James Earl Jones, Legendary Voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa, Passes Away

There is some very sad news coming out of Hollywood on this September day. Actor James Earl Jones, the voice behind Mufasa in Disney’s 1994 film The Lion King and the villainous Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, has died at the age of 93. His death was confirmed by his representatives at Independent Artist Group.

Related: ‘Star Wars’ Actor Honored With Theater Named After Them

James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi. His mother, Ruth, was a teacher and a maid, while his father, Robert Earl Jones, was a boxer, butler, and chauffeur. His father left the family when James was a young boy and pursued a career in Hollywood, where he was both a stage and film actor. The father and son did not reconcile until the 1950s.

James Earl Jones was very open about the fact that he grew up struggling with a prominent stutter. He was able to overcome his disability through acting and poetry. He initially had dreams of being a doctor, even attending college as a pre-med major. However, after serving in the Korean War, he decided to pursue an acting career.

Related: James Earl Jones Made Over $3K an HOUR For 1977 ‘Star Wars’

Mr. Earl Jones was just 21 years old when he got his acting break, appearing as Dr. Jim Frazier in the hit soap opera Guiding Light. Since then, he went on to star in nearly 200 films and television shows.

He is most well known for his roles as Mufasa, Darth Vader, Terrance Mann in Field of Dreams (1989), Admiral Greer in Clear and Present Danger (1994), and Gabriel Bird in Gabriel’s Fire. He also appeared in Conan the Barbarian (1982), Coming to America (1988), The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Sandlot (1990), Patriot Games (1992), and Sneakers (1992).

Related: Disney Legend Celebrates Insane Milestone

Jones’s deep voice also made him perfect for voice acting, and over the years, his voice was used in many movies and television shows. In addition to voicing Darth Vader and Mufasa, he also served as the Narrator in Judge Dredd (1995), the Narrator in Who’s In Rabbit’s House? (1995), the Narrator in 3rd Rock From the Sun, the voice of Kibosh in Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997), Unas in Stargate SG-1 (1997), and several voice roles in The Simpsons.

Although he is best known for his film and television roles, James Earl Jones also loved acting on the stage. Throughout his 93 years, he starred in several Broadway plays, including The Iceman Cometh, Of Mice and Men, Othello, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Driving Miss Daisy, and You Can’t Take It With You.

Fans loved James Earl Jones as much as his fellow actors did. Over the course of his illustrious career, he achieved the coveted EGOT status, meaning he won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award. He won a total of three Emmys, three Tony Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Glove, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

James Earl Jones was married twice during his life. He married Julienne Marie in 1968, and the pair divorced in 1972. He then married Cecilia Hart in 1982, and they were together until her death in 2016. The couple share one son, actor Flynn Earl Jones.

We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of James Earl Jones. We will forever remember how much he gave to his craft and his fans.