James Earl Jones, the revered American actor best known as the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars, has died at the age of 93. Surrounded by family, Jones passed away early Monday morning, according to his agent, Barry McPherson.
With a career spanning several decades, Jones starred in numerous films, including Field of Dreams, Coming to America, Conan the Barbarian, and The Lion King, where he voiced Mufasa. However, he gained worldwide recognition for lending his deep, gravelly voice to the Star Wars villain Darth Vader.
Mark Hamill, who played Darth Vader’s son, Luke Skywalker, in the Star Wars films, paid tribute to his on-screen father with a simple message: “RIP Dad,” accompanied by a broken heart emoji.
Throughout his illustrious career, Jones earned three Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Grammy, and an honorary Oscar in 2011 for lifetime achievement. He also made history in 1971 as only the second Black man to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, following Sidney Poitier.
Tributes poured in from across the entertainment world. Star Trek actor LeVar Burton said, “There will never be another of his particular combinations of graces.” US actor Colman Domingo honoured Jones with: “Thank you, dear James Earl Jones, for everything. A master of our craft. We stand on your shoulders. Rest now. You gave us your best.”
Kevin Costner, who co-starred with Jones in Field of Dreams, shared his memories: “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 reflected on Jones’ immense influence, stating, “His voice and talent will be remembered always. 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, expressed her gratitude with a photo of Jones holding a Mufasa statue as she said, “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.”
Beyond his cinematic achievements, Jones was also the iconic voice of the US broadcaster CNN’s tagline, “This is CNN.” In a statement to Hollywood Reporter, CNN remembered him fondly saying, “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.”
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