James Hetfield

Biography

James Hetfield is an American musician who co-founded Metallica in October 1981 and serves as its lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter. Born in Downey, California, he answered an advertisement from drummer Lars Ulrich, and the band's lineup settled with him singing lead and playing rhythm guitar. He writes much of Metallica's lyrics and vocal melodies and co-arranges its songs. With the group he has won 10 Grammy Awards. He is frequently ranked among the greatest rhythm guitar players, including a No. 8 placing in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists and a No. 23 spot alongside Kirk Hammett in Rolling Stone. The band entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. On screen he features in the documentary Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004) and sang Stone Cold Crazy at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (1992).

63years old

Turns 64 on August 3in 294 days

Born August 3, 1963Downey
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
Also credited as James Alan Hetfield and Papa Het

Movie Career

Films: 13
Career span: 37 years1987 to 2024

Genres

Music77%, 10 films
Documentary54%, 7 films
Crime15%, 2 films
Biography8%, 1 film
Drama8%, 1 film

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
After replying to a Los Angeles newspaper ad placed by drummer Lars Ulrich, Hetfield helped start Metallica in October 1981.
Getting ready for a role
Hetfield took vocal lessons for the first time after struggling with his vocals during a live cover of the Anti-Nowhere League song "So What?" and still uses the warm-up cassette given by his coach.
Beyond film
Hetfield sang the song "Hell Isn't Good" for the film South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, admitting to it in 2000 after fans recognized his growling style.

James Hetfield movies on Netflix

The Thicket2024IMDb rating 5.9as Simon Deasy
Ennio: The Maestro2021IMDb rating 8.2as Himself
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile2019IMDb rating 6.7as Officer Bob Hayward
Sad Hill Unearthed2017IMDb rating 7.4as Self - Musician
Metallica: Through the Never2013IMDb rating 7.1as Himself
Metallica: Quebec Magnetic2012IMDb rating 8.4as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
The Big Four: Live in Sofia2010IMDb rating 8.6as Guitars
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster2004IMDb rating 7.5as Himself
Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M1999IMDb rating 8.8as Himself
Metallica: Cunning Stunts1998IMDb rating 8.3as Himself
A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica1992IMDb rating 8.1as Himself
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert1992IMDb rating 8.7as Himself
Metallica: Cliff 'Em All1987IMDb rating 8.4as Self - Guitarist / Vocalist

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Metallica: Some Kind of Monster2004 Documentary, Musicas Himself
IMDb rating 7.521K votes
Metallica: Through the Never2013 Musicas Himself
IMDb rating 7.119K votes
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile2019as Officer Bob Hayward
IMDb rating 6.7114K votes
Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M1999as Himself
IMDb rating 8.84.6K votes
Metallica: Cunning Stunts1998as Himself
IMDb rating 8.32.6K votes
A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica1992as Himself
IMDb rating 8.11.4K votes
The Big Four: Live in Sofia2010as Guitars
IMDb rating 8.6991 votes
Metallica: Cliff 'Em All1987as Self - Guitarist / Vocalist
IMDb rating 8.41.6K votes

Most often with

Wayne Isham directed three of these films, Joe Berlinger two. Two actors appear in eight of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Lars Ulrich

