James Earl Jones
Actor
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 ... Show more...
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. Show less...
Filmography - Acting
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The Lion King (2019)
As: Mufasa (voice)
Simba idolises his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how ...
Directed by: Jon Favreau
Stars: Donald Glover | Beyoncé Knowles | James Earl Jones | Chiwetel Ejiofor | Alfre Woodard
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
As: Darth Vader (voice)
A rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring a new hope to the galaxy.
Runtime: 133 min.
Directed by: Gareth Edwards
Stars: Felicity Jones | Diego Luna | Ben Mendelsohn | Donnie Yen | Mads Mikkelsen
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015)
As: Mufasa (voice)
Set in the African savannah, the film follows Kion as he assembles the members of the 'Lion Guard'. Throughout the film, the diverse team of young animals will learn how to utilize each of their unique abilities to solve problems and accomplish tasks to maintain balance within the Circle of Life, while also introducing viewers to the vast array of animals that populate the prodigious African landscape.
Runtime: 44 min.
Directed by: Howy Parkins
Stars: Max Charles | Jeff Bennett | Dusan Brown | Sarah Hyland | James Earl Jones
Black Indians: An American Story (2015)
As: Narrator
James Earl Jones narrates this examination of the historical relationship between American Indians and African-Americans, who often merged their cultures to work and live together while mainstream white society shunned them. Through illuminating anecdotes and interviews, descendants of fused black and Indian families discuss the complications of their mixed heritage and how their culture was largely erased on official ...
Runtime: 60 min.
Directed by: Chip Richie
Stars: James Earl Jones
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014)
As: Ruben
After learning that a brain aneurysm will kill him in about 90 minutes, a perpetually unhappy man struggles to come to terms with his fate and make amends with everyone he has ever hurt.
Runtime: 83 min.
Directed by: Phil Alden Robinson
Stars: Robin Williams | Mila Kunis | Peter Dinklage | Melissa Leo | James Earl Jones
Gimme Shelter (2013)
As: Frank McCarthy
After running away from her abusive mother, a streetwise teen seeks refuge with her father, but he rejects her when he learns that she's pregnant.
Runtime: 101 min.
Directed by: Ron Krauss
Stars: Vanessa Hudgens | Rosario Dawson | Brendan Fraser | Stephanie Szostak | James Earl Jones
Muse of Fire (2013)
As: Himself
Funny, passionate, exciting, and smart: ‘Muse Of Fire’ will change the way you feel about Shakespeare forever. This unique feature documentary follows two actors, Giles Terera and Dan Poole, as they travel the world to find out everything they can about tackling the greatest writer of them all. Together they have directed and produced an inspiring film that aims to demystify and illuminate Shakespeare’s ...
Runtime: 83 min.
Directed by: Dan Poole | Giles Terera
Stars: Ian McKellen | Judi Dench | Mark Rylance | Ralph Fiennes | John Hurt
Blackfish (2013)
As: Himself (archive footage)
Notorious killer whale Tilikum is responsible for the deaths of three individuals, including a top killer whale trainer. Blackfish shows the sometimes devastating consequences of keeping such intelligent and sentient creatures in captivity.
Runtime: 83 min.
Directed by: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Stars: Dean Gomersall | Samantha Berg | John Jett | John Hargrove | Carol Ray
Milius (2013)
As: Himself
The life story of ‘Zen Anarchist’ filmmaker John Milius, one of the most influential storytellers of his generation.
Runtime: 103 min.
Directed by: Joey Figueroa | Zak Knutson
Stars: John Milius | Steven Spielberg | George Lucas | Francis Ford Coppola | Robert Zemeckis
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey (2012)
As: Admiral (voice)
Quantum Quest centers on the story of Dave, a young photon, who is forced out of the Sun on a journey of discovery. He must get to the Cassini Space Craft and save it from the forces of the Void, only Dave does not know exactly what he must do or even where the Cassini Space craft is or what it is. The forces of the Void must destroy Cassini before it sends its great discoveries back to Earth,Dave is the only thing that ...
Runtime: 45 min.
Directed by: Harry 'Doc' Kloor | Dan St. Pierre
Stars: Chris Pine | Amanda Peet | Samuel L. Jackson | Hayden Christensen | James Earl Jones
Jack and the Beanstalk (2010)
As: The Giant (voice)
A fairy tale character who is about to flunk out of fairy tale school, Jack must perform a heroic deed by Monday or fail miserably, just like his father before him. Anxious to make good, Jack sells his C.O.W. (Computer of Wonder) for a handful of magic beans and a mysterious book that records his adventures as he's having them. Accompanied by his sidekick Grayson -- a goose who ate a bean and underwent ...
Runtime: 94 min.
Directed by: Gary J. Tunnicliffe
Stars: Chevy Chase | Madison Davenport | Emily Rose Everhard | Colin Ford | Gilbert Gottfried
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008)
As: Papa Jenkins
Martin Lawrence leads an all-star cast, including Cedric the Entertainer, Mo'Nique, and Mike Epps, in the hit comedy "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins." When a celebrated TV show host (Lawrence) returns to his hometown in the South, his family is there to remind him that going home is no vacation! It's one outrageous predicament after another when big-city attitude and small-town values collide in this hysterical ...
Runtime: 114 min.
Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee
Stars: Martin Lawrence | James Earl Jones | Margaret Avery | Joy Bryant | Cedric the Entertainer
Earth (2007)
As: Narrator
From the acclaimed team that brought you BBC's visual feast "Planet Earth," this feature length film incorporates some of the same footage from the series with all new scenes following three remarkable, yet sadly endangered, families of animal across the globe.
Runtime: 90 min.
Directed by: Alastair Fothergill | Mark Linfield
Stars: Patrick Stewart | Constantino Romero | James Earl Jones | Ken Watanabe | Ulrich Tukur
The Benchwarmers (2006)
As: Darth Vader (voice)
A trio of guys try and make up for missed opportunities in childhood by forming a three-player baseball team to compete against standard little league squads.
Runtime: 80 min.
