The world lost one of its most iconic voices last Monday, September 9. Legendary actor, James Earl Jones, sadly passed away at 93 years old, leaving his fans and colleagues in a state of shock and mourning. In honor of his life and his career, let’s look back upon his many years of success as an entertainer.
Jones’ bellowing, baritone voice gained fame from characters such as Darth Vader in Star Wars, Mufasa in The Lion King and Terrance Mann in Field of Dreams. From Arkabutla, Mississippi, his performances managed to touch the lives of millions.
Career
According to Britannica.com, in 1957, Jones started his acting career in an Off-Broadway production. He continued to work in theatre productions until he landed his first film role in the 1964 picture “Dr.Strangelove”. He then starred in films such as “Conan the Barbarian (1982),” “Coming to America (1988)” and “The Hunt for the Red October (1990).”
Jones achieved his first Tony Award in 1969 for his role in “The Great White Hope.” He managed to win multiple Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, Tonys and other awards throughout the rest of his career. This made him one of the few entertainers to earn the prestigious EGOT award.
His most notable film roles were the voiceovers of Mufasa and iconic Star Wars villain Darth Vader. Jones never received awards for these roles but achieved multiple LifeTime Achievement Awards (one in 2011 and one in 2017) for his body of work as a whole.
Paying Tribute
Jones’s colleagues and friends took to social media to post heartfelt messages and tributes about the late actor:
“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.’ If you’ve seen it, you know that this movie wouldn’t be the same with anyone else in his role,”
Kevin Costner, 69, co-star in Field of Dreams
“James was an incredible actor, a most unique voice both in art and spirit. For nearly half a century he was Darth Vader, but the secret to it all is he was a beautiful human being,”
George Lucas, 80, creator of Star Wars.
“He meant everything to me. He was the north star. I wanted to be James Earl Jones,”
Denzel Washington, 69.
On the night of his passing, the Empire State Building glowed a fierce red, projecting an image of Darth Vader wielding his crimson blade in honor of Jones. The post containing the picture was captioned “Rest in peace Lord Vader.”
Legacy
Jones gave the world a legendary career and a lifetime of excellence. He provided the world with iconic characters and became a beacon of inspiration. His talents and professionalism will not be forgotten and his legacy will live on in his performances and the millions of fans he impacted in life.
Let us know what your favorite James Earl Jones performance is @VALLEYmag on all socials.
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