James Earl Jones has unfortunately passed away at the age of 93. Jones built a legacy as one of the most iconic voices in Hollywood. Whether you know him as Darth Vader in “Star Wars,” or Mufasa in “The Lion King,” his remarkable talent and voice are just a few of the things that will be missed.
This Monday, Hollywood legend James Earl Jones has unfortunately passed away at the age of 93.
Jones created a huge legacy for himself throughout his career. His deep voice and passionate deliveries in multiple roles gave him a signature sound that was instantly recognizable. He Is popularly known for being the voice of Darth Vadar in “Star Wars” and Mufasa in “The Lion King.”
Jones was surrounded by his family and loved ones when he passed away on Monday, according to a representative who also didn’t provide a specific cause of death.
“From the gentle wisdom of Mufasa to the menacing threat of Darth Vader, James Earl Jones gave voice to some of the greatest characters in cinema history,” said Bob Iger, chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company, in a statement, reported by CNN.
“A celebrated stage actor with nearly 200 film and television credits to his name, the stories he brought to life with a uniquely commanding presence and a true richness of spirit have left an indelible mark on generations of audiences.”
Jones was born in Mississippi in 1931. When he was 5-years-old his family moved to Michigan which was quite traumatic for young Jones. The transition caused him to develop a stutter, which in turn made him afraid to speak, so he remained almost completely mute until he went to high school. In high school, a poetry teacher helped him overcome his fear and disability by pushing him to read poems out loud.
“He began to challenge me, to nudge me toward speaking again, toward acknowledging and appreciating the beauty of words,” Jones said in a 1996 interview for a Tony Lifetime Achievement Award. Little did he know his voice would become one of the things he was most recognized for.
Jones went to the University of Michigan to study drama. He served as an Army Ranger before moving to New York where he began acting on stage. In 1967 his career took off after playing boxer Jack Johnson in the production of “The Great White Hope,” a role that won him a Tony.
Then, in the mid-1970s, “Star Wars” creator George Lucas made the decision to have a separate voice actor for the character of Darth Vadar. At the time, no one expected the film to become as huge as it is, and they certainly weren’t expecting it to become one of the most iconic franchises in Hollywood history.
“George thought he wanted a – pardon the expression – darker voice. I lucked out,” Jones told the American Film Institute.
“I wanted to make Darth Vader more interesting, more subtle, more psychologically oriented. He (Lucas) said, ‘No, no … you’ve got to keep his voice on a very narrow band of inflection, ‘cause he ain’t human.”
Mark Hamill, who played Luke Sywalker in “Star Wars,” wrote on Instagram: “One of the world’s finest actors whose contributions to ‘Star Wars’ were immeasurable. He’ll be greatly missed. #RIP dad.”
Jones previously when he was voicing Mufasa for “The Lion King,” he was initially challenged.
“My first mistake was to try and make him regal, and what they really needed was something more like me. They said, ‘What are you like as a father?’ and I said, ‘Well, I’m really a dopey dad,’” Jones said.
“And so they began to impose my facial expressions onto Mufasa, and a different tone of voice. Yeah, he was authoritative, but he was just a gentle dad.”
Kevin Costner, a former co-star with Jones in “Field of Dreams,” also published a statement on Instagram praising the late actor.
“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.’ If you’ve seen it, you know that this movie wouldn’t be the same with anyone else in his role. Only he could bring that kind of magic to a movie about baseball and a cornfield in Iowa. I’m grateful to have been a witness to him making that magic happen,” he wrote.
Throughout his career, Jones earned three Tonys, two Emmys, a Grammy, a Golden Globe, and a multitude of other awards and accolades.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
