James Earl Jones, Distinguished Actor and Voice of Darth Vader, Dies at 93

In reflecting upon the remarkable life of James Earl Jones, I find myself in awe of his indomitable spirit and unwavering resilience in the face of adversity. Born with a stutter that he courageously overcame through sheer determination, Jones’ journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and self-belief.

Legendary actor James Earl Jones, recognized for his deep, unique baritone voice that became famous as the voice of ‘Star Wars’ antagonist Darth Vader, passed away on Monday morning at his home in Dutchess County, New York. His representative confirmed the news to EbMaster, and he was 93 years old.

Having conquered a deep-seated stutter during his childhood years, Jones rose to prominence as one of the trailblazing Black actors of his era, enjoying an illustrious and multifaceted career that extended over six decades. His acting journey began on Broadway in 1958 at the Cort Theatre – later renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in 2022 – and culminated with his latest performance in the 2021 film “Coming 2 America.” For this movie, he reprised his iconic role as King Jaffe Joffer, originally portrayed in the 1988 comedy “Coming to America” featuring Eddie Murphy. Throughout his career, Jones revisited several roles, such as Darth Vader, for which he provided voiceovers in “Star Wars,” including the original film in 1977, the animated feature “The Lion King” in 1994, its direct-to-video sequel and the 2019 remake. He also reprised his role as CIA deputy director Vice Admiral James Greer in three Jack Ryan movies: “The Hunt for Red October” (1990), “Patriot Games” (1992) and “Clear and Present Danger” (1994).

In addition to over 80 films, Jones is also recognized for roles such as his debut in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 film “Dr. Strangelove” where he played a B-52 bombardier, portraying the first Black president of the United States in the 1972 movie “The Man”, embodying the fearsome villain in “Conan the Barbarian” from 1982, depicting a reclusive author in “Field of Dreams” (1989), playing a blind former baseball star in “The Sandlot” (1993), and portraying a minister residing in apartheid South Africa in “Cry, the Beloved Country” (1995).

Jones received four Tony Award nominations and won two: one in 1969 for his portrayal of boxer Jack Johnson in “The Great White Hope,” which he also played on screen in 1970, earning his only Oscar nomination. His second win came in 1987 when he originated the role of Troy Maxson in August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Fences.” Jones was nominated for eight Primetime Emmy Awards and took home two wins in 1991: one for his supporting actor role in the miniseries “Heat Wave,” based on the 1965 Watts riots, and another for his lead role in the drama series “Gabriel’s Fire,” about an ex-cop who was wrongfully imprisoned and became a private detective. This marked the first time an actor had won two Emmys in the same year.

In the years 2002, 2009, 2011, and 2017, Jones was bestowed with prestigious awards such as the Kennedy Center Honor, Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement award, honorary Oscar, and a lifetime achievement Tony Award respectively. Furthermore, he won a Grammy in 1977 for his spoken word album, making him one of the few actors to achieve an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony).

Jones, with his imposing yet friendly demeanor and resonant speech, proved ideally suited for Shakespearean roles. He graced several significant parts, including Macbeth and Othello, on Joseph Papp’s American Shakespeare Festival stage. Throughout his career, he narrated numerous documentaries, such as “Malcom X” from 1972 and the 2007 Disneynature film “Earth.” Perhaps most memorably, he delivered the catchphrase “This is CNN” for the cable news network.

He boasts a substantial television resume, exceeding 70 credits, encompassing numerous movies, miniseries (like “Roots” and “The Atlanta Child Murders”), recurring roles in shows such as “L.A. Law,” “Homicide: Life on the Street,” and “Everwood,” and guest appearances on various series including “The Simpsons,” “Picket Fences,” “Law & Order,” “Frasier,” and “House.

In the realm of my cinematic adventures, I, a humble cinephile, have an interesting tale to share about James Earl Jones’ iconic role. Back in 1977, when he lent his distinctive baritone to Darth Vader in “Star Wars: A New Hope,” he was paid $7,000. However, he chose not to claim screen credit for that film and its sequel, “The Empire Strikes Back,” out of respect for the actor who embodied Vader on-screen, David Prowse. By the time we reached “Return of the Jedi” in 1983, Jones had become synonymous with this chilling cinematic villain, and rightfully received credit for his work.

