James Earl Jones, acclaimed actor and voice of Darth Vader, dead at 93

James Earl Jones, the legendary actor whose powerful, resonant voice brought life to iconic characters like Darth Vader in *Star Wars* and Mufasa in *The Lion King*, has passed away at the age of 93.

Celebrated as one of the greatest actors of his time, Jones’ extraordinary career stretched from the heights of Shakespearean theater to the biggest Hollywood blockbusters. He is among the rare few to have achieved the prestigious EGOT, having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award.

His passing was confirmed by Deadline through his representatives at Independent Artist Group, marking the end of a monumental legacy in entertainment.

James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, and raised by his grandparents in Dublin, Michigan. Despite later becoming one of the most recognizable voices in the world, Jones struggled with a severe stutter during his early years.

“I was a stutterer. I couldn’t talk,” Jones shared in a 1996 interview. “My first year of school was my first mute year, and those mute years continued until I got to high school.” It was a compassionate teacher who encouraged him to conquer his speech impediment by reciting poetry aloud, a pivotal moment that set him on the path to his extraordinary career.

After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Jones decided to pursue acting. He studied at the American Theatre Wing, working as a janitor to support himself. By the 1960s, he had begun to make a name for himself as one of the finest Shakespearean actors of his generation, taking on iconic roles such as Othello and King Lear. His film career also took off with his debut in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 classic *Dr. Strangelove*, where he played bombardier Lt. Lothar Zogg.

In 1967, James Earl Jones took on the role of a boxer in *The Great White Hope*, a performance that earned him the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. He later reprised the role in the 1970 film adaptation, which led to his first Academy Award nomination.

Amidst his many acclaimed performances, Jones landed what would become his most iconic role—one where he never even had to step on set: the voice of the menacing Darth Vader in *Star Wars*. Though David Prowse physically portrayed the character, it was Jones’ deep, commanding voice that brought the villain to life, cementing Vader as one of the most legendary figures in cinematic history.

Though James Earl Jones initially chose to go uncredited for his role as Darth Vader, it has since become one of his most iconic performances. His deep, powerful voice defined the character, and he continued to lend his voice to Vader for decades, including in *The Empire Strikes Back*, *Return of the Jedi*, the prequel *Revenge of the Sith*, and the spin-off *Rogue One*. In 2022, Jones officially retired from the role but signed an agreement allowing his voice to be recreated for future projects using artificial intelligence and archival recordings.

Jones also brought another beloved character to life, voicing Mufasa in Disney’s 1994 animated classic *The Lion King*. He reprised the role in the 2019 live-action remake, once again lending his legendary voice to the wise and regal lion king.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, James Earl Jones became a familiar face in Hollywood, appearing in a wide range of films including *Conan the Barbarian*, *Coming to America*, *Field of Dreams*, *The Hunt for Red October*, *Patriot Games*, and *The Sandlot*. On stage, he earned his second Tony Award for his powerful performance in the original production of August Wilson’s *Fences*.

In addition to his film and stage success, Jones made his mark on television, receiving eight Emmy Award nominations. In 1991, he won two Emmys: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for *Heat Wave*, and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for *Gabriel’s Fire*.

Even as his career expanded into film and TV, Jones remained committed to the stage. Over the past 20 years, he starred in several Broadway revivals, including *On Golden Pond*, *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof*, *Driving Miss Daisy*, *The Best Man*, and *You Can’t Take It With You*, proving his enduring talent and love for the theater.

James Earl Jones was celebrated with numerous awards and honors over the course of his legendary career. In 2011, he was awarded an Honorary Academy Award, joining the exclusive group of artists to achieve the coveted EGOT—having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. In 2022, Broadway paid tribute to his immense contributions to theater by renaming the Cort Theatre as the James Earl Jones Theatre.

Rest in peace to the incomparable James Earl Jones, one of the greatest actors of our generation. Please share this story in his memory 💔.