The Godfather of Soul
2026 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
James Brown
1933-05-03
•
Barnwell, South Carolina, USA
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
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
James Brown: Say It Loud
2024 · TV Show
as Self (archive footage)
Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan
2023 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Death by Fame
2023 · TV Show
as Self (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
2021 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
2021 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage
2021 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
2021 · TV Show
as Self (archive footage)
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
2020 · Movie
as (archive footage)
70 Years of Youth Revolt
2020 · TV Show
as Self (archive footage)
Africa Rising
2019 · Movie
as Self - Musician (archive footage)
The Apollo
2019 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
2019 · Movie
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond
2018 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
A Tale of James Brown
2016 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Andy Warhol, Fluorescent
2016 · Movie
Les Fous du Funk
2015 · TV Show
as Self
James Brown - The Man, The Music & The Message
2014 · Movie
as Self
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown
2014 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
The Story of Funk: One Nation Under a Groove
2014 · Movie
Finding the Funk
2014 · Movie
as Self
Madam Secretary
2014 · TV Show
as James Brown
Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day
2013 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
The Millers
2013 · TV Show
as James Brown
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
2012 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
The Real Rocky
2011 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Soul Power
2009 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Sex in '69: The Sexual Revolution in America
2009 · Movie
as Self
James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston
2008 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
James Brown Live At The Apollo '68
2008 · Movie
as Self
James Brown Live At The Boston Garden - April 5, 1968
2008 · Movie
as Self
Pavarotti The Duets
2008 · Movie
as Self
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1977
2007 · Movie
James Brown: Living in America
2007 · Movie
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
2006 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
George Clinton: Tales of Dr Funkenstein
2006 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Full Length & Fabulous: The Beckhams' World Cup Party
2006 · Movie
as Self
No image
Web Junk 20
2006 · TV Show
Live 8
2005 · Movie
as Self
Robots
2005 · Movie
as Diesel (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rock 'N' Roll Forever: Ed Sullivan's Greatest Hits
2005 · Movie
as Self (archive)
Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music
2005 · TV Show
as Self
James Brown: Body Heat
2004 · Movie
as Self
James Brown: Live
2004 · Movie
as Self
Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years
2004 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Paper Chasers
2003 · Movie
The Giants of Black Music
2003 · Movie
as Self
James Brown: Soul Survivor
2003 · Movie
as Self
James Brown - Live at Chastain Park Atlanta 1980
2003 · Movie
Beat the Devil
2002 · Movie
as Mr. James Brown
Undercover Brother
2002 · Movie
as Self
The Tuxedo
2002 · Movie
as James Brown
It's Black Entertainment
2002 · Movie
as Self (archive footage)
The UB40: Story of Reggae
2001 · Movie
as Drummer
Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular
2001 · Movie
as Self
The Hire
2001 · TV Show
as Self
James Brown: Live From The House Of Blues
1999 · Movie
as Self
No image
Where Are They Now?
1999 · TV Show
as Self
Blues Brothers 2000
1998 · Movie
as Cleophus James
Holy Man
1998 · Movie
as James Brown
The View
1997 · TV Show
as Self
When We Were Kings
1996 · Movie
as Self
TFI Friday
1996 · TV Show
as Self
Cincinnati's Rock 'N Roll Legends
1995 · Movie
as Self
Duckman
1994 · TV Show
as Hostage Negotiator (voice)
New York Undercover
1994 · TV Show
as Self
RapLine
1993 · Movie
as Self
No image
The Lost James Brown Tapes
1991 · Movie
as Vocals
James Brown Live in Berlin
1991 · Movie
The Word
1990 · TV Show
Legends of Rock 'n' Roll
1989 · Movie
as James Brown
The Simpsons
1989 · TV Show
as James Brown (voice)
Yo! MTV Raps
1988 · TV Show
as Self
James Brown & Friends: A Night of Super Soul
1987 · Movie
as Self
Amen
1986 · TV Show
No image
Throb
1986 · TV Show
Rocky IV
1985 · Movie
as The Godfather of Soul
James Brown - Live At Chastain Park
1985 · Movie
as Himself
Miami Vice
1984 · TV Show
as Lou De Long
When the Music's Over
1983 · Movie
as Self
Doctor Detroit
1983 · Movie
as Bandleader
James Brown: Live at Montreux
1981 · Movie
as Self
The Blues Brothers
1980 · Movie
as Cleophus James
James Brown Soul Brother No. 1
1978 · Movie
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978 · TV Show
as Self
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
1974 · Movie
as Self
James Brown: Soul Train 1973-1974
1974 · Movie
as Self
James Brown: Love Power Peace
1971 · Movie
as Self
The Phynx
1970 · Movie
as James Brown
The Flip Wilson Show
1970 · TV Show
as Self
The Music Scene
1969 · TV Show
Playboy After Dark
1969 · TV Show
Ski Party
1965 · Movie
as Self
The T.A.M.I. Show
1964 · Movie
as Self
The Hollywood Palace
1964 · TV Show
as Self
Shindig!
1964 · TV Show
as Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · TV Show
as Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · TV Show
as Self - Co-Host, Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948 · TV Show
as Self
No image
Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer
· Movie
as Self (archive footage)
Crew Credits
The Godfather of Soul
2026 · Movie
Compositor
Get On Up
2014 · Movie
Songs
Black Women, Sexual Politics and the Revolution
1992 · Movie
Songs
Jacob's Ladder
1990 · Movie
Songs
Walk Out
1981 · Movie
Music
Black Caesar
1973 · Movie
Original Music Composer
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
1973 · Movie
Original Music Composer
No image
Future Shock
· TV Show
Creator
