Best known as the iconic voice of Darth Vader, American actor James Earl Jones earned worldwide fame with his critically acclaimed performances in movies, TV shows and theatre for more than six decades.
In his long career, Jones won a Grammy, two Emmys and three Tony awards as well as an honorary Oscar in 2011 for lifetime achievement. In 1971, he became only the second African American man after Sidney Poitier to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor which came for his performance in The Great White Hope (1970).
Jones was born in Mississippi in January 1931 and was initially unable to speak properly during his childhood due to a stammer. While working on his stammer, Jones developed his instantly recognisable voice.
Though several of his movies are critical and commercial successes, none has been as tremendously popular as Star Wars and his gravelly vocalisation of Darth Vader — a character that has been physically played on the big screen by David Prowse and Hayden Christensen.
Such was the impact the veteran actor had on pop culture that, in the eyes of Star Wars fans, Darth Vader is voiceless without Jones. Interestingly, he was not given the credit for his performance at his own insistence because he felt it was merely another “special effect.” However, as the franchise became a global box office record smasher, he was persuaded to rethink and his name now appears in all releases.
Following his death at the age of 93 on 9 September 2024, Mark Hamill, who played Darth Vader’s son Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, wrote “RIP Dad” on social media with a broken heart emoji.
Besides Star Wars, Jones is also remembered as the voice of Mufasa from The Lion King movies. Though his voice roles gave him fame beyond any, Jones was also an outstanding character performer on the screen. Some of his best-known movies in which his performance won plaudits include Claudine (1974), Field of Dreams (1989) and A Family Thing (1996).
His prolific body of work includes several Shakespearean theatrical productions as well as TV shows and TV movies including Sesame Street (1969, 1978, 2004), Long Ago and Far Away (1989–1992), The Simpsons (1990, 1994, 1998), Gabriel’s Fire (1990–91), Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama (1992), What the Deaf Man Heard (1997) and The Reading Room (2005).
Note: This article includes only theatrically released movies starring James Earl Jones which have an IMDb rating of 7 or above. It, therefore, does not include TV movies, documentaries or any other type of non-theatrical movie.
Best James Earl Jones movies you must watch
1 /13
Director: John Landis
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, John Amos, Madge Sinclair, Shari Headley
IMDb rating: 7.1
Synopsis: Prince Akeem Joffer, the Crown Prince of Zamunda, arrives in Queens, New York, to find a wife who is both intelligent and strong-willed. But he begins his search by going undercover with his friend Semmi (Hall), leading to hilarious adventures.
More about Jones’ role: In this comedy movie, Jones played King Jaffe Joffer, Akeem’s father and King of Zamunda. He reprised the role in Coming 2 America (2021), which eventually became his final film role.
2 /13
Director: Phil Alden Robinson
Cast: Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley, Mary McDonnell, River Phoenix, Sidney Poitier, David Strathairn
IMDb rating: 7.1
Synopsis: A team of security specialists led by Martin Bishop (Redford) is tasked with recovering a black box. Soon, the group finds itself in the middle of a conspiracy involving the government.
More about Jones’ role: Jones played the role of NSA Director of Operations Bernard Abbott in the film, which is counted among the best thrillers starring Redford.
3 /13
Director: Richard Pearce
Cast: Robert Duvall, Irma P. Hall
IMDb rating: 7.1
Synopsis: A white man named Earl (Duvall) learns from his dying mother that his biological mother was an African-American named Willa Mae. Earl is urged to meet his biological half-brother, Raymond Murdock (Jones), in Chicago and come to terms with his real identity.
Image credit: IMDb
4 /13
Director: John Berry
Cast: Diahann Carroll, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs
IMDb rating: 7.3
Synopsis: Claudine Price (Carroll) is a single woman with six children in Harlem. Rupert “Roop” Marshall is a garbage collector. They fall in love but their relationship is strained both due to their poor financial circumstances and the hostility of Claudine’s children towards Roop.
More about Jones’ role: A critically acclaimed romantic social drama, Jones received a Golden Globe nod for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Image credit: © 1974 Twentieth Century Fox via IMDb
5 /13
Director: John McTiernan
Cast: Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Sam Neill
IMDb rating: 7.5
Synopsis: During the late Cold War period of 1984, the Americans find themselves in a fix when an advanced undetectable nuclear-armed Soviet submarine, Red October, commanded by Captain Marko Ramius (Connery) heads for the US. Running out of time, a young CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Baldwin) must discover and convince his superiors of Marko’s true intentions.
