James Earl Jones, the renowned actor known for lending his deep, iconic voice to Darth Vader in Star Wars, has passed away at the age of 93. The beloved actor died peacefully on Monday morning, surrounded by his family, his agent Barry McPherson told BBC.
Jones' incredible career spanned decades, with notable roles in films like Field of Dreams, Coming to America, Conan the Barbarian, and The Lion King, where he voiced Mufasa.
Despite his extensive filmography, Jones will forever be remembered as the voice of one of cinema’s greatest villains: Darth Vader.
Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, paid tribute to his on-screen father, writing "RIP Dad" with a broken heart emoji. Other actors, including Kevin Costner and LeVar Burton, also shared their admiration for Jones' talent and legacy. Costner praised his "booming voice" and "quiet strength," while Burton called him irreplaceable.
Jones received numerous accolades throughout his career, including three Tony Awards, two Emmys, a Grammy, and an honorary Oscar in 2011 for lifetime achievement. In 1971, he became only the second Black man to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, after Sidney Poitier.
Born in Mississippi in 1931, Jones overcame a childhood stammer to develop his legendary voice. He first voiced Darth Vader in Star Wars in 1977, continuing in The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and later Rogue One and The Rise of Skywalker. Although a different actor portrayed Vader physically, Jones' deep voice became synonymous with the character's menacing presence.
Beyond Star Wars, Jones was the voice behind CNN’s famous "This is CNN" tagline and appeared in television roles like Roots: The Next Generation. He also took on iconic Shakespearean characters on stage, including Othello and King Lear.
