James Earl Jones, the acclaimed American actor renowned for voicing the iconic Star Wars villain Darth Vader, has died at age 93. Jones passed away early Monday morning, surrounded by family, according to his agent Barry McPherson.
Jones, whose career spanned decades, appeared in a variety of notable films including “Field of Dreams,” “Coming to America,” “Conan the Barbarian,” and “The Lion King.” However, he is perhaps best known for his distinctive, gravelly voice that brought the character of Darth Vader to life in the Star Wars franchise.
Mark Hamill, who portrayed Luke Skywalker, Vader’s son, in the Star Wars series, honored Jones on social media with the message “RIP Dad” accompanied by a broken heart emoji.
Throughout his career, Jones garnered numerous accolades, including three Tony Awards, two Emmys, a Grammy, and an honorary Oscar in 2011 for lifetime achievement. In 1971, he became only the second Black actor nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, following Sidney Poitier.
LeVar Burton, known for his role in “Star Trek,” was among the first to pay tribute, stating, “there will never be another of his particular combinations of graces.”
Actor Colman Domingo praised Jones as “a master of our craft,” adding, “We stand on your shoulders. Rest now. You gave us your best.”
Kevin Costner, who worked with Jones on “Field of Dreams,” reflected on Jones’ legacy, noting, “That booming voice. That quiet strength. The kindness that he radiated. So much can be said about his legacy, so I’ll just say how thankful I am that part of it includes ‘Field of Dreams.'”
Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer described Jones as a “legend” and said his “voice and talent will be remembered always.” She added that the term “legendary” “doesn’t even begin to describe his iconic roles and impact on cinema forever.”
Crystal Minkoff, wife of “The Lion King” co-director Rob Minkoff, shared a tribute on social media featuring a photo of Jones with a Mufasa statue. She wrote, “Rest in Power, Mr. Jones. You made a young animator’s dream come true when you accepted the role of Mufasa. Thank you for all you have done for Rob. Your memory will live on.”
Jones also lent his voice to CNN’s famous “This is CNN” tagline. The network paid tribute, stating, “He was the voice of CNN and our brand for many decades, uniquely conveying through speech instant authority, grace, and decorum. That remarkable voice is just one of many things the world will miss about James.”
Born in January 1931 in Mississippi, Jones overcame a childhood stammer to develop his renowned voice. He famously voiced Darth Vader in the original 1977 “Star Wars” film and its sequels, “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi,” as well as in later installments like “Rogue One” and “The Rise of Skywalker.” Though a different actor, such as the late David Prowse, wore the Vader costume, Jones provided the character’s distinctive voice.
Jones once described his role as Vader as a special effects job and initially did not seek credit for his performance. However, he later recognized its impact as the films became major box office successes.
In addition to his film work, Jones was a prominent television performer, including a memorable role as the older Alex Haley in “Roots: The Next Generation” and a lead role in the drama “Gabriel’s Fire,” for which he won one of his two Emmys. His distinctive voice also featured in “The Simpsons” and early episodes of “Sesame Street.”
Jones’ stage career included notable performances in Shakespearean roles, such as Othello and King Lear.
