
James Hetfield
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- August 3, 1963
- Birthplace
- Downey, California, USA
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
![Poster for Metallica - Beyond Magnetic [Full EP LIVE at the Fillmore]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimage.tmdb.org%2Ft%2Fp%2Fw185%2F1EgjQW1qQqbq9b6sCa39qua7VCy.jpg&w=96&q=75)
Metallica - Beyond Magnetic [Full EP LIVE at the Fillmore] TBA
Actor

Metallica at Raadi Airfield Estonia in Tartu TBA
as Self
- Metallica: from the off
Metallica: from the off TBA
as Self

Metal Massacre: The Story of the Legendary Album TBA
as Self - Metallica

Metallica - The Big 4 Live in Gothenburg, Sweden TBA
Actor

Metallica: Sick Out Of Studio 2007 Oslo TBA
as Self

Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow 2026
as Self

Metallica: M72 Tour - Budapest, Day 2 2026
as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Metallica: M72 Tour - Budapest, Day 1 2026
as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer 2025
as Self

Ozzy: No Escape from Now 2025
as Self

Metallica: On the Air (Music Videos + TV Appearances) 2025
as Self

Metallica: Poor Swedish Me '96 2025
as Self

Metallica: Polar Beach Party 2025
as Self

Metallica: Studio Shit + U.K. Shenanigans 2025
as Self

Metallica Saved My Life 2025
as Self

Metallica: Helping Hands Concert & Auction 2024
as Self

The Thicket 2024
as Simon Deasy

Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 2 2023
as Self

Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 1 2023
as Self

Metallica: M72 World Tour Live in Amsterdam - Night 2 2023
as Self

Metallica: 72 Seasons - Global Premiere 2023
as Self

Metallica Presents: The Helping Hands Concert 2022
as Self

Metallica - Global Citizen Festival 2022 2022
Actor

Metallica at Lollapalooza 2022 2022
as self

Metallica Live Hellfest 2022 2022
as Self

Metallica Download Festival Germany 2022
Actor

Metallica: Campo Argentino de Polo 2022
Actor

Ennio 2022
as Self

Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 2) 2021
as vocals, guitars

Metallica: 40th Anniversary Shows (Night 1&2) - Live at Chase Center 2021
Actor

Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 1) 2021
as vocals, guitars

Metallica - Metallica (Deluxe Box Set DVDs) 2021
as Self

Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark August 10, 1991 + Bonus Shit 2021
as Self

Metallica - Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica Outtakes 2021
Actor

Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark - August 10th, 1991 2021
as Self

Metallica - Live At Frankenhalle, Nuremberg, Germany - November 29th, 1992 2021
Actor

Metallica - Live At Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium - July 4th, 1993 2021
Actor

Metallica - The Black Album - Music Videos + Halfin’s Home Movies 2021
Actor

Metallica: Wherever We May Roam 2021
as vocals, guitars

Metallica: Live in Lincoln, Nebraska - September 6, 2018 2021
as Self

MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains 2020
as Self

Metallica - The All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert & Auction 2020
Actor

Metallica Helping Hands Concert & Auction: Live & Acoustic From HQ 2020
as Self

Phil Lynott: Songs for While I'm Away 2020
as Self

Flying V 2020
as Self

Metallica: Live in Mexico City, Mexico - March 3, 2017 2020
as Self

Metallica: Live at Yankee Stadium - Bronx, New York - September 14, 2011 2020
as Self

Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - June 13, 2004 2020
as Self

Metallica: Live in Dallas, Texas - August 3, 2000 2020
as Self

Metallica: Live in Berlin, Germany - June 6, 2006 2020
as Cast

Metallica: Live in Lisbon, Portugal - June 28, 2007 2020
as Self

Metallica: Live in Bogotá, Colombia - May 2, 1999 2020
as Self

Metallica: Live in Madrid, Spain - May 31, 2008 2020
as Self

Metallica: Live in Melbourne, Australia - March 1, 2013 2020
as Self

Metallica: WorldWired Tour - Live in Manchester, England - June 18, 2019 2020
as Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar

Metallica: Live in Salt Lake City, Utah - January 2, 1997 2020
as Self

Metallica: Live in Lima, Peru - March 20, 2014 2020
as Self

Metallica: Live in Chicago, Illinois - August 12, 1983 2020
as Self

Metallica: Live in Nickelsdorf, Austria - June 10, 2012 2020
as Self

Metallica: Live in Muskegon, Michigan (November 1, 1991) 2020
as Self

Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015 2020
as vocals

Metallica: Live at Slane Castle 2020
as lead vocals, guitar

Hypnotizing Power: The Story of Master of Puppets 2020
as Self

Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2 2019
as Self

Metallica : Live in Moscow 2019 2019
Actor

Metallica - Live in Berlin 2019 2019
Actor, Music

Murder in the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story 2019
as Self
- Live Metallica: Stade de France, Paris - mai 12, 2019
Live Metallica: Stade de France, Paris - mai 12, 2019 2019
as Self

