Darth Vader Voice Actor James Earl Jones Passed Away
James Earl Jones, the iconic voice behind Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King, has passed away at the age of 93. His family confirmed that he died early on Monday morning, surrounded by loved ones, in Dutchess County, N.Y. This is prepared by SSP.
Jones' storied career spanned several decades, earning him immense acclaim and numerous awards. He was an esteemed member of the EGOT club, having won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards. His Tony wins include honors for "The Great White Hope" in 1969 and "Fences" in 1987, as well as a Special Tony in 2017. Moreover, his Grammy was for the Best Spoken Word Album for Children in 1977.
Despite his Hollywood success, Jones withdrew from the public eye towards his life's end, with his last public appearance being in 2019 at the D23 Expo, where he was inducted as a Disney Legend.
Born in Mississippi in January 1931, Jones battled a childhood stammer, but surprisingly cultivated his deep, resonant voice during this period. He cultivated his craft studying at the University of Michigan before making his Broadway debut in 1958's "Sunrise at Campobello." He later performed in influential shows including "The Blacks," and in a nod to his impressive career, the Cort Theatre in Manhattan was named The James Earl Jones Theatre in his honor.
Jones’ distinct baritone voiced numerous beloved characters, not just Darth Vader. Aside from The Lion King, he appeared in films such as Conan the Barbarian (1982), Coming to America (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), and many more. His performance in The Great White Hope earned him an Oscar nomination in 1971, making him the second Black man to receive this honor after Sidney Poitier. Although he didn’t win, he was given an honorary Academy Award in 2012 for lifetime achievement.
A former Army Ranger, Jones is survived by his son Flynn, from his marriage to the late Cecilia Hart, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2016.
Tributes have flooded in from colleagues and fans. Star Trek actor LeVar Burton praised his unique grace, while Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, mournfully referred to Jones as "RIP Dad" on social media. Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer lauded his talents, calling his voice and talent unforgettable.
Jones also lent his voice to CNN's iconic "This is CNN" tagline and brought his talent to TV roles, garnering Emmys for Heat Wave and Gabriel’s Fire. On the stage, he brought Shakespearean roles such as Othello and King Lear to life.
Kevin Costner remembered him fondly from their time filming Field of Dreams: "That booming voice. That quiet strength. The kindness that he radiated." Truly, James Earl Jones' rich legacy and powerful voice will be remembered and cherished forever.