(TheIndependentStar.com) – Renowned for being one of the greatest actors of all time and the legendary voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King, James Earl Jones has passed away at the age of 93.
Jones’ agent confirmed that the actor died at his home in Dutchess County, New York.
Jones’ career spanned decades, with memorable roles in films like Coming to America (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), The Sandlot (1993), and The Hunt for Red October (1990).
Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, and raised by his grandparents in Michigan, Jones struggled with a severe stutter during his childhood, leading him to remain silent for eight years.
“I stuttered badly, and so I retreated and lived in a world of silence rather than speak,” Jones shared with a congressional panel in 2002.
He eventually overcame this challenge with the help of a teacher who encouraged him to read aloud the poetry he wrote.
While acting was not always his plan, the legend was studying pre-med at the University of Michigan when he joined the Army. Eventually, he turned to acting, working as a janitor to make ends meet.
Jones’ breakthrough role came in The Great White Hope in 1967, where he played Jack Jefferson. This role earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in 1969. When the play was adapted into a film in 1970, Jones reprised his role, winning a Golden Globe and receiving an Academy Award nomination.
Throughout his career, the classically trained actor took on challenging roles, including Shakespeare’s tragic heroes, Othello and King Lear. At the time, it was rare for a Black actor to lead in Shakespeare’s plays.
In the Star Wars films, British actor David Prowse physically portrayed Darth Vader, but Jones gave the character his iconic voice.
“I’m simply special effects,” Jones once said, explaining how George Lucas sought a “darker” voice for 1977’s Star Wars.
In addition, Jones considered himself a “journeyman actor,” moving seamlessly between film, TV, and stage.
Jones also returned to the iconic roles that made him famous. He voiced Darth Vader in the animated series Star Wars: Rebels and in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
In 2019, he reprised his role as Mufasa in the live-action version of The Lion King, joining Beyoncé and Donald Glover in the cast.
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