Directed by: Dennis Dugan
Stars: Jon Heder | Rob Schneider | David Spade | Jon Lovitz | Tim Meadows
The Reading Room (2005)
Making good on a promise he made to his dying wife, a widower (Jones) opens a reading room, a place where people can learn to read. Despite his goodwill, problems in the neighborhood threaten his establishment.
Runtime: 93 min.
Directed by: Georg Stanford Brown
Stars: James Earl Jones | Douglas Spain | Joanna Cassidy | Monique Coleman | Keith Robinson
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
As: Darth Vader (voice)
Years after the onset of the Clone Wars, the noble Jedi Knights lead a massive clone army into a galaxy-wide battle against the Separatists. When the sinister Sith unveil a thousand-year-old plot to rule the galaxy, the Republic crumbles and from its ashes rises the evil Galactic Empire. Jedi hero Anakin Skywalker is seduced by the dark side of the Force to become the Emperor's new apprentice – Darth Vader. The Jedi are ...
Runtime: 140 min.
Directed by: George Lucas
Stars: Ewan McGregor | Natalie Portman | Hayden Christensen | Ian McDiarmid | Samuel L. Jackson
The Sandlot 2 (2005)
As: Mr. Mertle
A decade has passed in the small town where the original Sandlot gang banded together during the summer of ’62 to play baseball and battle the Beast. Now comes the sequel, a campy romp back to the dugout where nine new kids descend on the diamond only to discover that a descendant of the Beast lives in Mr. Mertle’s backyard--a monster of mythical proportions known as "The Great Fear."
Runtime: 97 min.
Directed by: David M. Evans
Stars: James Earl Jones | Max Lloyd-Jones | James Willson | Brett Kelly | Cole Evan Weiss
Robots (2005)
As: Voice Box at Hardware Store (voice)
Rodney Copperbottom is a young robot inventor who dreams of making the world a better place, until the evil Ratchet takes over Big Weld Industries. Now, Rodney's dreams – and those of his friends – are in danger of becoming obsolete.
Runtime: 91 min.
Directed by: Chris Wedge | Carlos Saldanha
Stars: Robin Williams | Ewan McGregor | Halle Berry | Mel Brooks | Paula Abdul
By Any Means Necessary: The Making of Malcolm X (2005)
As: Narrator
A short documentary about the making of Spike Lee's biopic, 'Malcolm X'.
Runtime: 30 min.
Directed by: Gary Leva
Stars: James Earl Jones | Martin Scorsese | Spike Lee | Ossie Davis | Ernest R. Dickerson
Nine Dog Christmas (2004)
As: Narrator
Animated tale about Santa's reindeer, who have come down with the North Pole flu. Nearsighted elf leader Buzz thinks he's found the perfect replacements, but the makeshift reindeer turn out to be nine stray dogs in an old beat-up wagon! Will this ragged band of canines be up to the task of guiding Santa's sleigh, or will Christmas have to be grounded?
Runtime: 59 min.
Directed by: Kamoon Song
Stars: James Earl Jones | Russi Taylor | Scott Hamilton
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy (2004)
As: Himself
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy is a 2004 documentary film directed by Kevin Burns and narrated by Robert Clotworthy. It documents the making of the original Star Wars trilogy.
Runtime: 151 min.
Directed by: Edith Becker | Kevin Burns
Stars: Robert Clotworthy | Kenny Baker | Jim Bloom | Leo Braudy | Ben Burtt
The Great Year (2003)
As: Narrator
The Great Year is a compelling documentary that explores the possibility that the fall of ancient civilizations around the globe, and the rise of modern civilization, might be related to our Sun’s motion around a companion star. The film examines evidence that ancient civilizations may have known of this celestial cycle and that our Sun may indeed display the characteristics of binary motion. Just as the Earth’s spin ...
Runtime: 46 min.
Directed by: Robert Ballo
Stars: James Earl Jones | Walter Cruttenden | John Anthony West | Uwe Homann | Werner Däppen
American Legends (2002)
As: Narrator
Meet the doers and dreamers who made America great -- including John Henry, the railroad builder who proved the value of believing in oneself. Journey with giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan as he clears the land for American settlers. Follow the trail of the beloved American Icon Johnny Appleseed, who planted apple trees which blossomed along the new frontier. Then, take an unforgettable ride with Casey Jones, The Brave Engineer ...
Runtime: 57 min.
Directed by: Lara Shapiro | Jack Kinney | Les Clark | Mark Henn
Stars: James Earl Jones | Alfre Woodard | Tim Hodge | Dave Murray | Carrie Harrington
Muhammad Ali - Through The Eyes Of The World (2001)
"This is a kid who just said it. I'm the greatest - and he said it with poetry. And I don't mean just the poems that he wrote but with the poetic energy, the poetic spirit" - James Earl Jones. Through the eys of the world is a unique account of one of the great icons of the 20th century, told by family, friends and fans from all over the world.
Runtime: 115 min.
Directed by: Phil Grabsky
Stars: Richard Harris | James Earl Jones | Billy Crystal | Rod Steiger | Muhammad Ali
Feast of All Saints (2001)
As: Older Marcel
Set in nineteenth-century New Orleans, the story depicts the gens de couleur libre, or the Free People of Colour, a dazzling yet damned class caught between the world of white privilege and black oppression.
Runtime: 140 min.
Directed by: Peter Medek
Stars: Robert Ri'chard | Peter Gallagher | Gloria Reuben | Jennifer Beals | Ossie Davis
Finder's Fee (2001)
As: Avery Phillips
After finding a wallet in the street tepper calls the owner in order to return it. After making the call he discovers that the lottery ticket inside is a $6 million winner. To add to things his friends are on their way over for their weekly poker night & the groups tradition is to bet their lottery ticket.
Runtime: 100 min.
Directed by: Jeff Probst
Stars: Ryan Reynolds | Erik Palladino | Dash Mihok | Carly Pope | James Earl Jones
Summer's End (2000)
As: Dr. William 'Bill' Blakely
12-year-old boy and his older brother have just lost their dad. At their summer cottage, the younger boy befriends a black doctor who has to deal with local prejudice and racism.
Runtime: 101 min.
