Ray Charles
Known for Acting · 121 credits
- Born
- 1930-09-23
- Died
- 2004-06-10
- Place of birth
- Albany, Georgia, USA
Biography
Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004), better known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his Modern Sounds albums. While with ABC, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to be given artistic control by a mainstream record company. Frank Sinatra called Charles “the only true genius in show business.”
Rolling Stone ranked Charles number 10 on their list of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2004, and number two on their November 2008 list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". In honoring Charles, Billy Joel noted: "This may sound like sacrilege, but I think Ray Charles was more important than Elvis Presley. I don't know if Ray was the architect of rock & roll, but he was certainly the first guy to do a lot of things . . . Who the hell ever put so many styles together and made it work?"
Known For
TV Shows (39)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Host & Musical Guest
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self - Co-Host
The Nanny
1993
as Sammy
Wings
1990
as Ray Charles
Champs-Elysées
1982
as Self
St. Elsewhere
1982
as Arthur Tibbits
The Carol Burnett Show
1967
as Self - Guest
The Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest
Moonlighting
1985
as Ray Charles
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
Sacrée soirée
1987
as Self
Who's the Boss?
1984
as Ray Charles
Le monde est à vous
1987
as Self (archive footage)
The John Larroquette Show
1993
as Ray Charles
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self
Kraft Music Hall
1958
as Self
The Midnight Special
1972
as Self
Star Academy
2001
as Self
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
1969
as Self
The Flip Wilson Show
1970
as Self
Victoires de la musique
1985
as Self
The Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self - Singer
CMT Crossroads
2002
as Self
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978
as Self
Téléthon
1987
as Self
Shindig!
1964
as Self - Singer
Musikladen
1972
as Self
Cher
1975
as Self
The Johnny Cash Show
1969
as Self
Cachitos de hierro y cromo
2013
as Self (archive footage)
Bio’s Bahnhof
1978
as Self
The Blues
2003
as Self
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
1980
as Self
Unsere kleine Show - Musik zur blauen Stunde
1969
as Self
Super Dave
1987
as Self
Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music
2005
as Self
The Smothers Brothers Show
1975
Saturday Live
1996
as Self
Movies (82)
The Blues Brothers
1980
as Ray
Love Affair
1994
as Self
Spy Hard
1996
as Busdriver
The Greatest Night in Pop
2024
as Self (archive footage)
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025
as Self (archive footage)
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
1994
as Self (archive footage)
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration
2001
as Self
Rat Pack
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
2023
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
1986
as Self (archive footage)
Lynda Carter's Celebration
1981
as Self
The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
1990
as Self
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
2001
as Self (archive footage)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
as Self (archive footage)
Sinatra: 80 Years My Way
1995
as Self - Performer
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
as Self (archive footage)
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
1978
as Self
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
1985
as Self
Sesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
1993
as Self (segment "Monster in the Mirror")
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
2009
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
2001
as Self (archive footage)
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice
1994
The World of Jim Henson
1994
as Self (archive footage)
Limit Up
1989
as Julius
Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O
1993
as Self
Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan
2023
as Self (archive footage)
Face of Unity
2014
as Self
The Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki
1987
as Self
I Love Quincy
1984
as Self
Swingin' Along
1961
as Self
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
1988
as Self
They All Came Out to Montreux
2023
as Self (archive footage)
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres
2021
as Self (archival footage)
Quincy Jones, Music Man
2025
as Self (archive footage)
Ballad in Blue
1965
as Self
Piano Blues
2003
as Self
The Big T.N.T. Show
1965
as Self
The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music
2005
as Self (archive footage)
Fats Domino: Walking to New Orleans
2007
as Self
The Statue of Liberty
1985
as Self - Composer
Piano Greats at the BBC
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Merci Dorothée !
2025
as Self (archive footage)
Quincy Jones... The First 50 Years
1998
as Self
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
2003
as Self
Glen Campbell | Good Times Again
2007
as Self
Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company
2004
as Self
Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976
2006
as Self
The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles
2002
as Self
Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones
1990
as Self
Ray Charles - Live in France 1961
2011
as Self
Blue's Big Musical Movie
2000
as G-Clef (voice)
Barbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments
1973
as Self
Fats and Friends
2007
as Self
Atlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built
2007
as Self
Ray Charles: Live At Montreux 1997
2008
as Self
Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues
2004
as Self (archive footage)
Montreux Jazz Festival 1991
1991
as Self
Legends of Rock 'n' Roll
1989
as Ray Charles
The Beatles Forever
1977
as Self
Billy Joel: Building the Bridge
1986
as Self
Ray Charles: Live: Montreux Jazz Festival
2002
as Self
Ray Charles: The Legend Lives On
2008
as Self
Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer
as Self (archive footage)
Ray Charles - In Concert
2001
as Self
Hallelujah Gospel
1983
as Self
Ray Charles: Soul of the Holy Land
2004
as Self
Rolling With the Blues
2007
as Self (archive footage)
Jazz Evolution
2008
as Self - Piano, Vocals
Ray Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony
1981
as Self
Ray Charles: O-Genio - Live In Brazil 1963
2004
as Self
Ray Charles: Angels Keep Watching Over Me
1979
as Self
Ray Charles with the Voices of Jubilation Choir
2006
as Self
John Schneider: Back Home
1980
as Self
Jazzline - Ray Charles & Orchestra
2012
as Self
Tom Dowd & The Language of Music
2004
as Self
Ray Charles: Live at the Olympia
2006
as Self
Rockin' Pianos
2004
as Self
Ray Charles: A Man & His Soul
1983
as Ray Charles
The Second Barry Manilow Special
1978
as Self
Ray Charles - La Salle Pleyel, Paris
1968
as Self
Ray Charles At The North Sea Jazz Festival
1980
as Self
About Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004), better known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his Modern Sounds albums. While with ABC, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to be given… With 121 credits spanning from 1948 to 2025, Ray Charles has appeared in 82 films and 39 TV shows.
Fans searching for Ray Charles movies, Ray Charles filmography, or the latest projects starring Ray Charles can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Ray Charles Movies
- The Blues Brothers (1980) — as Ray
- Love Affair (1994) — as Self
- Spy Hard (1996) — as Busdriver
- The Greatest Night in Pop (2024) — as Self (archive footage)
- Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025) — as Self (archive footage)
Where to Watch Ray Charles Films
Most Ray Charles movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Ray Charles, check our movies catalogue and browse page.