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James Hetfield

James Hetfield

Known for
Acting
Born
Aug 3, 1963 (age 63)
Place of birth
Downey, California, USA
Credits
218

James Alan Hetfield is an American musician and songwriter best known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield is mainly known for his intricate rhythm playing, but occasionally performs lead guitar duties and solos, both live and in the studio. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering an advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler. Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards and released ten studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays and 24 singles.

In 2009, Hetfield was ranked at no. 8 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists and no. 24 by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time. In Guitar World's poll, Hetfield was placed as the 19th greatest guitarist of all time, as well as being placed second (along with Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett) in The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists poll of the same magazine. Rolling Stone placed Hetfield as the 87th greatest guitarist of all time.

This page is based on a Wikipedia article written by contributors. Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.

Known for

TVRated 8.0

The Simpsons

1989TV

William Rieflin (voice)

MovieRated 7.0

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

2019Movie

Officer Bob Hayward

TVRated 7.0

American Dad!

2005TV

James Hetfield (voice)

TVRated 7.8

Billions

2016TV

Metallica

MovieRated 8.3

Ennio

2022Movie

Self

TVRated 6.1

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015TV

Self - Musical Guest

Filmography

Coming soon

Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow

2026Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: M72 Tour - Budapest, Day 2

2026Movie

Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Movie

Metallica: M72 Tour - Budapest, Day 1

2026Movie

Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

MovieRated 7.0

Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer

2025Movie

Self

MovieRated 8.3

Ozzy: No Escape from Now

2025Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Studio Shit + U.K. Shenanigans

2025Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Polar Beach Party

2025Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Poor Swedish Me '96

2025Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: On the Air (Music Videos + TV Appearances)

2025Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica Saved My Life

2025Movie

Self

MovieRated 5.5

Metallica: Helping Hands Concert & Auction

2024Movie

Self

MovieRated 6.4

The Thicket

2024Movie

Simon Deasy

MovieRated 9.0

Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 2

2023Movie

Self

MovieRated 8.5

Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 1

2023Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: M72 World Tour Live in Amsterdam - Night 2

2023Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.3

Metallica: 72 Seasons - Global Premiere

2023Movie

Self

MovieRated 4.8

Metallica Presents: The Helping Hands Concert

2022Movie

Self

MovieRated 8.0

Metallica - Global Citizen Festival 2022

2022Movie

TVRated 7.8

Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head

2022TV

James Hetfield (voice)

Movie

Metallica at Lollapalooza 2022

2022Movie

self

Movie

Metallica Live Hellfest 2022

2022Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica Download Festival Germany

2022Movie

Movie

Metallica: Campo Argentino de Polo

2022Movie

MovieRated 8.3

Ennio

2022Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.0

Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 2)

2021Movie

vocals, guitars

MovieRated 8.0

Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 1)

2021Movie

vocals, guitars

Movie

Metallica: 40th Anniversary Shows Live at Chase Center 2021

2021Movie

MovieRated 6.0

Metallica: Wherever We May Roam

2021Movie

vocals, guitars

MovieRated 8.0

Metallica - Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica Outtakes

2021Movie

MovieRated 6.0

Metallica - The Black Album - Music Videos + Halfin’s Home Movies

2021Movie

Movie

Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark - August 10th, 1991

2021Movie

Self

MovieRated 6.0

Metallica - Live At Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium - July 4th, 1993

2021Movie

MovieRated 6.0

Metallica - Live At Frankenhalle, Nuremberg, Germany - November 29th, 1992

2021Movie

MovieRated 8.0

Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark August 10, 1991 + Bonus Shit

2021Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Live in Lincoln, Nebraska - September 6, 2018

2021Movie

Self

MovieRated 9.0

MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains

2020Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica Helping Hands Concert & Auction: Live & Acoustic From HQ

2020Movie

Self

MovieRated 8.3

Metallica - The All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert & Auction

2020Movie

MovieRated 7.3

Phil Lynott: Songs for While I'm Away

2020Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.5

Flying V

2020Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Live in Mexico City, Mexico - March 3, 2017

2020Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Live at Yankee Stadium - Bronx, New York - September 14, 2011

2020Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - June 13, 2004

2020Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Live in Dallas, Texas - August 3, 2000

2020Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Live in Berlin, Germany - June 6, 2006

2020Movie

Cast

Movie

Metallica: Live in Lisbon, Portugal - June 28, 2007

2020Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Live in Bogotá, Colombia - May 2, 1999

