James Brown
Acting • Born 1933-05-03 – Died 2006-12-25
Biography
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.
Filmography
100 credits
The Blues Brothers
Movie • 1980
Cleophus James
Rocky IV
Movie • 1985
The Godfather of Soul
When We Were Kings
Movie • 1996
Self
Blues Brothers 2000
Movie • 1998
Cleophus James
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
Movie • 2021
Self (archive footage)
Soul Power
Movie • 2009
Self (archive footage)
James Brown: Body Heat
Movie • 2004
Self
Live 8
Movie • 2005
Self
When the Music's Over
Movie • 1983
Self
The Lost James Brown Tapes
Movie • 1991
Vocals
The Phynx
Movie • 1970
James Brown
Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day
Movie • 2013
Self (archive footage)
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
Movie • 2021
Self (archive footage)
Beat the Devil
Movie • 2002
Mr. James Brown
The T.A.M.I. Show
Movie • 1964
Self
James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston
Movie • 2008
Self (archive footage)
James Brown - Live At Chastain Park
Movie • 1985
Himself
James Brown Live At The Apollo '68
Movie • 2008
Self
Paper Chasers
Movie • 2003
Robots
Movie • 2005
Diesel (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Real Rocky
Movie • 2011
Self (archive footage)
James Brown: Live at Montreux
Movie • 1981
Self
Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage
Movie • 2021
Self (archive footage)
James Brown - The Man, The Music & The Message
Movie • 2014
Self
James Brown: Love Power Peace
Movie • 1971
Self
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown
Movie • 2014
Self (archive footage)
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
Movie • 1974
Self
Ski Party
Movie • 1965
Self
RapLine
Movie • 1993
Self
Legends of Rock 'n' Roll
Movie • 1989
James Brown
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
Movie • 2012
Self (archive footage)
James Brown: Live
Movie • 2004
Self
Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years
Movie • 2004
Self (archive footage)
The Giants of Black Music
Movie • 2003
Self
James Brown: Soul Survivor
Movie • 2003
Self
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Movie • 2022
Self (archive footage)
James Brown Live in Berlin
Movie • 1991
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
Movie • 2006
Self (archive footage)
James Brown Soul Brother No. 1
Movie • 1978
The Story of Funk: One Nation Under a Groove
Movie • 2014
George Clinton: Tales of Dr Funkenstein
Movie • 2006
Self (archive footage)
A Tale of James Brown
Movie • 2016
Self (archive footage)
James Brown Live At The Boston Garden - April 5, 1968
Movie • 2008
Self
The UB40: Story of Reggae
Movie • 2001
Drummer
Doctor Detroit
Movie • 1983
Bandleader
Cincinnati's Rock 'N Roll Legends
Movie • 1995
Self
Undercover Brother
Movie • 2002
Self
Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular
Movie • 2001
Self
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Movie • 2004
Self (archive footage)
The Tuxedo
Movie • 2002
James Brown
Finding the Funk
Movie • 2014
Self
James Brown: Soul Train 1973-1974
Movie • 1974
Self
Africa Rising
Movie • 2019
Self - Musician (archive footage)
It's Black Entertainment
Movie • 2002
Self (archive footage)
1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond
Movie • 2018
Self (archive footage)
James Brown & Friends: A Night of Super Soul
Movie • 1987
Self
The Apollo
Movie • 2019
Self (archive footage)
Pavarotti The Duets
Movie • 2008
Self
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1977
Movie • 2007
Sex in '69: The Sexual Revolution in America
Movie • 2009
Self
James Brown: Live From The House Of Blues
Movie • 1999
Self
Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
Movie • 2019
Self - Singer (archive footage)
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
Movie • 2020
(archive footage)
Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan
Movie • 2023
Self (archive footage)
James Brown - Live at Chastain Park Atlanta 1980
Movie • 2003
Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer
Movie
Self (archive footage)
Holy Man
Movie • 1998
James Brown
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Movie • 2025
Self (archive footage)
James Brown: Living in America
Movie • 2007
Full Length & Fabulous: The Beckhams' World Cup Party
Movie • 2006
Self
Duckman
TV • 1994
Hostage Negotiator (voice)
The Simpsons
TV • 1989
James Brown (voice)
Miami Vice
TV • 1984
Lou De Long
The View
TV • 1997
Self
70 Years of Youth Revolt
TV • 2020
Self (archive footage)
TFI Friday
TV • 1996
Self
Web Junk 20
TV • 2006
Amen
TV • 1986
The Hollywood Palace
TV • 1964
Self
Shindig!
TV • 1964
Self
The Music Scene
TV • 1969
The Flip Wilson Show
TV • 1970
Self
Throb
TV • 1986
Where Are They Now?
TV • 1999
Self
Playboy After Dark
TV • 1969
The Kennedy Center Honors
TV • 1978
Self
The Hire
TV • 2001
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV • 1948
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self - Co-Host
Les Fous du Funk
TV • 2015
Self
Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music
TV • 2005
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
Yo! MTV Raps
TV • 1988
Self
New York Undercover
TV • 1994
Self
James Brown: Say It Loud
TV • 2024
Self (archive footage)
Death by Fame
TV • 2023
Self (archive footage)
Madam Secretary
TV • 2014
James Brown
The Millers
TV • 2013
James Brown
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
TV • 2021
Self (archive footage)