The Conan Villain You Never Knew James Earl Jones Played, Explained

James Earl Jones played dozens of memorable characters over his vaunted career, so many so that some people may forget he even played a memorable villain in Conan the Barbarian. The Conan the Barbarian franchise includes a handful of movies and TV adaptations of the pulp magazine sword and sorcery stories by Robert E. Howard. The roaring warrior, most commonly associated with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s rippling muscles and face, is a classic movie character and synonymous with sword and sandals and the fantasy genre.

The first film in the franchise, Conan the Barbarian, is a sword and sorcery movie that follows the origin of Conan after he witnesses the death of his parents and sets out to take revenge. Conan the Barbarian received very mixed reviews upon release, with some critics decrying it as silly and dumb, and others being fully wrapped up in the hamminess. It’s 67% on Rotten Tomatoes is a testament to these conflicting reviews. However, the legacy of the film can’t be understated, and it’s a feather in James Earl Jones’ cap that he was a part of it.

James Earl Jones Played Thulsa Doom In Conan The Barbarian

Doom Is A Necromancer And Conan’s Archnemesis

James Earl Jones co-stars in Conan the Barbarian as Thulsa Doom, a villain perhaps even more evil than Jones’ most famous role, that of Darth Vader. Thulsa Doom is the architect of all Conan’s pain in the film. It’s Doom and his forces who massacre Conan’s village and parents at the start of the movie. A powerful cult leader, Doom is incredibly persuasive, hypnotically bringing people to his side and using magic to counter Conan’s brute strength. In their final confrontation, Doom tries one last time to entrance Conan, but the Barbarian resists and beheads his foe.

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Thulsa Doom in the original story is a skeletal figure. An undead wizard, Doom, is a necromancer who has a bare white skull for a head. In Conan the Barbarian, Doom is a human figure, though he states he’s been around for thousands of years. He’s still incredibly powerful, with the ability to turn into a snake. It’s an impressive performance by Jones, who has all the majesty and ego of a cult leader. He’s powerful when he needs to be, but it’s his quiet moments where he seduces people to his side that Jones really shows his acting chops.

Jones Left An Incredible Acting Legacy

James Earl Jones Has Played Some Of The Greatest Movie Characters Ever

Considering the incredible roles James Earl Jones had over his long career, it’s reasonable that some people may forget some of his performances. He began his professional acting career in 1963, appearing in the TV show, East Side/West Side, for one episode, but he quickly moved into more notable parts including Lieutenant Lothar Zogg in Dr. Strangelove and Dr. Magiot in The Comedians. Jones burst into the popular consciousness and stayed there after voicing Darth Vader in George Lucas’ hit, Star Wars.

It was this role that would paint Jones’ career forever afterward, and his deep, baritone voice would become synonymous with powerful characters, both good and evil. Mufasa in The Lion King, Terence Mann in Field of Dreams, and Admiral James Greer in The Hunt for Red October are just a handful of the incredible performances Jones had before he passed away on September 9, 2024, at the age of 93, surrounded by his family (via Reuters). James Earl Jones left an impression with everything he did, from Conan the Barbarian to Click.

Conan The Barbarian

Release Date

May 14, 1982

Runtime

129 Minutes

Director

John Milius

Writers

Robert E. Howard, John Milius, Oliver Stone, Edward Summer