Robert Earl Jones

Robert Earl Jones

Known for

Acting

Born

February 3, 1910

Birthplace

Tate County, Mississippi, USA

Died

September 7, 2006 (aged 96)

Biography

Robert Earl Jones (February 3, 1910 – September 7, 2006), sometimes credited as Earl Jones, was an American actor and professional boxer. One of the first prominent black film stars, Jones was a living link with the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s, having worked with Langston Hughes early in his career.

Jones was best known for his leading roles in films such as Lying Lips (1939) and later in his career for supporting roles in films such as The Sting (1973), Trading Places (1983), The Cotton Club (1984), and Witness (1985). He was the father of actor James Earl Jones.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Best known work

Trading Places
Trading Places
1983
The Sting
The Sting
1973
Witness
Witness
1985
Sleepaway Camp
Sleepaway Camp
1983
The Cotton Club
The Cotton Club
1984
Maniac Cop 2
Maniac Cop 2
1990
Kojak
Kojak
1973
Wild River
Wild River
1960
Odds Against Tomorrow
Odds Against Tomorrow
1959
Cockfighter
Cockfighter
1974

Filmography

  1. 2012

    Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor

    as Ben (archive footage)

  2. 1993

  3. 1990

    Maniac Cop 2

    as Harry

  4. 1988

  5. 1985

    Witness

    as Custodian

  6. 1984

    The Cotton Club

    as Stage Door Joe

  7. 1984

  8. 1983

  9. 1983

    Trading Places

    as Attendant

  10. 1982

    Cold River

    as The Trapper

  11. 1981

    The Sophisticated GentsTV

    as Big Ralph Joplin (3 episodes)

  12. 1977

    Proof of the Man

    as Wilshire Hayward

  13. 1977

  14. 1977

  15. 1974

    Cockfighter

    as Buford

  16. 1973

    The Sting

    as Luther Coleman

  17. 1973

    KojakTV

    as Judge (1 episode)

  18. 1971

  19. 1971

    Great PerformancesTV

    as Creon (1 episode)

  20. 1964

    One Potato, Two Potato

    as William Richards

  21. 1964

  22. 1961

    The DefendersTV

    as Joe Dean (1 episode)

  23. 1960

  24. 1960

    Wild River

    as Sam Johnson (uncredited)

  25. 1959

    Odds Against Tomorrow

    as Jazz Club Patron (uncredited)

TMDBThis product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.Streaming availability data provided by JustWatch© 2026 FlickQueue · Privacy · Terms