James Brown
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1933-05-03
Day of Death
2006-12-25 (73 years old)
Place of Birth
Barnwell, South Carolina, USA
James Brown
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.
Acting
(2025)
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
as Self (archive footage)
(2025)
(2025)
(2022)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self (archive footage)
(2021)
Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage
as Self (archive footage)
(2021)
The Sparks Brothers
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2021)
The Making of 'Rocky vs. Drago'
as Self (archive footage)
(2021)
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
as Self (archive footage)
(2021)
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
as Self (archive footage)
(2019)
The Apollo
as Self (archive footage)
(2019)
Africa Rising
as Self - Musician (archive footage)
(2019)
Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
(2018)
1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond
as Self (archive footage)
(2016)
A Tale of James Brown
as Self (archive footage)
(2014)
(2014)
Mr. Dynamite - The Rise of James Brown
as Self (archive footage)
(2014)
Finding the Funk
as Self
(2014)
(2013)
Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day
as Self (archive footage)
(2012)
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
as Self (archive footage)
(2011)
The Real Rocky
as Self (archive footage)
(2009)
Soul Power
as Self (archive footage)
(2009)
(2008)
Pavarotti The Duets
as Self
(2008)
James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston
as Self (archive footage)
(2008)
(2008)
(2007)
(2006)
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
as Self (archive footage)
(2006)
George Clinton: Tales of Dr Funkenstein
as Self (archive footage)
(2005)
Robots
as Diesel (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2005)
Live 8
as Self
(2004)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
(2004)
Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years
as Self (archive footage)
(2004)
James Brown: Body Heat
as Self
(2004)
James Brown: Live
as Self
(2003)
James Brown: Soul Survivor
as Self
(2003)
(2003)
The Giants of Black Music
as Self
(2002)
The Tuxedo
as James Brown
(2002)
Undercover Brother
as Self
(2002)
Beat the Devil
as Mr. James Brown
(2002)
It's Black Entertainment
as Self (archive footage)
(2001)
The UB40: Story of Reggae
as Drummer
(2001)
(1999)
(1998)
Blues Brothers 2000
as Cleophus James
(1996)
When We Were Kings
as Self
(1995)
The History of Rock 'n' Roll
as Self
(1995)
(1993)
RapLine
as Self
(1991)
(1991)
The Lost James Brown Tapes
as Vocals
(1989)
Legends of Rock 'n' Roll
as James Brown
(1987)
(1985)
Rocky IV
as The Godfather of Soul
(1985)
James Brown - Live At Chastain Park
as Himself
(1983)
Doctor Detroit
as Bandleader
(1983)
When the Music's Over
as Self
(1981)
(1980)
The Blues Brothers
as Cleophus James
(1978)
(1974)
(1974)
(1971)
(1970)
The Phynx
as James Brown
(1965)
Ski Party
as Self
(1964)
The T.A.M.I. Show
as Self
Crew
(1992)
(1990)
Jacob's Ladder
Songs
(1973)
Black Caesar
Original Music Composer
(1973)
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
Original Music Composer