Actor Behind Darth Vader's Voice Passes Away
James Earl Jones, the iconic figure known for his performances on stage and screen, as well as his voice work for characters like Darth Vader, Mufasa, and CNN, has passed away at the age of 93. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
James Earl Jones, an iconic figure in the realms of theater, film, and voice acting, passed away at the age of 93 in his home in New York on Monday.
Recognized as one of the foremost African-American actors, Jones was a rare recipient of the prestigious EGOT - awards in television, music, film, and stage. His commanding presence was matched by his distinctive "booming basso profundo, conveying instant dignity or menace," according to CNN. The network chose him for their iconic "This is CNN" announcement after being impressed by his portrayal of Darth Vader in the 'Star Wars' series.
Jones also lent his voice to the character of Mufasa in the 'Lion King' movies by Disney.
Born in Mississippi in 1931, Jones overcame early speech challenges and pursued drama studies before serving in the US military, although he did not see action in Korea. After his service, he initially worked as a janitor in a Michigan theater. His breakthrough stage role was as Othello in the mid-1950s, in the eponymous Shakespeare play.
His film debut came in Stanley Kubrick's 'Dr. Strangelove,' followed by a lead role in 'The Great White Hope,' for which he received a Tony award prior to the film adaptation.
Throughout the 1980s, Jones's career flourished with significant roles in major films such as 'Conan the Barbarian,' 'Coming to America,' and 'Field of Dreams.'
In the 1990s, he portrayed Admiral James Greer in a trio of Tom Clancy adaptations: 'The Hunt for Red October,' 'Patriot Games,' and 'Clear and Present Danger,' sharing the screen with Harrison Ford in the latter two.
By 2017, Jones had retired from the stage and television, making his final film appearance in 2021's 'Coming 2 America.' Additionally, he entered into an agreement with Lucasfilm, allowing the use of his archived recordings to AI-generate the voice of Darth Vader for future projects.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
Recognized as one of the foremost African-American actors, Jones was a rare recipient of the prestigious EGOT - awards in television, music, film, and stage. His commanding presence was matched by his distinctive "booming basso profundo, conveying instant dignity or menace," according to CNN. The network chose him for their iconic "This is CNN" announcement after being impressed by his portrayal of Darth Vader in the 'Star Wars' series.
Jones also lent his voice to the character of Mufasa in the 'Lion King' movies by Disney.
Born in Mississippi in 1931, Jones overcame early speech challenges and pursued drama studies before serving in the US military, although he did not see action in Korea. After his service, he initially worked as a janitor in a Michigan theater. His breakthrough stage role was as Othello in the mid-1950s, in the eponymous Shakespeare play.
His film debut came in Stanley Kubrick's 'Dr. Strangelove,' followed by a lead role in 'The Great White Hope,' for which he received a Tony award prior to the film adaptation.
Throughout the 1980s, Jones's career flourished with significant roles in major films such as 'Conan the Barbarian,' 'Coming to America,' and 'Field of Dreams.'
In the 1990s, he portrayed Admiral James Greer in a trio of Tom Clancy adaptations: 'The Hunt for Red October,' 'Patriot Games,' and 'Clear and Present Danger,' sharing the screen with Harrison Ford in the latter two.
By 2017, Jones had retired from the stage and television, making his final film appearance in 2021's 'Coming 2 America.' Additionally, he entered into an agreement with Lucasfilm, allowing the use of his archived recordings to AI-generate the voice of Darth Vader for future projects.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
