James Earl Jones: George Lucas and Mark Hamill lead tributes to actor (2024)

Star Wars creator George Lucas has led the tributes to "incredible actor" James Earl Jones, the voice behind Darth Vader, following his death at the age of 93.

In a statement, Lucas described Jones as "a most unique voice both in art and spirit".

"For nearly half a century he was Darth Vader, but the secret to it all is he was a beautiful human being," the director said.

"He gave depth, sincerity and meaning to all his roles, amongst the most important being a devoted husband to the late Ceci and dad to Flynn.

"James will be missed by so many of us... friends and fans alike."

'RIP dad'

Jones was best known for giving Star Wars supervillain Darth Vader his distinctive deep voice, and also starred in dozens of other films including Field of Dreams, Coming To America, Conan the Barbarian and The Lion King.

Mark Hamill, who played Vader's son Luke Skywalker, posted "RIP Dad" on X with a broken heart emoji.

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy added: "James Earl Jones is one of the most versatile and talented actors of our time, with an iconic body of work across film, stage and television.

"The menacing baritone he brought to Darth Vader will forever be beloved by fans and regarded as one of the great villainous performances in cinema.

"His commanding presence on screen, and warm personality off-screen, will be greatly missed."

James Earl Jones: George Lucas and Mark Hamill lead tributes to actor (1)James Earl Jones: George Lucas and Mark Hamill lead tributes to actor (2)Getty Images

Jones was also loved by millions for voicing Mufasa in Disney's classic animation The Lion King.

Disney chief executive Bob Iger said: "From the gentle wisdom of Mufasa to the menacing threat of Darth Vader, James Earl Jones gave voice to some of the greatest characters in cinema history."

He added: "The stories he brought to life with a uniquely commanding presence and a true richness of spirit have left an indelible mark on generations of audiences."

Actor Matthew Broderick, who voiced Simba in the Lion King, told People magazine: "I’m so lucky to have had a chance to work with James Earl Jones. To have had him play my father, my king! And to get to know him a little bit."

Writing on X, Star Trek star George Takei posted: "A great spirit and boundless, unique voice has left us.

"James Earl Jones has passed, and he is returned to the great beyond.

"We are all the lesser for his loss, and we collectively mourn his passing and honour his great body of work."

Star Trek actor LeVar Burton wrote on X: "There will never be another of his particular combinations of graces."

James Earl Jones: George Lucas and Mark Hamill lead tributes to actor (3)James Earl Jones: George Lucas and Mark Hamill lead tributes to actor (4)Getty Images

Kevin Costner, who co-starred with Jones in Field of Dreams, posted on Instagram: “That booming voice. That quiet strength. The kindness that he radiated. So much can be said about his legacy, so I’ll just say how thankful I am that part of it includes Field of Dreams."

Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer wrote on Instagram that Jones's "voice and talent will be remembered always" and that "legendary doesn't even begin to describe his iconic roles and impact on cinema forever".

Also paying tribute, US actor Colman Domingo wrote on X: "Thank you dear James Earl Jones for everything. A master of our craft. We stand on your shoulders. Rest now. You gave us your best."

Crystal Minkoff, wife of The Lion King co-director Rob Minkoff, posted a photo of Jones on Instagram holding a statue of Mufasa, with the words: "Rest in Power, Mr Jones. You made a young animator's dream come true when you accepted the role of Mufasa.

"Thank you for all you have done for Rob. Your memory will live on."

'Authority, grace and decorum'

Jones was also the voice of US broadcaster CNN's "This is CNN" tagline.

A statement on X from CNN read: "We are deeply saddened to hear of James's passing.

"He was the voice of CNN and our brand for many decades, uniquely conveying through speech instant authority, grace and decorum.

"That remarkable voice is just one of many things the world will miss about James. Our thoughts are with his family."

Jones forged his distinctive voice and acting career after overcoming a stammer, which lasted into his teens.

Jane Powell, chief executive of charity Stamma, told the BBC: "A great actor, a fantastic voice, and by all accounts a lovely man. And someone who stammered and who continued to work hard to sound fluent and manage his words throughout his life.

"James talked about the support he got from speech and language therapists, learning different techniques to manage his stammer, and how difficult it was trying to sound fluent. He had a magnificent voice."

The Empire State Building posted an image from earlier this year of the New York landmark lit up with a striking image of Darth Vader, saying: "Rest in Peace Lord Vader."