2020Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Live in Madrid, Spain - May 31, 2008

2020Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.0

Metallica: Live in Melbourne, Australia - March 1, 2013

2020Movie

Self

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: WorldWired Tour - Live in Manchester, England - June 18, 2019

2020Movie

Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar

Movie

Metallica: Live in Salt Lake City, Utah - January 2, 1997

2020Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Live in Lima, Peru - March 20, 2014

2020Movie

Self

TVRated 7.1

History 101

2020TV

Self (archive footage)

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: Live in Chicago, Illinois - August 12, 1983

2020Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Live in Nickelsdorf, Austria - June 10, 2012

2020Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Live in Muskegon, Michigan (November 1, 1991)

2020Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015

2020Movie

vocals

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: Live at Slane Castle

2020Movie

lead vocals, guitar

Movie

Hypnotizing Power: The Story of Master of Puppets

2020Movie

Self

MovieRated 8.7

Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2

2019Movie

Self

MovieRated 8.0

Metallica : Live in Moscow 2019

2019Movie

MovieRated 8.5

Metallica - Live in Berlin 2019

2019Movie

MovieRated 7.3

Murder in the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story

2019Movie

Self

Movie

Live Metallica: Stade de France, Paris - mai 12, 2019

2019Movie

Self

MovieRated 10.0

Live Metallica: Barcelona, Spain - May 5, 2019

2019Movie

MovieRated 7.0

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile

2019Movie

Officer Bob Hayward

MovieRated 7.0

Sad Hill Unearthed

2018Movie

Self - Musician

MovieRated 9.6

Linkin Park and Friends Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington

2017Movie

Self (archive footage)

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: Live in Paris, France - Sept 8, 2017

2017Movie

Movie

Metallica - Live from Edmonton, Canada - August 16, 2017

2017Movie

vocals

MovieRated 8.0

Metallica - Live at Outside Lands (San Francisco, CA - August 12, 2017)

2017Movie

TVRated 6.1

Carpool Karaoke: The Series

2017TV

Self

MovieRated 5.4

Who the Fuck Is That Guy?: The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago

2017Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica - Live at Rock on the Range, Columbus 2017

2017Movie

MovieRated 8.0

Metallica: Lollapalooza Brazil 2017

2017Movie

Vocals, Guitars

MovieRated 4.8

Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly

2017Movie

Narrator

MovieRated 7.0

Cum On Feel The Noize

2017Movie

Self

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: Making of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct

2016Movie

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct Videos

2016Movie

Voice & Rithm Guitar

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: Live from The House of Vans

2016Movie

Self - vocals, guitars

TVRated 6.8

Skylanders Academy

2016TV

Wolfgang (voice)

Movie

Orchestrating An Upset: The 1996 World Cup of Hockey

2016Movie

Self / Narrator

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: [2016] Rasputin Music, Berkeley

2016Movie

Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: The Night Before

2016Movie

TVRated 7.8

Billions

2016TV

Metallica

Movie

Metallica: Freeze 'Em All

2015Movie

Self

MovieRated 5.7

Mission to Lars

2015Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.5

Metallica: Rock in Rio 2015

2015Movie

Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

TVRated 6.1

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015TV

Self - Musical Guest

Movie

Randy Johnson: The Big Picture

2015Movie

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: [2015] X Games

2015Movie

Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Movie

Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015

2015Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.2

Metallica: Masters of Metal

2014Movie

Self

MovieRated 8.5

Metallica Live at Blizzcon

2014Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.4

Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II

2014Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2014

2014Movie

Vocals, Guitars

TV

The Hunt

2014TV

Self - Narrator (voice)

MovieRated 5.8

Metallica: This Monster Lives

2014Movie

Self

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: Beyond Thunder and Lightning

2014Movie

Self

MovieRated 10.0

Hit the Lights: The Making of Metallica "Through the Never"

2014Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.5

Metallica: Freeze 'Em All - Live in Antarctica

2013Movie

Self - Vocals, Guitars

MovieRated 6.9

Metallica: Through the Never

2013Movie

Self

MovieRated 6.4

'Tallica Parking Lot

2013Movie

James Hetfield (voice)

MovieRated 10.0

Surfing Your Dreams

2013Movie

MovieRated 8.1

Metallica: Quebec Magnetic

2012Movie

Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: Live at Orion Music And More 2012 (1st Night)

