James Brown
Known for: Acting
Born: May 3, 1933
Died: December 25, 2006
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.
Advertisement
Filmography
81 movies · 31 TV shows, newest first
NR
The Godfather of Soul
2026
7.7
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025
8.0
James Brown: Say It Loud
2024
6.9
Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan
2023
6.8
Death by Fame
2023
6.7
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
8.0
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York
2021
6.5
Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage
2021
NR
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
2021
7.5
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
2021
7.2
70 Years of Youth Revolt
2020
NR
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault
2020
7.5
Africa Rising
2019
6.4
The Apollo
2019
5.3
Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
2019
8.0
1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond
2018
5.0
Andy Warhol, Fluorescent
2016
NR
A Tale of James Brown
2016
8.0
Les Fous du Funk
2015
7.0
The Story of Funk: One Nation Under a Groove
2014
8.0
James Brown - The Man, The Music & The Message
2014
7.0
Madam Secretary
2014
6.8
Get On Up
2014
6.9
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown
2014
7.2
Finding the Funk
2014
5.7
The Millers
2013
NR
Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day
2013
5.0
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
2012
6.2
The Real Rocky
2011
6.5
Soul Power
2009
7.0
Sex in '69: The Sexual Revolution in America
2009
5.3
James Brown Live At The Apollo '68
2008
4.0
James Brown Live At The Boston Garden - April 5, 1968
2008
NR
Pavarotti The Duets
2008
6.7
James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston
2008
NR
James Brown: Living in America
2007
7.0
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1977
2007
7.5
George Clinton: Tales of Dr Funkenstein
2006
NR
Full Length & Fabulous: The Beckhams' World Cup Party
2006
5.0
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
20069.3
Web Junk 20
2006
7.4
Live 8
2005
8.0
Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music
2005
6.5
Robots
2005
NR
Rock 'N' Roll Forever: Ed Sullivan's Greatest Hits
2005
NR
James Brown: Live
2004
8.0
James Brown: Body Heat
2004
9.8
Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years
2004
5.3
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
7.7
James Brown: Soul Survivor
2003
NR
James Brown - Live at Chastain Park Atlanta 1980
2003
7.0
Paper Chasers
2003
NR
The Giants of Black Music
2003
7.2
Beat the Devil
2002
5.7
The Tuxedo
2002
5.9
Undercover Brother
2002
8.7
It's Black Entertainment
2002
10.0
Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular
2001
NR
The UB40: Story of Reggae
2001
7.6
The Hire
20017.5
Where Are They Now?
1999
NR
James Brown: Live From The House Of Blues
1999
5.2
Holy Man
1998
5.3
Blues Brothers 2000
1998
4.3
The View
19979.0
Soulmates
1997
7.6
When We Were Kings
1996
7.1
TFI Friday
1996
5.6
Cincinnati's Rock 'N Roll Legends
1995
7.3
New York Undercover
1994
7.2
Duckman
1994
10.0
RapLine
1993
NR
Black Women, Sexual Politics and the Revolution
1992
7.0
James Brown Live in Berlin
1991NR
The Lost James Brown Tapes
1991
7.4
Jacob's Ladder
1990
6.0
The Word
1990
8.0
The Simpsons
1989
9.0
Legends of Rock 'n' Roll
1989
7.5
Yo! MTV Raps
1988
NR
James Brown & Friends: A Night of Super Soul
1987
6.7
Amen
19866.3
Throb
1986
7.1
Rocky IV
1985NR
Motown Returns to the Apollo
1985
5.5
James Brown - Live At Chastain Park
1985
7.4
Miami Vice
1984
NR
When the Music's Over
1983
5.1
Doctor Detroit
1983
8.0
James Brown: Live at Montreux
1981
NR
Walk Out
1981
7.7
The Blues Brothers
1980
7.4
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978
8.0
James Brown Soul Brother No. 1
1978
NR
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
1974
NR
James Brown: Soul Train 1973-1974
1974
4.8
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off
1973
5.9
Black Caesar
1973
NR
James Brown: Love Power Peace
1971
4.8
The Flip Wilson Show
1970
3.6
The Phynx
1970
9.0
The Music Scene
1969
4.0
Playboy After Dark
1969
6.0
Ski Party
1965
7.9
The T.A.M.I. Show
1964
6.4
Shindig!
1964
5.0
The Hollywood Palace
1964
7.5
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
5.8
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
6.8
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948NR
Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer
—4.0
Future Shock
—