James Earl Jones, the beloved stage and screen actor who lent his iconic, deep voice to Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King, has died at 93.
Regarded as one of the best actors of his generation, Jones’ career spanned Shakespeare to Hollywood hits. He is one of the few actors to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony Award.
The actor’s death was reported by Deadline, via his representatives at Independent Artist Group.
James Earl Jones was born January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi and raised by his grandparents in Dublin, Michigan. While he would later become one of the most famous voices in the world, he says he suffered from a stutter in his youth.
“I was a stutterer. I couldn’t talk,” Jones recalled in a 1996 interview. “So my first year of school was my first mute year, and then those mute years continued until I got to high school.” A teacher encouraged him to overcome his stutter by reading poetry aloud.
Jones served in the US Army during the Korean War, and after decided to pursue a career in acting. He studied at the American Theatre Wing, working as a janitor to support himself. By the 1960s, Jones was establishing himself as one of his generation’s great Shakespearean actors, playing roles like Othello and King Lear. He also made his film debut in Stanley Kubrick’s classic 1964 comedy Dr. Strangelove, as bombadier Lt. Lothar Zogg.
In 1967, he played a boxer in The Great White Hope, winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. He reprised the role in the 1970 film version, receiving his first Academy Award nomination.
Amidst all his acclaimed acting work, Jones soon landed his most well-known and iconic role — one where he didn’t even have to appear on set: voicing the villainous Darth Vader in Star Wars. While Vader was played in costume by David Prowse, Jones dubbed over the lines with his own deep bass voice, helping to create one of the most famous characters in movie history.
While Jones originally opted to go uncredited for the role, it has become perhaps his most famous performance. He continued to voice Vader for decades, in the two sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the prequel Revenge of the Sith and the spin-off Rogue One. In 2022, Jones retired from the role, but signed an agreement for his voice to be used in future projects using artificial intelligence and archive recordings.
Jones also provided the voice of another beloved movie character, Mufasa in the 1994 Disney film The Lion King. Jones later reprised the role in the 2019 remake.
Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, Jones appeared in many Hollywood films, including Conan the Barbarian, Coming to America, Field of Dreams, and The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games and The Sandlot. He also won his second Tony Award, starring in the original production of August Wilson’s Fences.
He received eight Emmy Award nominations for his television work, winning twice in 1991: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for Heat Wave and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Gabriel’s Fire.
Jones also continued to perform on Broadway: over the past 20 years he starred in revivals of On Golden Pond, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Driving Miss Daisy, The Best Man and You Can’t Take it With You.
Jones was the recipient of many awards and honors throughout his acclaimed career. He received an Honorary Academy Award in 2011, making him one of the only people to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award, known as “EGOT.” Broadway’s Cort Theatre was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in his honor in 2022.
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Tori Spelling’s DWTS Journey Cut Short: Here’s What Fans Are Saying
Tori Spelling’s time on “Dancing with the Stars” ended sooner than many fans expected, leaving them feeling disappointed. However, the actress is choosing to see her elimination in a positive light, feeling grateful and empowered by the experience.
This week on “Dancing with the Stars,” it was a big emotional moment as Tori Spelling became the latest celebrity to leave the competition.
The actress and her professional partner, Pasha Pashkov, danced a touching rumba to “This Is Me” from “The Greatest Showman.” Their performance was filled with emotion and showcased their connection on the dance floor.
Their routine received a score of 19 out of 30, bringing their total to 36 over two weeks. Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to keep Spelling in the competition. Her elimination surprised the audience and left fans with mixed feelings about the outcome.
On the other hand, Chandler Kinney and Brandon Armstrong captivated everyone with their stunning rumba to Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For.”
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba was so touched that she cried, praising them by saying, “You created some moments that really touched us all. When dance can reach inside and pull at our heartstrings like that, it’s incredibly powerful.”
Still, Spelling expressed her belief that everything happens for a reason and that her time on the show happened just as it was meant to. Even though her stay was short, she called the experience amazing.
Feeling thankful for the chance to be on the show, Spelling shared how “Dancing with the Stars” changed her for the better. She mentioned that the experience boosted her confidence and helped her believe in herself more.
Tori Spelling’s departure has definitely split opinions among fans, but as the saying goes, the show must go on! The competition is getting tougher, and with more surprising eliminations expected, this season of “Dancing with the Stars” is set to be an exciting journey.
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