James Brown
Born
May 3, 1933
Died
December 25, 2006 (73 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
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.
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
Self
2025
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Self (archive footage)
2025
James Brown: Say It Loud
Self (archive footage) · (4 episodes)
2024
Death by Fame
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2023
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (archive footage)
2022
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
Self (archive footage)
2021
The Making of 'Rocky vs. Drago'
Self (archive footage)
2021
Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage
Self (archive footage)
2021
The Sparks Brothers
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2021
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
Self (archive footage)
2021
70 Years of Youth Revolt
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2020
Africa Rising
Self - Musician (archive footage)
2019
The Apollo
Self (archive footage)
2019
Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
Self - Singer (archive footage)
2019
1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond
Self (archive footage)
2018
A Tale of James Brown
Self (archive footage)
2016
Les Fous du Funk
Self · (1 episode)
2015
The Story of Funk: One Nation Under a Groove
2014
James Brown - The Man, The Music & The Message
Self
2014
Madam Secretary
James Brown · (1 episode)
2014
Mr. Dynamite - The Rise of James Brown
Self (archive footage)
2014
Finding the Funk
Self
2014
The Millers
James Brown · (1 episode)
2013
Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day
Self (archive footage)
2013
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
Self (archive footage)
2012
The Real Rocky
Self (archive footage)
2011
Soul Power
Self (archive footage)
2009
Sex in '69: The Sexual Revolution in America
Self
2009
James Brown Live At The Apollo '68
Self
2008
James Brown Live At The Boston Garden - April 5, 1968
Self
2008
Pavarotti The Duets
Self
2008
James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston
Self (archive footage)
2008
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1977
2007
George Clinton: Tales of Dr Funkenstein
Self (archive footage)
2006
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
Self (archive footage)
2006
Web Junk 20
(1 episode)
2006
Live 8
Self
2005
Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music
Self · (6 episodes)
2005
Robots
Diesel (archive footage) (uncredited)
2005
James Brown: Live
Self
2004
James Brown: Body Heat
Self
2004
Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years
Self (archive footage)
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
2004
James Brown: Soul Survivor
Self
2003
Paper Chasers
2003
The Giants of Black Music
Self
2003
Beat the Devil
Mr. James Brown
2002
The Tuxedo
James Brown
2002
Undercover Brother
Self
2002
It's Black Entertainment
Self (archive footage)
2002
Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular
Self
2001
The UB40: Story of Reggae
Drummer
2001
The Hire
Self · (1 episode)
2001
Where Are They Now?
Self · (1 episode)
1999
James Brown: Live From The House Of Blues
Self
1999
Blues Brothers 2000
Cleophus James
1998
The View
Self · (1 episode)
1997
When We Were Kings
Self
1996
TFI Friday
Self · (1 episode)
1996
The History of Rock 'n' Roll
Self
1995
Cincinnati's Rock 'N Roll Legends
Self
1995
New York Undercover
Self · (1 episode)
1994
Duckman
Hostage Negotiator (voice) · (1 episode)
1994
RapLine
Self
1993
Charlie Rose
Self (Archive footage) · (1 episode)
1991
James Brown Live in Berlin
1991
The Lost James Brown Tapes
Vocals
1991
The Simpsons
James Brown (voice) · (1 episode)
1989
Legends of Rock 'n' Roll
James Brown
1989
Yo! MTV Raps
Self · (1 episode)
1988
James Brown & Friends: A Night of Super Soul
Self
1987
Amen
(1 episode)
1986
Throb
(1 episode)
1986
Rocky IV
The Godfather of Soul
1985
James Brown - Live At Chastain Park
Himself
1985
Miami Vice
Lou De Long · (1 episode)
1984
When the Music's Over
Self
1983
Doctor Detroit
Bandleader
1983
James Brown: Live at Montreux
Self
1981
The Blues Brothers
Cleophus James
1980
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self · (1 episode)
1978
James Brown Soul Brother No. 1
1978
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
Self
1974
James Brown: Soul Train 1973-1974
Self
1974
James Brown: Love Power Peace
Self
1971
The Flip Wilson Show
Self · (1 episode)
1970
The Phynx
James Brown
1970
The Music Scene
(1 episode)
1969
Playboy After Dark
(2 episodes)
1969
Ski Party
Self
1965
The T.A.M.I. Show
Self
1964
Shindig!
Self · (1 episode)
1964
The Hollywood Palace
Self · (2 episodes)
1964
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (4 episodes)
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · (1 episode)
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1961
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1948