Live Metallica: Barcelona, Spain - May 5, 2019 2019
Actor

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile 2019
as Officer Bob Hayward

Sad Hill Unearthed 2018
as Self - Musician

Linkin Park and Friends Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington 2017
as Self (archive footage)

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

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

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

Who the Fuck Is That Guy?: The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago 2017
as Self
- Metallica - Live at Rock on the Range, Columbus 2017
Metallica - Live at Rock on the Range, Columbus 2017 2017
Actor

Metallica WorldWired North American Tour 2017 2017
Writer

Metallica: Lollapalooza Brazil 2017 2017
as Vocals, Guitars

Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly 2017
as Narrator

Cum On Feel The Noize 2017
as Self

Metallica: Making of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct 2016
Actor

Metallica: Live from The House of Vans 2016
as Self - vocals, guitars
- Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct Videos
Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct Videos 2016
as Voice & Rithm Guitar

Orchestrating An Upset: The 1996 World Cup of Hockey 2016
as Self / Narrator
- Metallica: [2016] Rasputin Music, Berkeley
Metallica: [2016] Rasputin Music, Berkeley 2016
as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Metallica: The Night Before 2016
Actor

Metallica: Freeze 'Em All 2015
as Self

Mission to Lars 2015
as Self

Metallica: Rock in Rio 2015 2015
as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Randy Johnson: The Big Picture
Randy Johnson: The Big Picture 2015
Actor
- Metallica: [2015] X Games
Metallica: [2015] X Games 2015
as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

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

Metallica: Masters of Metal 2014
as Self
- Metallica Live at Blizzcon
Metallica Live at Blizzcon 2014
as Self

Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II 2014
as Self

Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2014 2014
as Vocals, Guitars

Metallica: This Monster Lives 2014
as Self
- Metallica: Beyond Thunder and Lightning
Metallica: Beyond Thunder and Lightning 2014
as Self

Hit the Lights: The Making of Metallica "Through the Never" 2014
as Self

Metallica: Freeze 'Em All - Live in Antarctica 2013
as Self - Vocals, Guitars
- 'Tallica Parking Lot
'Tallica Parking Lot 2013
as James Hetfield (voice), Writer

Metallica: Through the Never 2013
as Self, Writer, Original Music Composer
- Surfing Your Dreams
Surfing Your Dreams 2013
Actor

Metallica: Quebec Magnetic 2012
as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar, Writer

Metallica: Live in Orion Music Festival 2012
as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Live at Orion Music And More 2012 (1st Night)
Metallica: Live at Orion Music And More 2012 (1st Night) 2012
Actor

Metallica: The Black Album 2012
Actor

Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2012 2012
as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Live at Rock im Park 2012
Metallica: Live at Rock im Park 2012 2012
as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Rock in Rio
Metallica: Rock in Rio 2012
as Vox, Guitars

Anton Corbijn Inside Out 2012
as Self
- Metallica: The 30th Anniversary Event
Metallica: The 30th Anniversary Event 2011
as Self

Metallica: Rock In Rio 2011 2011
as Vocal, Guitar

Absent 2011
as Self
- Metallica: Fan Can 6
Metallica: Fan Can 6 2010
as Vocals, Guitars

Metallica: The Big 4 Live in Sofia 2010
as Vocals, guitars

The Big Four: Live in Sofia 2010
as Guitars

Metallica: Live at Sonisphere 2010
as Self

Metallica: Master of Puppets (Deluxe Box Set) 2010
as Self

Lemmy 2010
as Self

Metallica: Pride, Passion and Glory - Three Nights in Mexico City 2009
as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Hall of Fame 2009
Metallica: Hall of Fame 2009 2009
as Vocals, Guitars

Metallica: Fan Can Six Copenhagen 2009
as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Metallica: Live in Copenhagen, Denmark - July 22, 2009 2009
as Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar

Metallica: Français pour une nuit 2009
as Self - Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

METALLICA the Complete Story 2008
as Self

Metallica: Making Magnetic 2008
Actor
- Metallica: [2008] Rock en France Festival
Metallica: [2008] Rock en France Festival 2008
as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Metallica - Rock AM Ring 2008
as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Aural Amphetamine: Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash 2008
as Self
- Metallica Touring Europe
Metallica Touring Europe 2008
Actor
- Metallica: Up Close and Personal
Metallica: Up Close and Personal 2007
as Self
- Metallica - Live Earth
Metallica - Live Earth 2007
as Self

