---
name: "James Poyser"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/james-poyser"
fi1m_id: "james-poyser"
imdb_id: "nm1437104"
tmdb_id: 1338185
roles: ["Composer"]
born: "30 January 1967"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-10-01T00:43:26.894129+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."
---

# James Poyser

## Identity

James Poyser

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/james-poyser
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** james-poyser
- **IMDb ID:** nm1437104
- **TMDB ID:** 1338185
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1437104/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1338185

Composer. Born 30 January 1967 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Composer
- **Born:** 30 January 1967, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, UK
- **Also known as:** The Roots
- **Elsewhere:** https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1437104/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1338185

## Streaming the US now

- **Peacock:** [*Long Bright River*](https://film.one/tv/long-bright-river.md) (58)

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

## Biography

James Poyser is a composer, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. Born in Sheffield, England, he was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has been a member of the hip-hop band The Roots since 2009. He performs with the band as keyboardist in the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and previously Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Poyser has composed scores for film and television including *Two Distant Strangers* (2020), *The Equalizer* (2021–2025) and *Long Bright River* (2025). He has also contributed music and arrangements to projects such as *The Harder They Fall* (2021) and *Boxing Day* (2021). He received a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 2003.

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

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Long Bright River* (2025), Fi1m 58, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/tv/long-bright-river.md)

## Complete filmography (13)

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

- *Long Bright River* (2025), series, Original Music Composer — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/tv/long-bright-river.md)
- *Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music* (2025), Music
- *Maxine's Baby: The Tyler Perry Story* (2023), Original Music Composer
- *Boxing Day* (2021), Original Music Composer
- *The Equalizer* (2021), series, Original Music Composer
- *Two Distant Strangers* (2020), Original Music Composer
- *Dave Matthews Band - Concert for Charlottesville* (2017), Actor
- *Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping* (2016), as The Roots
- *Don't Divorce Me! Kids' Rules for Parents on Divorce* (2012), Music
- *Night Catches Us* (2010), Original Music Composer
- *Totally Awesome* (2006), Music
- *Men in Black* (1997), as Songs — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/men-in-black.md)
- *The Chris Rock Show* (1997), series, Actor

## Gallery

- ![James Poyser](https://film.one/media/person/4142792/gallery-e83d48f0434d.jpg) James Poyser — Image via TMDB
- ![James Poyser](https://film.one/media/person/4142792/gallery-3c181eee5bb7.jpg) James Poyser — Image via TMDB

---
© 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/james-poyser