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| James Earl Jones celebrates his 80th birthday by blowing the candles out on his cake at The Golden Theatre, Jan. 17, 2011, in New York. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images |
James Earl Jones, iconic voice of Darth Vader and renowned actor, passes away at 93, leaving behind a legacy in film and theater.
Legendary actor James Earl Jones, renowned for his countless film roles and as the iconic voice of Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" series, has passed away, as his representative confirmed to ABC News.
He was 93.
Jones passed away on Monday morning at his home in Dutchess County, New York, surrounded by his loved ones, according to his longtime agent Barry McPherson.
The actor, whose commanding, resonant voice immortalized Darth Vader, performed for over six decades, earning three Tony Awards—including a lifetime achievement in 2017—two Emmys, and a Grammy. In 2011, he was recognized for lifetime achievement by the Academy Awards.
Born in 1931 in Mississippi, Jones famously battled a severe stutter as a child.
“People would visit, and introductions were made, but I couldn’t introduce myself,” he shared with PBS in 2014 about his affliction at that time. Jones explained that he would often remain silent for long periods.
“I discovered that silence was quite valuable, for it’s not always bad. Listening is important. I learned to listen,” Jones told PBS.
Jones' struggle with stuttering led him to acting when a high school teacher used poetry to help him articulate his speech. After graduating from college and serving in the Korean War, he turned to Broadway to pursue a career in theater.
In the 1950s and ’60s, Jones became a fixture on Broadway. His performances in productions such as "On Golden Pond" and "The Best Man" earned him four Tony nominations, winning for "The Great White Hope" in 1969 and "Fences" in 1987.
Simultaneously, Jones gained recognition on television. He garnered his first Emmy nomination in the 1960s for his role in "East Side/West Side."
In 1991, Jones won two Primetime Emmy Awards—one for Best Supporting Actor in the miniseries "Heat Wave" and another for Best Actor in the series "Gabriel’s Fire." In 2000, he earned a Daytime Emmy for the children's special "Summer's End."
Jones received his first Oscar nomination in 1970 for the film adaptation of "The Great White Hope," portraying boxer Jack Jefferson. He became the second Black actor, after Sidney Poitier, to be nominated by the academy.
Throughout the 1970s, Jones balanced work on stage, TV, and film. In 1977, he became the voice of Darth Vader in "Star Wars: A New Hope."
Though David Prowse donned Vader’s mask, it was Jones' voice that delivered unforgettable lines like "I find your lack of faith disturbing," and the iconic revelation to Luke Skywalker in "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980): "No, I am your father."
Jones remained humble about his role as Vader’s voice.
"I’m just a special effect," he quipped to the American Film Institute in 2009, explaining how George Lucas sought a deeper voice. "He hired a guy born in Mississippi, raised in Michigan, who stutters—that’s me. I lucked out, from all those so-called handicaps, to land a job that paid me $7,000. And at the time, I thought that was quite a sum."
In the 2004 documentary "Star Wars: Empire of Dreams," Jones recalled his surprise upon learning Vader was Luke’s father.
"I thought, ‘He’s lying,’" Jones said, adding, "I wondered how that lie would play out."
However, it wasn't a lie. Between 1977 and 1983, the original "Star Wars" trilogy would revolutionize cinema with groundbreaking effects and compelling narratives.
Following his success in "Star Wars," Jones appeared in notable roles, including Eddie Murphy’s 1988 hit "Coming to America" and alongside Kevin Costner in "Field of Dreams" (1989). He also voiced Mufasa in Disney's "The Lion King" (1994).
Over his six-decade career, Jones amassed nearly 200 credits, according to IMDB. His roles spanned movies like "The Sandlot," TV series like "House" and "The Simpsons," and several returns to the "Star Wars" universe, including 2004's "Revenge of the Sith," 2016's "Rogue One," 2019's "The Rise of Skywalker," and the 2022 Disney+ series "Obi-Wan Kenobi."
In 2021, he reprised his role in "Coming 2 America," the sequel to the 1988 classic.
In 2011, Jones received an honorary Oscar in recognition of his exceptional body of work.
While performing in "Driving Miss Daisy" in London that same year, Jones was surprised by co-star Vanessa Redgrave, who informed the audience of his award. The cast held a special onstage ceremony, with Sir Ben Kingsley presenting the Oscar.
“If an actor’s worst nightmare is standing onstage naked and forgetting their lines, what would you call this?” Jones remarked about the surprise honor. "How do I feel? Well, more than flabbergasted… that’s the only word I can think of for this improbable moment."
In March 2022, it was announced that Broadway’s Cort Theatre would be renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in his honor.
Jones was married twice. His second wife, Cecilia Hart, passed away in 2016 after 34 years of marriage. He is survived by their son, Flynn Earl Jones.