Darth Vader Voice Actor James Earl Jones Dies at 93

James Earl Jones, one of the most powerful voices in the history of cinema, died this Monday (9), at the age of 93. Jones gave voice to characters such as Mufasa, from “The Lion King” and Darth Vader, in the “Star Wars” saga.

The information was provided by the actor and the voice actor’s agent, who stated that Jones was surrounded by his family at the time of his death. The cause of death was not disclosed, but the actor had suffered from type 2 diabetes since the 1990s. He leaves behind a son and a wife.

In declarationBob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said: “From the gentle wisdom of Mufasa to the menacing threat of Darth Vader, James Earl Jones has voiced some of the greatest characters in cinema history. A celebrated stage actor with nearly 200 film and television credits to his name, the stories he has brought to life with a singular, commanding presence and a true wealth of wit have left an indelible mark on generations of audiences.

James Earl Jones: Career

Jones was born in Mississippi (1931), USA. He is the son of actor Robert Earl Jones, who left the family before James was born to pursue a career in New York and Hollywood.

He worked with Langston Hughes and landed supporting roles in major films of the time, such as “The Sting.”

When James was five, the family moved to Michigan. The change caused the boy to develop a stutter. His fear of speaking left him almost mute until high school, when a poetry teacher helped him develop his speech again.

“He began to challenge me, to encourage me to speak again… to recognize and appreciate the beauty of words,” he said Jones.

He then studied drama at a local college, served as a ranger in the U.S. Army, and moved to New York, landing major roles in William Shakespeare’s plays. His film debut came in 1964, in Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove.”

In 1967, Jones played boxer Jack Johnson in “The Great White Hope.” The story changed his career and earned him a Tony. Three years later, he reprised the role in theaters, becoming the second African-American to be nominated for an Oscar. The first was Sidney Poitier.

Throughout the 1970s, he was consistently cast in various films and television work. Over the next 50 years, he took on increasingly prominent roles, such as Alex Haley in the series “Roots: The Next Generations,” Thulsa Doom in “Conan the Barbarian,” an African king in “A Prince in New York,” Kevin Costner’s private and reluctant character in “Field of Dreams,” Admiral Greer in “The Hunt for Red October” and “Patriotic Games,” and a South African preacher in “Cry, the Beloved Country.”

Costner also wanted to remember the “thundering voice” of his former producing partner:

“There’s a lot to say about his legacy, so I’ll just say how grateful I am that ‘Field of Dreams’ was included. If you’ve seen it, you know this movie wouldn’t be the same with anyone else in the role. Only he could bring that kind of magic to a movie about baseball and an Iowa cornfield. I’m grateful to have witnessed him make that magic happen.”

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The giant actor remained active until the last years of his life. In 2021, for example, he reprised his role in “A Prince in New York” in the Netflix sequel. His last production was to give voice, once again, to his most important character in “Obi-Wan Kenobi”, a Disney+ production.

“Star Wars” and the resounding success of Darth Vader

“I wanted to make Darth Vader more interesting, more subtle, more psychologically oriented. He [Lucas] he said, “No, no… you have to keep his voice in a very narrow range of inflections, because he’s not human,” he said Jones.

One of the most iconic lines in cinema came from Jones’ voice. In the 1980 film “The Empire Strikes Back,” when Vader tells Luke Skywalker, “No, I I am your father”, the actor and voice actor has entered the history of the saga once and for all.

This Monday (9), Mark Hamill, who played Skywalker throughout the saga, wrote on his Instagram: “One of the best actors in the world whose contribution to ‘Star Wars’ has been immeasurable. He will be greatly missed. #RIP Dad.”

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Another success: “The Lion King”

Two decades later, when he voiced the great Mufasa in “The Lion King,” Jones said it took a while to get the tone right.

“My first mistake was trying to make him look majestic. And what they really needed was something more like me. ‘They said, “What are you like as a father?” and I said, “Well, I’m a really stupid father.” And then they started imposing my facial expressions and a different tone of voice on Mufasa. Yes, he was authoritarian, but he was just a gentle father.” explained.

In 2019, Jones returned to voice Mufasa in the live-action version of the film. He was the only member of the previous team to reprise his role.

As a voice actor, he has worked on “LA Law”, “Sesame Street” and even “The Simpsons”. He also recorded an audio version of the Bible. According to him, people didn’t recognize him on the street until they heard his voice:

“When you don’t talk, it’s like becoming a ninja. You get in the cab and say where you’re going and the guy turns around and says, ‘Hey, aren’t you that Darth Vader guy?’” he said to Rachel Ray, in 2016.

Awards

Over the course of his career, Jones has won three Tonys, two Emmys, a Grammy, a Golden Globe and numerous other awards.

When asked how he fell in love with his profession, he said, “It wasn’t the acting. It was the language. It was a speech. It was the thing that… I had denied myself all those years[as a boy]. Now I had a great, abnormal appreciation for it. And it was the idea that you can do a play – like a Shakespeare play, or any well-written play, Arthur Miller, whatever – and say things that you never imagined you’d say, that you never imagined you’d think in your life. , In interview at the Academy of Achievement in 1996.

“You could say that! That’s what it’s about, whether it’s movies or TV or whatever. That’s what it’s about,” he concluded.

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Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.