James Brown
Photoplayd Industry Rating
Not enough rated films yet to compute a weighted score.
Roles are weighted by involvement: director 1.0, screenwriter 0.7, lead 0.8, supporting 0.4, crew 0.1.
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
Credits
Robots (2005)
as Diesel (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rocky IV (1985)
as The Godfather of Soul
The Blues Brothers (1980)
as Cleophus James
The Tuxedo (2002)
as James Brown
Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)
as Cleophus James
Undercover Brother (2002)
as Self
James Brown - The Night James Brown Saved Boston (2008)
as Self (archive footage)
Cincinnati's Rock 'N Roll Legends (1995)
as Self
Holy Man (1998)
as James Brown
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025)
as Self (archive footage)
Live 8 (2005)
as Self
Doctor Detroit (1983)
as Bandleader
When We Were Kings (1996)
as Self
Sex in '69: The Sexual Revolution in America (2009)
as Self
James Brown Live At The Apollo '68 (2008)
as Self
The Phynx (1970)
as James Brown
James Brown: Body Heat (2004)
as Self
It's Black Entertainment (2002)
as Self (archive footage)
James Brown: Soul Survivor (2003)
as Self
The Real Rocky (2011)
as Self (archive footage)
Beat the Devil (2002)
as Mr. James Brown
Casey Kasem's Rock 'n' Roll Goldmine: The Soul Years (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan (2023)
as Self (archive footage)
James Brown: Live at Montreux (1981)
as Self
The T.A.M.I. Show (1964)
as Self
Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast (2019)
as Self - Singer (archive footage)
Legends of Rock 'n' Roll (1989)
as James Brown
The Apollo (2019)
as Self (archive footage)
Ski Party (1965)
as Self
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ (2012)
as Self (archive footage)
The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault (2020)
as (archive footage)
Soul Power (2009)
as Self (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues (2022)
as Self (archive footage)
A Tale of James Brown (2016)
as Self (archive footage)
Africa Rising (2019)
as Self - Musician (archive footage)
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown (2014)
as Self (archive footage)
Full Length & Fabulous: The Beckhams' World Cup Party (2006)
as Self
James Brown - Live At Chastain Park (1985)
as Himself
Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage (2021)
as Self (archive footage)
The Giants of Black Music (2003)
as Self
Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer (—)
as Self (archive footage)
Fathers and Songs: Music for Father's Day (2013)
as Self (archive footage)
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go! (2021)
as Self (archive footage)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004)
as Self (archive footage)
The UB40: Story of Reggae (2001)
as Drummer
James Brown Live At The Boston Garden - April 5, 1968 (2008)
as Self
Pavarotti The Duets (2008)
as Self
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974 (1974)
as Self
George Clinton: Tales of Dr Funkenstein (2006)
as Self (archive footage)
James Brown: Love Power Peace (1971)
as Self
The Lost James Brown Tapes (1991)
as Vocals
When the Music's Over (1983)
as Self
The Story of Funk: One Nation Under a Groove (2014)
Actor
James Brown - The Man, The Music & The Message (2014)
as Self
James Brown: Soul Train 1973-1974 (1974)
as Self
Rock 'N' Roll Forever: Ed Sullivan's Greatest Hits (2005)
as Self (archive)
Paper Chasers (2003)
Actor
Nueva York: A Musical History of Latin New York (2021)
as Self (archive footage)
Finding the Funk (2014)
as Self
1968: A Year of War, Turmoil and Beyond (2018)
as Self (archive footage)
James Brown - Live at Chastain Park Atlanta 1980 (2003)
Actor
The Godfather of Soul (2026)
as Self (archive footage)
James Brown Soul Brother No. 1 (1978)
Actor
James Brown: Live (2004)
as Self
RapLine (1993)
as Self
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer (2006)
as Self (archive footage)
James Brown: Live From The House Of Blues (1999)
as Self
Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular (2001)
as Self
James Brown & Friends: A Night of Super Soul (1987)
as Self
James Brown Live in Berlin (1991)
Actor
James Brown: Living in America (2007)
Actor
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances: More 1977 (2007)
Actor