Hollywood legend James Earl Jones dies

Kevin Costner has led tributes following the death of James Earl Jones, the Oscar-winning actor who voiced Star Wars villain Darth Vader and The Lion’s King’s Mufasa.

James Earl Jones, the legendary Oscar-winning actor who voiced Star Wars villain Darth Vader and The Lion’s King’s Mufasa, has died at the age of 93.

Widely regarded as among the world’s great stage and screen actors, Jones was one of the few entertainers to have won the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony).

Blessed with the richest basso profondo, Jones uttered one of the most often-quoted lines in cinema history at the conclusion of The Empire Strikes Back, telling Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker: “No, I am your father”.

James Earl Jones, the actor whose rich baritone provided the voice for Darth Vader, has died. Picture: AFP

The big twist was a sensational development for fans of the space saga.

But Jones himself didn’t believe it.

“I said to myself, ‘He’s lying. I wonder how they are going to play that lie out?’” Jones reflected when asked years later about the famous line of dialogue.

Jones was paid just $7000 for his voice work on the original movie, but it led on to work for decades to follow.

James Earl Jones was known for his rich and resonant voice. Picture: AP

James Earl Jones during his 2013 visit to Sydney where he performed in Driving Miss Daisy.

James Earl Jones, pictured in the UK in 1978, overcame huge odds to launch his acting career. Picture: Getty Images

Jones also had memorable roles in films including Coming To America, Field of Dreams and The Hunt for Red October.

The respected actor died at his home in Dutchess County, New York, his agent confirmed to Deadline.

Jones was married twice and had one son, Flynn Earl Jones, who is also an actor. His second wife, Cecilia Hart, the mother of Flynn, died in 2016 from ovarian cancer.

STARS PAY TRIBUTE TO HOLLYWOOD LEGEND

Star Wars actor Mark Hamill led tributes to the acting legend with a poignant post on X that read, “#RIP dad”.

#RIP dad 💔 https://t.co/YXpFoBb2Ua

— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) September 9, 2024

Kevin Costner, Jones’ Field of Dreams co-star, also penned an emotional tribute, describing the star’s “quiet strength” and “kindness”.

“That booming voice. That quiet strength. The kindness that he radiated. So much can be said about his legacy, so I’ll just say how thankful I am that part of it includes Field of Dreams,” Costner wrote.

“If you’ve seen it, you know that this movie wouldn’t be the same with anyone else in his role. Only he could bring that kind of magic to a movie about baseball and a corn field in Iowa. I’m grateful to have been a witness to him making that magic happen.”

Actress Octavia Spencer wrote on Instagram that Jones’ “voice and talent will be remembered always” and that “legendary doesn’t even begin to describe his iconic roles and impact on cinema forever.”

Hollywood stars are paying tribute to James Earl Jones. Picture: Getty Images

Disney’s Bob Iger said in a statement that Jones “gave voice to some of the greatest characters in cinema history,” including “the gentle wisdom of Mufasa” and “the menacing threat of Darth Vader.”

Choreographer and director Debbie Allen, who directed Jones in a 2008 production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, wrote that Jones “will forever be remembered as THE GOAT.”

“It was truly a privilege to direct him and a blessing to be loved by him,” she added. “We will forever speak his name and tell the great stories that will become legend and myth and seed generations to come.”

RICH CAREER THAT DEFIED THE ODDS

Born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones’ lengthy Hollywood career defied expectations — as a child he was mute for nearly eight years and suffered from a serious stutter.

Time Magazine reported that his stutter was suspected to have been caused by childhood trauma and his high school English teacher helped him work to overcome it.

After high school, Jones went to university to study medicine, but found himself falling in love with acting and switched to drama.

Moving to New York, he performed in the 1961 American premiere of The Blacks, a play written by Jean Genet that explored race.

James Earl Jones with fellow acting legend Sidney Poitier at the Kennedy Centre Honours Gala in 2002. Picture: AFP

James Earl Jones during his time on Broadway in 1968. Picture: Getty Images

The actor had a rich and varied career. Picture: Getty Images

Jones won a Tony in 1969 for his role The Great White Hope and was also nominated for an Academy Award for the 1970 film adaptation.

Jones did not win but later received the Academy Honorary Award in 2011.

In 1987, he won another Tony for playing Troy Maxson in Fences by August Wilson.

Australian stage audiences saw him just the once, in 2013, when he played driver Hoke Colburn opposite Angela Lansbury in the title role of Driving Miss Daisy.

James Earl Jones with Angela Lansbury in Sydney during the tour of Driving Miss Daisy.

The review in Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph recorded an immediate standing ovation, with Jones and Lansbury “eschewing flashy theatrics for performances of such subtlety and truthfulness that we are totally captivated by their unfolding story”.

He won several acting Emmys for his TV work in the 1990s and a Grammy for his work on a Christmas album for children in 2001.

James Earl Jones voiced the character of villain Darth Vader for decades. Picture: AFP

The star won a new generation of fans when he voiced the character of Mufasa in Disney’s 1994 classic animated film, The Lion King.

Jones made the decision to retire in 2022, at the age of 91, according to Vanity Fair.

His incredible voice will carry on as the star signed off on allowing an artificial intelligence program to recreate his voice for future use, Vanity Fair reported, and his voice was used on the Obi-Wan Kenobi mini-series in 2022.

Originally published as Hollywood legend James Earl Jones dies