Acting legend James Earl Jones (3 Tony Awards, 2 Emmy Awards, a Grammy, Golden Globe, and lifetime achievement Academy Award) has died at the age of 93. The actor passed on Monday morning surrounded by family. No cause of death was shared. His majestic, distinguished voice made him internationally renowned, which is even more remarkable considering he developed a stutter and remained quiet for much of his childhood. He leaves an indelible mark on our psyche with his iconic performances that include “Darth Vader” in Star Wars, “King Mufasa” in Disney’s The Lion King, an author in Field of Dreams, and so many more. From Variety:
Among his more than 80 film credits, Jones’ other notable movies include as a B-52 bombardier in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 Cold War satire “Dr. Strangelove” (his feature film debut), as the first Black president of the United States in 1972’s “The Man,” as the fearsome villain in 1982’s “Conan the Barbarian,” as a reclusive author in 1989’s “Field of Dreams,” as a blind former baseball star in 1993’s “The Sandlot,” and as a minister living in apartheid South Africa in 1995’s “Cry, the Beloved Country.”
Jones was nominated for four Tony Awards, and won two, in 1969 for playing boxer Jack Johnson in “The Great White Hope” (which he reprised on film in 1970, receiving his only Oscar nomination), and in 1987 for originating the role of Troy Maxson in August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Fences.”
He was nominated for eight primetime Emmy awards, winning twice in 1991, for supporting actor in the miniseries “Heat Wave,” about the 1965 Watts riots, and for lead actor in the drama series “Gabriel’s Fire,” about a wrongfully imprisoned ex-cop who becomes a private detective. It was the first time an actor won two Emmys in the same year.
I can never do justice to his incredible career other than to say I remain in awe of his talent. Rest well, James Earl Jones.
RIP James Earl Jones pic.twitter.com/cCh3D4mkrl
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 9, 2024
The voice behind cinema’s greatest villain. Rest In Peace James Earl Jones (1931 – 2024) pic.twitter.com/O9k2H8aIFL
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 9, 2024
#RIP dad https://t.co/YXpFoBb2Ua
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) September 9, 2024
Rest in peace, James Earl Jones. One of the most powerful, evocative, emotional voices in cinema history. This is the first scene that came to mind, it’s one of my favorites of all time. pic.twitter.com/AcMSv0dttw
— joe bro (@jbromovies) September 9, 2024
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