Directed by: Helen Shaver
Stars: James Earl Jones | Wendy Crewson | Jake LeDoux | Brendan Fletcher
Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan' (2000)
As: Himself
Nearly all the cast and crew are on hand to give stories and memories about the making of the film. Plenty of detail on every aspect of the film from pre-production to opening night is covered.
Runtime: 52 min.
Directed by: Laurent Bouzereau
Stars: John Milius | Oliver Stone | Dino De Laurentiis | Arnold Schwarzenegger | James Earl Jones
Fantasia 2000 (1999)
As: Himself - Host
Blending lively music and brilliant animation, this sequel to the original 'Fantasia' restores 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' and adds seven new shorts.
Runtime: 75 min.
Directed by: James Algar | Gaëtan Brizzi | Paul Brizzi | Hendel Butoy | Francis Glebas | Eric Goldberg | Don Hahn | Pixote Hunt
Stars: Steve Martin | Itzhak Perlman | Quincy Jones | Bette Midler | James Earl Jones
Santa and Pete (1999)
As: James Earl Jones
This warmhearted Yuletide tale tells the story of Grandpa Nichols (James Earl Jones) who is spending his first Christmas alone as a widower. His grandson Pete (Flex Alexander from SHE'S ALL THAT) is riveted by his grandfather's story of St. Nick, and Pete decides that it is his desire to do all he can to help out old St. Nick in any way he can. A delight for the whole family.
Runtime: 98 min.
Directed by: Duwayne Dunham
Stars: James Earl Jones | Hume Cronyn | Flex Alexander
Undercover Angel (1999)
As: The Judge
With his landlord breathing down his neck and his writing career stagnant, the last thing Harrison Tyler (Dean Winters) needs is a kid hanging around. But he's in for a surprise when his ex-girlfriend (Lorraine Ansell) leaves her precocious 6-year-old (Emily Mae Young) in his care for a few weeks. It turns out the girl possesses remarkable matchmaking skills, and soon Tyler's professional and romantic fortunes begin to turn ...
Runtime: 91 min.
Directed by: Bryan Michael Stoller
Stars: Dean Winters | Emily Mae Young | Lorraine Ansell | Richard Eden | Casey Kasem
Our Friend, Martin (1999)
As: Daddy King (voice)
What begins as a routine class project for a diverse group of sixth-graders turns into a magical, time-traveling adventure they'll never forget! Authentic historical footage of Martin Luther King Jr. is blended with colorful animation as the students learn about - and actually meet - the civil rights leader who challenged all Americans to turn his dream of freedom into reality. Produced in association with the ...
Runtime: 60 min.
Directed by: Robert Brousseau | Vincenzo Trippetti
Stars: Ed Asner | Angela Bassett | Lucas Black | Theodore Borders | LeVar Burton
The Annihilation of Fish (1999)
As: Fish
A woman (Lynn Redgrave) who believes a dead composer is in love with her falls in love with a man (James Earl Jones) who constantly fights an imaginary man named Hank
Runtime: 108 min.
Directed by: Charles Burnett
Stars: James Earl Jones | Lynn Redgrave | Margot Kidder | Sarah Benoit | Andy Garza
The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride (1998)
As: Mufasa (voice)
The circle of life continues for Simba, now fully grown and in his rightful place as the king of Pride Rock. Simba and Nala have given birth to a daughter, Kiara who's as rebellious as her father was. But Kiara drives her parents to distraction when she catches the eye of Kovu, the son of the evil lioness, Zira. Will Kovu steal Kiara's heart?
Runtime: 81 min.
Directed by: Darrell Rooney
Stars: Matthew Broderick | Moira Kelly | Neve Campbell | Liz Callaway | Andy Dick
Alone (1997)
As: Grey
An aging, recently widowed man is approached by an oil company ready to pay him for his land. While his family is in favor, the man struggles with the decision in this Horton Foote screenplay.
Runtime: 102 min.
Directed by: Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Stars: Hume Cronyn | James Earl Jones | Ed Begley Jr. | Shelley Duvall | Shelley Duvall
What the Deaf Man Heard (1997)
As: Archibald Thacker
In 1945, a young boy arrives in a small Georgia town on a bus from which his mother was abducted and murdered. Alone he sits quietly and everyone becomes convinced that he is deaf and mute. Deciding that silence offers some power and protection, the boy decides to remain mute and just listens to all that is being said around him by people who think that he cannot hear.
Runtime: 120 min.
Directed by: John Kent Harrison
Stars: Matthew Modine | Claire Bloom | Judith Ivey | James Earl Jones | Jerry O'Connell
Gang Related (1997)
As: Arthur Baylor
Two corrupt cops have a successful, seemingly perfect money making scheme- they sell drugs that they seize from dealers, kill the dealers, and blame the crimes on street gangs. Their scheme is going along smoothly until they kill an undercover DEA agent posing as a dealer, and then try to cover-up their crime.
Runtime: 111 min.
Directed by: Jim Kouf
Stars: James Belushi | Tupac Amaru Shakur | Lela Rochon | Dennis Quaid | James Earl Jones
The Second Civil War (1997)
As: Jim Kalla
When a planeload of Pakistani orphans are shipped to his state for permanent relocation, the governor of Idaho (Beau Bridges, who won an Emmy) defies the president (Phil Hartman) and closes the state's border. News Net Television, a cable news program that makes hay by reporting on political scandals, quickly spins the racist act into an overnight media sensation, creating a divide in national opinion over the issue.
Runtime: 97 min.
Directed by: Joe Dante
Stars: Beau Bridges | Joanna Cassidy | Phil Hartman | James Earl Jones | James Coburn
Afro Promo (1997)
As: Himself (archive footage)
A series of thirty-two trailers put together to illustrate the film industry's attitude to and packaging of African-American screen imagery.
Runtime: 91 min.
Directed by: Jenni Olson | Karl Knapper
Stars: James Earl Jones | Sidney Poitier | Pam Grier | Billy Dee Williams | Richard Pryor
Timepiece (1996)
As: Lawrence
Set in the 1940's, James Earl Jones as an an old clockmaker faces racism and is tried for murder when the racist is killed. However, Kevin Kilner comes forward and claims to have commmitted the crime in self defense. All the while, Kilner's family life is in disarray with various crises including his daughter catching meningitis.
