James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones
Jones in 2001
Born(1931-01-17)January 17, 1931
Arkabutla, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedSeptember 9, 2024(2024-09-09) (aged 93)
Pawling, New York, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BA)
OccupationActor
Years active1953–2021
WorksFull list
Spouses
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    (m. 1968; div. 1972)​
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    (m. 1982; died 2016)​
Children1
FatherRobert Earl Jones
AwardsFull list
James Earl Jones's voice
Recorded December 2009 from the BBC Radio 4 program Front Row

James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 – September 9, 2024) was an American actor. A pioneer for black actors in the entertainment industry, he was known for his extensive and acclaimed roles on stage and screen. Jones was one of the few performers to achieve the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony).[1][2][3][4] He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985, and was honored with the National Medal of Arts in 1992, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2009, and the Academy Honorary Award in 2011.[5][6]

Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones had a stutter since childhood. He said that poetry and acting helped him overcome the challenges of his disability. A pre-med major in college, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army during the Korean War before pursuing a career in acting. His deep voice was praised as a "stirring basso profondo that has lent gravel and gravitas" to his projects.[7][8] Jones made his Broadway debut in the play Sunrise at Campobello (1957). He then gained prominence for acting in numerous productions with Shakespeare in the Park including Othello, Hamlet, Coriolanus, and King Lear.[9] He worked steadily in theater, winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as a boxer in The Great White Hope (1968), which he reprised in the 1970 film adaptation, earning him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.

Jones won his second Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as a working class father in August Wilson's Fences (1987). He was a Tony Award nominee for his roles as the husband in Ernest Thompson's On Golden Pond (2005) about an aging couple, and as a former president in the Gore Vidal play The Best Man (2012). His other Broadway performances included Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008), Driving Miss Daisy (2010–2011), You Can't Take It with You (2014), and The Gin Game (2015–2016). He received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017.[10][11]

Jones made his film debut in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove (1964). He received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Claudine (1974). He gained international fame for his voice role as Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, beginning with the original 1977 film. Jones's other notable films include The Man (1972), Conan the Barbarian (1982), Matewan (1987), Coming to America (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Sneakers (1992), The Sandlot (1993), The Lion King (1994), and Cry, the Beloved Country (1995). On television, he received eight Primetime Emmy Awards nominations winning twice for his roles in thriller film Heat Wave (1990) and the crime series Gabriel's Fire (1991). He also acted in Roots (1977), Jesus of Nazareth (1977), Picket Fences (1994), Homicide: Life on the Street (1997), and Everwood (2004).

  1. ^ Knolle, Sharon (September 9, 2024). "James Earl Jones, EGOT Winner and 'Star Wars' Icon, Dies at 93". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  2. ^ Erbland, Kate (September 9, 2024). "James Earl Jones, Esteemed EGOT Winner and Iconic Voice of Darth Vader, Dead at 93". IndieWire. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  3. ^ Miller, Shannon (September 9, 2024). "R.I.P. James Earl Jones, EGOT-awarded actor and unmistakable voice of Darth Vader". AV Club. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Morgan, David (September 9, 2024). "James Earl Jones, Tony-winning actor and voice of Darth Vader, dies at age 93". CBS News. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  5. ^ Sperling, Nicole; Susan King (November 12, 2011). "Oprah shines, Ratner controversy fades at honorary Oscars gala". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  6. ^ "SAG to honor James Earl Jones". The Hollywood Reporter. October 2, 2008. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  7. ^ Hornaday, Ann (September 25, 2014). "James Earl Jones: A voice for the ages, aging gracefully". Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2016 – via washingtonpost.com.
  8. ^ Moore, Caitlin (September 25, 2014). "James Earl Jones might have the most recognisable voice in film and television". Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016 – via washingtonpost.com.
  9. ^ "About James Earl Jones". americantheatrewing.org. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  10. ^ "Acceptance Speech: James Earl Jones (2017)". Tony Awards. June 11, 2017. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  11. ^ "James Earl Jones Will Receive a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award". Playbill. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2023.