Cast & creator
James Hetfield
Best known for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Simpsons, American Dad!
James Alan Hetfield is an American musician and songwriter best known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield is mainly known for his intricate rhythm playing, but occasionally performs lead guitar duties and solos, both live and in the studio. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering an advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler. Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards and released ten studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays and 24 singles. In 2009, Hetfield was ranked at no. 8 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists and no. 24 by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time. In Guitar World's poll, Hetfield was placed as the 19th greatest guitarist of all time, as well as being placed second (along with Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett) in The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists poll of the same magazine. Rolling Stone placed Hetfield as the 87th greatest guitarist of all time. This page is based on a Wikipedia article written by contributors. Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Also known as: James Alan Hetfield, Metallica
204
film credits
27
television credits
222
1972–2026 · acting roles
7.8
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (231)
Showing 231 of 231 credits
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Musical Guest
2015
The Simpsons
William Rieflin (voice)
1989
American Dad!
James Hetfield (voice)
2005
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self
2005
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003
Billions
Metallica
2016
Later... with Jools Holland
Self
1992Later... with Jools Holland
1992
De Wereld Draait Door
Self
2005
MTV Video Music Awards
Self
1984
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
1994
Carpool Karaoke: The Series
Self
2017
Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head
James Hetfield (voice)
2022
Classic Albums
Self - Guitarist, Vocalist, Metallica
1997
Metalocalypse
Fan #1 (voice)
2006Metalocalypse
Lorkey (voice)
2006Metalocalypse
Troll (voice)
2006Metalocalypse
Sniper (voice)
2006
Skylanders Academy
Wolfgang (voice)
2016
History 101
Self (archive footage)
2020
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
Music
1999
The Thicket
Simon Deasy
2024
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
Officer Bob Hayward
2019
Ennio
Self
2022
Seven Ages of Rock
Self
2007
The Darwin Awards
Self
2007
Heavy Metal Heaven Hosted by Elvira
Himself - Metalica
1989
On the Roam
Theme Song Performance
2024
Live Earth: A Concert for a Climate in Crisis
Self
MTV Rockumentary
1989
Metallica: Through the Never
Self
2013Metallica: Through the Never
Writer
2013Metallica: Through the Never
Original Music Composer
2013
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
Self
1992
Ozzy: No Escape from Now
Self
2025
Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow
Self
2026
Absent
Self
2011
Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2
Self
2019
The Hunt
Self - Narrator (voice)
2014
Anton Corbijn Inside Out
Self
2012
Woodstock '99
2000
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
Self
2004
Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music Vol. 5
Self
2003
Metallica: WorldWired Tour - Live in Manchester, England - June 18, 2019
Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
2020
Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M
Self
1999Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M
Writer
1999
Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2014
Vocals, Guitars
2014
MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains
Self
2020
Sad Hill Unearthed
Self - Musician
2018
The Big Four: Live in Sofia
Guitars
2010
Lemmy
Self
2010
Who the Fuck Is That Guy?: The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago
Self
2017
Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica
Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
2001
Metallica: A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica
Self
1992
Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004
Vocalist, Guitarrist
2006Metallica - Live at Rock on the Range, Columbus 2017
2017
Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer
Self
2025
Metallica: Helping Hands Concert & Auction
Self
2024
Metallica: Live in Paris, France - Sept 8, 2017
2017
The Big 4
Self
2011
Metallican Vid
Self - Rhythm/Lead Vocal
1993
Metallica - Global Citizen Festival 2022
2022
Metallica - Rock AM Ring
Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
2008
Metal Massacre: The Story of the Legendary Album
Self - Metallica
Metallica Korea
2006
Metallica: Lollapalooza Brazil 2017
Vocals, Guitars
2017
Metallica: Ride The Lightning
Self
1985
Metallica: Rock In Rio 2011
Vocal, Guitar
2011
Linkin Park and Friends Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington
Self (archive footage)
2017
Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark August 10, 1991 + Bonus Shit
Self
2021
The Work of Director Anton Corbijn
Self (segments "Hero of the Day" and "Mama Said")
2005
Metallica Saved My Life
Self
2025
Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life
Self
2006
Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2012
Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
2012Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2006
Vocals, Guitars
2006
Metallica Presents: The Helping Hands Concert
Self
2022
Murder in the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story
Self
2019Metallica: [1986] Toronto, Canada
Self - Vocals, Guitar
1986
Metallica: Live Moscow - Monsters of Rock
1991
Cum On Feel The Noize
Self
2017
Metallica: Live in Mountain View, CA - July 22, 1994
Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
1994Metallica: [1992] Den Bosch, Netherlands
Vox, Guitars
1992
Metallica: Day on the Green
Vox, Guitars
1985
Metallica: Freeze 'Em All
Self
2015
For Those About to Rock - Monsters In Moscow
1992
Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 2
Self
2023
Deep Purple: Made In Japan
Self
1972
Metallica: This Monster Lives
Self
2014Metallica: The 30th Anniversary Event
Self
2011Metallica: Rock in Rio
Vox, Guitars
2012
Rock Milestones: Metallica: Master of Puppets
2007
Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015
Self
2015
Metallica: Live at San Diego
Self
1992
Metallica - ...And Justice For All
Self
1992
Metallica - Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica Outtakes
2021
Phil Lynott: Songs for While I'm Away
Self
2020
Metallica: Fan Can Six Copenhagen
Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
2009
Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle 1989
Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
1989
Metallica: Pride, Passion and Glory - Three Nights in Mexico City
Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
2009
Metallica: Français pour une nuit
Self - Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
2009
Metallica : Live in Moscow 2019
2019
Metallica: Live at Slane Castle
lead vocals, guitar
2020Metallica: [1990] Zwolle, Netherlands
1990Metallica: [1999] Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Self
1999
Metallica: The Black Album
2012
Metallica: Live from The House of Vans
Self - vocals, guitars
2016
Metallica: 72 Seasons - Global Premiere
Self
2023
Metallica: Polar Beach Party
Self
2025
Metallica: 40th Anniversary Shows Live at Chase Center 2021
2021
Metallica: St. Anger Rehearsals
Self
2003
Metallica: Making of S&M
Self - Guitar, Vocals
1999
Metallica Live Hellfest 2022
Self
2022
Metallica: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre
Self
1989
Hit the Lights: The Making of Metallica "Through the Never"
Self
2014
Metallica: M72 Tour - Budapest, Day 2
Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
2026
Metallica: Poor East Asian Me - Live at Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Seoul, South Korea
Self
1998
Metallica: Live at Sonisphere
Self
2010Metallica: [2015] X Games
Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
2015
Metallica - Live At Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium - July 4th, 1993
2021Metallica Live at Blizzcon
Self
2014
Metallica: Rock in Rio 2015
Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
2015
Metallica: Mexico City, Mexico
Vox, Guitars
1993Metallica: [1993] Basel, Switzerland
Vox, Guitars
1993Metallica - Live at Hammersmith Odeon
Self - Vocals, Guitars
1988
Metallica: Campo Argentino de Polo
2022
Metallica: Live in Orion Music Festival
Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
2012
Metallica: Metal Hammer Festival
Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
1985
Metallica: M72 Tour - Budapest, Day 1
Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
2026
METALLICA the Complete Story
Self
2008
Metallica: On the Air (Music Videos + TV Appearances)
Self
2025'Tallica Parking Lot
James Hetfield (voice)
2013'Tallica Parking Lot
Writer
2013
Metallica: Wherever We May Roam
vocals, guitars
2021
Metallica: M72 World Tour Live in Amsterdam - Night 2
Self
2023
Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 2)
vocals, guitars
2021
Metallica - The Black Album - Music Videos + Halfin’s Home Movies
2021
Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 1
Self
2023
Metallica: Freeze 'Em All - Live in Antarctica
Self - Vocals, Guitars
2013
Metallica: Studio Shit + U.K. Shenanigans
Self
2025Metallica: [1986] Uniondale, NY
Vox, Guitars
1986
Metallica: Cunning Stunts
Self
1998
Metallica: Sick Out Of Studio 2007 Oslo
Self
Metallica - Sick of the Studio Tour - LIVE in Wien 2007
Singer,Guitar
2007
Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 1)
vocals, guitars
2021
Metallica - Live At Frankenhalle, Nuremberg, Germany - November 29th, 1992
2021
Metallica: Newark, Delaware
Self
1989Metallica: [1983] Kiss the Stone
Vox, Guitars
1983
Hypnotizing Power: The Story of Master of Puppets
Self
2020
Metallica - Live in Irvine, California - September 23, 1989
Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
