After years of legendary roles, esteemed actor, James Earl Jones, has passed away at age 93.
James Earl Jones is a name everyone is familiar with. He has spread his legacy across the country for decades playing only the most iconic roles in Hollywood. His deep and powerful voice projected himself into dynamic roles such as Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King. Jones’ incredible personality also made him a perfect fit for films like The Sandlot and Field of Dreams. The many nominations and awards Jones has received, including an EGOT show exactly why this is an actor who deserves to be remembered.
The Hollywood legend was born on January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi. As a child, Jones developed a stutter which made him very shy and self-conscious around other children. According to the performer, “One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can’t utter.” He barely spoke at all until his freshman year of high school, where an English teacher helped him overcome his speech impediment. Later in life, Jones became a student at University of Michigan to study medicine before discovering his passion for acting. After graduating, he moved to New York City to study at the American Theatre Wing. Briefly taking a job as a janitor, Jones continued working towards his career as an onstage performer.
After performing in several Broadway productions, including Othello, Sunrise at Campobello, Danton’s Death, and Of Mice and Men, Jones made his debut in Hollywood with The Great White Hope in 1970. This film was based on the Broadway play of the same name and featured Jones as boxer Jack Johnson, who he had also previously played on stage. Jones was nominated for an academy award, and his performance was praised by many critics.
Jones would later move up in Hollywood with other roles in films such as Claudine, The Man, and The River Niger. In 1977, however, Jones was offered the most iconic role of all time, one he would become known and loved for. This was the role of Darth Vader in George Lucas’ film, Star Wars. The science fiction epic allowed Jones to utilize his sonorous voice through lines such as, “No, I am your father,” and “I find your lack of faith disturbing.” Jones would reprise his role as the Dark Lord of the Sith in both sequels, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983).
Jones later returned throughout the 2000’s and through the 2020’s in Star Wars: Episode III (2005), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), and Star Wars: Episode IX (2019). He also returned for other television series in the franchise, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022). According to an article from The Hollywood Reporter, Jones had signed over the rights to his archival voice work to Disney and Lucasfilm, quietly retiring from the role of Darth Vader. Obi-Wan Kenobi was the first Star Wars project to test a new approach to the voice of the iconic villain, using archive audio and artificial intelligence to create new dialogue. It has yet to be seen whether this technology will be implemented into future projects.
His fame from Star Wars allowed Jones to grow into new and more diverse roles in the film industry. At the time of his death, Jones had performed in at least 74 movies and 27 Broadway productions. These opportunities led to many awards including 3 Emmys, a Grammy award, 3 Tony awards, and an honorary Academy Award, all of which made him one of a select few to win an EGOT.
A report from AP News revealed thoughts from other actors and colleagues who knew of or worked with Jones holding him in high regard. Denzel Washington claimed, “I wanted to be James Earl Jones,” sharing how he considered him to be his personal “north star.” Another actress, Octavia Spencer, stated, “Legendary doesn’t even begin to describe his iconic roles and impact on cinema forever.” She praised his performances detailing how his talented voice will always be remembered. This shows how many famous actors today, such as Washington and Spencer, were greatly inspired by Jones. Mark Hamill, another Hollywood legend and Jones’ colleague from Star Wars said, “One of the world’s finest actors whose contributions to ‘Star Wars’ were immeasurable. He’ll be greatly missed.” These quotes from AP News show the impact Jones has had on the Hollywood community.
James Earl Jones has been charming audiences with his incredible voice talents and acting skills for almost 70 years. While his death has officially marked the end of his career, his legacy will never be forgotten. With roles on Broadway and in films including Star Wars, The Lion King, and The Great White Hope, Jones has developed a great reputation in the film industry. With accolades such as a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award, and a full set forming the EGOT, James Earl Jones has proven throughout his life why he is an actor who deserves to be revered in the acting community and in the cinema fan community.
