An absolute titan of the industry is sadly no longer with us. James Earl Jones, the prolific acting talent who made an indelible mark on cinema through his voice roles for Darth Vader in “Star Wars” and Mufasa in “The Lion King,” has passed away at the age of 93. Jones’ death was confirmed by Deadline, who report the legendary actor passed away at his home in Dutchess County, NY.
Jones appeared in several stone-cold classics such as “Dr. Strangelove,” multiple “Star Wars” movies (as the iconic voice of Darth Vader), the “Coming to America” movies, “The Lion King,” and “The Hunt for Red October,” but his contributions to the arts go far beyond his most famous roles. Having first got his start in theater and television, his Broadway performances span the likes of “Of Mice and Men” in the 1970s, “Othello” in 1982, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” in 2008, and most recently “You Can’t Take It with You” from 2014-2015. His efforts led him to winning the 1969 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. Jones even had a hand in bringing the educational children’s program “Sesame Street” to the air, participating in making test footage for the show and ultimately becoming the first celebrity guest on the series (in order of filming, at least).
Jones leaves behind an unparalleled legacy in the industry, having been blessed with a genuinely iconic voice and an unmistakable screen presence that led to decades of high-profile performances, dozens upon dozens of accolades and various honorifics, and a permanent place in pop culture for multiple generations of movie fans — past, present, and future.
A star and an icon
It isn’t often that an artist’s career can be measured with multiple beloved and instantly recognizable roles, but James Earl Jones could never be considered a typical artist throughout his long and rewarding life.
The multifaceted performer is best-known for his major blockbuster voice roles, of course, but he also managed to carve out time and space for other memorable performances, as well. Upon making his feature film debut with Stanley Kubrick’s famous political satire “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” in 1964, Jones went on to become a well-known Shakespearean stage actor, earned a Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards for his work in the 1970 film “The Great White Hope,” and won a second Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play with “Fences” in 1987. During the ’90s, Jones all but dominated the big screen with supporting turns in “The Hunt for Red October,” “Patriot Games,” “The Sandlot,” and “Clear and Present Danger.” He even won two Primetime Emmy Awards that, in combination with his previously-won Grammy in 1977, left him one Oscar win away from becoming a prestigious EGOT winner (although he did receive an honorary Lifetime Achievement at the 2011 Academy Awards).
Rarely before has it been more accurate to say that we’ll simply never see another talent quite like this one. James Earl Jones’ accomplishments and triumphs speak for themselves, but at least fans and appreciators across the globe have been given yet another reason to celebrate one of our greatest actors.
