James Earl Jones The Lion King and Star Wars legend dies aged 93

James Earl Jones, most known for his roles as Darth Vader in Star Wars and as the voice of Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King, died at his home in New York on September 9.

His representatives from Independent Artist Group confirmed the news to Deadline.

Jones’s cause of death has not yet been revealed.

He is one of the very few stars to have achieved EGOT status, after multiple Emmys, a Grammy, an Oscar, and three Tony Awards throughout his incredible career.

He won his two Tonys for his stage work in a production of The Great White Hope in 1969 and for plating Troy Maxson in August Wilson’s Fences.

 

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Jones also received a Special Tony Award in 2017, which sat alongside his honorary Academy Award of 2012.

Additionally, his two Emmy wins came in 1991 – for lead actor in a drama series for Gabriel’s Fire and supporting actor in a miniseries or a special for Heat Wave.

His more recent appearances included roles in 2017’s The Gin Game on Broadway.

Born on 17 January, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones overcame a profound childhood stutter to become one of the biggest actors in Hollywood, with an instantly recognizable voice to match.

He studied drama at university and stepped into the spotlight thanks to his efforts at the Ramsdell Theatre in Michigan, before making his screen debut in East Side/West Side in 1963.

From there, the late star went on to land a coveted role in Stanley Kubrick’s in Dr Strangelove in 1964, and has been a staple of Hollywood ever since.

 

As well as his various film roles, the US actor’s voice was also lent to various audiobooks and to CNN for its ‘This is CNN’ tagline.

Following the sad news of his death, Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, posted ‘#RIP Dad’ with a broken heart emoji as he paid tribute.

In 2005, veteran star Jones reprised his role of Vader for Revenge Of The Sith and he returned to the role nine years later in the first episode of Star Wars Rebels, and in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Actor Colman Domingo also paid tribute, tweeting: ‘Thank you dear James Earl Jones for everything. A master of our craft. We stand on your shoulders. Rest now. You gave us your best.’

‘James Earl Jones… there will never be another of his particular combination of graces’, said LeVar Burton.

Garcelle Beauvais penned on Instagram: ‘Words cannot express how sad this makes me! thank you for gracing us with your talent and your spirit! It was a pleasure to work and know you’.

RIP to the GOAT, James Earl Jones pic.twitter.com/OuzdNqudFJ

— Meredith Loftus (@MeredithLoftus) September 9, 2024

Rest in peace, James Earl Jones. One of the most powerful, evocative, emotional voices in cinema history. This is the first scene that came to mind, it’s one of my favorites of all time. pic.twitter.com/AcMSv0dttw

— joe bro (@jbromovies) September 9, 2024

Crystal Minkoff, wife of The Lion King co-director Rob Minkoff, also posted a photo of Jones holding a Mufasa statute, writing: ‘Rest in Power, Mr. Jones. You made a young animator’s dream come true when you accepted the role of Mufasa. Thank you for all you have done for Rob. Your memory will live on.’

Joining the tributes, fans reflected on Jones’s career and hailed today ‘a sad day’.

X user Phil_Lewis_ declared Jones’s death a ‘monumental loss’, while fan account starwarsstuff said his delivery of ‘No, I am your father’ remains ‘the most iconic line in cinema history’.

In 1968, Jones married actress and singer Julienne Marie, whom he met while performing as Othello in 1964.

They had no children and divorced in 1972 and 10 years later he married actress Cecilia Hart, with whom he had a son, Flynn.

She died from ovarian cancer in October 2016.