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James Earl Jones | |
|---|---|
 Jones in 2001 | |
| Born | January 17, 1931 Arkabutla, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | September 9, 2024 (aged 93) Pawling, New York, U.S. |
| Education | University of Michigan (BA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1953–2021 |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
| Father | Robert Earl Jones |
| Awards | Full list |
James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 – September 9, 2024) was an American actor. A pioneer for black actors in the entertainment industry, he is known for his extensive and acclaimed roles on stage and screen. Jones is one of the few performers to achieve the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony).[1][2][3][4] He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985, and was honored with the National Medal of Arts in 1992, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2009, and the Academy Honorary Award in 2011.[5][6]
Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi during the Jim Crow era, Jones overcame a childhood stutter. A pre-med major in college, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army during the Korean War before pursuing a career in acting. His deep voice was praised as a "stirring basso profondo that has lent gravel and gravitas" to his projects.[7][8] Jones made his Broadway debut in the play Sunrise at Campobello (1957) and gained notoriety starring in several productions with Shakespeare in the Park including Othello (1964), Coriolanus (1965), Hamlet (1972), and King Lear (1973).[9]
For his roles on Broadway, Jones won two Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Play for playing a boxer in the Howard Sackler play The Great White Hope (1968) and a working class father in August Wilson's Fences (1987). He was a Tony-nominated for his roles as part of an elderly couple in On Golden Pond (2005) and a former President in The Best Man (2012). He also acted in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008), Driving Miss Daisy (2010–2011), You Can't Take It with You (2014), and The Gin Game (2015). He received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017.[10][11]
On film, Jones made his acting debut in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove (1964) and reprised his role in the film The Great White Hope (1970), earning a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. He gained international fame for his voice role as Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise. He also acted in The Man (1972), Claudine (1974), Conan the Barbarian (1982), Matewan (1987), Coming to America (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Sneakers (1992), The Sandlot (1993), The Lion King (1994), and Cry, the Beloved Country (1995).
- ^ Knolle, Sharon (September 9, 2024). "James Earl Jones, EGOT Winner and 'Star Wars' Icon, Dies at 93". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Erbland, Kate (September 9, 2024). "James Earl Jones, Esteemed EGOT Winner and Iconic Voice of Darth Vader, Dead at 93". IndieWire. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Miller, Shannon (September 9, 2024). "R.I.P. James Earl Jones, EGOT-awarded actor and unmistakable voice of Darth Vader". AV Club. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Morgan, David (September 9, 2024). "James Earl Jones, Tony-winning actor and voice of Darth Vader, dies at age 93". CBS News. Archived from the original on September 10, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Sperling, Nicole; Susan King (November 12, 2011). "Oprah shines, Ratner controversy fades at honorary Oscars gala". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
- ^ "SAG to honor James Earl Jones". The Hollywood Reporter. October 2, 2008. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ Hornaday, Ann (September 25, 2014). "James Earl Jones: A voice for the ages, aging gracefully". Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2016 – via washingtonpost.com.
- ^ Moore, Caitlin (September 25, 2014). "James Earl Jones might have the most recognisable voice in film and television". Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016 – via washingtonpost.com.
- ^ "About James Earl Jones". americantheatrewing.org. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ "Acceptance Speech: James Earl Jones (2017)". Tony Awards. June 11, 2017. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ "James Earl Jones Will Receive a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award". Playbill. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2023.