James Earl Jones is impossible to think about without recalling his iconic voice.
His powerful, resonant basso profundo instantly commanded respect or evoked a sense of menace, marking it as Jones’ distinctive tool.
This commanding voice enriched all of his stage and film roles, most famously as Darth Vader in Star Wars, Mufasa in The Lion King, and the voice of CNN.
Jones’ unmistakable voice is just one of the countless aspects the world will miss about the beloved actor, who passed away on Monday at the age of 93, as confirmed by his agent.
Jones was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing, according to his representative, though no cause of death was disclosed.
Bob Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, commented, “From the gentle wisdom of Mufasa to the menacing threat of Darth Vader, James Earl Jones gave voice to some of the greatest characters in cinema history.
A celebrated stage actor with nearly 200 film and television credits to his name, the stories he brought to life with a uniquely commanding presence and a true richness of spirit have left an indelible mark on generations of audiences.”
Jones’ career was distinguished and spanned nearly 60 years, starting from a small-town theater in northern Michigan and reaching the heights of Hollywood.
In the mid-1970s, Star Wars creator George Lucas cast the towering British actor David Prowse as the man inside Darth Vader’s black suit but decided to have someone else voice the character.
“George thought he wanted a—pardon the expression—darker voice,” Jones once shared with the American Film Institute. “I lucked out.”
Back then, no one could have anticipated that Star Wars would evolve into a blockbuster hit, much less a lasting cultural phenomenon.
Jones recorded his lines for the movie in a matter of hours and, surprisingly, was not credited in the film. He recalled receiving just $7,000 for the project, which he regarded as decent pay.
However, Jones and Lucas occasionally clashed over the direction of Darth Vader’s voice.
“I wanted to make Darth Vader more interesting, more subtle, more psychologically oriented,” Jones explained. “He [Lucas] said, ‘No, no … you’ve got to keep his voice on a very narrow band of inflection because he ain’t human.’”
The climactic duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, portrayed by Mark Hamill, in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back, became one of the most pivotal moments in the Star Wars saga.
It was punctuated by Jones’ delivery of what would become one of cinema’s most iconic lines: “No, I am your father!”
Following news of Jones’ passing, Hamill shared his thoughts on Instagram, writing, “One of the world’s finest actors whose contributions to ‘Star Wars’ were immeasurable. He’ll be greatly missed. #RIP dad.”
Nearly two decades after voicing Darth Vader, Jones returned to Disney to lend his voice to Mufasa, the noble father figure in The Lion King. However, Jones admitted it took him some time to find the right tone for the character.
“My first mistake was trying to make him regal,” Jones said of his work on the 1994 animated classic.
“But what they really wanted was something closer to me. They asked, ‘What are you like as a father?’ and I said, ‘Well, I’m really a dopey dad.’”
Jones added, “So they started to impose my facial expressions onto Mufasa, and a different tone of voice emerged. Yes, Mufasa was authoritative, but he was also just a gentle dad.”
Born in 1931 in Mississippi, Jones’ father, Robert Earl Jones, left the family before James was born to pursue an acting career in New York and Hollywood.
Robert eventually worked with playwright Langston Hughes and landed roles in successful films, including The Sting.
Jones’ family moved to Michigan when he was five, a traumatic shift that triggered a severe stutter in him, nearly rendering him mute. It wasn’t until high school that he began to speak again, thanks to a poetry teacher who encouraged him to recite poems aloud.
“He began to challenge me, to nudge me toward speaking again … to appreciate the beauty of words,” Jones once reflected.
After studying drama at the University of Michigan and serving as an Army Ranger, Jones moved to New York, where he quickly found success in Shakespearean theater productions.
His film debut came in 1964 with Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove, where he played a bombardier.
In 1967, Jones took on the role of Jack Johnson, a troubled boxer, in the stage production of The Great White Hope, a transformative role that earned him a Tony Award.
He later reprised this role in the 1970 film adaptation, becoming only the second African-American man, after Sidney Poitier, to receive an Academy Award nomination.
By the mid-1970s, Jones had established a steady career in film and television, one that continued for over five decades.
His notable performances include Alex Haley in Roots: The Next Generations, warlord Thulsa Doom in Conan the Barbarian, an African king in Coming to America, a mystical recruit in Field of Dreams, Admiral Greer in The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games, and a South African preacher in Cry, the Beloved Country.
On Monday, Kevin Costner honored Jones, highlighting his “booming voice,” “quiet strength,” and “the kindness that he radiated” in a heartfelt tribute.
Jones continued to work well into his later years. In 2021, he reprised his role as King Jaffe Joffer in Coming 2 America, the long-awaited sequel to the 1988 film.
His final credit, according to IMDb, was voicing Darth Vader in the 2022 Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.
In 2019, Jones again lent his voice to Mufasa in Disney’s remake of The Lion King, making him the only original cast member to reprise his role.
Over the years, Jones guest-starred in numerous TV shows, from L.A. Law to Sesame Street, frequently appeared on stage, and lent his deep, rich voice to countless other projects, including The Simpsons and a widely praised audio recording of the King James Bible.
Jones humorously recounted how people often didn’t recognize him until they heard his voice.
“When you don’t talk, it’s like going ninja,” Jones joked to Rachael Ray in 2016. “You get in the taxi and say where you’re going, and the driver turns around and says, ‘Hey, aren’t you that Darth Vader guy?’”
Jones’ legendary voice also served as CNN’s iconic tagline: “This is CNN,” punctuated with a dramatic pause after “This …”
A CNN spokesperson said in a statement, “James Earl Jones was the voice of CNN for many decades, delivering with authority, grace, and decorum.”
Jones won a remarkable array of awards over his long career, including three Tony Awards, two Emmys, a Grammy, a Golden Globe, and many others.
Reflecting on his passion for acting, Jones explained, “It wasn’t acting. It was language. It was speech. It was something I had denied myself as a boy. I had a great—almost abnormal—appreciation for it.
“The thrill of being able to say things you could never imagine saying or even thinking in your own life, through well-written plays like Shakespeare or Arthur Miller, is still what it’s all about, whether in movies or TV. That’s what it’s all about.”
