Iconic actor James Earl Jones, renowned for his powerful voice and memorable roles, has passed away at the age of 93, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy in film and theater.
James Earl Jones, the famous American actor known for lending his distinctive and gravelly voice to the Star Wars supervillain Darth Vader has passed away.
According to his agent, Barry McPherson, Jones passed away in the wee hours of Monday morning with his family by his side.
At the time of his passing, he had reached 93 years of age.
Field of Dreams, Coming To America, Conan the Barbarian and The Lion King are among dozens of films in which Jones appeared as a star.
Sharing news of the passing, Mark Hamill – renowned for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars- posted a heartbroken message “RIP Dad” accompanied by a broken-heart emoji.
Jones, who was born in Mississippi during January of 1931, stated that he couldn’t speak for the majority of his early years due to a stutter.
He clarified that his renowned voice had been cultivated while attempting to overcome a stutter.
Jones’s fame primarily stemmed from his contribution as the voice of Darth Vader in the initial Star Wars movie release in 1977, and its subsequent sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of Jedi.
Throughout his profession, Jones achieved three Tony accolades plus two Emmys and a Grammy. Moreover, he was honored with an Oscar for lifetime accomplishment in 2011.
He became only the second Black man to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1971, following Sidney Poitier.
LeVar Burton, an actor from Star Trek, expressed his condolences to Jones and stated that no one can duplicate his unique blend of charm.
US actor Colman Domingo also expressed his admiration, acknowledging James Earl Jones for everything he has done. He regarded him as a master in their craft and deemed that they stand on the shoulders of giants like him. Furthermore, he urged Mr. Jones to rest now knowing how hardworking and committed he was throughout his career – giving nothing but his best works all along.
Field of Dreams co-star, Kevin Costner expressed his admiration for Jones by acknowledging his commanding voice, unyielding strength and warmhearted nature. While there is an abundance to say regarding the late actor’s contribution, Costner simply conveyed gratitude towards sharing in Field of Dreams with him.
Octavia Spencer, the actress who has won an Oscar award, expressed that Jones’ contributions will always be remembered for his voice and talent. She further added that describing his iconic roles and impact on cinema as legendary would do no justice to its significance which shall remain forever.
The spouse of The Lion King’s co-director, Rob Minkoff – Crystal Minkoff shared a picture where Jones is seen carrying the sculpture of Mufasa and stated “Mr Jones, you made one animator’s wish come true by agreeing to play the part of Mufassa. May You Rest in Power.”
“Rob will always be grateful for everything you’ve done. Your legacy shall endure.”
The tagline “This is CNN” was also voiced by Jones for the US broadcaster.
The broadcaster informed the Hollywood Reporter that he was CNN’s voice and representation for numerous decades, communicating instant authority, grace, and decorum through his speech in a distinctive manner.
There are numerous things that the world will regret not having James around for, but his exceptional voice stands out among them.
In addition to his prominence as an actor, Jones gained recognition for his appearances on television. He portrayed the character of older Alex Hailey in Roots: The Next Generation and received one of two Emmy awards for portraying the lead role in Gabriel’s Fire, a dramatic American series.
The Simpsons utilized his gravelly voice and he made appearances on the initial episodes of Sesame Street.
On the stage, Jones portrayed several classic characters from Shakespeare’s plays such as King Lear and Othello.