In 2014, when the New York Times inquired about the longevity of his career, Jones’ answer mirrored the down-to-earth modesty he frequently displayed on stage.

Jones emphasized the importance of always remembering that acting is an ongoing journey, and no accomplishment is one’s ultimate or best achievement, nor one’s biggest failure. In his eyes, he remains a learner.

James Earl Jones was born on a farm in Arkabutla, Mississippi in 1931. His father, Robert Earl Jones, abandoned the family soon after to pursue an acting career. They reconciled when James Earl Jones was in his twenties and even performed together later on. At the age of five, he moved with his grandparents to Michigan due to a family relocation. This sudden move triggered a severe stammer that made it difficult for him to communicate verbally, but he could express himself well through writing. In high school, he began to overcome his stutter when his English teacher discovered that he wrote poetry and encouraged him to recite his work in class.

At the University of Michigan, Jones initially intended to pursue a medical degree, but his passion shifted towards drama instead. His first stage appearance was a minor role in the 1957 Off Broadway play “Wedding in Japan.” To support himself during occasional theater work on Broadway’s “Sunrise at Campobello,” “The Cool World,” and “The Pretender,” he took on additional jobs. He also performed in summer stock productions.

In 1960, Jones began working with Papp at the New York Shakespeare Festival. The following year, he made a significant debut in a groundbreaking Off-Broadway performance of Jean Genet’s “The Blacks,” playing the lead character Deodatus. Subsequently, under Papp’s direction, he portrayed Oberon in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” one of many critically acclaimed Shakespearean roles to come. In 1964, his exceptional performance as Othello, again for Papp, was initially staged Off-Broadway and ran for nearly a year.

Jones made his significant entry into cinema through Papp’s production of “The Merchant of Venice,” where he portrayed the Prince of Morocco opposite George C. Scott’s Shylock. This performance caught the attention of Stanley Kubrick, who was considering Scott for a lead role in “Dr. Strangelove.” Impressed, Kubrick also cast Jones in the film. In 1966, Jones starred as Macbeth at the New York Shakespeare Festival, earning praise once again. Additionally, he landed a recurring role on “As the World Turns” that year, marking the first instance of a Black actor having a continuous role on a daytime soap opera.

Despite being on the verge of becoming one of Broadway’s hidden gems until 1968, Jones was catapulted into the limelight through Howard Sackler’s “The Great White Hope,” where he played Jack Johnson, the first Black man to claim the world heavyweight boxing title. The Tony Award and the positive reception it received, particularly in the late ’60s, were significant, given the scarcity of quality roles for Black actors at that time. However, the actor himself has admitted that the recognition he received for both the play’s performance and its movie adaptation did not significantly advance his career.

1977 marked a significant turning point for Jones, as his chilling portrayal of Darth Vader in “Star Wars” sent shivers down audiences’ spines for the first time. Coincidentally, this same year, he also graced our screens on ABC’s “Roots”, portraying author Alex Haley, whose novel inspired the groundbreaking miniseries of the same name. Although Jones didn’t quite reach the status of a traditional star, his back-to-back successes in 1977 made him a familiar face across households, lending a sense of prestige and weight to projects that might have seemed less significant otherwise.

Jones was often a major attraction at the box office throughout his career, even into his 80s. He made a comeback to Broadway in 2005 for a performance of “On Golden Pond” alongside Leslie Uggams, earning another Tony nomination. In 2008, he portrayed Big Daddy in a production of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” which featured an all-Black cast including Terrence Howard, Anika Noni Rose, and Phylicia Rashad.

Two years passed, and he graced Broadway once more, this time in a revival of “Driving Miss Daisy” alongside Vanessa Redgrave. However, when the production transferred to London in 2011, it conflicted with the Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles, causing him to miss out on attending. Instead, Sir Ben Kingsley presented Jones with his Academy Award personally following a matinee performance of the show.

Initially, Jones wed actress-singer Julienne Marie. For 34 years afterward, he was married to actress Cecilia Hart until her passing in 2016. His son, Flynn Earl Jones, is the one who now carries on his legacy.

2024-09-09 23:48

James Earl Jones, Distinguished Actor and Voice of Darth Vader, Dies at 93

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