Kirk Hammett

Robert Trujillo

Jason Newsted

Dave Mustaine

Clint EastwoodWayne IshamDirector, 3 films

Joe BerlingerDirector, 2 films

Films together

Lars Ulrich8 films together, 1987 to 2013
Lars Ulrich's page
- Metallica: Through the Never2013IMDb rating 7.1Hetfield as HimselfUlrich as Himself
- Metallica: Quebec Magnetic2012IMDb rating 8.4Hetfield as Lead Vocals/Rhythm GuitarUlrich as Drums
- The Big Four: Live in Sofia2010IMDb rating 8.6Hetfield as GuitarsUlrich as Drums
- Metallica: Some Kind of Monster2004IMDb rating 7.5Hetfield as HimselfUlrich as Himself
- Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M1999IMDb rating 8.8Hetfield as HimselfUlrich as Himself
- Metallica: Cunning Stunts1998IMDb rating 8.3Hetfield as HimselfUlrich as Himself
- A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica1992IMDb rating 8.1Hetfield as HimselfUlrich as Himself
- Metallica: Cliff 'Em All1987IMDb rating 8.4Hetfield as Self - Guitarist / VocalistUlrich as Self - Drummer
Kirk Hammett8 films together, 1987 to 2013
Kirk Hammett's page
- Metallica: Through the Never2013IMDb rating 7.1Hetfield as HimselfHammett as Himself
- Metallica: Quebec Magnetic2012IMDb rating 8.4Hetfield as Lead Vocals/Rhythm GuitarHammett as Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals
- The Big Four: Live in Sofia2010IMDb rating 8.6Hetfield as GuitarsHammett as Guitars
- Metallica: Some Kind of Monster2004IMDb rating 7.5Hetfield as HimselfHammett as Himself
- Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M1999IMDb rating 8.8Hetfield as HimselfHammett as Himself
- Metallica: Cunning Stunts1998IMDb rating 8.3Hetfield as HimselfHammett as Himself
- A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica1992IMDb rating 8.1Hetfield as HimselfHammett as Himself
- Metallica: Cliff 'Em All1987IMDb rating 8.4Hetfield as Self - Guitarist / VocalistHammett as Self - Guitarist
Robert Trujillo4 films together, 2004 to 2013
Robert Trujillo's page
- Metallica: Through the Never2013IMDb rating 7.1Hetfield as HimselfTrujillo as Himself
- Metallica: Quebec Magnetic2012IMDb rating 8.4Hetfield as Lead Vocals/Rhythm GuitarTrujillo as Bass/Backing Vocals
- The Big Four: Live in Sofia2010IMDb rating 8.6Hetfield as GuitarsTrujillo as Bass
- Metallica: Some Kind of Monster2004IMDb rating 7.5Hetfield as HimselfTrujillo as Himself
Jason Newsted4 films together, 1992 to 2004
Jason Newsted's page
- Metallica: Some Kind of Monster2004IMDb rating 7.5Hetfield as HimselfNewsted as Himself
- Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M1999IMDb rating 8.8Hetfield as HimselfNewsted as Himself
- Metallica: Cunning Stunts1998IMDb rating 8.3Hetfield as HimselfNewsted as Himself
- A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica1992IMDb rating 8.1Hetfield as HimselfNewsted as Himself
Dave Mustaine3 films together, 1987 to 2010
Dave Mustaine's page
- The Big Four: Live in Sofia2010IMDb rating 8.6Hetfield as GuitarsMustaine as Vocals, guitars
- Metallica: Some Kind of Monster2004IMDb rating 7.5Hetfield as HimselfMustaine as Himself
- Metallica: Cliff 'Em All1987IMDb rating 8.4Hetfield as Self - Guitarist / VocalistMustaine as Himself
Clint Eastwood2 films together, 2017 to 2021
Clint Eastwood's page
- Ennio: The Maestro2021IMDb rating 8.2Hetfield as HimselfEastwood as Himself
- Sad Hill Unearthed2017IMDb rating 7.4Hetfield as Self - MusicianEastwood as Self - Actor (1966)
Wayne IshamDirector, 3 films, 1998 to 2012
All films by Wayne Isham
- Metallica: Quebec Magnetic2012IMDb rating 8.4Hetfield as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M1999IMDb rating 8.8Hetfield as Himself
- Metallica: Cunning Stunts1998IMDb rating 8.3Hetfield as Himself
Joe BerlingerDirector, 2 films, 2004 to 2019
All films by Joe Berlinger
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile2019IMDb rating 6.7Hetfield as Officer Bob Hayward
- Metallica: Some Kind of Monster2004IMDb rating 7.5Hetfield as Himself
Also two films together6 more actors
- Brian MayA Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica (1992) and The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (1992)
- SlashA Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica (1992) and The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (1992)
- Roger TaylorA Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica (1992) and The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (1992)
- John DeaconA Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica (1992) and The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (1992)
- Cliff BurtonMetallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004) and Metallica: Cliff 'Em All (1987)
- Ennio MorriconeEnnio: The Maestro (2021) and Sad Hill Unearthed (2017)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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