James Earl Jones, the iconic actor and Disney Legend who brought many characters to life throughout a storied career, has passed away at the age of 93. The EGOT winner passed away at his home in Dutchess County, NY. Jones voice was known by millions as Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies. He also brought characters to life in many different genres.
“From the gentle wisdom of Mufasa to the menacing threat of Darth Vader, James Earl Jones gave voice to some of the greatest characters in cinema history,” said Bob Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company said in a statement. “A celebrated stage actor with more than 200 film and television credits to his name, the stories he brought to life with a uniquely commanding presence and a true richness of spirit have left an indelible mark on generations of audiences. On behalf of all of us at Disney, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
He was born on January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi. Jones was raised on a farm by his grandparents in Michigan. He developed a stutter at a young age and overcame it by reciting poetry in high school. This would lead to his eventual profession in the entertainment world. After a stint in the Army, he went to the American Theatre Wing. To fund his studies, he worked as a janitor. He moved to Michigan where he acted and was a stage carpenter at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee. During his first season, he portrayed Othello. He continued to act on the stage, moving back to New York. In 1957 he made his first Broadway appearance.
After multiple roles on the stage, he made the transition tot he silver screen for the first time. His first film was Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb in 1964. This led to a career that saw him appearing the silver screen on many classics through the years. Some of his hits included Conan the Barbarian (1982), Coming to America (1988), Field of Dreams (1989) The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Sandlot (1990), Patriot Games (1992), and Sneakers (1992).
His iconic voice was also heard in multiple films. Not only did he provide the voice of Darth Vader in multiple Star Wars films, he also voiced Mufasa in The Lion King for Walt Disney Animation Studios. He reprised this role in 2019 for the live-action version of the film as well. His voice could also be heard on The Simpsons. “Doing a voice for animation is acting in its purest form. It’s a bit like the ancient Greek form where the actors would wear masks. In our case, the masks are the animators’ drawings and we just simply supply all the behaviors, emotions, and feelings behind that mask,” the actor once said.
Jones was an EGOT winner with many awards to his name throughout his career. This includes three Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and an honorary Oscar. He earned the three Tony Awards for Jack Jefferson in The Great White Hope in 1969, as Troy Maxson in August Wilson’s Fences in 1987, and a special Tony in 2017. His Emmy wins both came in 1991 for Lead Actor in a Drama series for Gabirel’s Fire and Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for Heat Wave. The Grammy Award came from Great American Documents in 1977. He was also given the National Medal of the Arts in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush. These are just some of many awards and accolades that were given to this phenomenal actor. In 2019, he was inducted as a Disney Legend at the D23 Expo. Below is video of the Disney Legend Awards Ceremony from that year.
James Earl Jones wife of 34 years, actress Cecilia Hart, died in 2016. Previous to that, he was married by actress-singer Julienne Marie. He is survived by his son Flynn Earl Jones.