1989Metallica: Live at Orion Music And More 2012 (1st Night)
2012
Aural Amphetamine: Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash
Self
2008
Metallica: Nagoya, Japan
Vox, Guitars
1986
Metallica: Fan Can 1
Self
1996
Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015
vocals
2020
Metallica: Poor Swedish Me '96
Self
2025Metallica: [2016] Rasputin Music, Berkeley
Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
2016
Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge
Metallica: Master of Puppets (Deluxe Box Set)
Self
2010Metallica: [1995] Loud But Secret
Self - Guitar, Vocals
1995
Metallica With Michael Kamen Conducting The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra – S&M
Self - Guitar, Vocals
1999
Metallica: Making of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct
2016Metallica: [1993] Santiago, Chile
Vox, Guitars
1993
Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly
Narrator
2017Metallica: Hall of Fame 2009
Vocals, Guitars
2009
Metallica - Live in Berlin 2019
2019Metallica - Live in Berlin 2019
Music
2019
Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, San Diego 1992
Self - Guitar, Vocals
1992Metallica: [1989] Middletown, NY
Vox, Guitars
1989
Metallica: Masters of Metal
Self
2014Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct Videos
Voice & Rithm Guitar
2016
Metallica: Live in Madrid, Spain - May 31, 2008
Self
2020Metallica: Fan Can 5
Vocals, Guitars
2006Metallica: Live in Baltimore
Self - Vocals/Guitar
2000
Mission to Lars
Self
2015
Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - June 13, 2004
Self
2020Metallica: Fan Can 6
Vocals, Guitars
2010
Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark - August 10th, 1991
Self
2021Metallica: from the off
Self
Metallica at Lollapalooza 2022
self
2022
Metallica: Live in Lincoln, Nebraska - September 6, 2018
Self
2021
Metallica - The Big 4 Live in Gothenburg, Sweden
Metallica: Live in Melbourne, Australia - March 1, 2013
Self
2020
Metallica - The All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert & Auction
2020
Metallica: The Night Before
2016
Metallica: Live at Yankee Stadium - Bronx, New York - September 14, 2011
Self
2020
Metallica - Live at Outside Lands (San Francisco, CA - August 12, 2017)
2017
Metallica: Kill 'Em All in Chicago 1983
Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
1983
Metallica: The Big 4 Live in Sofia
Vocals, guitars
2010
Metallica: Quebec Magnetic
Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
2012Metallica: Quebec Magnetic
Writer
2012Metallica: [2008] Rock en France Festival
Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
2008
Metallica Helping Hands Concert & Auction: Live & Acoustic From HQ
Self
2020
Metallica Download Festival Germany
2022
Metallica: Live in Bogotá, Colombia - May 2, 1999
Self
2020
Metallica: Live in Muskegon, Michigan (November 1, 1991)
Self
2020Metallica: Up Close and Personal
Self
2007
Metallica: Cliff 'Em All
Self - Guitarist / Vocalist
1987
Metallica: Live Covers
Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
1998
Metallica: Live in Lima, Peru - March 20, 2014
Self
2020
Metallica: Live in Chicago, Illinois - August 12, 1983
Self
2020![Metallica - Beyond Magnetic [Full EP LIVE at the Fillmore]](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w1280/1EgjQW1qQqbq9b6sCa39qua7VCy.jpg?width=1200)
Metallica - Beyond Magnetic [Full EP LIVE at the Fillmore]
Metallica: Live in Nickelsdorf, Austria - June 10, 2012
Self
2020
Metallica: Live in Lisbon, Portugal - June 28, 2007
Self
2020
Hard Rock Treasures
Self
2005Randy Johnson: The Big Picture
2015Metallica: Beyond Thunder and Lightning
Self
2014
Metallica at Raadi Airfield Estonia in Tartu
Self
Metallica: [2000] Baltimore, Maryland
Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
2000
Metallica: Live in Berlin, Germany - June 6, 2006
Cast
2020
Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II
Self
2014
Metallica: Detroit, Michigan
Vox, Guitars
1986
Metallica - Live from Edmonton, Canada - August 16, 2017
vocals
2017
Metallica: MTV Icon
Self
2003
Metallica: Live in Mexico City, Mexico - March 3, 2017
Self
2020Live Metallica: Stade de France, Paris - mai 12, 2019
Self
2019
Orchestrating An Upset: The 1996 World Cup of Hockey
Self / Narrator
2016Metallica: Live at Rock im Park 2012
Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
2012
2 of One
Self (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal)
1989
Metallica: Live in Copenhagen, Denmark - July 22, 2009
Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
2009
Metallica: Live in Salt Lake City, Utah - January 2, 1997
Self
2020Metallica - Live Earth
Self
2007
Metallica: Live in Dallas, Texas - August 3, 2000
Self
2020
Live Metallica: Barcelona, Spain - May 5, 2019
2019
Metallica WorldWired North American Tour 2017
Writer
2017
Metallica - Roskilde Festival
Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
1986
Metallica: Woodstock '94
1994Metallica Touring Europe
2008Surfing Your Dreams
2013
Metallica: Woodstock '99
Self
1999
Metallica: Making Magnetic
2008
Flying V
Self
2020