---
name: "Isaac Hayes"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/isaac-hayes"
fi1m_id: "isaac-hayes"
imdb_id: "nm0005002"
tmdb_id: 6542
wikidata_id: "Q206439"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "20 August 1942"
died: "10 August 2008"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-04T23:28:41.397713+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Isaac Hayes

## Identity

Isaac Hayes

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/isaac-hayes
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** isaac-hayes
- **IMDb ID:** nm0005002
- **TMDB ID:** 6542
- **Wikidata ID:** Q206439
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Hayes, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206439, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005002/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6542

Actor. Born 20 August 1942 in Covington, Tennessee, USA. Died 10 August 2008.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 20 August 1942, Covington, Tennessee, USA
- **Died:** 10 August 2008
- **Active:** 1971–1999
- **Also known as:** Ike, 	Isaac Lee Hayes Jr., The Black Moses
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 6: 5 acting, 1 crew
- **Frequently works with:** [Mary Kay Bergman](https://film.one/person/mary-kay-bergman.md), [Matt Stone](https://film.one/person/matt-stone.md), [Pam Brady](https://film.one/person/pam-brady.md), [Trey Parker](https://film.one/person/trey-parker.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 1 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 72 (1), 1980s 78 (2), 1990s 64 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 67 to 65 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 2, Comedy 2, Drama 2, Adventure 1, Animation 1, Crime 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $189m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Hayes, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206439, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005002/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6542

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*Shaft*](https://film.one/film/shaft.md) (72), [*Robin Hood: Men in Tights*](https://film.one/film/robin-hood-men-in-tights.md) (55)
- **Hulu:** [*South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut*](https://film.one/film/south-park-bigger-longer-and-uncut.md) (80)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Escape from New York*](https://film.one/film/escape-from-new-york.md) (76)
- **Tubi:** [*Posse*](https://film.one/film/posse.md) (58)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Isaac Hayes (1942–2008) was an American actor, singer, songwriter and composer. He grew up in Covington, Tennessee, and began his career as a session musician and songwriter at Stax Records in the mid-1960s, later becoming a recording artist with albums such as *Hot Buttered Soul* (1969).

Hayes appeared in films including *Escape from New York* (1981) as the Duke of New York and provided the voice of Chef in the animated series *South Park* (1997–2006) and its 1999 film *South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut*. He composed the score for *Shaft* (1971), winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song for its theme.

He received further recognition as a songwriter, with induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (6)

### Performed in (5) — the average rests on these

- *South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut* (1999), Fi1m 80, as Chef (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/south-park-bigger-longer-and-uncut.md)
- *Posse* (1993), Fi1m 58, as Cable — [page](https://film.one/film/posse.md)
- *Robin Hood: Men in Tights* (1993), Fi1m 55, as Asneeze — [page](https://film.one/film/robin-hood-men-in-tights.md)
- *Miami Vice* (1984), Fi1m 81, as Holiday — [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *Escape from New York* (1981), Fi1m 76, as The Duke of New York — [page](https://film.one/film/escape-from-new-york.md)

### Crew (1)

- *Shaft* (1971), Fi1m 72, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/shaft.md)

## Complete filmography (64)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Return to Sleepaway Camp* (2008), as Charlie 'The Chef'
- *Kill Switch* (2008), as Coroner
- *Isaac Hayes: Live at Montreux* (2005), Director
- *Hustle & Flow* (2005), as Arnel
- *Dream Warrior* (2004), as Zo
- *Anonymous Rex* (2004), as Elegant Man
- *Book of Days* (2003), as Jonah
- *Fastlane* (2002), series, as Detective Marcus
- *The Bernie Mac Show* (2001), series, as Isaac Hayes
- *Chelsea Walls* (2001), as Man in Elevator (uncredited)
- *Dr. Dolittle 2* (2001), as Possum (voice)
- *Girlfriends* (2000), series, as Eugene Childs
- *Shaft* (2000), as Mr. P (uncredited) · Main Title Theme Composer
- *Reindeer Games* (2000), as Zock
- *South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut* (1999), as Chef (voice) — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/south-park-bigger-longer-and-uncut.md)
- *Six Ways to Sunday* (1999), as Bill Bennet
- *Ninth Street* (1999), as TippyToe
- *Chef Aid: Behind The Menu* (1998), as Jerome 'Chef' McElroy (voice) / Self
- *The Hughleys* (1998), series, as The Man
- *That '70s Show* (1998), series, as Isaac Hayes
- *Blues Brothers 2000* (1998), as The Louisiana Gator Boys
- *Veronica's Closet* (1997), series, as Isaac Hayes
- *South Park* (1997), series, as Chef (voice)
- *Stargate SG-1* (1997), series, as Tolok
- *South Park: The Unaired Pilot* (1996), as Chef Jerome McElroy
- *Uncle Sam* (1996), as Sgt. Jed Crowley
- *Illtown* (1996), as George
- *Flipper* (1996), as Sheriff Buck Cowan
- *Oblivion 2: Backlash* (1996), as Buster
- *Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored* (1996), as Preacher Hurn
- *Magic Island* (1995), as Mad Face
- *Soul Survivors* (1995), as Vernon Holland
- *Sliders* (1995), series, as The Prime Oracle
- *It Could Happen to You* (1994), as Angel Dupree
- *Oblivion* (1994), as Buster
- *Hallelujah* (1993), as Prophet
- *Deadly Exposure* (1993), as Lt. Johanson
- *Robin Hood: Men in Tights* (1993), as Asneeze — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/robin-hood-men-in-tights.md)
- *Acting on Impulse* (1993), as Detective Stubbs
- *Posse* (1993), as Cable — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/posse.md)
- *CB4* (1993), as Owner
- *Code... Death: Frontera Sur* (1993), as Moro
- *Final Judgement* (1992), as Lt. Herb Jefferson
- *Prime Target* (1991), as Tompkins
- *Guilty as Charged* (1991), as Aloysius
- *Hammer, Slammer, & Slade* (1990), as Hammer
- *Fire, Ice and Dynamite* (1990), as Isaac Hayes
- *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* (1990), series, as Minister
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Samuel
- *I'm Gonna Git You Sucka* (1988), as Hammer
- *Counterforce* (1988), as Ballard
- *Dead Aim* (1987), as Jamal
- *Betrayed by Innocence* (1986), as Frank Moreno
- *Hunter* (1984), series, as Jerome 'Typhoon' Thompson
- *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Holiday — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *The A-Team* (1983), series, as C.J. Mack
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Prophet
- *Escape from New York* (1981), as The Duke of New York — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/escape-from-new-york.md)
- *It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time* (1975), as Moriarty
- *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, as Gandolph Fitch — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md)
- *Truck Turner* (1974), as Truck · Original Music Composer
- *Three Tough Guys* (1974), as Lee · Original Music Composer
- *Shaft* (1971), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/shaft.md)
- *This Is Scientology: An Overview of the World's Fastest Growing Religion*, as Man at L.E.A.P. Memphis (Uncredited)

