Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

101

Gender

Male

Birthday

1933-05-03

Day of Death

2006-12-25 (73 years old)

Place of Birth

Barnwell, South Carolina, USA

Also Known As

The Godfather of Soul

The Hardest-Working Man in Show Business

Mr. Dynamite

Soul Brother No. 1

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.

Known For

Acting

The Blues Brothers

1980

The Blues Brothers

as

Cleophus James

Rocky IV

1985

Rocky IV

as

The Godfather of Soul

When We Were Kings

1996

When We Were Kings

as

Self

Blues Brothers 2000

1998

Blues Brothers 2000

as

Cleophus James

Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!

2021

Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!

as

Self (archive footage)

Soul Power

2009

Soul Power

as

Self (archive footage)

The Making of 'Rocky vs. Drago'

2021

The Making of 'Rocky vs. Drago'

as

Self (archive footage)

James Brown: Body Heat

2004

James Brown: Body Heat

as

Self

Live 8

2005

Live 8

as

Self

When the Music's Over

1983

When the Music's Over

as

Self

The Lost James Brown Tapes

1991

The Lost James Brown Tapes

as

Vocals

The Phynx

1970

The Phynx

as

James Brown

Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day

2013

Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day

as

Self (archive footage)

Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York

2021

Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York

as

Self (archive footage)

The History of Rock 'n' Roll

1995

The History of Rock 'n' Roll

as

Self

Beat the Devil

2002

Beat the Devil

as

Mr. James Brown

The T.A.M.I. Show

1964

The T.A.M.I. Show

as

Self

James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston

2008

James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston

as

Self (archive footage)

James Brown - Live At Chastain Park

1985

James Brown - Live At Chastain Park

as

Himself

James Brown Live At The Apollo '68

2008

James Brown Live At The Apollo '68

as

Self

Paper Chasers

2003

Paper Chasers

as

Robots

2005

Robots

as

Diesel (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Real Rocky

2011

The Real Rocky

as

Self (archive footage)

James Brown: Live at Montreux

1981

James Brown: Live at Montreux

as

Self

Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage

2021

Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage

as

Self (archive footage)

James Brown - The Man, The Music & The Message

2014

James Brown - The Man, The Music & The Message

as

Self

James Brown: Love Power Peace

1971

James Brown: Love Power Peace

as

Self

Mr. Dynamite - The Rise of James Brown

2014

Mr. Dynamite - The Rise of James Brown

as

Self (archive footage)

The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974

1974

The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974

as

Self

Ski Party

1965

Ski Party

as

Self

RapLine

1993

RapLine

as

Self

Legends of Rock 'n' Roll

1989

Legends of Rock 'n' Roll

as

James Brown

Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’

2012

Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’

as

Self (archive footage)

James Brown: Live

2004

James Brown: Live

as

Self

Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years

2004

Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years

as

Self (archive footage)

The Giants of Black Music

2003

The Giants of Black Music

as

Self

James Brown: Soul Survivor

2003

James Brown: Soul Survivor

as

Self

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

2022

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues

as

Self (archive footage)

James Brown Live in Berlin

1991

James Brown Live in Berlin

as

Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer

2006

Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer

as

Self (archive footage)

James Brown Soul Brother No. 1

1978

James Brown Soul Brother No. 1

as

The Story of Funk: One Nation Under a Groove

2014

The Story of Funk: One Nation Under a Groove

as

George Clinton: Tales of Dr Funkenstein

2006

George Clinton: Tales of Dr Funkenstein

as

Self (archive footage)

A Tale of James Brown

2016

A Tale of James Brown

as

Self (archive footage)

James Brown Live At The Boston Garden - April 5, 1968

2008

James Brown Live At The Boston Garden - April 5, 1968

as

Self

The UB40: Story of Reggae

2001

The UB40: Story of Reggae

as

Drummer

Doctor Detroit

1983

Doctor Detroit

as

Bandleader

Cincinnati's Rock 'N Roll Legends

1995

Cincinnati's Rock 'N Roll Legends

as

Self

Undercover Brother

2002

Undercover Brother

as

Self

Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular

2001

Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular

as

Self

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

2004

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

as

Self (archive footage)

The Tuxedo

2002

The Tuxedo

as

James Brown

Finding the Funk

2014

Finding the Funk

as

Self

James Brown: Soul Train 1973-1974

1974

James Brown: Soul Train 1973-1974

as

Self

Africa Rising

2019

Africa Rising

as

Self - Musician (archive footage)

It's Black Entertainment

2002

It's Black Entertainment

as

Self (archive footage)

1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond

2018

1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond

as

Self (archive footage)

James Brown & Friends: A Night of Super Soul

1987

James Brown & Friends: A Night of Super Soul

as

Self

The Apollo

2019

The Apollo

as

Self (archive footage)

Pavarotti The Duets

2008

Pavarotti The Duets

as

Self

The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1977

2007

The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1977

as

Sex in '69: The Sexual Revolution in America

2009

Sex in '69: The Sexual Revolution in America

as

Self

James Brown: Live From The House Of Blues

1999

James Brown: Live From The House Of Blues

as

Self

The Sparks Brothers

2021

The Sparks Brothers

as

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast

2019

Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast

as

Self - Singer (archive footage)

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

2025

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

as

Self (archive footage)

The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault

2025

The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault

as

Self

The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault

2025

The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault

as

Self

Duckman

Duckman

as

The Simpsons

The Simpsons

as

James Brown (voice)

Miami Vice

Miami Vice

as

The View

The View

as

Self

70 Years of Youth Revolt

70 Years of Youth Revolt

as

Self (archive footage)

TFI Friday

TFI Friday

as

Self

Web Junk 20

Web Junk 20

as

Charlie Rose

Charlie Rose

as

Self (Archive footage)

Amen

Amen

as

The Hollywood Palace

The Hollywood Palace

as

Self

Shindig!

Shindig!

as

Self

The Music Scene

The Music Scene

as

The Flip Wilson Show

The Flip Wilson Show

as

Self

Throb

Throb

as

Where Are They Now?

Where Are They Now?

as

Self

Playboy After Dark

Playboy After Dark

as

The Kennedy Center Honors

The Kennedy Center Honors

as

Self

The Hire

The Hire

as

Self

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as

Self

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

as

Self

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

as

Self - Co-Host

Les Fous du Funk

Les Fous du Funk

as

Self

Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music

Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music

as

Self

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

as

Self

Yo! MTV Raps

Yo! MTV Raps

as

Self

New York Undercover

New York Undercover

as

Self

James Brown: Say It Loud

James Brown: Say It Loud

as

Self (archive footage)

Death by Fame

Death by Fame

as

Self (archive footage)

Production

Crew

Directing