James Woods
Known for
Intense, verbose and of electric intensity, James Woods specialized in characters on the edge of the abyss. Born in Vernal, Utah, he dazzled in 1980s cinema with the committed journalist of Oliver Stone's 'Salvador' and the melancholy gangster of Sergio Leone's 'Once Upon a Time in America', two of his most celebrated performances. Twice nominated for the Oscar, he brought his characteristic nervousness to titles like Scorsese's 'Casino' and 'Nixon', and voiced the villain Hades in Disney's 'Hercules'. A two-time Emmy winner, his register is distinguished by a jittery energy and a hypnotic gift of the gab that fills any frame.
James Woods
74 Movies
18 Series
Intense, verbose and of electric intensity, James Woods specialized in characters on the edge of the abyss. Born in Vernal, Utah, he dazzled in 1980s cinema with the committed journalist of Oliver Stone's 'Salvador' and the melancholy gangster of Sergio Leone's 'Once Upon a Time in America', two of his most celebrated performances. Twice nominated for the Oscar, he brought his characteristic nervousness to titles like Scorsese's 'Casino' and 'Nixon', and voiced the villain Hades in Disney's 'Hercules'. A two-time Emmy winner, his register is distinguished by a jittery energy and a hypnotic gift of the gab that fills any frame.
Movies
Plays Max
Once Upon a Time in America
1984
Plays Father McFeely
Scary Movie 2
2001
Plays Hades (voice)
Hercules
1997
Plays Michael Kitz
Contact
1997
Plays Reggie Belafonte (voice)
Surf's Up
2007
Plays Lester Diamond
Casino
1995
Plays Hades (voice)
Once Upon a Studio
2023
Plays Walker
White House Down
2013
Plays Mr. Lisbon
The Virgin Suicides
2000
Plays Dr. Raymond Turner
John Q
2002
Plays Jack Benyon
The Getaway
1994
Plays Dr. Harvey Mandrake
Any Given Sunday
1999
Plays General Hein (voice)
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
2001
Plays Tommy Athens
Be Cool
2005
Plays Max Renn
Videodrome
1983
Plays Morrison
Cat's Eye
1985
Plays Falcon (voice)
Stuart Little 2
2002
Plays Alan Mann
True Crime
1999
Plays Joseph Scott
Chaplin
1992
Plays Jack Crow
Vampires
1998
Plays Frankie McVeigh
The Way We Were
1973
Plays Hank Joyce
Pretty Persuasion
2005
Plays Jack Dudman
Jobs
2013
Plays Colonel Robert Moore
The General's Daughter
1999
Plays John Moss
The Hard Way
1991
Plays Jake Wise
Against All Odds
1984
Plays Hades (voice)
Mickey's House of Villains
2002
Plays H.R. Haldeman
Nixon
1995
Plays Dr. Phillium Benedict (voice)
Recess: School's Out
2001
Plays Quentin
Night Moves
1975
Plays Leonard Donofrio
Riding in Cars with Boys
2001
Plays Owlman (voice)
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
2010
Plays Bank Officer
The Gambler
1974
Plays Agent Vaughn Stevens
End Game
2006
Plays Byron De La Beckwith
Ghosts of Mississippi
1996
Plays Eddie Dodd
True Believer
1989
Plays Richard Boyle
Salvador
1986
Plays Aldo Mercer
Eyewitness
1981
Plays Walter O'Brien
Northfork
2003
Plays James Woods (Ringside Fan)
Play It to the Bone
1999
Plays Cleve
Best Seller
1987
Plays Todd Grosslight
An American Carol
2008
Plays Gregory Powell
The Onion Field
1979
Plays Victor (voice)
Bling
2016
Plays Lt. Falton
Jamesy Boy
2014
Plays Charles Pratt
Split Image
1982
Plays Gabriel Caine
Diggstown
1992
Producer
Plays Mel
Another Day in Paradise
1998
Producer
Plays Lloyd Hopkins
Cop
1988
Plays Jack Russell
Straight Talk
1992
TV Shows
Plays Hades (voice)
Hercules
1998
Plays Sebastian Stark
Shark
2006
Plays James Woods (voice)
Family Guy
1999
Plays Lex Luthor (voice)
Justice League Action
2016
Plays Patrick "Sully" Sullivan
Ray Donovan
2013
Plays Hades (voice)
Disney's House of Mouse
2001
Plays Karl Weiss
Holocaust
1978
Plays John Adams (voice)
Founding Fathers
2000
Plays Dr. Howard Stark
Coma
2012
Plays James Woods (voice)
The Simpsons
1989
Plays James Woods
Entourage
2004
Plays Andrew Lynch
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Plays Mickey Cohen
Fallen Angels
1993
Plays Dr. Nate Lennox
ER
1994
Plays Larry Kirkoff
The Rockford Files
1974
Plays Caz
Kojak
1973
Plays Dennis Youngblood
Dream On
1990
Plays Major Baklava (voice)
Clerks
2000
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Eddington
Full Filmography
Eddington
James Woods (uncredited)
2025
Film
Once Upon a Studio
Hades (voice)
2023
Film
Family Guy
James Woods (voice) · 6 episodes
2005–2016
TV
Justice League Action
Lex Luthor / Repulse (voice) · 1 episode
2016–
TV
Bling
Victor (voice)
2016
Film
Jamesy Boy
Lt. Falton
2014
Film
Ray Donovan
Patrick "Sully" Sullivan · 5 episodes
2013
TV
Jobs
Jack Dudman
2013
Film
White House Down
Walker
2013
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is James Woods and where are they from?
James Woods is 79 years old, born on April 18, 1947 in Vernal, Utah, USA.
What are the most famous roles of James Woods?
James Woods is best known for roles in Hercules, Casino, Once Upon a Time in America.
How many movies has James Woods been in?
Over a 55-year career (since 1971), James Woods has appeared in 74 movies and 18 TV shows.
What was James Woods's first movie?
The career of James Woods began with All the Way Home (1971).
What is James Woods's most recent movie or series?
James Woods's most recent release is Eddington, which premiered on July 16, 2025.
What TV shows has James Woods appeared in?
On television, James Woods has appeared in The Simpsons, Family Guy, ER, Ray Donovan.
James Woods
1947-04-18 · Vernal, Utah, USA
James Howard Woods (born April 18, 1947) is an American actor. He is known for starring in films such as Once Upon a Time in America, Salvador, Nixon, Ghosts of Mississippi, Casino, and Hercules, as well as in the television legal drama Shark. He has won two Emmy Awards, and earned two Academy Award nominations.