## Gallery

- ![Isaac Hayes](https://film.one/media/person/88905/gallery-e4e9565ad33e.jpg) Isaac Hayes — Unknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Issac_Hayes_1971_press_photo.jpg/1280px-Issac_Hayes_1971_press_photo.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Memphis, Tennessee. Walk of Fame (Beale Street, Memphis) Isaac Hayes (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/88905/gallery-d3c8383bac63.jpg) Memphis, Tennessee. Walk of Fame (Beale Street, Memphis) Isaac Hayes (2011) — Thomas R Machnitzki, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/2011-01-08_Downtown_Memphis_TN_12.jpg/1280px-2011-01-08_Downtown_Memphis_TN_12.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Isaac Hayes](https://film.one/media/person/88905/gallery-217bc28ed0ce.jpg) Isaac Hayes — John H. White, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/BLACK_SOUL_SINGER_ISAAC_HAYES_AND_HIS_GROUP_PERFORM_AT_THE_INTERNATIONAL_AMPHITHEATER_IN_CHICAGO_AS_PART_OF_THE..._-_NARA_-_556308.jpg/1280px-BLACK_SOUL_SINGER_ISAAC_HAYES_AND_HIS_GROUP_PERFORM_AT_THE_INTERNATIONAL_AMPHITHEATER_IN_CHICAGO_AS_PART_OF_THE..._-_NARA_-_556308.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Isaac Hayes](https://film.one/media/person/88905/gallery-6188f2cfa7a8.jpg) Isaac Hayes — John H. White, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/BLACK_SOUL_SINGER_ISAAC_HAYES_PERFORMS_AT_THE_INTERNATIONAL_AMPHITHEATER_IN_CHICAGO_AS_PART_OF_THE_ANNUAL_PUSH_%27BLACK..._-_NARA_-_556307.jpg/1280px-BLACK_SOUL_SINGER_ISAAC_HAYES_PERFORMS_AT_THE_INTERNATIONAL_AMPHITHEATER_IN_CHICAGO_AS_PART_OF_THE_ANNUAL_PUSH_%27BLACK..._-_NARA_-_556307.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Walk of fame at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis, Tennessee. Isaac Hayes (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/88905/gallery-c83117c04592.jpg) Walk of fame at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis, Tennessee. Isaac Hayes (2010) — Thomas R Machnitzki, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Celebrity_Star_Isaac_Hayes_Orpheum_Theater_Memphis_TN.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Custom Cadillac El Dorado built for Isaac Hayes, Stax Museum of American Soul Music. (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/88905/gallery-3420ee444b4b.jpg) Custom Cadillac El Dorado built for Isaac Hayes, Stax Museum of American Soul Music. (2017) — VitaleBaby at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Custom_Cadillac_El_Dorado_built_for_Isaac_Hayes.jpg/1280px-Custom_Cadillac_El_Dorado_built_for_Isaac_Hayes.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- 1972: Best Original Song (won), for *Shaft*
- 1972: Best Original Dramatic Score (nominated), for *Shaft*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 1972: Best Original Score (won), for *Shaft*

### Other awards — 3 won

- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2002: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (won)
- Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance 1973: Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance (won), for *Black Moses*
- Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella 1972: Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella (won), for *Shaft*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/isaac-hayes