James Hetfield
Born: 1963-08-03 in Downey, California, USA
Known For: Acting
Biography
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.
Filmography
2025
- Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow as Self
- Ozzy: No Escape from Now as Self
- Metallica Saved My Life as Self
- Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer as Self
- Metallica: Studio Shit + U.K. Shenanigans as Self
- Metallica: Poor Swedish Me '96 as Self
- Metallica: Polar Beach Party as Self
- Metallica: On the Air (Music Videos + TV Appearances) as Self
2024
- On the Roam ... (Theme Song Performance)
- The Thicket as Simon Deasy
- Metallica: Helping Hands Concert & Auction as Self
2023
2022
- Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head as James Hetfield (voice)
- Ennio as Self
- Metallica Presents: The Helping Hands Concert as Self
- Metallica - Global Citizen Festival 2022
- Metallica Live Hellfest 2022 as Self
- Metallica Download Festival Germany
- Metallica: Campo Argentino de Polo
- Metallica at Lollapalooza 2022 as self
2021
- Metallica - Live At Frankenhalle, Nuremberg, Germany - November 29th, 1992
- Metallica - Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica Outtakes
- Metallica: Live in Lincoln, Nebraska - September 6, 2018 as Self
- Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 2) as vocals, guitars
- Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark August 10, 1991 + Bonus Shit as Self
- Metallica - Live At Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium - July 4th, 1993
- Metallica: Wherever We May Roam as vocals, guitars
- Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark - August 10th, 1991 as Self
- Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 1) as vocals, guitars
- Metallica - The Black Album - Music Videos + Halfin’s Home Movies
2020
- History 101 as Self (archive footage)
- MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains as Self
- Metallica: Live in Dallas, Texas - August 3, 2000 as Self
- Metallica: WorldWired Tour - Live in Manchester, England - June 18, 2019 as Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
- Phil Lynott: Songs for While I'm Away as Self
- Metallica: Live in Muskegon, Michigan (November 1, 1991) as Self
- Metallica: Live in Madrid, Spain - May 31, 2008 as Self
- Metallica: Live in Salt Lake City, Utah - January 2, 1997 as Self
- Flying V as Self
- Metallica: Live in Lima, Peru - March 20, 2014 as Self
- Metallica: Live at Yankee Stadium - Bronx, New York - September 14, 2011 as Self
- Metallica: Live in Mexico City, Mexico - March 3, 2017 as Self
- Hypnotizing Power: The Story of Master of Puppets as Self
- Metallica: Live in Chicago, Illinois - August 12, 1983 as Self
- Metallica - The All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert & Auction
- Metallica: Live in Lisbon, Portugal - June 28, 2007 as Self
- Metallica Helping Hands Concert & Auction: Live & Acoustic From HQ as Self
- Metallica: Live in Melbourne, Australia - March 1, 2013 as Self
- Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015 as vocals
- Metallica: Live at Slane Castle as lead vocals, guitar
- Metallica: Live in Bogotá, Colombia - May 2, 1999 as Self
- Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - June 13, 2004 as Self
- Metallica: Live in Berlin, Germany - June 6, 2006 as Cast
- Metallica: Live in Nickelsdorf, Austria - June 10, 2012 as Self
2019
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile as Officer Bob Hayward
- Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2 as Self
- Murder in the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story as Self
- Metallica - Live in Berlin 2019
- Metallica : Live in Moscow 2019
- Live Metallica: Barcelona, Spain - May 5, 2019
- Live Metallica: Stade de France, Paris - mai 12, 2019 as Self
2018
- Sad Hill Unearthed as Self - Musician
2017
- Carpool Karaoke: The Series as Self
- Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly as Narrator
- Who the Fuck Is That Guy?: The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago as Self
- Linkin Park and Friends Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington as Self (archive footage)
- Cum On Feel The Noize as Self
- Metallica - Live at Outside Lands (San Francisco, CA - August 12, 2017)
- Metallica - Live at Rock on the Range, Columbus 2017
- Metallica: Live in Paris, France - Sept 8, 2017
- Metallica WorldWired North American Tour 2017 ... (Writer)
- Metallica: Lollapalooza Brazil 2017 as Vocals, Guitars
- Metallica - Live from Edmonton, Canada - August 16, 2017 as vocals
2016
- Billions as Metallica
- Skylanders Academy as Wolfgang (voice)
- Orchestrating An Upset: The 1996 World Cup of Hockey as Self / Narrator
- Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct Videos as Voice & Rithm Guitar
- Metallica: Making of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct
- Metallica: [2016] Rasputin Music, Berkeley as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: The Night Before
- Metallica: Live from The House of Vans as Self - vocals, guitars
2015
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self - Musical Guest
- Mission to Lars as Self
- Metallica: Rock in Rio 2015 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: [2015] X Games as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Randy Johnson: The Big Picture
- Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015 as Self
2014
- The Hunt as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Metallica: This Monster Lives as Self
- Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II as Self
- Metallica: Masters of Metal as Self
- Hit the Lights: The Making of Metallica "Through the Never" as Self
- Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2014 as Vocals, Guitars
- 'Tallica Parking Lot as Self (voice)
- Metallica Live at Blizzcon as Self
- Metallica: Beyond Thunder and Lightning as Self
2013
- Metallica: Through the Never as Self
- Surfing Your Dreams
- Metallica: Freeze 'Em All - Live in Antarctica as Self - Vocals, Guitars
2012
- Anton Corbijn Inside Out as Self
- Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2012 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Quebec Magnetic as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Live in Orion Music Festival as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: The Black Album
- Metallica: Rock in Rio as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica: Live at Orion Music And More 2012 (1st Night)
- Metallica: Live at Rock im Park 2012 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
2011
- The Big 4 as Self
- Metallica: The 30th Anniversary Event as Self
- An Evening with Lou Reed & Metallica - Live at Rockpalast
- Metallica: Rock In Rio 2011 as Vocal, Guitar
- Absent as Self
2010
- Lemmy as Self
- The Big Four: Live in Sofia as Guitars
- Metallica: Fan Can 6 as Vocals, Guitars
- Metallica: The Big 4 Live in Sofia as Vocals, guitars
- Metallica: Master of Puppets (Deluxe Box Set) as Self
- Metallica: Live at Sonisphere as Self
2009
- Metallica: Pride, Passion and Glory - Three Nights in Mexico City as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Hall of Fame 2009 as Vocals, Guitars
- Metallica: Fan Can Six Copenhagen as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Français pour une nuit as Self - Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Live in Copenhagen, Denmark - July 22, 2009 as Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
2008
- Metallica - Rock AM Ring as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Aural Amphetamine: Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash as Self
- METALLICA the Complete Story as Self
- Metallica: [2008] Rock en France Festival as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Making Magnetic
- Metallica Touring Europe
2007
- Seven Ages of Rock as Self
- The Darwin Awards as Self
- Rock Milestones: Metallica: Master of Puppets
- Metallica: Up Close and Personal as Self
- Metallica - Sick of the Studio Tour - LIVE in Wien 2007 as Singer,Guitar
- Metallica - Live Earth as Self
2006
- Metalocalypse as Fan #1 (voice)
- Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004 as Vocalist, Guitarrist
- Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life as Self
- Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2006 as Vocals, Guitars
- Metallica: Fan Can 5 as Vocals, Guitars
- Metallica Korea
2005
- American Dad! as James Hetfield (voice)
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as Self
- De Wereld Draait Door as Self
- The Work of Director Anton Corbijn as Self (segments "Hero of the Day" and "Mama Said")
- Hard Rock Treasures as Self
2004
- Metallica: Some Kind of Monster as Self
2003
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- Metallica: MTV Icon as Self
- Metallica: St. Anger Rehearsals as Self
2001
- Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
2000
- Woodstock '99
- Metallica: [2000] Baltimore, Maryland as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Live in Baltimore as Self - Vocals/Guitar
1999
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut ... (Music)
- Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M as Self
- Metallica: Making of S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- Metallica: Woodstock '99 as Self
- Metallica With Michael Kamen Conducting The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra – S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- Metallica: [1999] Plovdiv, Bulgaria as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
1998
- Metallica: Cunning Stunts as Self
- Metallica: Live Covers as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
1997
- Classic Albums as Self - Guitarist, Vocalist, Metallica
1996
- Metallica: Fan Can 1 as Self
1995
- Metallica: [1995] Loud But Secret as Self - Guitar, Vocals
1994
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast
- Metallica: Woodstock '94
- Metallica: Live in Mountain View, CA - July 22, 1994 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
1993
- Metallica: Mexico City, Mexico as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica: [1993] Santiago, Chile as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica: [1993] Basel, Switzerland as Vox, Guitars
- Metallican Vid as Self - Rhythm/Lead Vocal
1992
- Later... with Jools Holland as Self
- The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert as Self
- Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, San Diego 1992 as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- Metallica: A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica as Self
- For Those About to Rock - Monsters In Moscow
- Metallica - ...And Justice For All as Self
- Metallica: Live at San Diego as Self
- Metallica: [1992] Den Bosch, Netherlands as Vox, Guitars
1989
- The Simpsons as William Rieflin (voice)
- MTV Rockumentary
- Heavy Metal Heaven Hosted by Elvira as Himself - Metalica
- 2 of One as Self (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal)
- Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre as Self
- Metallica: [1989] Middletown, NY as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica: Newark, Delaware as Self
- Metallica - Live in Irvine, California - September 23, 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
1988
- Metallica - Live at Hammersmith Odeon as Self - Vocals, Guitars
1987
- Metallica: Cliff 'Em All as Self - Guitarist / Vocalist
1986
- Metallica: Nagoya, Japan as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica: [1986] Uniondale, NY as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica - Roskilde Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: [1986] Toronto, Canada as Self - Vocals, Guitar
- Metallica: Detroit, Michigan as Vox, Guitars
1985
- Metallica: Ride The Lightning as Self
- Metallica: Metal Hammer Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Day on the Green as Vox, Guitars
1984
- MTV Video Music Awards as Self
1983
- Metallica: [1983] Kiss the Stone as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica - Kill 'Em All in Chicago 1983 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
1972
- Deep Purple: Made In Japan as Self