By Brandi Turner
Correspondent
James Earl Jones, a critically acclaimed actor best known as the voice of Mufasa and Darth Vader, died on Sept. 9 surrounded by his loved ones, according to CBS News. His exact cause of death remains unknown to the public.
Born on Jan. 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones was raised by his grandparents. During his childhood, Jones struggled with a stutter which limited his ability to communicate until he was roughly 14 years old. He credits his teacher Donald Crouch for recognizing his talent in poetry and encouraging him to pursue a career in arts.
After graduating from the University of Michigan and serving in the United States Army during the Korean War, Jones began his path to becoming a professional actor. He studied at the American Theatre Wing in New York City and auditioned for roles in plays at local theaters, all while working as a custodian.
In 1957, Jones made his Broadway debut in “Sunrise at Campobello,” a play about Franklin D. Roosevelt and his struggle with polio. Jones played Edward, Roosevelt’s butler. The theater was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in September 2022. In 1968, Jones played Jack Jefferson in Howard Sackler’s play “The Great White Hope” when it was adapted on Broadway. The play and Jones’ character are based on the African American heavyweight champion Jack Johnson and his famous fight with the white heavyweight champion Jim Jefferies in the 1910s.
He received a Tony award in 1969 for the play and an Oscar nomination in 1970 when the play was adapted into a film.
Amassing over 80 film and television credits in nearly 120 movies and 90 shows, Jones took on notable roles in “Roots,” “The Atlanta Child Murders,” “Law & Order,” “The Man,” “Sandlot,” “Coming to America” and perhaps most famously as the voice of Darth Vader in “Star Wars” in 1977.
He would continue to be a prominent voice actor in the “Star Wars” trilogy until 2019 in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” Although not directly involved with the current Star Wars franchise, Jones granted them permission to use his archived voice coupled with AI technology in current works, such as Disney+’s 2022 show “Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
Other famous voice roles he took on include the voice of Mufasa in Disney's “The Lion King,” both in the 1994 original and the remake in 2019.
In the span of his 60-year career, he achieved EGOT status, receiving two Primetime Emmy Awards, the Honorary Academy Award, a Grammy Award and three Tony Awards.
Jones joined a legacy of distinguished Black actors who paved the way for more and accurate diversity in Hollywood, alongside trailblazers such as Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Cicely Tyson and many more.
His legacy will undoubtedly continue to live on as he has touched the hearts of many generations with his talent and devotion to his craft.
