James Earl Jones is one of the most recognizable actors in American history, even from just his voice. The revered actor became famous for his deep baritone voice after voicing the iconic villain Darth Vader in the Star Wars series and Mufasa in The Lion King. Jones is among 21 people to hold an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. He is also a member of the American Theater Hall of Fame and earned a National Medal of Arts in 1992.

James Earl Jones was born in rural Mississippi in 1931. Months after Jones was born, his father, Robert Earl Jones, left the family to become an actor and found success as one of the first notable African American actors in Hollywood. At five years old, James moved to Michigan to live with his grandparents on their farm, which resulted in a traumatic transition. As a result, he developed a severe stutter and did not speak until high school. He credited his English teacher, Donald Crouch, for helping him end his silence. Crouch encouraged Jones to challenge his stutter by having him read poetry aloud to the class. Jones attended the University of Michigan after graduating, and he majored in drama before serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

After serving in the military, Jones began working at the Ramsdell Theatre in Michigan. He portrayed Othello in his first acting role and also appeared in the ABC radio drama series Theatre-Five. In 1957, he made his Broadway debut as an understudy in a short-lived play titled The Egghead. During the 1960s, Jones found success as one of the best known Shakespearean actors in America. He also made his feature film debut in 1964 in Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove. Jones broke out after portraying the boxer Jack Johnson in the stage play and later film The Great White Hope. He earned many awards for his performances, becoming the second African American ever nominated for the Best Actor award at the Oscars. After years of success, Jones made his voiceover debut in Star Wars: A New Hope as the villainous Darth Vader, which became his most iconic role.

After his success in the 1970s, Jones continued his prestigious career in both feature films and stage productions throughout the following decades. He received many awards and honors during his career, and lent his voice to many famous films, commercials, and audiobooks. Jones’ last role was in Coming 2 America, a 2021 comedy film also featuring Eddie Murphy. In 2022, Jones retired after signing a groundbreaking deal with Lucasfilm, which permitted the studio to use archival recordings of his voice to generate the voice of Darth Vader artificially in any future appearances for the character. Also in 2022, The Cort Theatre, where Jones made his Broadway debut in 1958, was renamed to the James Earl Jones Theatre.

James Earl Jones died on September 9, 2024, surrounded by his family in his home in Pawling, New York. As of September 11, his cause of death is unknown. Many notable figures paid tribute to Jones, ranging from his fellow actors to his alma mater, the University of Michigan. The NAACP also praised Jones for being a pioneer for African Americans in cinema. At the time of his death, Jones held three Emmy Awards, three Tony Awards, and one Academy Award. Vice President Kamala Harris discussed Jones’ legacy, stating that “he used his voice to challenge America’s thinking on civil rights and race, and he continued to propel our nation forward through his art.”