Runtime: 100 min.
Directed by: Marcus Cole
Stars: Naomi Watts | Kevin Kilner | James Earl Jones | Ellen Burstyn | Mercedes Kastner
Looking For Richard (1996)
As: Himself/Interview
Al Pacino's deeply-felt rumination on Shakespeare's significance and relevance to the modern world through interviews and an in-depth analysis of "Richard III."
Runtime: 112 min.
Directed by: Al Pacino
Stars: Al Pacino | Winona Ryder | Kevin Spacey | Alec Baldwin | Aidan Quinn
A Family Thing (1996)
As: Ray Murdock
Earl Pilcher Jr., runs an equipment rental outfit in Arkansas, lives with his wife and kids and parents, and rarely takes off his gimme cap. His mother dies, leaving a letter explaining he's not her natural son, but the son of a Black woman who died in childbirth; plus, he has a half brother Ray, in Chicago, she wants him to visit. Earl makes the trip, initially receiving a cold welcome from Ray and Ray's son, Virgil. His ...
Runtime: 109 min.
Directed by: Richard Pearce
Stars: Robert Duvall | James Earl Jones | Michael Beach | Irma P. Hall | Grace Zabriskie
Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (1996)
As: Dr. McDuffie
A dramatization of the life of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault (Don Cheadle), with a lot of factual based occurrences. A reformed junkie returns from prison to clean up his act and devote the rest of his life to the young kids of Harlem. 1996 was the 25th anniversary of the first tournament named after him.
Runtime: 120 min.
Directed by: Eriq La Salle
Stars: Don Cheadle | James Earl Jones | Daryl Mitchell | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Eriq La Salle
Cry, the Beloved Country (1995)
As: Rev. Stephen Kumalo
A South-African preacher goes to search for his wayward son who has committed a crime in the big city.
Runtime: 106 min.
Directed by: Darrell James Roodt
Stars: James Earl Jones | Charles S. Dutton | Jack Robinson | Tsholofelo Wechoemang | Ramalao Makhene
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995)
HBO documentary about movies
Runtime: 90 min.
Directed by: Chuck Workman
Stars: Peter Coyote | Robert Altman | Warren Beatty | Candice Bergen | George Burns
The Making of 'Jurassic Park' (1995)
As: Host
This documentary treats film fans to a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Jurassic Park, one of the 90's biggest hits and a milestone in special effects development. Narrated by James Earl Jones, it includes footage of the filming process, as well as interviews with director Steven Spielberg, and other members of the cast and crew, who give their insights into what it was like working together on this project and the ...
Runtime: 51 min.
Directed by: John Schultz
Stars: James Earl Jones | Steven Spielberg | Michael Crichton | Stan Winston | Phil Tippett
Jefferson in Paris (1995)
As: Madison Hemings
His wife having recently died, Thomas Jefferson accepts the post of United States ambassador to pre-revolutionary France, though he finds it difficult to adjust to life in a country where the aristocracy subjugates an increasingly restless peasantry. In Paris, he becomes smitten with cultured artist Maria Cosway, but, when his daughter visits from Virginia accompanied by her attractive slave, Sally ...
Runtime: 139 min.
Directed by: James Ivory
Stars: Nick Nolte | Greta Scacchi | Thandie Newton | Gwyneth Paltrow | Jean-Pierre Aumont
Clear and Present Danger (1994)
As: Admiral James Greer
CIA Analyst Jack Ryan is drawn into an illegal war fought by the US government against a Colombian drug cartel.
Runtime: 141 min.
Directed by: Phillip Noyce
Stars: Harrison Ford | Willem Dafoe | Anne Archer | Joaquim de Almeida | Henry Czerny
The Lion King (1994)
As: King Mufasa (voice)
A young lion cub named Simba can't wait to be king. But his uncle craves the title for himself and will stop at nothing to get it.
Runtime: 88 min.
Directed by: Roger Allers | Rob Minkoff
Stars: Matthew Broderick | Jonathan Taylor Thomas | James Earl Jones | Jeremy Irons | Moira Kelly
Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics (1994)
As: Host
James Earl Jones hosts this film based on two stories by the late Rod Serling, who wrote the stories of the original 'The Twilight Zone' (1959) series.. In "The Theater," a young woman attends a movie theater only to find that her life story is being revealed on the screen. In "Where the Dead Are," a Boston surgeon in 1868 searches for a scientist who may have the answer to a medical mystery.
Runtime: 89 min.
Directed by: Robert Markowitz
Stars: James Earl Jones | Gary Cole | Amy Irving | Patrick Bergin | Julia Campbell
Clean Slate (1994)
As: John Dolby
Pogue is a private eye with a problem: every morning when he wakes up, he has total amnesia, waking up with a 'blank slate'. Since he is in the middle of a hot investigation and has a developing romance, this is less than convenient.
Runtime: 107 min.
Directed by: Mick Jackson
Stars: Dana Carvey | Valeria Golino | James Earl Jones | Kevin Pollak | Michael Gambon
IMAX - Africa: The Serengeti (1994)
As: Narrator
Africa the Serengeti takes you on an extraordinary journey to view a spectacle few humans have ever witnessed: The Great Migration. Journey with more than two million wildebeests, zebras and antelopes as in their annual 500 mile trek across the Serengeti plains.
Runtime: 39 min.
Directed by: George Casey
Stars: James Earl Jones
The Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994)
As: Himself
Frank Drebin is persuaded out of retirement to go undercover in a state prison. There he is to find out what top terrorist, Rocco, has planned for when he escapes. Frank's wife, Jane, is desperate for a baby.. this adds to Frank's problems. A host of celebrities at the Academy awards ceremony are humiliated by Frank as he blunders his way trying to foil Rocco.
Runtime: 83 min.
Directed by: Peter Segal
Stars: Leslie Nielsen | Priscilla Presley | George Kennedy | O.J. Simpson | Fred Ward
The Vernon Johns Story (1994)
As: Vernon Johns
In 1948, Johns served as the outspoken spiritual leader of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Incensed at the racial injustice that pervaded the South, he was determined to fight for equality for all African Americans.
Runtime: 100 min.
