James Earl Jones, the man with a voice so iconic it could command a fleet of Death Stars, has left us. Yes, the legendary actor who made Darth Vader sound like he could scare the galaxy into submission, has passed away at the ripe old age of 93.
Jones’ team has confirmed to Deadline that he decided to take his final bow on Monday morning (September 9) from his cozy abode in Duchess County, New York. Apparently, he figured it was time for a new adventure, perhaps one involving fewer galactic battles and more eternal rest.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the sheer awesomeness of this guy’s career. To snag an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) is no small feat, but Jones made it look like child’s play. He snagged a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oscars in 2011, two Emmys for “Heat Wave” and “Gabriel’s Fire” in 1991, a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album in 1977, and Tony Awards for “The Great White Hope” in 1969 and “Fences” in 1987. If awards were the Force, Jones would be a Jedi Master.
In the film world, Jones was everywhere. He was Lt. Lothar Zogg in “Dr. Strangelove,” Jack Jefferson in “The Great White Hope,” Thulsa Doom in “Conan the Barbarian,” King Jaffe Joffer in “Coming to America,” Terence Mann in “Field of Dreams,” and, of course, the voice of Mufasa in “The Lion King.” If you ever heard a deep, commanding voice and thought, “I bet that’s James Earl Jones,” you were probably right.
So here’s to James Earl Jones, the man who proved that a voice could be as mighty as a lightsaber and as tender as a lion’s roar. Our hearts go out to his loved ones as they navigate this galaxy without him. May the Force—and all the love and memories he left behind—be with them.
James Earl Jones, the revered actor who voiced ‘Star Wars’ villain Darth Vader, starred in ‘Field Of Dreams’ and many other films and is an EGOT winner, died this morning at his home in Dutchess County, NY. He was 93.
Read about his life and legacy here: https://t.co/1W4hr3rLQ2 pic.twitter.com/a4NuRTR0P1
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) September 9, 2024
