James Earl Jones, the celebrated actor whose powerful voice brought to life Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King, has passed away at 93.
Jones, renowned as one of the greatest actors of his era, had a career that ranged from Shakespearean roles to blockbuster films. He achieved the rare honor of winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award—an accolade only a few actors can claim.
The news of his death was shared by Deadline through his representatives at Independent Artist Group.
Born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones grew up in Dublin, Michigan, under the care of his grandparents. Despite becoming one of the most recognizable voices in the world, he struggled with a stutter as a child. “I was a stutterer. I couldn’t talk,” Jones recalled in a 1996 interview.
“So my first year of school was my first mute year, and then those mute years continued until I got to high school.” A teacher helped him overcome his stutter by encouraging him to read poetry aloud.
After serving in the US Army during the Korean War, Jones pursued acting, studying at the American Theatre Wing while working as a janitor to support himself. By the 1960s, he was establishing himself as a top Shakespearean actor with memorable roles such as Othello and King Lear.
His film career began with Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 comedy Dr. Strangelove, where he played Lt. Lothar Zogg.
In 1967, Jones won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as a boxer in The Great White Hope. He reprised this role in the 1970 film adaptation, earning his first Academy Award nomination.
Jones achieved one of his most famous roles by providing the voice for Darth Vader in Star Wars. Even though David Prowse wore the Vader costume, Jones’ deep, resonant voice made the character unforgettable. “The voice of Darth Vader is my most famous role, but it was really just a voice,” Jones said.
He continued to voice Vader in the sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the prequel Revenge of the Sith, and the spin-off Rogue One. In 2022, he retired from the role but agreed to allow his voice to be used in future projects through AI and archive recordings.
Jones also voiced Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King (1994) and returned for the 2019 remake.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Jones appeared in a variety of films, including Conan the Barbarian, Coming to America, Field of Dreams, and The Hunt for Red October. He won his second Tony Award for his performance in August Wilson’s Fences.
Jones received eight Emmy nominations for his television work, winning twice in 1991 for Heat Wave and Gabriel’s Fire. He remained active on Broadway, starring in revivals of On Golden Pond, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Driving Miss Daisy, The Best Man, and You Can’t Take It With You.
In addition to his many awards, Jones was honored with an Honorary Academy Award in 2011. He became one of the few to achieve the “EGOT” status by winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. Broadway’s Cort Theatre was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in his honor in 2022.
James Earl Jones leaves behind an incredible legacy as one of the greatest actors of his time. Rest in peace, James Earl Jones. Please share this story to honor his memory. 💔