Directed by: Kenneth Fink
Stars: James Earl Jones | Mary Alice | Joe Seneca | Nicolle Rochelle | Tommy Hollis
The Meteor Man (1993)
As: Earnest Moses
One night Jefferson Reed gets hit in the chest by a souped-up chunk of meteor. So he can fly, but he's scared of heights. He can master the information in any book ... for about fifteen minutes. Now his friends and family want him to protect their community from the dreaded Golden Lords.
Runtime: 100 min.
Directed by: Robert Townsend
Stars: Robert Townsend | Marla Gibbs | Eddie Griffin | Robert Guillaume | James Earl Jones
Excessive Force (1993)
As: Jake
Chicago policeman Terry McCain is determined to put away mobster Sal DiMarco, who always gets acquitted on technicalities. While monitoring a drug sale, a shootout ensues, and one of Terry's fellow officers gets away with $3 million of Sal's money. Suspecting Terry took the cash, the mobster sends his men to kill Terry's brother, Dylan, and partner, Frankie Hawkins. Furious, Terry sets out to take his revenge by any means ...
Runtime: 87 min.
Directed by: Jon Hess
Stars: Thomas Ian Griffith | Lance Henriksen | James Earl Jones | Burt Young | Tony Todd
The Sandlot (1993)
As: Mr. Mertle
Scotty Smalls moves to a new neighborhood with his mom and stepdad, and wants to learn to play baseball. The neighborhood baseball guru Rodriquez takes Smalls under his wing. They fall into adventures involving baseball, treehouse sleep-ins, the desirous lifeguard at the local pool, the snooty rival ball team, and the travelling fair.
Runtime: 101 min.
Directed by: David M. Evans
Stars: Tom Guiry | Mike Vitar | James Earl Jones | Patrick Renna | Chauncey Leopardi
Sommersby (1993)
As: Judge Barry Conrad Issacs
Set in the south of the United States just after the Civil War, Laurel Sommersby is just managing to work the farm without her husband Jack, believed killed in the Civil War. By all accounts, Jack Sommersby was not a pleasant man, thus when he returns, Laurel has mixed emotions. It appears that Jack has changed a great deal, leading some people to believe that this is not actually Jack but an imposter. Laurel herself is ...
Runtime: 114 min.
Directed by: Jon Amiel
Stars: Jodie Foster | Richard Gere | Bill Pullman | James Earl Jones | Lanny Flaherty
Lincoln (1992)
Famous actors read testimonies from people close to Lincoln about him and his actions during the Civil War.
Runtime: 240 min.
Directed by: Peter W. Kunhardt | James A. Edgar
Stars: Jason Robards | James Earl Jones | Glenn Close | Richard Widmark | Arnold Schwarzenegger
Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama (1992)
As: Narrator (English)
1992 Indo-Japanese traditional animation feature film directed by Yugo Sako and Ram Mohan, produced by Sako and Krishna Shah and based on the Indian epic the Ramayana.
Runtime: 170 min.
Directed by: Ram Mohan | Yûgô Sakô | Koichi Saski
Stars: James Earl Jones | Shatrughan Sinha | Amrish Puri | Arun Govil
Sneakers (1992)
As: NSA Agent Bernard Abbott
When shadowy U.S. intelligence agents blackmail a reformed computer hacker and his eccentric team of security experts into stealing a code-breaking 'black box' from a Soviet-funded genius, they uncover a bigger conspiracy. Now, he and his 'sneakers' must save themselves and the world economy by retrieving the box from their blackmailers.
Runtime: 126 min.
Directed by: Phil Alden Robinson
Stars: Robert Redford | Sidney Poitier | Dan Aykroyd | David Strathairn | River Phoenix
Patriot Games (1992)
As: Adm. James Greer
When CIA Analyst Jack Ryan interferes with an IRA assassination, a renegade faction targets Jack and his family as revenge.
Runtime: 117 min.
Directed by: Phillip Noyce
Stars: Harrison Ford | Anne Archer | Thora Birch | Sean Bean | Patrick Bergin
True Identity (1991)
As: Himself
In order to escape from the mob, an African-American man must disguise himself as a white man.
Runtime: 93 min.
Directed by: Charles Lane
Stars: Lenny Henry | Frank Langella | Anne-Marie Johnson | James Earl Jones | Peggy Lipton
Scorchers (1991)
As: Bear
Bayou La Teche, Louisiana sizzles as the Cajun town celebrates the wedding of Splendid and Dolan. The trouble comes on the wedding night when Splendid is determined to maintain her innocence. On the other side of town Splendids' cousin has her own problems. Her man has been sleeping with Thais, the town hooker. She heads to the Tiger Cafe with gun in hand to get back her man.
Runtime: 81 min.
Directed by: David Beaird
Stars: James Earl Jones | Faye Dunaway | Denholm Elliott
Convicts (1991)
As: Ben Johnson
Texas writer Horton Foote's touching story set in 1902 features Robert Duvall as Sol, the hardened boss of a sugar plantation who unwittingly becomes a mentor to a young boy named Horace (Lukas Haas), who comes to Sol looking for a way to earn a living. Horace eventually learns, through his associations with Sol, Ben (James Earl Jones) and others, that life, though it isn't always fair or just, is worth rising for every day.
Runtime: 93 min.
Directed by: Peter Masterson
Stars: Lukas Haas | James Earl Jones | Robert Duvall | Starletta DuPois
Grim Prairie Tales (1990)
As: Morrison
Two travelers meet on the open prairie, and pass their time together by trading stories with each other. Their tales become a sort of competition, each attempting to relate something which might disturb the other.
Runtime: 86 min.
Directed by: Wayne Coe
Stars: James Earl Jones | Brad Dourif | Will Hare | Marc McClure | Michelle Joyner
Ivory Hunters (1990)
As: Inspector Nkuru
Ruthless elephant killers are confronted by determined conservationists.
Runtime: 94 min.
Directed by: Joseph Sargent
Stars: James Earl Jones | Isabella Rossellini | John Lithgow
Heat Wave (1990)
As: Junius Johnson
A rookie black journalist investigates the tensions of the Watts section of Los Angeles in the bloody summer of 1965.
Runtime: 100 min.
