According to a report from Variety, iconic actor James Earl Jones reportedly passed away at the age of 93. It was said he passed at his home in New York State.
Born in 1931, Jones was born in rural Mississippi. After spending the first few years of his life in the South, he moved to live with his grandparents in Michigan. Following in the footsteps of his father — who was also an actor on screen and stage, Jones graduated with a drama degree from the University of Michigan.
After serving in the military briefly, Jones’ love of acting took shape. He began as an actor on stage and eventually worked on Broadway for years. He won a Tony Award in 1968 for his role in The Great White Hope. He later earned an Academy Award nomination for the same role in the film adaptation of the play.
In 1977, Jones exploded in what became one of his most iconic roles. He voiced the villain Darth Vader in the Star Wars films. The success of the film, coupled with his immense vocal talents, led to a plethora of voice-over opportunities for Jones.
Over the years, he featured in a host of popular projects. Chief among them, are the play Fences (which earned him another Tony Award), Coming to America, Field of Dreams, The Sandlot, The Lion King, The Hunt For Red October, Patriot Games, Gabriel’s Fire, Heat Wave, and Much Ado About Nothing.
Jones was married twice and had one son. When looking at the totality of his career, Jones will undoubtedly go down as a transcendent African-American actor. His vocal talents are perhaps unparalleled, and the versatility he brought in all forms of artistic expression was truly special.
