The prolific thespian and famed voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa passed away at his New York home on Monday; with a prolific career in film, television, and stage career, he was one of only a handful of actors to earn EGOT status.
We sadly must say farewell to the “father” of sci-fi fans everywhere. James Earl Jones, the prolific actor and famed voice of the Star Wars universe’s Darth Vader and The Lion King’s Mufasa, passed away at his New York home on Monday. He was 93.
“James was an incredible actor, a most unique voice both in art and spirit,” George Lucas shared with StarWars.com. “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.”
Jones first took on the villainous role in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), reprising the role in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983), as well as a number of TV shows, theme park rides, and features in the decades that followed.
Although known for his bountiful baritone voice, Jones exhibited a stutter as a child, which he overcame through great effort. Appearing in more than 80 films over his career, the actor is known for his live-action film roles in Coming to America, The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, Dr Strangelove, Field of Dreams, and The Sandlot. He also appeared in over 70 television series, including Roots, Picket Fences, and L.A. Law.
When previously asked about the secret to his illustrious career by the New York Times, Jones said, “The secret is never forgetting that you’re a journeyman actor and that nothing is your final thing, nothing is your greatest thing, nothing is your worst thing. I still consider myself a novice.”
Jones was born in 1931 in Mississippi, then moved to live with his grandparents in Michigan when he was 5, as his father Robert Earl Jones had left home to pursue his own acting career. The trauma of the move and abandonment purportedly caused the stammer that the young Jones suffered with until high school. The father and son later reconciled and even performed together.
Originally seeking to study medicine at the University of Michigan, Jones discovered a love of drama and cut his teeth in the 1957 Off Broadway production Wedding in Japan. In 1960, Jones joined Papp’s New York Shakespeare Festival then appeared in an off-Broadway production of Jean Genet’s The Blacks as the protagonist Deodatus. Jones finally broke into cinema when a role in Papp’s production of The Merchant of Venice led to the attention of Stanley Kubrick, who casted him in Dr. Strangelove.
His impressive film, television, and stage career included a 1977 Grammy award for a spoken word album and nominations for four Tony Awards, of which he won two for The Great White Hope and Fences. He was nominated for eight primetime Emmy awards, winning one for supporting actor in the miniseries Heat Wave, and another for lead actor in the drama series Gabriel’s Fire. Additionally, Jones earned a Kennedy Center Honor in 2002; the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement award in 2009; an honorary Oscar in 2011; and a lifetime achievement Tony Award in 2017. He was one of only a handful of actors to earn EGOT status.
For legions of Star Wars fans, he will forever be revered as the voice of one of cinema’s greatest villains.
Jones is survived by his son, Flynn Earl Jones.
Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.