Directed by: Kevin Hooks
Stars: Cicely Tyson | Blair Underwood | Sally Kirkland | James Earl Jones | Margaret Avery
By Dawn's Early Light (1990)
As: Looking Glass General - 'Alice'
When a nuclear missile is launched by presumably Soviet forces toward Turkey, the beginning of the ultimate war to end all wars WW 3 is started. Powers Boothe, his girlfriend and copilot Rebecca DeMornay and their flight crew take off in a B 52 on what they believe is just another drill only to find out that this is the real deal.
Runtime: 100 min.
Directed by: Jack Sholder
Stars: Powers Boothe | Rebecca De Mornay | James Earl Jones | Martin Landau | Darren McGavin
The Ambulance (1990)
As: Lt. Spencer
Josh meets a young woman who shortly afterwards collapses and is rushed to hospital in an ambulance. He follows after her only to find that there is no record her being admitted, and he soon learns that her room mate also vanished after being picked up by the same ambulance. Convinced of a conspiracy, Josh proceeds to investigate, despite the discouragement of the police.
Runtime: 96 min.
Directed by: Larry Cohen
Stars: Eric Roberts | James Earl Jones | Megan Gallagher | Red Buttons | Janine Turner
The Hunt for Red October (1990)
As: Admiral James Greer
A new Soviet nuclear missile sub (a Boomer) heading out on her maiden voyage that is being tracked by a Los Angeles class American submarine suddenly goes silent and "disappears". This focuses the attention of both U.S. Intelligence and the U.S. Navy on the Russian Sub Commander . When it is determined that the silent Soviet Boomer may be headed for American coastal waters panic ensues. A CIA analyst, Jack Ryan, convinces ...
Runtime: 135 min.
Directed by: John McTiernan
Stars: Alec Baldwin | Sean Connery | Scott Glenn | Sam Neill | James Earl Jones
Best of the Best (1989)
As: Frank Couzo
A team from the United States is going to compete against Korea in a Tae Kwon Do tournament. The team consists of fighters from all over the country--can they overcome their rivalry and work together to win?
Runtime: 97 min.
Directed by: Robert Radler
Stars: Eric Roberts | Phillip Rhee | James Earl Jones | Sally Kirkland | Chris Penn
Field of Dreams (1989)
As: Terrence Mann
Ray Kinsella is an Iowa farmer who hears a mysterious voice telling him to turn his cornfield into a baseball diamond. He does, but the voice's directions don't stop -- even after the spirits of deceased ballplayers turn up to play.
Runtime: 107 min.
Directed by: Phil Alden Robinson
Stars: Kevin Costner | Amy Madigan | Gaby Hoffmann | Ray Liotta | Timothy Busfield
Three Fugitives (1989)
As: Dugan
On his first day after being released from jail for 14 armed bank robberies, Lucas finds himself caught up in someone else's robbery. Perry has decided to hold up the local bank to raise money so that he can keep his daughter, Meg, and get her the treatment she needs. Dugan, a detective, assumes Lucas helped plan the robbery, and hence Lucas, Perry and Meg become three fugitives.
Runtime: 96 min.
Directed by: Francis Veber
Stars: Nick Nolte | Martin Short | Sarah Rowland Doroff | James Earl Jones | Alan Ruck
Stories to Remember: Noah's Ark (1989)
As: Narrator
Embark on one of the greatest adventures of all time--presented by one of the screen's most eloquent voices--as James Earl Jones narrates this beautifully animated version of the classic story of Noah's Ark. This is a breath-taking adaptation of Peter Spier's book, complemented by a music score by Stewart Copeland.
Runtime: 27 min.
Directed by: Steve Majaury | Rick Morrison
Stars: James Earl Jones
Terrorgram (1988)
As: Retribution (voice)
Three horror stories linked by a sinister delivery boy. The stories are "Heroine Overdose", "Pandora" and "Veteran's Day".
Runtime: 88 min.
Directed by: Stephen M. Kienzle
Stars: James Earl Jones | Michael Hartson | J.T. Wallace | Jerry Anderson | Linda Carol Toner
Coming to America (1988)
As: King Jaffe Joffer
Prince Akeem, heir to the throne of Zamunda, leaves the tropical paradise kingdom in search of his queen. What better place than Queens, New York, to find his bride? Joined by his loyal servant and friend, Semmi, Akeem attempts to blend in as an ordinary American and begin his search.
Runtime: 116 min.
Directed by: John Landis
Stars: Eddie Murphy | Arsenio Hall | James Earl Jones | John Amos | Shari Headley
Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night (1987)
As: Emperor of the Night (voice)
Pinocchio and his friends, a glow worm and a marionette, search for a magic music box. However, so are the evil Scalawag and the Emperor of the Night.
Runtime: 87 min.
Directed by: Hal Sutherland
Stars: James Earl Jones | Scott Grimes | Rickie Lee Jones | Tom Bosley
Matewan (1987)
As: 'Few Clothes' Johnson
Filmed in the coal country of West Virginia, "Matewan" celebrates labor organizing in the context of a 1920s work stoppage. Union organizer, Joe Kenehan, a scab named "Few Clothes" Johnson and a sympathetic mayor and police chief heroically fight the power represented by a coal company and Matewan's vested interests so that justice and workers' rights need not take a back seat to squalid working conditions, exploitation and ...
Runtime: 135 min.
Directed by: John Sayles
Stars: Chris Cooper | James Earl Jones | Mary McDonnell | Will Oldham | David Strathairn
Gardens of Stone (1987)
As: Sgt. Maj.'Goody' Nelson
A sergeant must deal with his desires to save the lives of young soldiers being sent to Vietnam. Continuously denied the chance to teach the soldiers about his experiences, he settles for trying to help the son of an old army buddy.
Runtime: 111 min.
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Stars: James Caan | Anjelica Huston | James Earl Jones | D. B. Sweeney | Dean Stockwell
Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986)
As: Umslopogaas
After his brother Robeson disappears without a trace while exploring Africa in search of a legendary 'white tribe', Allan Quatermain decides to follow in his footsteps to learn what became of him. Soon after arriving, he discovers the Lost City of Gold, controlled by the evil lord Agon, and mined by his legions of white slaves.
