Remembering James Earl Jones
On September 9th, 2024, it was announced that legendary actor James Earl Jones had passed away at the age of ninety-three. His heartbreaking death was due to diabetes, which he had for a few years at that point.
Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi. After studying as a pre-med major in college, he served as a U.S. officer during the Korean War. His acting career started on Broadway, starring in many productions. Some of these include Othello, Hamlet, and Coriolanus under the Shakespeare in the Park festival. He soon won a Tony award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as a boxer in The Great White Hope.
After winning a few more Tony awards, Jones made his acting debut in the Stanley Kubrick film, Dr. Strangelove. He soon gained international fame after providing his voice for the legendary villain Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, starting with the film Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977. His other renowned roles in movies include Coming to America in 1988, Field of Dreams in 1989, The Sandlot in 1993, and The Lion King in 1994.
Jones also notably voiced the CNN tagline, “This is CNN”, for the network’s tenth anniversary in 1990. Jones’ voice has been a staple of his career. He also voiced the opening for the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics coverage on NBC.
Jones has several prestigious awards and honors. Some of these include winning two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and a Grammy Award. He also received a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, among others.
Jones was recognized as a pioneer for African Americans in theater, television, and cinema. His acting legacy has inspired many other actors in their fields, and hopefully, his passing will be remembered for a long time.
