Cast & creator
James Brown
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Simpsons, The Mike Douglas Show
James Brown (May 3, 1933 - December 25, 2006) was an American singer and songwriter, eventually referred to as "The Godfather of Soul"(GFOS). Brown started singing in gospel groups and worked his way on up. He has been recognized as one of the most iconic figures in the 20th century popular music and was renowned for his vocals and feverish dancing. He was also called "the hardest-working man in show business". Brown began his professional music career in 1956 and rose to fame during the late 1950s and early 1960s on the strength of his thrilling live performances and string of smash hits. In spite of various personal problems and setbacks he continued to score hits in every decade through the 1980s. In addition to his acclaim in music, Brown was also a presence in American political affairs during the 1960s and 1970s.
Also known as: The Godfather of Soul, The Hardest-Working Man in Show Business, Mr. Dynamite, Soul Brother No. 1, James Joseph Brown
83
film credits
32
television credits
107
1948–2026 · acting roles
6.8
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (115)
Showing 115 of 115 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
The Simpsons
James Brown (voice)
1989
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
1961The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
The View
Self
1997
Miami Vice
Lou De Long
1984
Madam Secretary
James Brown
2014
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
Duckman
Hostage Negotiator (voice)
1994
New York Undercover
Self
1994
TFI Friday
Self
1996
The Flip Wilson Show
Self
1970
The Word
1990
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self
1978Where Are They Now?
Self
1999
Amen
1986
The Millers
James Brown
2013
The Tuxedo
James Brown
2002
Shindig!
Self
1964
The Hollywood Palace
Self
1964
Rocky IV
The Godfather of Soul
1985
Robots
Diesel (archive footage) (uncredited)
2005
Yo! MTV Raps
Self
1988
Jacob's Ladder
Songs
1990
The Blues Brothers
Cleophus James
1980
The Hire
Self
2001
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
Self (archive footage)
2021
Playboy After Dark
1969Throb
1986
Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music
Self
2005
Undercover Brother
Self
2002
Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan
Self (archive footage)
2023
Death by Fame
Self (archive footage)
2023
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (archive footage)
2022
70 Years of Youth Revolt
Self (archive footage)
2020
Blues Brothers 2000
Cleophus James
1998
Get On Up
Songs
2014
James Brown: Say It Loud
Self (archive footage)
2024
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Self (archive footage)
2025
Holy Man
James Brown
1998Web Junk 20
2006
Doctor Detroit
Bandleader
1983Motown Returns to the Apollo
1985
Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage
Self (archive footage)
2021
When We Were Kings
Self
1996
Live 8
Self
2005
Black Caesar
Original Music Composer
1973
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
(archive footage)
2020
The Music Scene
1969
Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
Self - Singer (archive footage)
2019
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
Self (archive footage)
2021
It's Black Entertainment
Self (archive footage)
2002
James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston
Self (archive footage)
2008
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
Original Music Composer
1973
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
Self (archive footage)
2021
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
Self (archive footage)
2012
Full Length & Fabulous: The Beckhams' World Cup Party
Self
2006
Beat the Devil
Mr. James Brown
2002
The T.A.M.I. Show
Self
1964
The Phynx
James Brown
1970
Paper Chasers
2003
Cincinnati's Rock 'N Roll Legends
Self
1995
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
2004
Legends of Rock 'n' Roll
James Brown
1989
The Apollo
Self (archive footage)
2019A Party For Richard Pryor
Self
1991
James Brown - The Man, The Music & The Message
Self
2014
Les Fous du Funk
Self
2015
Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years
Self (archive footage)
2004
Sex in '69: The Sexual Revolution in America
Self
2009
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown
Self (archive footage)
2014
James Brown: Soul Survivor
Self
2003
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
Self (archive footage)
2006Soulmates
Self
1997
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
Self
1974
Walk Out
Music
1981
George Clinton: Tales of Dr Funkenstein
Self (archive footage)
2006
Andy Warhol, Fluorescent
(archive footage)
2016
The UB40: Story of Reggae
Drummer
2001
A Tale of James Brown
Self (archive footage)
2016
Rock 'N' Roll Forever: Ed Sullivan's Greatest Hits
Self (archive)
2005
James Brown Live At The Apollo '68
Self
2008
Ski Party
Self
1965
Soul Power
Self (archive footage)
2009
When the Music's Over
Self
1983
1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond
Self (archive footage)
2018
Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day
Self (archive footage)
2013
The Giants of Black Music
Self
2003
James Brown Soul Brother No. 1
1978
James Brown: Love Power Peace
Self
1971
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1977
2007
Black Women, Sexual Politics and the Revolution
Songs
1992
Pavarotti The Duets
Self
2008
The Story of Funk: One Nation Under a Groove
2014
Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular
Self
2001Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer
Self (archive footage)
James Brown & Friends: A Night of Super Soul
Self
1987
James Brown: Live at Montreux
Self
1981
James Brown: Body Heat
Self
2004
The Real Rocky
Self (archive footage)
2011
Africa Rising
Self - Musician (archive footage)
2019
James Brown Live At The Boston Garden - April 5, 1968
Self
2008
James Brown: Soul Train 1973-1974
Self
1974
Finding the Funk
Self
2014
James Brown Live in Berlin
1991
RapLine
Self
1993
James Brown - Live At Chastain Park
Himself
1985The Lost James Brown Tapes
Vocals
1991
James Brown - Live at Chastain Park Atlanta 1980
2003
The Godfather of Soul
Self (archive footage)
2026The Godfather of Soul
Compositor
2026Future Shock
Creator
James Brown: Live From The House Of Blues
Self
1999
James Brown: Living in America
2007
James Brown: Live
Self
2004