Metallica - Sick of the Studio Tour - LIVE in Wien 2007 2007
as Singer,Guitar

The Darwin Awards 2007
as Self

Rock Milestones: Metallica: Master of Puppets 2007
Actor

Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004 2006
as Vocalist, Guitarrist

Metallica Korea 2006
Actor
- Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2006
Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2006 2006
as Vocals, Guitars

Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life 2006
as Self
- Metallica: Fan Can 5
Metallica: Fan Can 5 2006
as Vocals, Guitars

The Work of Director Anton Corbijn 2005
as Self (segments "Hero of the Day" and "Mama Said")

Hard Rock Treasures 2005
as Self

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster 2004
as Self

Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music Vol. 5 2003
as Self

Metallica: St. Anger Rehearsals 2003
as Self

Metallica: MTV Icon 2003
as Self

Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica 2001
as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Live in Baltimore
Metallica: Live in Baltimore 2000
as Self - Vocals/Guitar
- Metallica: [2000] Baltimore, Maryland
Metallica: [2000] Baltimore, Maryland 2000
as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Woodstock '99 2000
Actor

Metallica: Making of S&M 1999
as Self - Guitar, Vocals

1999 Metallica With Michael Kamen Conducting The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra – S&M 1999
as Self - Guitar, Vocals

Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M 1999
as Self, Writer

Metallica: Woodstock '99 1999
as Self

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut 1999
Music
- Metallica: [1999] Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Metallica: [1999] Plovdiv, Bulgaria 1999
as Self

Metallica: Cunning Stunts 1998
as Self

Metallica: Live Covers 1998
as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Metallica: Poor East Asian Me - Live at Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Seoul, South Korea 1998
as Self

Metallica: Fan Can 1 1996
as Self
- Metallica: [1995] Loud But Secret
Metallica: [1995] Loud But Secret 1995
as Self - Guitar, Vocals

Metallica: Woodstock '94 1994
Actor

Metallica: Live in Mountain View, CA - July 22, 1994 1994
as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge 1993
Actor

Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle 1989 1993
as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, San Diego 1992 1993
as Self - Guitar, Vocals

Metallican Vid 1993
as Self - Rhythm/Lead Vocal
- Metallica: [1993] Basel, Switzerland
Metallica: [1993] Basel, Switzerland 1993
as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica: [1993] Santiago, Chile
Metallica: [1993] Santiago, Chile 1993
as Vox, Guitars

Metallica: Mexico City, Mexico 1993
as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica: [1992] Den Bosch, Netherlands
Metallica: [1992] Den Bosch, Netherlands 1992
as Vox, Guitars

For Those About to Rock - Monsters In Moscow 1992
Actor

Metallica: A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica 1992
as Self

The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert 1992
as Self

Metallica: Live at San Diego 1992
as Self

Metallica - ...And Justice For All 1992
as Self

Metallica: Live Moscow - Monsters of Rock 1991
Actor
- Metallica: [1990] Zwolle, Netherlands
Metallica: [1990] Zwolle, Netherlands 1990
Actor

Metallica - Live in Irvine, California - September 23, 1989 1989
as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Metallica: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre 1989
as Self

Metallica: Newark, Delaware 1989
as Self
- Metallica: [1989] Middletown, NY
Metallica: [1989] Middletown, NY 1989
as Vox, Guitars

2 of One 1989
as Self (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal)
- Metallica - Live at Hammersmith Odeon
Metallica - Live at Hammersmith Odeon 1988
as Self - Vocals, Guitars

Metallica: Cliff 'Em All 1987
as Self - Guitarist / Vocalist
- Metallica: [1986] Toronto, Canada
Metallica: [1986] Toronto, Canada 1986
as Self - Vocals, Guitar

Metallica: Nagoya, Japan 1986
as Vox, Guitars

Metallica - Roskilde Festival 1986
as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: [1986] Uniondale, NY
Metallica: [1986] Uniondale, NY 1986
as Vox, Guitars

Metallica: Detroit, Michigan 1986
as Vox, Guitars

Metallica: Metal Hammer Festival 1985
as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Metallica: Day on the Green 1985
as Vox, Guitars

Metallica: Ride The Lightning 1985
as Self

Metallica: Kill 'Em All in Chicago 1983 1983
as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: [1983] Kiss the Stone
Metallica: [1983] Kiss the Stone 1983
as Vox, Guitars

Deep Purple: Made In Japan 1972
as Self
Credits from TMDB.