The passing of James Earl Jones marked the loss of a titan, one of the most recognized figures and legendary voices in cinema. At 93 years old, Jones passed last Monday, September 9th, in his home in New York.
One of the greatest fictional characters in cinema history was brought to life by the voice of Jones. Without his performance as the voice behind Darth Vader, the character may not have been as iconic, and Star Wars might not have been as popular.
“I lucked out to get a job that paid me $7,000,” Jones said in an interview in 2009.
The paycheck may seem absurdly low for such a successful film, but Jones recorded his lines for the first movie in only a few hours.
Born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones lived a long and incredible life. He spent most of his early life living in Dublin, Michigan, after high school he attended the University of Michigan to pursue a degree in Pre-Med, but he switched to studying drama. He went into the military shortly after college in 1953 during the Korean War but was never deployed.
His acting career started on Broadway in 1958, appearing in Sunrise at Campobello, and his first film role was Lt. Lothar Zogg in Dr. Strangelove in 1964. His last on-screen appearance was in 2021’s Coming 2 America.
For most of his life before becoming an actor, Jones lived with a horrible stutter that surprisingly silenced his powerful, bellowing voice.
“I didn’t talk at all. I say mute, it wasn’t absolute mute, but enough that I didn’t talk to strangers. People who came to the house, I couldn’t tell them my name, too painful and too embarrassing to talk if you’re a stutterer or a stammerer,” Jones said in an interview on The Early Show.
Overcoming his stutter and finding his voice, Jones would go on to enjoy a celebrated 53-year career, which included hundreds of films, plays, and television shows. Older audiences may best remember him as the voice of Darth Vader, but younger audiences may recognize him best as the voice of Mufasa in The Lion King. He was universally respected and loved by artists and audiences alike.
Jones’ decorated career included three Emmy Awards, three Tony Awards, a Grammy Award, and an honorary Oscar — a prestigious achievement, as only 26 other artists have garnered all four awards over their career.
James Earl Jones was a pivotal figure in the history of cinema, and throughout his time on the screen and in the theater he touched the hearts of viewers worldwide. A legendary actor, his legacy will only grow in stature.
