James Earl Jones has died at age 93

James Earl Jones has died at age 93

As a child of the ’80s and avid Star Wars fan, James Earl Jones’ passing leaves me with a heavy heart. His voice was as much a part of the galaxy far, far away as the Millennium Falcon or the Death Star itself. I remember watching The Lion King for the first time and being captivated by his majestic portrayal of Mufasa – it was like hearing God speak directly to me!


These are always the worse articles to write, and by far my least favorite to do.

Legendary actor James Earl Jones, aged 93, sadly passed away on Monday morning at his residence, as confirmed by Deadline.

It took some time for people to recognize Jones’ significant contribution to a distant galaxy in the original Star Wars movie from 1977. Interestingly, his role as Darth Vader wasn’t initially acknowledged. In an interview in 2008, he himself revealed that he had asked not to be credited for the part.

When Linda Blair did the girl in The Exorcist, they hired Mercedes McCambridge to do the voice of the devil coming out of her. And there was controversy as to whether Mercedes should get credit. I was one who thought no, she was just special effects. So when it came to Darth Vader, I said, no, I’m just special effects. But it became so identified that by the third one, I thought, OK I’ll let them put my name on it.

James Earl Jones

I’m pleased that it underwent a transformation and he granted permission for his distinctive voice to be featured on the credits. Jones’ voice is renowned worldwide, making him one of the select few actors to have achieved an EGOT – a feat signifying he has won at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award.

It’s challenging to find the right words to express the impact that James Earl Jones has had on people, including myself. Few individuals, characters, or actors have managed to encapsulate the spirit of their times as effectively as he did, over and over again. It wasn’t only his iconic portrayal of Darth Vader in Star Wars that resonated with us, but also his role as Mufasa in The Lion King, which played a significant part in shaping our childhood experiences. His regal presence was not limited to Mufasa; he made us laugh as King Jaffe Joffer in Coming to America and brought tears to our eyes in Field of Dreams. Even when he appeared in cameos or as himself, such as his appearances on Sesame Street with Big Bird and Elmo, or his encounter with Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory, these moments were treasured. In each instance, Jones would express his love for Star Wars, a sentiment shared by many.

The impact of James Earl Jones’ acting, particularly his roles beyond Star Wars, will undoubtedly live on, inspiring future audiences for many years. We’ll deeply miss him.

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2024-09-10 00:21

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