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

Today is the ‘Star Wars’ and ‘The Lion King’ star’s 93rd birthday.

Photo: Getty Images Jim Spellman / Contributor

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: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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

Stream Coming to America now

‘Lion King’ (1994)

James Earl Jones also voiced the venerable Mufasa in “The Lion King.”

Stream The Lion King now

‘Clear and Present Danger’ (1994)

Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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

Stream Clear and Present Danger now

‘Star Wars’

Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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.

Stream Star Wars: A New Hope now

‘Field of Dreams’ (1989)

Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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

Steam Field of Dreams now

Conan the Barbarian (1982)

Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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

Stream Conan the Barbarian now

‘Dr. Strangelove’ (1964)

Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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

Stream Dr. Strangelove now

‘Sneakers’ (1992)

Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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

Stream Sneakers now

‘The Hunt for Red October’ (1990)

Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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

Stream The Hunt for Red October now

‘Gang Related’ (1997)

Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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

Stream Gang Related now

‘Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins’ (2008)

Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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

Stream Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins now

‘The Meteor Man’ (1993)

Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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

Stream The Meteor Man now

‘Exorcist II: The Heretic’ (1977)

Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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

Stream Exorcist II: The Heretic now

‘The Cay’ (1974)

Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com Screenshot: [{‘styles’: [], ‘value’: ‘Fair Use’, ‘type’: ‘Text’}] Youtube.com

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

Stream A Piece of the Action now

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.