Happy Birthday, James Earl Jones! See His Most Iconic Movie Roles

Photo: Jim Spellman / Contributor (Getty Images)
Photo: Jim Spellman / Contributor (Getty Images)
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Today is James Earl Jones’ 93rd birthday! The legendary actor has starred in some of our favorite films going back to the 1960s. From being the original voice of Darth Vader in “Star Wars” to King Jaffe Joffer in “Coming to America,” Jones has shown a never-ending range of talent. Here’s just a peek into some of the most iconic movie roles of his expansive career!

‘Coming to America’ (1988)

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

We see this character revived every year on Halloween. James Earl Jones is King Jaffe Joffer in “Coming to America.”

Read more

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

In “Clear and Present Danger,” James Earl Jones played Admiral Greer opposite Harrison Ford and Willem Dafoe.

‘Star Wars’

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

Many ‘Star Wars’ fans already know this but James Earl Jones is the original voice of one of the most popular sci-fi characters in history, Darth Vader. His voice first appeared in the 1977 film “A New Hope.” He has continued to contribute to the series over the years.

‘Field of Dreams’ (1989)

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

Jones starred alongside Kevin Costner and Ray Liotta in “Field of Dreams.”

Conan the Barbarian (1982)

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

Jones’ character Thulsa Doom died at the hands of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character Conan in “Conan the Barbarian” in 1982.

‘Dr. Strangelove’ (1964)

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

One of Jones’ earliest films was “Dr. Strangelove” as Lt. Lothar Zogg.

‘Sneakers’ (1992)

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

Jones had a minor role in the 1992 film “Sneakers” as Mr. Bernard Abbott.

‘The Hunt for Red October’ (1990)

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

Jones was Admiral Greer in “The Hunt for Red October.”

‘Gang Related’ (1997)

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

James Earl Jones starred alongside Tupac Shakur in the 1997 film “Gang Related.”

‘Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins’ (2008)

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

Jones joined the star-studded cast of the 2008 movie “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins” as Papa Jenkins.

‘The Meteor Man’ (1993)

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

The character Earnest Moses is played by James Earl Jones for Robert Townsend’s “The Meteor Man.”

‘Exorcist II: The Heretic’ (1977)

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

Jones plays Older Kokumo in the “Exorcist II: The Heretic.”

‘The Cay’ (1974)

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

Jones is a man named Timothy in “The Cay”, who saves a young white boy on a deserted island.

‘A Piece of the Action’ (1977)

Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)
Screenshot: Youtube.com (Fair Use)

Fair Use"/>

Jones played the character Joshua Burke in the 1977 film “A Piece of the Action” starring Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

More from The Root

Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.