Legend

James Earl Jones, Distinguished Actor and Voice of Darth Vader, Dies at 93
By Adam B. Vary, Carmel Dagan

James Earl Jones, the prolific film, TV and theater actor whose resonant, unmistakable baritone was most widely known as the voice of “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader, died Monday morning at his home in Dutchess County, N.Y., his rep confirmed to Variety. He was 93.

After overcoming a profound stutter as a child, Jones established himself as one of the pioneering Black actors of his generation, amassing a bountiful and versatile career spanning over 60 years, from his debut on Broadway in 1958 at the Cort Theatre — renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in 2022 — to his most recent performance in 2021’s “Coming 2 America.” For that film, Jones reprised his role as King Jaffe Joffer from the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy “Coming to America” — one of several roles, along with Darth Vader, that Jones revisited, including the voice of King Mustafa in Disney’s animated feature “The Lion King” in 1994, the 1998 direct-to-video sequel and the 2019 remake, and CIA deputy director Vice Admiral James Greer in three Jack Ryan movies, 1990’s “The Hunt for Red October,” 1992’s “Patriot Games” and 1994’s “Clear and Present Danger.”

………….

Jones was nominated for four Tony Awards, and won two, in 1969 for playing boxer Jack Johnson in “The Great White Hope” (which he reprised on film in 1970, receiving his only Oscar nomination), and in 1987 for originating the role of Troy Maxson in August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Fences.” He was nominated for eight primetime Emmy awards, winning twice in 1991, for supporting actor in the miniseries “Heat Wave,” about the 1965 Watts riots, and for lead actor in the drama series “Gabriel’s Fire,” about a wrongfully imprisoned ex-cop who becomes a private detective. It was the first time an actor won two Emmys in the same year.

Variety (@Variety) posted at 7:54 PM on Mon, Sep 09, 2024:

#StarWars creator George Lucas remembers James Earl Jones: “James was an incredible actor, a most unique voice both in art and spirit…For nearly half a century he was Darth Vader, but the secret to it all is he was a beautiful human being. He gave depth, sincerity and meaning to all his roles, amongst the most important being a devoted husband to the late Ceci and dad to Flynn. James will be missed by so many of us…friends and fans alike.” wp.me/pc8uak-1lEI8n

https://t.co/bd0GsD6OG9
(https://x.com/Variety/status/1833308117259718744?t=qKjZT0cyui6YVdPK8qC0GQ&s=03)

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) posted at 4:40 PM on Mon, Sep 09, 2024:
James Earl Jones’ generational voice will echo forever through Cooperstown.

His iconic monologue from Field of Dreams is preserved in the Hall of Fame collection. https://t.co/1bXiuiI4cJ
(https://x.com/baseballhall/status/1833259168616087836?s=02)

Be A King (@BerniceKing) posted at 9:41 PM on Mon, Sep 09, 2024:

The world has lost a tremendous talent and advocate with the passing of James Earl Jones at 93. Known for his legendary voice and performances in The Great White Hope and Star Wars, he was also a supporter of the civil rights movement. His voice was one of the leading voices in “Montgomery To Memphis, the 1st official documentary on The Civil Rights Movement, which was endorsed by my mother and premiered in March 1970 raising funds for the early stages of @TheKingCenter. My parents, Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King admired his commitment to justice, and he often used his platform to speak against racial injustice and inequality. His legacy as both an artist and advocate will continue to inspire us.

Rest well, Mr. Jones.

#JamesEarlJones #CivilRights #BelovedCommunity #RestInPower

… https://t.co/HA0adaqKAm
(https://x.com/BerniceKing/status/1833335029755232545?s=02)

Naima Cochrane (@naima) posted at 6:18 PM on Mon, Sep 09, 2024:

I think this one is hitting us all like a family loss right now.

The voice. The stature. The body of work. But also the smile. That crinkle on the side of his eyes in his latter years that made us feel like we knew him.

At this point it’s redundant for me to talk about the transitioning of the old guard, but man. The losses feel so BIG, culturally. That’s part of the sadness; knowing this is about more than the loss of an individual soul.

93 years, from Arkabutla, Mississippi (pop 285 at last Census) to countries imagined and galaxies beyond – that’s a good work.

… https://t.co/qOadVjrSXQ
(https://x.com/naima/status/1833283978566250560?s=02)

The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) posted at 6:14 PM on Mon, Sep 09, 2024:
Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones’ #FieldOfDreams co-star, penned a tribute to the actor: “Only he could bring that kind of magic to a movie about baseball and a corn field in Iowa. I’m grateful to have been a witness to him making that magic happen” https://t.co/pE145gQQbR https://t.co/xFOgavFSr4
(https://x.com/THR/status/1833282857696920025?s=02)

Star Wars
@starwars
Thank you for everything, James.

A statement from George Lucas and Lucasfilm: http://strw.rs/6002W5kU8

Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) posted at 10:04 AM on Tue, Sep 10, 2024:
We remember and honor the incredible life of James Earl Jones. As the first celebrity guest to appear on Sesame Street, he forever shaped how we reach both children and their caregivers. His timeless contributions to education, entertainment, and the arts have left an indelible https://t.co/wnX04nXRYk
(https://x.com/sesamestreet/status/1833521827978588334?t=GDwB4EpbJprAWBpLqkAQSw&s=03)

Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) posted at 4:07 PM on Mon, Sep 09, 2024:
As we all grieve the immense loss of actor James Earl Jones (Star Wars, The Lion King), I wanted to celebrate one his funnier milestones, reading Letterman’s best Top Ten List, reciting commercial jingles with his spectacular, powerful, booming voice. #RIPJamesEarlJones https://t.co/7OCHlV7hrv
(https://x.com/Lulamaybelle/status/1833250913483690509?s=02)