'Field of Dreams' Star and Voice of Darth Vader Dies at 93
James Earl Jones, the gifted Oscar-nominated actor known for his brilliant, versatile acting style and deep voice, has died He was 93.
On Monday, Sept. 9, the EGOT winner—best known for voicing characters like Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King—died at his home in Dutchess County, N.Y., his reps at Independent Artist Group confirmed to Deadline.
Born in Mississippi in 1931, Jones' love of poetry and the arts from a young age helped him overcome a childhood stutter, growing into a lifelong passion.
In a 2008 interview with NWA World Traveler, Jones credited a high school professor named Donald Crouch with "tricking me into talking."
After Crouch discovered that Jones had been writing poetry his whole life, "He said to me, 'If you like words, you should be able to say them out loud'...I credit him with being the father of my voice," recounted Jones.
Although he majored in pre-medicine in college and went to the army for a stint afterward, Jones soon drifted to what would become his life's work: acting.
His career started at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, Michigan, working up to a role on the stage.
During his first season acting at the theatre, he starred as the title character in William Shakespeare's Othello, a role he would play a few more times throughout his career, including a Broadway production in 1982.
Jones made his film debut in 1964 in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.
From there, Jones' screen career continued steadily growing, with starring roles in movies like The Great White Hope (1970), The Man (1972), and Claudine (1974), before he got the voiceover role as Darth Vader in 1977's Star Wars: A New Hope and the sequels.
Jones' vocal performance in Star Wars solidified his status as one of the most well-known voices in the industry, amplified by his role as Mufasa in 1994's The Lion King. He would continue voicing Darth Vader in other Star Wars projects over the years.
The actor led a fantastic life and career, winning two Emmys, one Golden Globe, one Grammy, three Tony Awards and an Academy Award nomination, as well as an honorary Academy Award in 2011.
Jones was married to Cecilia Hart from 1982 until her death in 2016. He is survived by their son, Flynn Earl Jones.
