James Naughton - Actor Profile

James Naughton

Acting
Updated: Apr 10, 2026
50Total Films
10.0 Highest Rated
Born: Dec 6, 1945
Birth Place: Middletown - Connecticut - USA

About James Naughton

James Naughton (born December 6, 1945) is an American actor and director. On television he is best known as astronaut Pete Burke in the 1974 single-season television series Planet of the Apes. He won Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical in 1990 for City of Angels, and again in 1997 for the role of lawyer Billy Flynn in the long-running revival of the musical Chicago.

Known For: ActingIndustry Veteran

James Naughton Movies & Career Overview

The filmography of James Naughton reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.

Dominant Genre

A large portion of James Naughton's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.

Success Ratio

Approximately 38% of James Naughton's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.

One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Shining Soul: Helen Keller's Spiritual Life and Legacy, which stands out as a key performance.

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Best James Naughton Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from James Naughton's career based on audience ratings.

★10.0
Shining Soul: Helen Keller's Spiritual Life and Legacy (2006) movie poster
★10.0

Shining Soul: Helen Keller's Spiritual Life and Legacy: SHINING SOUL examines Helen Keller's rich spiritual life and the influence she received from the writings of 18th-centur

Shining Soul: Helen Keller's Spiritual Life and Legacy

2006
★9.0
Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall (1992) movie poster
★9.0

Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall: This program features the music of Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim in a 1992 performance at Carnegie Hall. An America

Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall

1992•Music
★9.0
My Body, My Child (1982) movie poster
★9.0

My Body, My Child: A woman must choose between having an abortion or giving birth to a deformed child.

My Body, My Child

1982•Drama
★8.0
Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes (2021) movie poster
★8.0

Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes: From the very beginning, actor Paul Newman captivated the cinema audience with his exceptional azure eyes. The reserved

Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes

2021•Documentary
★7.6
Hacking Democracy (2006) movie poster
★7.6

Hacking Democracy: Documentary film investigating allegations of election fraud during the 2004 U.S. presidential election. Electronic voti

Hacking Democracy

2006•Documentary

Full Filmography

Every movie James Naughton has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2021 Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes Himself Super Hit Similar →
2021 The Independents Officer Sanders Average Similar →
2016 Equity John Average Similar →
2015 Childless Harvey Flop Similar →
2014 Turks & Caicos Frank Church Average Similar →
2013 The Word - Average Similar →
2007 Suburban Girl Robert Eisenberg Average Similar →
2006 Factory Girl Fuzzy Sedgwick Average Similar →
2006 Hacking Democracy Narrator Super Hit Similar →
2006 The Devil Wears Prada Stephen Hit Similar →
2006 Shining Soul: Helen Keller's Spiritual Life and Legacy Narrator Super Hit Similar →
2005 Ernest Hemingway: Rivers to the Sea Ernest Hemingway (voice) Average Similar →
2004 Fascination Patrick Doherty Flop Similar →
2004 The Littlest Light on the Christmas Tree Tim Wiggins/Narrator Flop Similar →
2003 Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There Self Hit Similar →
2003 Henry Builds a Cabin - Flop Similar →
2002 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 20th Anniversary Special Narrator (voice) Hit Similar →
2000 Labor Pains Dr. Senior Flop Similar →
2000 The Truth About Jane Robert Average Similar →
1999 Oxygen Clark Hannon Average Similar →
1998 Behind the Planet of the Apes Self Hit Similar →
1996 Without Memory Self - Narrator (voice: English version) Average Similar →
1996 The First Wives Club Gill Griffin Hit Similar →
1996 The Proprietor Texan Average Similar →
1996 First Kid President Paul Davenport Average Similar →
1995 Mixed Blessings Brad Coleman Average Similar →
1995 Cagney & Lacey: Together Again James Burton Hit Similar →
1994 Cagney & Lacey: The Return James Burton Hit Similar →
1994 The Birds II: Land's End Frank Flop Similar →
1992 Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall Self Super Hit Similar →
1991 Memorial: Letters from American Soldiers Reader Average Similar →
1988 The Good Mother Brian Dunlop Average Similar →
1988 Necessity Rick LaSalle Flop Similar →
1987 The Glass Menagerie Jim O'Connor Average Similar →
1986 Sin of Innocence Andy Colleran Flop Similar →
1985 Between the Darkness and the Dawn Jack Parrish Average Similar →
1985 Cat's Eye Hugh Hit Similar →
1984 Last of the Great Survivors Richard Wylie Hit Similar →
1982 My Body, My Child Dr. Dan Berensen Super Hit Similar →
1982 A Stranger Is Watching Steve Peterson Flop Similar →
1981 The Bunker James O'Donnell Average Similar →
1980 Farewell to the Planet of the Apes Pete Burke Average Similar →
1980 Life, Liberty and Pursuit on the Planet of the Apes Pete Burke Hit Similar →
1980 Treachery and Greed on the Planet of the Apes Pete Burke Super Hit Similar →
1980 The Forgotten City of the Planet of the Apes Peter Burke Super Hit Similar →
1980 Back to the Planet of the Apes Pete Burke Average Similar →
1976 Second Wind Roger Flop Similar →
1976 Diary of the Dead George Hit Similar →
1974 F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Last of the Belles Capt. John Haines Flop Similar →
1973 The Paper Chase Kevin Brooks Hit Similar →

James Naughton - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of James Naughton?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring James Naughton is "Shining Soul: Helen Keller's Spiritual Life and Legacy" with a rating of 10.0/10.

How many movies has James Naughton acted in?

James Naughton has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by James Naughton?

Other notable films include "Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall", "My Body, My Child", and "Paul Newman, Behind Blue Eyes".

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