2012Movie

MovieRated 8.2

Metallica: Live in Orion Music Festival

2012Movie

Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

MovieRated 7.9

Metallica: The Black Album

2012Movie

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2012

2012Movie

Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Movie

Metallica: Live at Rock im Park 2012

2012Movie

Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

MovieRated 8.5

Metallica: Rock in Rio

2012Movie

Vox, Guitars

MovieRated 5.5

Anton Corbijn Inside Out

2012Movie

Self

MovieRated 6.1

Metallica: The 30th Anniversary Event

2011Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.1

Metallica: Rock In Rio 2011

2011Movie

Vocal, Guitar

MovieRated 2.7

Absent

2011Movie

Self

TV

The Big 4

2011TV

Self

MovieRated 6.9

Metallica: Fan Can 6

2010Movie

Vocals, Guitars

MovieRated 8.3

The Big Four: Live in Sofia

2010Movie

Guitars

Movie

Metallica: The Big 4 Live in Sofia

2010Movie

Vocals, guitars

MovieRated 8.5

Metallica: Live at Sonisphere

2010Movie

Self

MovieRated 6.0

Metallica: Master of Puppets (Deluxe Box Set)

2010Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.6

Lemmy

2010Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.9

Metallica: Pride, Passion and Glory - Three Nights in Mexico City

2009Movie

Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

MovieRated 8.5

Metallica: Hall of Fame 2009

2009Movie

Vocals, Guitars

Movie

Metallica: Fan Can Six Copenhagen

2009Movie

Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: Live in Copenhagen, Denmark - July 22, 2009

2009Movie

Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar

MovieRated 8.0

Metallica: Français pour une nuit

2009Movie

Self - Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Movie

METALLICA the Complete Story

2008Movie

Self

MovieRated 9.0

Metallica: Making Magnetic

2008Movie

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: [2008] Rock en France Festival

2008Movie

Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica - Rock AM Ring

2008Movie

Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

MovieRated 7.0

Aural Amphetamine: Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash

2008Movie

Self

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica Touring Europe

2008Movie

Movie

Metallica: Up Close and Personal

2007Movie

Self

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica - Live Earth

2007Movie

Self

MovieRated 2.0

Metallica - Sick of the Studio Tour - LIVE in Wien 2007

2007Movie

Singer,Guitar

MovieRated 5.5

The Darwin Awards

2007Movie

Self

TVRated 9.2

Seven Ages of Rock

2007TV

Self

Movie

Rock Milestones: Metallica: Master of Puppets

2007Movie

MovieRated 7.7

Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004

2006Movie

Vocalist, Guitarrist

Movie

Metallica Korea

2006Movie

TVRated 7.6

Metalocalypse

2006TV

Fan #1 (voice), Sniper (voice), Troll (voice), Lorkey (voice)

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2006

2006Movie

Vocals, Guitars

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: Fan Can 5

2006Movie

Vocals, Guitars

MovieRated 6.8

Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life

2006Movie

Self

TVRated 5.1

De Wereld Draait Door

2005TV

Self

MovieRated 7.8

The Work of Director Anton Corbijn

2005Movie

Self (segments "Hero of the Day" and "Mama Said")

MovieRated 9.0

Hard Rock Treasures

2005Movie

Self

TVRated 7.0

American Dad!

2005TV

James Hetfield (voice)

TVRated 6.9

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

2005TV

Self

MovieRated 7.1

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster

2004Movie

Self

Movie

Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music Vol. 5

2003Movie

Self

MovieRated 9.5

Metallica: St. Anger Rehearsals

2003Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.5

Metallica: MTV Icon

2003Movie

Self

TVRated 5.3

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003TV

Self

MovieRated 6.3

Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica

2001Movie

Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Movie

Metallica: [2000] Baltimore, Maryland

2000Movie

Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Movie

Metallica: Live in Baltimore

2000Movie

Self - Vocals/Guitar

MovieRated 5.4

Woodstock '99

2000Movie

MovieRated 8.7

Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M

1999Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.0

Metallica With Michael Kamen Conducting The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra ‎– S&M

1999Movie

Self - Guitar, Vocals

Movie

Metallica: Making of S&M

1999Movie

Self - Guitar, Vocals

Movie

Metallica: Woodstock '99

1999Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: [1999] Plovdiv, Bulgaria