More about Jones’ role: This was the first of the three political thriller films of the Jack Ryan series in which Jones played Vice Admiral James Greer, the Deputy Director of the CIA. He later reprised the role in Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and Present Danger (1994).
6 /13
Director: Phil Alden Robinson
Cast: Kevin Costner, Gaby Hoffmann, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, Burt Lancaster
IMDb rating: 7.5
Synopsis: Inspired by a strange voice, an Iowa farmer named Ray Kinsella (Costner) decides to turn his cornfield into a baseball field with the help of his wife, Annie (Madigan). In the process, he comes to a realisation that his dream is connected to his estranged father, who died without fulfilling his own dream.
More about Jones’ role: Jones essayed the role of Terence Mann, a controversial and reclusive author from the 1960s, who befriends Ray and helps the latter realise his dreams.
7 /13
Director: David Mickey Evans
Cast: Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Karen Allen, Denis Leary, Marty York
IMDb rating: 7.8
Synopsis: When a new kid arrives in town in 1962’s San Fernando Valley, a young baseball prodigy and his rowdy team take him under their wings. Their bond develops, and they go on many adventures.
More about Jones’ role: Jones played Mr. Mertle in the coming-of-age film. His character is presented as a former baseball player whose dog, the Beast, has captured the balls that landed in their yard and does not let anyone near.
Read more: Best sports documentaries to watch
8 /13
Director: John Sayles
Cast: Chris Cooper, Mary McDonnell, Will Oldham, David Strathairn, Kevin Tighe, Gordon Clapp
IMDb rating: 7.9
Synopsis: In 1920s US, the story follows a mining community picking up arms against the enforcers of a mining company which violently subjugated them.
More about Jones’ role: Jones played ‘Few Clothes’ Johnson, one of the miners in the film. In its review, Variety praised Jones’ performance, saying that it “practically glows in the dark.”
9 /13
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Cast: Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn, Slim Pickens, Tracy Reed
IMDB rating: 8.3
Synopsis: A paranoid US military officer Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper (Hayden) sends a group of bombers armed with hydrogen bombs to destroy the USSR. Back in the War Room in the US, a group of American politicians and military officers grapple to find a way to stop the devastation.
More about Jones’ role: Jones made his cinematic debut with Dr. Strangelove. He played the role of Lieutenant Lothar Zogg, the B-52’s bombardier sent to bomb the USSR.
10 /13
Director: Richard Marquand
Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Frank Oz
IMDb rating: 8.3
Synopsis: In the final battle between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker learns about his connection to Darth Vader. Now aware of his true identity, he must confront the Sith Lord to bring an end to the brutal Empire.
More about Jones’ role: This was Jones’ third portrayal of Darth Vader. He wouldn’t voice the character again till Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), in which he has a cameo appearance.
11 /13
Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Voice cast: Matthew Broderick, Moira Kelly, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Niketa Calame, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Whoopi Goldberg, Rowan Atkinson
IMDb rating: 8.5
Synopsis: A young lion cub named Simba (Broderick) must learn the ways of the jungle after his father, King Mufasa (Jones), is killed by the treacherous Scar (Irons).
More about Jones’ role: Jones’ portrayal as the wise Mufasa in this Disney animated classic was very well-received. In fact, he is the only major voice actor from the 1994 animation to have reprised his role in the 2019 photorealistically animated remake of the same name. Both versions are among the highest-grossing animated movies ever.
12 /13
Director: George Lucas
Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: The Galactic Empire has a planet-sized weapon – the Death Star. Rebel leader Princess Leia (Fisher) steals the plans to destroy the weapon but is captured by Darth Vader (Prowse/Jones). The plans, however, reach a young man named Luke Skywalker on a desert planet, which leads him to a Jedi master named Obi-Wan Kenobi. Together, they must rescue the Princess and destroy the Death Star.
More about Jones’ role: This was Jones’ first voice role as Darth Vader. The film was a major hit, helping establish the Star Wars franchise. It won six Academy Awards upon release and to this day is hailed as one of the greatest movies of the 20th century.
13 /13
Director: Irvin Kershner
Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, David Prowse, Frank Oz
IMDb rating: 8.7
Synopsis: Following the destruction of the Death Star, the Galactic Empire launches an all-out offensive on the Rebel Alliance. Luke (Hamill) begins his Jedi training under a legendary reclusive master named Yoda (Oz) to prepare for his eventual battle against Darth Vader (Prowse/Jones).
More about Jones’ role: Jones reprised his voice role as the fearsome Sith Lord in this second instalment of the Star Wars franchise.