James Earl Jones, renowned for his iconic role as Darth Vader in Star Wars, passed away at 93.
He died early Monday morning, surrounded by his family, according to his agent, Barry McPherson.
Jones’ illustrious career spanned numerous films, including Field of Dreams, Coming to America, Conan the Barbarian, and The Lion King. However, he was most famous for voicing Darth Vader, giving the supervillain his memorable, gravelly voice.
Mark Hamill, who portrayed Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, paid tribute with a heartfelt message, “RIP Dad,” accompanied by a broken heart emoji.
Jones’ contributions to the arts earned him three Tony Awards, two Emmys, and a Grammy, along with an honorary Oscar in 2011 for lifetime achievement. In 1971, he became only the second Black actor nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, following Sidney Poitier.
Star Trek actor LeVar Burton was among the first to honor Jones, stating, “There will never be another of his particular combinations of graces.” Colman Domingo, a fellow US actor, also expressed his admiration, saying, “Thank you, dear James Earl Jones, for everything. A master of our craft. We stand on your shoulders. Rest now. You gave us your best.”
Kevin Costner, who starred with Jones in Field of Dreams, reflected on his legacy, noting, “That booming voice. That quiet strength. The kindness that he radiated. So much can be said about his legacy, so I’ll just say how thankful I am that part of it includes Field of Dreams.”
Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer praised Jones’ impact, saying his “voice and talent will be remembered always,” and that “legendary doesn’t even begin to describe his iconic roles and impact on cinema forever.”
Crystal Minkoff, wife of The Lion King co-director Rob Minkoff, shared a tribute with a photo of Jones holding a statue of Mufasa, writing, “Rest in Power, Mr. Jones. You made a young animator’s dream come true when you accepted the role of Mufasa. Thank you for all you have done for Rob. Your memory will live on.”
Jones was also the voice behind CNN’s “This is CNN” tagline.
The broadcaster expressed their loss, stating, “He was the voice of CNN and our brand for many decades, uniquely conveying through speech instant authority, grace, and decorum. That remarkable voice is just one of many things the world will miss about James.”
Born in Mississippi in January 1931, Jones struggled with a stammer in his youth.
He developed his distinctive voice while overcoming this challenge. Jones is best remembered for voicing Darth Vader in the original Star Wars film (1977) and its sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He reprised the role in later films such as Rogue One and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
While Jones lent his voice to the role, another actor, including the late David Prowse, portrayed Darth Vader physically. Jones relished being part of the Star Wars mythos, as he told BBC HardTalk in 2012. Despite his iconic performance, he earned just $9,000 for the first film and initially viewed it as a special effects job.
Jones’ television work was equally impressive. He portrayed older Alex Hailey in Roots: The Next Generation and won one of his Emmys for his role in the drama Gabriel’s Fire. His gravelly voice graced The Simpsons and early episodes of Sesame Street. On stage, Jones tackled major Shakespearean roles, including Othello and King Lear.