James Earl Jones, The Voice Of Mufasa, Darth Vader, Dies At 93 (image-X/Ky1eKatarn)
Actor James Earl Jones, known for his powerful and commanding voice, died at the age of 93, his representatives said on Monday. Jones died at his New York home, surrounded by family.
With an acting career spanning nearly 60 years, Jones is one of the few individuals to achieve the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony). He won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Tony Awards, a Grammy, an honorary Oscar, and a special Tony for lifetime achievement. A Broadway theatre was renamed in his honour in 2022.
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Born in a segregated Mississippi on January 17, 1931, Jones struggled with a crippling stutter. He remained virtually mute for nearly eight years as a child after he moved to Michigan, only communicating with handwritten notes until a teacher helped him find his voice. The same voice went on to etch itself in the minds of hundreds and thousands of people from all over the world.
He found a place for himself in Broadway, where Jones shined as an actor and played leading roles in Shakespeare’s plays, including Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet, and King Lear. Beginning his acting career in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 classic Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
From there, award nominations, recognition, and leading roles paved the way for a career and legacy that remains unmatched. In 1977, Jones made his debut as the deep and menacing voice of Darth Vader in George Lucas’ Star Wars: A New Hope, cementing the character as hands down the most iconic villains in pop culture.
Voicing another iconic character, Jones brought life to the wise and powerful King Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s The Lion King.
Reacting to the news of Jones’ death, his on-screen son, Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars universe, wrote, “#RIP dad” with a broken heart emoji.
George Lucas and everyone behind Lucasfilm released a statement remembering Jones. “For all us at Lucasfilm, and for countless members of the audience, James Earl Jones was far more than “just an observer.” He was the voice of the character at the center of our most beloved story, and he will remain in our hearts – and imaginations – forever,” they said.
CEO Bob Iger, on behalf of Disney, extended their deepest condolences to Jones’ family and his loved ones. “From the gentle wisdom of Mufasa to the menacing threat of Darth Vader, James Earl Jones gave voice to some of the greatest characters in cinema history. A celebrated stage actor with nearly 200 film and television credits to his name, the stories he brought to life with a uniquely commanding presence and a true richness of spirit have left an indelible mark on generations of audiences,” shared Iger.
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Jones married his first wife, Julienne Marie Hendricks. He later married actress Cecilia Hart, who passed away in 2016. Together they had one child, Flynn Earl Jones.
