, 5 episodes 2015 Agent X 2 episodes 2022 Obi-Wan Kenobi Darth Vader Voice (generated via Respeecher); 4 episodes; Final TV role

Television films Year Title Role 1974 Timothy 1975 1977 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special Darth Vader 1980 Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones Father Divine 1984 1990 By Dawn's Early Light Alice Heat Wave 1993 Percy & Thunder Percy 1994 Confessions: Two Faces of Evil Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics Host Bah, Humbug! Narrator, Ebenezer Scrooge 1995 People: A Musical Celebration The Storyteller 1996 Rebound: The Legend of Earl "The Goat" Manigault Timepiece Lawrence 1997 Alone Grey What the Deaf Man Heard 1999 Santa and Pete Grandpa Nicholas Summer's End 2001 Older Marcel 2005 William 2009 5-Toe (voice) 2015 Mufasa (voice)

Narrator Year Title Notes 1962 Monitor Television newsmagazine; narration and voice contributions Look Up and Live Public-affairs program; narration and dramatized readings 1970 King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis Documentary 1972 Malcolm X 1980 There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagues 1984 Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears Audio book 1990The Atlanta Campaign Short film 1992 Freddie as F.R.O.7 American dub Lincoln Television documentary Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama American dub Second Coming Short film Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories Segment "Millions of Cats" 1993 Video game 1994 Africa: The Serengeti Documentary 1995 Judge Dredd Uncredited Who's in Rabbit's House? Audio book 1996 3rd Rock from the Sun Uncredited voice contribution 2000 Antietam: A Documentary Drama Documentary 2001 Black Indians: An American Story 2002 Disney's American Legends Video 2004 Nine Dog Christmas 2006 Documentary 2007 Earth 2009 La Premiere Short

Theatre