Legendary Actor James Earl Jones Has Died At 93
on Sep 09, 2024
James Earl Jones, the beloved actor best known for his rich booming voice, died Monday (September 9) at the age of 93.
Reps for Jones confirmed his passing in a statement that read, “He passed this morning surrounded by his loved ones. He was a great man.”
James Earl Jones brought his signature voice to the roles of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, Mufasa in The Lion King, and numerous other movies and Broadway plays.
Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, in 1931, Jones overcame a childhood stutter to become one of the most recognizable voices in the entertainment industry. Prior to pursuing an acting career, James went to college as a pre-med major before joining the military. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War before making his Broadway debut in 1957.
Over the course of his decades-long career, James Earl Jones earned 3 Tony Awards, 2 Emmy Awards, and 1 Grammy.
Jones earned his first Tony Award for his role in the Broadway play, The Great White Hope. He reprised the role two years later for a film adaptation of the play. His film role earned him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.
Nearly a decade after winning his first Tony, he claimed another for his role in Fences.
In 1964, Jones landed his first big screen role in Dr. Strangelove. It would be the start of an illustrious film career for James who built a resume starting alongside some of the industry’s biggest stars like Eddie Murphy (Coming To America), Kevin Costner (Field of Dreams), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Conan The Barbarian), and Sean Connery (The Hunt For Red October).
Dubbed one of the greatest actors in American history, James Earl Jones has numerous honors to his credit, including induction into the American Theater Hall of Fame, a National Medal of Arts, a Kennedy Center Honor, a Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award, and an Honorary Academy Award.
He is survived by his is son, Flynn Earl Jones. His wife, Cecilia Hart, died in October 2016 of ovarian cancer.