1999Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.8

Metallica: Cunning Stunts

1998Movie

Self

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: Live Covers

1998Movie

Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Movie

Metallica: Poor East Asian Me - Live at Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Seoul, South Korea

1998Movie

Self

TVRated 7.7

Classic Albums

1997TV

Self - Guitarist, Vocalist, Metallica

Movie

Metallica: Fan Can 1

1996Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: [1995] Loud But Secret

1995Movie

Self - Guitar, Vocals

Movie

Metallica: Woodstock '94

1994Movie

Movie

Metallica: Live in Mountain View, CA - July 22, 1994

1994Movie

Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

TVRated 7.8

Space Ghost Coast to Coast

1994TV

Movie

Metallican Vid

1993Movie

Self - Rhythm/Lead Vocal

Movie

Metallica: [1993] Basel, Switzerland

1993Movie

Vox, Guitars

Movie

Metallica: [1993] Santiago, Chile

1993Movie

Vox, Guitars

Movie

Metallica: Mexico City, Mexico

1993Movie

Vox, Guitars

Movie

Metallica: [1992] Den Bosch, Netherlands

1992Movie

Vox, Guitars

MovieRated 8.2

For Those About to Rock - Monsters In Moscow

1992Movie

TVRated 5.9

Later... with Jools Holland

1992TV

Self

MovieRated 7.8

Metallica: A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica

1992Movie

Self

MovieRated 8.5

The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert

1992Movie

Self

MovieRated 9.0

Metallica: Live at San Diego

1992Movie

Self

MovieRated 8.6

Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, San Diego 1992

1992Movie

Self - Guitar, Vocals

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica - ...And Justice For All

1992Movie

Self

MovieRated 7.7

Metallica: Live Moscow - Monsters of Rock

1991Movie

Movie

Metallica: [1990] Zwolle, Netherlands

1990Movie

TVRated 9.0

Heavy Metal Heaven Hosted by Elvira

1989TV

Himself - Metalica

TVRated 8.0

The Simpsons

1989TV

William Rieflin (voice)

Movie

Metallica - Live in Irvine, California - September 23, 1989

1989Movie

Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Movie

Metallica: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre

1989Movie

Self

MovieRated 8.5

Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle 1989

1989Movie

Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Movie

Metallica: Newark, Delaware

1989Movie

Self

Movie

Metallica: [1989] Middletown, NY

1989Movie

Vox, Guitars

Movie

2 of One

1989Movie

Self (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal)

TVRated 7.0

MTV Rockumentary

1989TV

Movie

Metallica - Live at Hammersmith Odeon

1988Movie

Self - Vocals, Guitars

MovieRated 7.7

Metallica: Cliff 'Em All

1987Movie

Self - Guitarist / Vocalist

Movie

Metallica: [1986] Toronto, Canada

1986Movie

Self - Vocals, Guitar

Movie

Metallica: Nagoya, Japan

1986Movie

Vox, Guitars

Movie

Metallica - Roskilde Festival

1986Movie

Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Movie

Metallica: [1986] Uniondale, NY

1986Movie

Vox, Guitars

Movie

Metallica: Detroit, Michigan

1986Movie

Vox, Guitars

Movie

Metallica: Metal Hammer Festival

1985Movie

Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Movie

Metallica: Day on the Green

1985Movie

Vox, Guitars

MovieRated 10.0

Metallica: Ride The Lightning

1985Movie

Self

TVRated 7.8

MTV Video Music Awards

1984TV

Self

MovieRated 8.5

Metallica: Kill 'Em All in Chicago 1983

1983Movie

Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Movie

Metallica: [1983] Kiss the Stone

1983Movie

Vox, Guitars

MovieRated 10.0

Deep Purple: Made In Japan

1972Movie

Self

Coming soonRated 5.5

Live Earth: A Concert for a Climate in Crisis

TV

Self

Coming soon

Metal Massacre: The Story of the Legendary Album

Movie

Self - Metallica

Coming soon

Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge

Movie

Coming soon

Metallica: Sick Out Of Studio 2007 Oslo

Movie

Self

Coming soon

Metallica: from the off

Movie

Self

Coming soon

Metallica - The Big 4 Live in Gothenburg, Sweden

Movie

Coming soon

Metallica at Raadi Airfield Estonia in Tartu

Movie

Self

Coming soon

Metallica - Beyond Magnetic [Full EP LIVE at the Fillmore]

Movie

James Hetfield: movies and TV shows | Reelhouse