Acting · Albany, Georgia, USA · Born September 23, 1930
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?"
MovieQuincy Jones, Music Man
2025
as Self (archive footage)
MovieLadies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025
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MovieMerci Dorothée !
2025
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MovieThe Greatest Night in Pop
2024
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They All Came Out to Montreux
2023
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MovieSunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan
2023
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MovieCarol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
2023
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Piano Greats at the BBC
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Movie2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2022
as Self (archive footage)
MovieLouis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
as Self (archive footage)
MovieRat Pack
2022
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MovieLike a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres
2021
as Self (archival footage)
MovieFace of Unity
2014
as Self
TVCachitos de hierro y cromo
2013
as Self (archive footage)
Jazzline - Ray Charles & Orchestra
2012
as Self
MovieRay Charles - Live in France 1961
2011
as Self
MovieO Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
2009
as Self (archive footage)
MovieRay Charles: Live At Montreux 1997
2008
as Self
MovieJazz Evolution
2008
as Self - Piano, Vocals
MovieRay Charles: The Legend Lives On
2008
as Self
MovieAtlantic Records: The House That Ahmet Built
2007
as Self
MovieRolling With the Blues
2007
as Self (archive footage)
MovieGlen Campbell | Good Times Again
2007
as Self
MovieFats Domino: Walking to New Orleans
2007
as Self
MovieFats and Friends
2007
as Self
MovieRay Charles: Live at the Olympia
2006
as Self
MovieRay Charles with the Voices of Jubilation Choir
2006
as Self
MovieBurt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976
2006
as Self
MovieThe Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music
2005
as Self (archive footage)
TVSoul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music
2005
as Self
MovieRay Charles: O-Genio - Live In Brazil 1963
2004
as Self
MovieRay Charles: Soul of the Holy Land
2004
as Self
Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company
2004
as Self
MovieTom Dowd & The Language of Music
2004
as Self
MovieHank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues
2004
as Self (archive footage)
MovieRockin' Pianos
2004
as Self
MovieTV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
as Self (archive footage)
MoviePiano Blues
2003
as Self
TVThe Blues
2003
as Self
MovieWillie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
2003
as Self
MovieThe Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles
2002
as Self
TVCMT Crossroads
2002
as Self
MovieRay Charles: Live: Montreux Jazz Festival
2002
as Self
MovieMichael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration
2001
as Self
TVStar Academy
2001
as Self
MovieRay Charles - In Concert
2001
as Self
MovieThe Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
2001
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
2001
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBlue's Big Musical Movie
2000
as G-Clef (voice)
MovieQuincy Jones... The First 50 Years
1998
as Self
Saturday Live
1996
as Self
MovieSpy Hard
1996
as Busdriver
MovieSinatra: 80 Years My Way
1995
as Self - Performer
MovieThe World of Jim Henson
1994
as Self (archive footage)
MovieLove Affair
1994
as Self
MovieSesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!
1994
as Self (archive footage)
MovieRay Alexander: A Taste For Justice
1994
TVThe Nanny
1993
as Sammy
MovieSesame Street Jam: A Musical Celebration
1993
as Self (segment "Monster in the Mirror")
TVThe John Larroquette Show
1993
as Ray Charles
MovieWillie Nelson: The Big Six-O
1993
as Self
MovieMontreux Jazz Festival 1991
1991
as Self
MovieThe Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
1990
as Self
MovieListen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones
1990
as Self
TVWings
1990
as Ray Charles
MovieLimit Up
1989
as Julius
MovieLegends of Rock 'n' Roll
1989
as Ray Charles
MovieIrving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
1988
as Self
TVTéléthon
1987
as Self
TVSuper Dave
1987
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TVLe monde est à vous
1987
as Self (archive footage)
TVSacrée soirée
1987
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MovieThe Beach Boys: 25 Years Together - A Celebration In Waikiki
1987
as Self
Billy Joel: Building the Bridge
1986
as Self
MovieThe Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
1986
as Self (archive footage)
TVVictoires de la musique
1985
as Self
MovieThe Statue of Liberty
1985
as Self - Composer
TVMoonlighting
1985
as Ray Charles
MovieWe Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
1985
as Self
TVWho's the Boss?
1984
as Ray Charles
MovieI Love Quincy
1984
as Self
Ray Charles: A Man & His Soul
1983
as Ray Charles
Hallelujah Gospel
1983
as Self
TVSt. Elsewhere
1982
as Arthur Tibbits
TVChamps-Elysées
1982
as Self
MovieLynda Carter's Celebration
1981
as Self
MovieRay Charles Live - In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony
1981
as Self
TVBarbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
1980
as Self
John Schneider: Back Home
1980
as Self
Ray Charles At The North Sea Jazz Festival
1980
as Self
MovieThe Blues Brothers
1980
as Ray
MovieRay Charles: Angels Keep Watching Over Me
1979
as Self
TVThe Kennedy Center Honors
1978
as Self
MovieNBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
1978
as Self
MovieThe Second Barry Manilow Special
1978
as Self
Bio’s Bahnhof
1978
as Self
MovieThe Beatles Forever
1977
as Self
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Host & Musical Guest
TVCher
1975
as Self
TVThe Smothers Brothers Show
1975
MovieBarbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments
1973
as Self
TVMusikladen
1972
as Self
TVThe Midnight Special
1972
as Self
TVThe Flip Wilson Show
1970
as Self
TVThe Johnny Cash Show
1969
as Self
TVThe Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
1969
as Self
Unsere kleine Show - Musik zur blauen Stunde
1969
as Self
MovieRay Charles - La Salle Pleyel, Paris
1968
as Self
TVThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest
TVThe Carol Burnett Show
1967
as Self - Guest
MovieThe Big T.N.T. Show
1965
as Self
MovieBallad in Blue
1965
as Self
TVShindig!
1964
as Self - Singer
TVThe Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self - Singer
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self - Co-Host
MovieSwingin' Along
1961
as Self
TVKraft Music Hall
1958
as Self
TVThe Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self
TVThe Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
Say Hello to Our Good Friend Paul Shaffer
as Self (archive footage)
