James Earl Jones, legendary actor and voice of Mufasa, passes away at 93

James Earl Jones, the legendary American actor known for his rich, deep voice and remarkable versatility, passed away at the age of 93, his representatives confirmed on Monday.

Jones, whose career spanned over six decades, left an indelible mark on both stage and screen.

Best known for voicing the villainous Darth Vader in ‘Star Wars’ and the beloved Mufasa in Disney’s ‘The Lion King,’ Jones’s powerful performances captivated audiences worldwide.

His contributions extended from Shakespearean classics to the works of August Wilson, showcasing his ability to portray both ordinary characters and larger-than-life figures.

Throughout his distinguished career, Jones earned numerous accolades, including three Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Grammy, and an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement.

Notably, in 1971, he became only the second Black actor to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, following in the footsteps of Sidney Poitier.

Jones’s success was all the more remarkable given his early challenges. Born on January 17, 1931, in segregated Mississippi, he struggled with a childhood stutter so severe that he would often remain silent.

However, through determination and passion for the craft, he overcame this obstacle, forging a legacy that will be remembered for generations.

“Stuttering is painful. In Sunday school, I’d try to read my lessons and the children behind me were falling on the floor with laughter,” Jones told the Daily Mail in 2010.

Reciting his own poetry, at the prodding of an English teacher, helped him to gain control of his voice, which would later be used to strike fear among millions in “Star Wars” as Darth Vader.

Jones did not physically portray the character — David Prowse wore Vader’s black cape and imposing face mask, while Jones offered the voice, oozing the evil power of the Dark Side.

“I am your father,” Vader tells Luke Skywalker, portrayed by Mark Hamill, in a pivotal fight scene in “The Empire Strikes Back” — a twist etched in cinema history.

“He created, with very little dialogue, one of the greatest villains that ever lived,” “Star Wars” creator George Lucas said in 2015 at a ceremony honoring Jones in New York.

– Broadway –

From Mississippi, Jones moved to Michigan at age five, where he was raised by his maternal grandparents.

Initially, he studied to become a doctor, and though he shifted his major to drama, and graduated from the University of Michigan, he didn’t initially think about an acting career.

“Even when I began acting studies, I thought about being a soldier,” Jones told PBS public television in 1998.

“And the idea of being an actor didn’t occur to me until after my service was almost finished.”

After university, Jones served in the US Army and then moved to New York to try his luck in acting, working as a janitor at night to make ends meet.

He made his Broadway debut in 1958 in “Sunrise at Campobello” at the Cort Theatre — which in 2022 was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre.

He tackled many iconic Shakespeare characters on the stage, including Othello and King Lear, but also performed in several Wilson plays, chronicling the Black experience in America.

“On stage, Jones was commanding, powerful. He embodied the elegance and dignity of African American men,” said director Kenny Leon.