James Earl Jones, best known for voicing Star Wars villain Darth Vader and The Lion King’s Mufasa, has died at the age of 93. His agent Barry McPherson said in a media statement that the actor died on the morning of Monday, September 9, surrounded by his family.
Mark Hamill, who played Vader’s son Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, mourned his co-star’s death, posting “RIP Dad” with a broken heart emoji.
Star Trek actor LeVar Burton was also among the first to pay tribute to Jones. He said, “There will never be another like him.”
Jones’ other film credits include Field of Dreams, Conan the Barbarian, Coming to America, and more. The actor won three Tony Awards, two Emmys, and a Grammy during his career. He also received an honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement in 2011. In 1971, Jones became only the second black man to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, after Sidney Poitier.
Kevin Costner, who co-starred with Jones in the first of the aforementioned films, celebrated the late star, saying, “That resonant voice. That quiet strength. The kindness he radiated. There’s so much to be said about his legacy, so let’s just say how grateful I am that it includes Field of Dreams.”
Oscar winner Octavia Spencer wrote of Jones: “Her voice and talent will always be remembered”, but this part of her legacy does not even cover her impact on cinema.
The Lion King co-director Rob Minkoff wrote on Instagram, “Just learned of the passing of the great James Earl Jones. I was so blessed to have worked with him. His portrayal of Mufasa was perfect. What a powerful man and actor he was. Gone but never forgotten. Rest in Peace.”
Crystal Minkoff, wife of The Lion King co-director Rob Minkoff, said, “Calm down, Mr. Jones. You made a young animator’s dream come true by accepting the role of Mufasa.”
Born in Mississippi in January 1931 and best known for his voice roles in later life, Jones was unable to speak for much of his childhood because of a stutter. He once said he developed his familiar raspy voice while working out how to deal with his ailment.
Jones voiced Darth Vader in the original 1977 Star Wars film and its sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He also reprised the role in later films, such as the first installment of the Star Wars anthology series, Rogue One, and the third installment of the sequel trilogy, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Both projects arrived in late 2010. A different actor wore the evil villain’s costume and performed the antics, including the late David Prowse.
Jones reportedly never made a big bucks from the role of Darth Vader – only $9,000 for the first film. At his own insistence, he was not credited for his performance in the films, as he felt it was just another special effects effort. However, when the films broke all box office records, he was persuaded to reconsider.
Jones’ best-known TV credits include playing Alex Haley’s older brother in Roots: The Next Generation, as well as the US drama Gabriel’s Fire. His voice was also used in The Simpsons.
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