James Earl Jones’ 5 Greatest Roles

James Earl Jones' Most Iconic Roles

With a voice as commanding as his presence on screen, James Earl Jones earned his place as a legend in the realm of cinema and stage. His talent and range allowed him to connivingly play an array of vastly different characters. From villains to heroes, Jones could portray them all. The passing of a legend is never easy to accept, but the actor lived a long life of 93 years. To celebrate his legacy, we’re taking a look at his five most iconic roles.

5. Terence Mann – Field of Dreams

James Earl Jones and baseball just fit like a ball in a glove. Nothing proves that point better than his iconic baseball speech in the Academy Award Best Picture nominated Field of Dreams from 1989. The film is beloved to this day, fondly remembered as a love letter to the sport and its ability to bring families together.

4. King Jaffe Joffer – Coming to America / Coming 2 America

James Earl Jones will not be returning to voice Mufasa | A still from Coming to America (1988)

In 1988 Eddie Murphy was on the rise as a comedic movie star and and the John Landis directed Coming to America was another hit on his growing resume. Murphy played the Crown Prince of Zamunda (a fictional African nation) while James Earl Jones played his father, King Jaffe Joffer. Both actors reprised their roles for the legacy sequel Coming 2 America, but that film is better forgotten. Still, the legacy of the original remains and nobody plays royalty better than Jones.

3. Mr. Mertle – The Sandlot

James Earl Jones as Mr. Mertle in The Sandlot

If you grew up in the 90’s you grew up on The Sandlot. The story of a group of neighborhood children who bond over their love for baseball and gather to play in the local sandlot remains relevant to this day with the phrase, “You’re killing me, Smalls” still being prominent in pop culture. James Earl Jones‘ role in the film is relatively small, with the actor spending only a single day on set; however, the movie would not have the same impact without him. As Mr. Mertle, a former baseball player and owner of “The Beast,” Jones brings the film to a memorable close.

2. Mufasa – The Lion King franchise

Mufasa’s death scene in The Lion King / Walt Disney Pictures

Although he’s voiced by Aaron Pierre in the upcoming film Mufasa: The Lion King, the voice of Mufasa will forever be directly tied to James Earl Jones. His deep, bellowing voice is a perfect fit for the patriarch of the lion pride. So perfect, in fact, that he was brought back to reprise the role in the 2019 reboot amidst an all new voice cast. Whether you love or hate the direction the franchise has gone in the years that followed, the original 1994 animated masterpiece remains one of Disney’s most beloved films.

1. Darth Vader – Star Wars franchise

Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones) in Star Wars

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, James Earl Jones brought to life what many would argue is the greatest cinematic villain of all time. Although he wasn’t the man in the suit, that would be David Prowse, James Earl Jones is mostly closely associated with the black-clad Sith. He’s voiced the character in numerous films throughout the long-running franchise and its impossible to imagine Star Wars existence without his iconic portrayal.

There is no shortage of roles to choose from. With a film career that began in 1964 with Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove and built over the decades, there are numerous iconic roles to choose from. What’s your favorite James Earl Jones role? Did it make our list? Let us know in the comments.

Written by Joshua Ryan

Articles Published: 254

Joshua Ryan is the Creative Coordinator and Head Film & TV Critic for FandomWire. He's a member of the Critics Choice Association and spokesperson for the Critics Association of Central Florida. Joshua is also one of the hosts of the podcast, The Movie Divide.