NewStats: 3,263,202 , 8,179,393 topics. Date: Thursday, 05 June 2025 at 04:35 AM 5v4a2t

James Earl Jones, a versatile and award-winning American stage and screen actor who used his booming deep voice to bring the iconic “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader to life, has died, his representatives said Monday. He was 93 years old.

From the works of Shakespeare and August Wilson, to his indelible voiceovers in the blockbuster space saga and as Mufasa in the Disney classic “The Lion King,” Jones earned fans with his ability to play both the everyman and the otherworldly.

He won three Tony awards including a lifetime award, two Emmys and a Grammy, as well as an honorary Oscar, also for lifetime achievement.

In 1971, he became only the second Black man nominated for an Academy Award for best actor, after Sidney Poitier.

All of these accolades were hard-won, as Jones, who was born in segregated Mississippi on January 17, 1931, had to overcome a childhood stutter that often led him to barely speak at all.

“Stuttering is painful. In Sunday school, I’d try to read my lessons and the children behind me were falling on the floor with laughter,” Jones told the Daily Mail in 2010.

Reciting his own poetry, at the prodding of an English teacher, helped him to gain control of his voice, which would later be used to strike fear among millions in “Star Wars” as Darth Vader.

Jones did not physically portray the character — David Prowse wore Vader’s black cape and imposing face mask, while Jones offered the voice, oozing the evil power of the Dark Side.

“I am your father,” Vader tells Luke Skywalker, portrayed by Mark Hamill, in a pivotal fight scene in “The Empire Strikes Back” — a twist etched in cinema history.

“He created, with very little dialogue, one of the greatest villains that ever lived,” “Star Wars” creator George Lucas said in 2015 at a ceremony honoring Jones in New York.

– Broadway –
From Mississippi, Jones moved to Michigan at age five, where he was raised by his maternal grandparents.

Initially, he studied to become a doctor, and though he shifted his major to drama, and graduated from the University of Michigan, he didn’t initially think about an acting career.

“Even when I began acting studies, I thought about being a soldier,” Jones told PBS public television in 1998.

"And the idea of being an actor didn’t occur to me until after my service was almost finished.”

After university, Jones served in the US Army and then moved to New York to try his luck in acting, working as a janitor at night to make ends meet.

He made his Broadway debut in 1958 in “Sunrise at Campobello” at the Cort Theatre — which in 2022 was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre.

He tackled many iconic Shakespeare characters on the stage, including Othello and King Lear, but also performed in several Wilson plays, chronicling the Black experience in America.

"On stage, Jones was commanding, powerful. He embodied the elegance and dignity of African American men,” said director Kenny Leon.

But the silver screen eventually came calling.

– irals and kings –
Jones’ film debut came in 1964 as Lieutenant Zogg in Stanley Kubrick’s Cold War satire “Dr Strangelove.”

Military roles would crop up throughout his career, notably iral Greer in three films about Tom Clancy’s beloved character Jack Ryan (“The Hunt for Red October,” “Patriot Games,” “Clear and Present Danger”).

https://punchng.com/james-earl-jones-voice-of-mufasa-in-lion-king-dies-at-93/

Life...

We live to die.

One of my favorite actors. I never forget his lines in one of his movies even though I was very young when I saw it "Let them wait, I am talking to my son." very compelling voice.

Rest in peace man!

I still his THICK VOICE in coming to America

Where he screamed “MY SON WORKS “ fear catch me as a little boy that year

Rest in peace sir … one day we shall meet to part no more

Rest in Peace

King Mufasa we will miss you, may his soul rest in peace

Rest on Great one,You really looked like a Calm person.I tap onto ur long life Grace.

A younger James Earl Jones.

The Great White Hope (1970, starring James Earl Jones and Marlene Warfield)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVyvwZ_Yh0g?si=ZG7OenpDVjDFCl-p

AdamsMosesOma:
Legendary Hollywood actor James Earl Jones, popular for his commanding voice and memorable roles, ed away at the age of 93.

Born in January 1931 in Mississippi, Jones made his mark in Hollywood with notable performances in films like Coming to America, The Greatest, Field of Dreams, and Conan the Barbarian. He gained legendary status for voicing Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise and Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King.

His illustrious career was decorated with numerous awards, including an honorary Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award. Jones was also recognized for his television work, winning one of his two Emmys for his role in Gabriel’s Fire and for his portrayal of the elder Alex Haley in Roots: The Next Generation. Additionally, he appeared in early episodes of Sesame Street and lent his voice to The Simpsons... READ STORY: https://www.sleeksmedia.com/veteran-actor-james-earl-jones-es-away-aged-93/

Rest in perfect peace Darth vader

The Simpsons tribute to James Earl Jones (they didn't actually use his voice).

This is CNN,' Darth Vader, Mufasa in the clouds


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc25oAJrKbM?si=7g7plGsqHgTO160l

Big Bang Theory.

Sheldon meets James Earl Jones.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJRA6oHOK88?si=5sMuNgTSrpJiaQrB



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_ZrK36TKrE?si=SExdf7vwJczfcOLr


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjDd4hWny60?si=y_xqLTIhArYMib80

King Jaffe Jaffar, ruler of Zamunda

The man who witnessed his own funeral before he died.
Now they shall bury him a second time.
RIP Daddy

naptu2:
Big Bang Theory.

Sheldon meets James Earl Jones.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJRA6oHOK88?si=5sMuNgTSrpJiaQrB



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_ZrK36TKrE?si=SExdf7vwJczfcOLr


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjDd4hWny60?si=y_xqLTIhArYMib80

I was literally gonna say this

RIP James Earl Jones ...

"All the great Kings are up there, who you are"

The legendary King Jaffe Joffar, ruler of Zamunda is gone.

"I will NOT apologize! The man is beneath me and so is his daughter"

"Oha" - 1 million dollars

"Oha" - Shall we say 2 million dollars

"Oha" - 10 million

Thanks for the great memories and that iconic baritone voice. RIP JEJ.

Coming To America. The king arrives.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZiicB0S_cA?si=kCV2cvk-TUVTEH3t

Rest on King of Zamunda, King Mufasa of Lion King. You're a legend.

Rip

RIP legend

There is no lion king and coming to America without this man. Rest in peace Grandpa

King Jeffery joffar the ruler of zamunda.. Rip

Ah....Mufasa is Gone. May he rest well.


This guy's voice is legendary

My fav character of him is King Jeffery Joffer in Coming to America.

RIP Legend.

I thought the man don die in coming to America part 2 installment

Great act ...had a fulfilling career.

From those pictures appears he was born black but died a white man.

This is king Joffe Jofar, the ruler of Zamunda! He is looking for his son, Akeem, yes Akeem the Prince!


Rest well senior man

he died or he went to rest?? at 93 what else could he have asked for!!

Rip legend

brain54:
Life...

We live to die.

One of my favorite actors. I never forget his lines in one of his movies even though I was very young when I saw it "Let them wait, I am talking to my son." very compelling voice.

Rest in peace man!

Hakim! Hakim!! I forbid you!

good nite legend

AdamsMosesOma:


https://punchng.com/james-earl-jones-voice-of-mufasa-in-lion-king-dies-at-93/

Coming to America king zamunda, king Musafa of the lion king, rest in power.