James Earl Jones, the iconic voice behind Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” franchise, passed away at his home in Dutchess County, New York, on Monday, September 9. He was 93. His death was confirmed by his representatives at the Independent Artist Group. Jones had a distinguished career, earning numerous accolades, including the rare EGOT honor, having won Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Awards, and receiving an honorary Oscar in 2011.
Born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones’ resonant bass voice brought life to several animated characters, including Mufasa in Disney’s 1994 blockbuster “The Lion King,” Voice Box at Hardware Store in 2005’s “Robots,” and the Giant in the 2009 retelling of “Jack and the Beanstalk.” He also had memorable roles in films such as “The Sandlot,” “Field of Dreams,” and “Coming to America.”
In 2022, the Cort Theatre on West 48th Street in Manhattan was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in recognition of his contributions to the stage. This was the same theater where Jones performed “Sunrise at Campobello” in 1958, just a year into his Broadway career.
Jones’ journey to Hollywood success was not without its challenges. His father left before he was born, and at the age of six, his mother left him with her parents, who raised him on a farm in Michigan. Jones began to stutter after the move, and for nearly eight years, he communicated through handwritten notes. However, at the age of 14, his high school English teacher encouraged him to read one of his poems aloud in class, helping him rediscover his voice.
After high school, Jones attended the University of Michigan, initially intending to study medicine. However, he fell in love with acting and switched his major to drama. After serving as an Army Ranger, he moved to New York to pursue his acting career.
Jones’ acting career was marked by several notable performances. In 1961, he starred in the American premiere of “The Blacks,” a play that explored race. He won a Tony for Best Actor in a Play in 1969 for his role in “The Great White Hope,” a story about the first black heavyweight boxing champion. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for the 1970 film adaptation.
Despite his many roles, Jones is perhaps best known for voicing Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” series, a role he played for decades since the series’ first film in 1977. In 2022, at the age of 91, Jones retired from the role. However, his voice will continue to be heard, as he approved the use of an artificial intelligence program to recreate his voice for future use.
Jones was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the 1990s but did not speak publicly about the condition until 2016. He was married twice, first to actress Julienne Marie from 1968 to 1972, and then to Cecilia Hart from 1982 until her death in 2016. He is survived by their son, Flynn.