James Earl Jones, the beloved stage and screen actor who lent his iconic, deep voice to Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King, has died at 93.
Regarded as one of the best actors of his generation, Jones’ career spanned Shakespeare to Hollywood hits. He is one of the few actors to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony Award.
The actor’s death was reported by Deadline, via his representatives at Independent Artist Group.
James Earl Jones was born January 17, 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi and raised by his grandparents in Dublin, Michigan. While he would later become one of the most famous voices in the world, he says he suffered from a stutter in his youth.
“I was a stutterer. I couldn’t talk,” Jones recalled in a 1996 interview. “So my first year of school was my first mute year, and then those mute years continued until I got to high school.” A teacher encouraged him to overcome his stutter by reading poetry aloud.
Jones served in the US Army during the Korean War, and after decided to pursue a career in acting. He studied at the American Theatre Wing, working as a janitor to support himself. By the 1960s, Jones was establishing himself as one of his generation’s great Shakespearean actors, playing roles like Othello and King Lear. He also made his film debut in Stanley Kubrick’s classic 1964 comedy Dr. Strangelove, as bombadier Lt. Lothar Zogg.
In 1967, he played a boxer in The Great White Hope, winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. He reprised the role in the 1970 film version, receiving his first Academy Award nomination.
Amidst all his acclaimed acting work, Jones soon landed his most well-known and iconic role — one where he didn’t even have to appear on set: voicing the villainous Darth Vader in Star Wars. While Vader was played in costume by David Prowse, Jones dubbed over the lines with his own deep bass voice, helping to create one of the most famous characters in movie history.
While Jones originally opted to go uncredited for the role, it has become perhaps his most famous performance. He continued to voice Vader for decades, in the two sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the prequel Revenge of the Sith and the spin-off Rogue One. In 2022, Jones retired from the role, but signed an agreement for his voice to be used in future projects using artificial intelligence and archive recordings.
Jones also provided the voice of another beloved movie character, Mufasa in the 1994 Disney film The Lion King. Jones later reprised the role in the 2019 remake.
Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, Jones appeared in many Hollywood films, including Conan the Barbarian, Coming to America, Field of Dreams, and The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games and The Sandlot. He also won his second Tony Award, starring in the original production of August Wilson’s Fences.
He received eight Emmy Award nominations for his television work, winning twice in 1991: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for Heat Wave and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Gabriel’s Fire.
Jones also continued to perform on Broadway: over the past 20 years he starred in revivals of On Golden Pond, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Driving Miss Daisy, The Best Man and You Can’t Take it With You.
Jones was the recipient of many awards and honors throughout his acclaimed career. He received an Honorary Academy Award in 2011, making him one of the only people to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award, known as “EGOT.” Broadway’s Cort Theatre was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in his honor in 2022.
Rest in peace to the iconic James Earl Jones, one of the greatest actors of our time — please share this
Woman Proves That String Bikinis Are Suitable for All Ages, But Some People Are Furious
Elle Anthony, a 53-year-old woman, is on a mission to enhance women’s self-confidence and inspire them to embrace their bodies, regardless of age or shape. In a recent TikTok video, she conveyed a sincere message about body positivity. Nevertheless, some individuals online promptly voiced contrasting opinions.
She radiates confidence.
In her TikTok clip, Elle conveyed to her followers that societal norms dictating who can or cannot wear small swimsuits are irrelevant. She initiated her message by stating that summer is here, and there’s constant discussion about preparing for a summer beach body.
She emphasized the importance of living in the present, highlighting that one’s mindset truly matters, not worries about appearance. She addressed her audience, stating that if you’re prepared to hit the beach without reservations about your appearance in a bathing suit, surf shorts, or swim shorts, you’re all set for your summer beach body.
Choose outfits that bring you joy.
The content creator continued motivating her audience to choose their attire freely, declaring, “Wear that bikini, wear that G-string, wear those short shorts, whatever you’re into. This is your summer.”
Anthony further urged her female followers to embrace freedom and empowerment, advising them to dismiss external pressures associated with aging. She underscored that society imposes criticisms, labels, and standards on us, ones we never sought.
She divided the internet.
This fabulous lady remains steadfast in adhering to this principle, proudly displaying her body in bold clothing and bikinis without compromise. While many of her online followers applaud and support her stance, others hold differing opinions and engage in trolling.
For instance, one person remarked, “[…] no human ever needs to wear a ’G-string’ at the beach. Having confidence doesn’t require you to dress inappropriately. Dress modestly and have fun at the beach.” At the same time, another noted, “No thanks. I have seen enough.”
Someone else explained that what we wear should depend on our shape.
We celebrate the fabulousness of every woman who embraces her comfort in her own skin and confidently displays her beauty. At 74, this remarkable lady exemplifies that it’s never too late to captivate the world with one’s physique. Check this article if you want to find out her story!
Preview photo credit elleanthony52 / TikTok, elleanthony52 / TikTok
Leave a Reply