Runtime: 99 min.
Directed by: Gary Nelson
Stars: Richard Chamberlain | Sharon Stone | James Earl Jones | Henry Silva | Robert Donner
Soul Man (1986)
As: Professor Banks
Soul Man is a comedy film made in 1986 about a man who undergoes racial transformation with pills to qualify for an African-American-only scholarship at Harvard Law School. It stars C. Thomas Howell, Rae Dawn Chong, Arye Gross, James Earl Jones, Leslie Nielsen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Runtime: 104 min.
Directed by: Steve Miner
Stars: C. Thomas Howell | Rae Dawn Chong | Arye Gross | James Earl Jones | Melora Hardin
My Little Girl (1986)
As: Ike Bailey
A young girl agrees to work in a center for girls who can't stay with their parents. She gets wrapped up in the plights of several of the girls, and tries to help them, but only gets herself into trouble with her parents and supervisor.
Runtime: 118 min.
Directed by: Connie Kaiserman
Stars: James Earl Jones | Geraldine Page | Mary Stuart Masterson | Pamela Payton-Wright | Peter Michael Goetz
The Vegas Strip War (1984)
As: Jack Madrid
Rock Hudson (in his last made-for-TV-movie role) plays Neil Chaine, a charming Las Vegas hotel/casino owner who tries to turn his decaying building into The Strip's top attraction to avenge his outting by his former partners who run a more fancy hotel/casino just across the street.
Runtime: 96 min.
Directed by: George Englund
Stars: Rock Hudson | Sharon Stone | Madison Mason | Robert Costanzo | Dennis Holahan
City Limits (1984)
As: Albert
A series of teenage gangs struggle against each other in a not-so-distant future. Eventually they united against an evil corporation, as represented by evil CEO Robby Benson who wants to control everything.
Runtime: 86 min.
Directed by: Aaron Lipstadt
Stars: John Stockwell | Darrell Larson | Rae Dawn Chong | James Earl Jones | Kim Cattrall
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
As: Voice of Darth Vader (voice)
As Rebel leaders map their strategy for an all-out attack on the Emperor's newer, bigger Death Star. Han Solo remains frozen in the cavernous desert fortress of Jabba the Hutt, the most loathsome outlaw in the universe, who is also keeping Princess Leia as a slave girl. Now a master of the Force, Luke Skywalker rescues his friends, but he cannot become a true Jedi Knight until he wages his own crucial battle against Darth ...
Runtime: 131 min.
Directed by: Richard Marquand
Stars: Mark Hamill | Harrison Ford | Carrie Fisher | Billy Dee Williams | Anthony Daniels
Blood Tide (1982)
As: Frye
An adventurer hunting for treasure in Greece accidentally frees a monster that forces local villagers to sacrifice virgins
Runtime: 97 min.
Directed by: Richard Jefferies
Stars: James Earl Jones | José Ferrer | Lila Kedrova | Mary Louise Weller | Martin Kove
The Flight of Dragons (1982)
As: Omadon
The realm of magic is being threatened by the realm of logic, so Carolinus, the green wizard decides to shield it for all time. Ommedon, the evil red wizard, stands in his way. Carolinus then calls for a quest that is to be led by a man named Peter Dickinson, who is the first man of both the realms of science and magic. It is Peters job to defeat Ommedon.
Runtime: 95 min.
Directed by: Jules Bass | Arthur Rankin, Jr.
Stars: James Earl Jones | Harry Morgan | John Ritter | James Gregory | Bob McFadden
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
As: Thulsa Doom
A film adaptation of the classic sword and sorcery hero, Conan the Barbarian. A horde of rampaging warriors massacre the parents of young Conan and enslave the young child for years on The Wheel of Pain. As the sole survivor of the childhood massacre, Conan is released from slavery and taught the ancient arts of fighting. Transforming himself into a killing machine, Conan travels into the wilderness to seek vengeance on ...
Runtime: 129 min.
Directed by: John Milius
Stars: Arnold Schwarzenegger | James Earl Jones | Max von Sydow | Sandahl Bergman | Cassandra Gava
The Bushido Blade (1981)
As: The Prisoner
A steel samurai blade that was to be given to the American ambassador by the Emperor of Japan is stolen. American sailors and Japanese samurai are sent to find it.
Runtime: 104 min.
Directed by: Tsugunobu Kotani
Stars: Richard Boone | Toshirō Mifune | Mike Starr | Timothy Patrick Murphy | Sonny Chiba
The Creation (1981)
As: Narrator
Animated short film that was nominated for an Oscar. Narrated by James Earl Jones!
Runtime: 9 min.
Directed by: Will Vinton
Stars: James Earl Jones
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
As: Darth Vader (Voice)
The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.
Runtime: 124 min.
Directed by: Irvin Kershner
Stars: Mark Hamill | Harrison Ford | Carrie Fisher | Billy Dee Williams | Anthony Daniels
The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
As: Darth Vader (voice)
Luke Skywalker and Han Solo battle evil Imperial forces to help Chewbacca reach his imperiled family on the Wookiee planet - in time for Life Day, their most important day of the year!
Runtime: 97 min.
Directed by: Steve Binder
Stars: Harrison Ford | Mark Hamill | Anthony Daniels | Carrie Fisher | Peter Mayhew
A Piece of the Action (1977)
As: Joshua Burke
How does retired cop Joshua Burke (James Earl Jones) get two career criminals, Manny Durrell (Sidney Poitier) and Dave Anderson (Bill Cosby), to follow the straight and narrow? Con them into helping juvenile delinquents turn over a new leaf. But how? Burke has never been able to nail the duo, but he uses what he knows of their seedy past to blackmail them into volunteering.
Runtime: 135 min.
Directed by: Sidney Poitier
Stars: Sidney Poitier | Bill Cosby | James Earl Jones | Denise Nicholas | Hope Clarke
Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
As: Older Kokumo
Bizarre nightmares plague Regan MacNeil four years after her possession and exorcism. Has the demon returned? And if so, can the combined faith and knowledge of a Vatican investigator and a hypnotic research specialist free her from its grasp?
Runtime: 118 min.
Directed by: John Boorman
Stars: Linda Blair | Richard Burton | Louise Fletcher | Max von Sydow | Kitty Winn
The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977)
As: Sheikh
Digby Geste (Feldman) and his ‘identical’ twin brother Beau (York) compete with their stepmother (Ann-Margeret) over possession of a priceless family heirloom.
Runtime: 85 min.
Directed by: Marty Feldman
Stars: Ann-Margret | Marty Feldman | Michael York | Peter Ustinov | James Earl Jones
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
As: Darth Vader (voice)
Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire.
Runtime: 121 min.
Directed by: George Lucas
Stars: Mark Hamill | Harrison Ford | Carrie Fisher | Peter Mayhew | Anthony Daniels
The Greatest (1977)
As: Malcolm X
The Greatest is a 1977 film about the life of boxer Muhammad Ali, in which Ali plays himself. It was directed by Tom Gries and Monte Hellman. The song "Greatest Love of All", later remade by Whitney Houston, was written for this film and sung by George Benson. The movie follows Ali's life from the 1960 Olympics to his regaining the heavyweight crown from George Foreman in their famous "Rumble in the Jungle" fight in 1974.
Runtime: 101 min.
Directed by: Tom Gries | Monte Hellman
Stars: Muhammad Ali | Ernest Borgnine | John Marley | Lloyd Haynes | Lucille Benson
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976)
As: Leon Carter
Tired of the slave-like treatment of his team's owner, charismatic star Negro League pitcher Bingo Long takes to the road with his band of barnstormers through the small towns of the Midwest in the 1930's.
Runtime: 110 min.
Directed by: John Badham
Stars: James Earl Jones | Billy Dee Williams | Richard Pryor | DeWayne Jessie
The River Niger (1976)
As: Johnny Williams
An intimate look at life in the ghetto: Johnny Williams is a house painter who moonlights as a poet, struggling to financially and emotionally support his cancer-ridden wife Mattie. But times are tough and the poverty-troubled streets are even tougher, and it takes every ounce of Johnny's love and courage for the couple to make it through their strife, finding redemption in the River Niger.
Runtime: 105 min.
Directed by: Krishna Shah
Stars: James Earl Jones | Cicely Tyson | Louis Gossett, Jr. | Glynn Turman | Jonelle Allen
Swashbuckler (1976)
As: Nick Debrett
A pirate and a hot-tempered noblewoman join forces to protect Jamaica from a tyrant.
Runtime: 101 min.
Directed by: James Goldstone
Stars: Robert Shaw | James Earl Jones | Peter Boyle | Geneviève Bujold | Beau Bridges
Deadly Hero (1975)
As: Rabbit Shazam
Officer Lacy is an 18-year veteran of the New York Police Department who finds himself demoted from detective back to patrol duty for his violent tendencies and trigger-happy behavior.
Runtime: 102 min.
Directed by: Ivan Nagy
Stars: Don Murray | James Earl Jones | Treat Williams | Diahn Williams | Lilia Skala
The UFO Incident (1975)
As: Barney Hill
In the early 1960s, an interracial couple undergo hypnosis, which unlocks memories of a forgotten event on a lonely road. Soon they believe they were abducted by extraterrestrials.
Runtime: 92 min.
Directed by: Richard A. Colla
Stars: James Earl Jones | Estelle Parsons
The Cay (1974)
As: Timothy
When Young Phillip is separated form his mother and found by a black man named Timothy and his cat Stewcat, Phillip becomes blind and they all end up on an island. Will they survive or will they die?
Runtime: 60 min.
Directed by: Patrick Garland
Stars: James Earl Jones
Claudine (1974)
As: Rupert D. "Roop" Marshall
Claudine is a single mother in New York City who endures an exhausting commute to the suburbs where she works as a maid for wealthy families. In one carefully tended white community, she meets Roop, a charismatic but irresponsible garbage collector. Romance quickly ensues, but Claudine doubts that their relationship is good for her six children, and Rupert, despite his good nature, is reluctant to take on fatherhood.
Runtime: 92 min.
Directed by: John Berry
Stars: Diahann Carroll | James Earl Jones | Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs | Tamu Blackwell | David Kruger
The Man (1972)
As: Douglass Dilman
When the President and Speaker of the House are killed in a building collapse, and the Vice-President declines the office due to age and ill-health, Senate President pro tempore Douglas Dilman (James Earl Jones) suddenly becomes the first black man to occupy the Oval Office. The events from that day to the next election when he must decide if he will actually run challenge his skills as a politician and leader.
Runtime: 93 min.
Directed by: Joseph Sargent
Stars: James Earl Jones | Martin Balsam | Burgess Meredith | Lew Ayres | William Windom
The Great White Hope (1970)
As: Jack Jefferson
A black champion boxer and his white female companion struggle to survive while the white boxing establishment looks for ways to knock him down.
Runtime: 103 min.
Directed by: Martin Ritt
Stars: James Earl Jones | Jane Alexander | Lou Gilbert | Joel Fluellen | Chester Morris
End of the Road (1970)
As: Doctor D
After a catatonic episode on a railway station platform, Jacob Horner is taken to "The Farm"...
Runtime: 110 min.
Directed by: Aram Avakian
Stars: Stacy Keach | James Earl Jones | Harris Yulin | Dorothy Tristan | Grayson Hall
The Comedians (1967)
As: Dr. Magiot
Set in the Haiti of "Papa Doc" Duvalier, The Comedians tells the story of a sardonic white hotel owner and his encroaching fatalism as he watches Haiti sink into barbarism. Complications include a friendship with a rebel leader, politically "charged" hotel guests, an affair with the wife of a European ambassador, and the manipulations of a conniving British arms dealer.
Runtime: 150 min.
Directed by: Peter Glenville
Stars: Richard Burton | Elizabeth Taylor | Alec Guinness | Gloria Foster | Georg Stanford Brown
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
As: Lt. Lothar Zogg
After the insane General Jack D. Ripper initiates a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union, a war room full of politicians, generals and a Russian diplomat all frantically try to stop the nuclear strike.
Runtime: 95 min.
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Stars: Peter Sellers | George C. Scott | Sterling Hayden | Keenan Wynn | Slim Pickens