Actress Ava DuVernay posted on her Instagram stories: "Thank you for showing us ourselves. Our complicated selves, our dignified selves, our smiles our pain.

"A job well done. A gift beautifully shared. Bless you as you journey on."

The Color Purple star Danielle Brooks added: "Rest in power to one of our giants. May we forever hold your voice in our hearts!"

Director Paul Feig wrote on X that "James Earl Jones will never die" as "his talent, work and influence will be with us always."

British actor Abubakar Salim, who appeared in HBO’s Raised by Wolves and the latest series of House of the Dragon, told BBC Newsbeat he met Jones about 14 years ago when his sister was doing hair and make-up on a play the star was appearing in London.

Salim was introduced to him, and described Jones as "a lovely human being, very down to earth".

He added that the star was "so humble", and "it was the kindness" that stood out to him, as he gave up his time to give Salim advice about breaking into acting.

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James Earl Jones: George Lucas and Mark Hamill lead tributes to actor (2024)

FAQs

How did James Earl Jones become the voice of Darth Vader? ›

“It was really a choice between Orson Welles and James Earl Jones. James Earl Jones won hands down.” Jones later suggested that Lucas wanted a voice that sounded 'darker” than Welles' plummy tones. So they “hired a guy born in Mississippi, raised in Michigan, and stutters”.

Is James Earl Jones still alive in 2024? ›

James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 – September 9, 2024) was an American actor known for his film roles and his work in theater. He is one of the few performers to achieve the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony).

Does James Earl Jones have a son who is an actor? ›

Who is James Earl Jones' brother? ›

He is survived by Flynn, also an actor, and a brother, Matthew.

Who was Darth Vader's original voice before James Earl Jones? ›

STAR WARS before James Earl Jones' voice was dubbed in for Darth Vader. This is how it sounded on the set with David Prowse.

Why wasn t James Earl Jones credited as Darth Vader? ›

Jones requested his name not appear in the credits, out of deference to Prowse. [Jones would not be credited as the voice of Vader until the release of "Return of the Jedi."]

What illness did James Earl Jones have? ›

However, the star had been battling a serious health condition for almost three decades. While appearing on the Rachael Ray show in 2016, the Lion King actor shared how he had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the 1990s. He said: “I was lucky that it was discovered as it was quite by accident.

What faith is James Earl Jones? ›

(OSV News) — James Earl Jones, a distinguished actor known for his resonant voice and a Black Catholic, died Sept. 9 in Dutchess County, New York, at age 93.

How much did James Earl Jones make for Darth Vader? ›

Jones was paid $7,000 to voice Darth Vader in 1977′s “Star Wars”. “I lucked out to get a job that paid me $7,000,” he told the American Film Institute in 2009. “I thought that was good money. And I got to be a voice on a movie.

Does James Earl Jones have blue eyes? ›

Acclaimed African American actor James Earl Jones, for example, has blue eyes, likely the result of having ancestors of European descent with blue eyes.

Was James Earl Jones in the military? ›

Yes. Award-winning actor James Earl Jones, who died Sept. 9, 2024, at the age of 93, spent his first assignment after joining the Army at Camp Hale near Leadville in the 1950s.

How tall was James Earl Jones? ›

Barrel chested and 6 feet 2 inches tall, Jones was a dominating presence whether on stage, on screen or merely by sound. James Earl Jones, who conquered a crippling stammer to become an award-winning Broadway actor and voice Darth Vader's deep bass in Star Wars movies, has died. He was 93.

What movie did James Earl Jones win an Oscar for? ›

He was nominated for a Lead Actor Oscar for his role in The Great White Hope (1971) and was given an honorary Oscar at the 2012 ceremony. An eight-time Emmy nominee, his two wins both came in 1991: Lead Actor in a Drama series for Gabriel's Fire and Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for Heat Wave.

Where did James Earl Jones pass away? ›

He was 93. His agent, Barry McPherson, confirmed Jones died Monday morning at home in New York's Hudson Valley region.

What did James Earl Jones net worth? ›

Voice actor James Earl Jones, who died at 93, was paid just $7,000 for his Darth Vader role. As of James Earl Jones's death on Sept. 9, the voice actor known for his rich baritone and roles in The Lion King, Field of Dreams, and Star Wars had amassed a net worth of $40 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

How did they get Darth Vader's voice? ›

In 2022, Jones officially retired from the role of Darth Vader. At that time, he also gave Lucasfilm permission to use artificial intelligence to recreate his distinctive voice for future projects.

Is Darth Vader still voiced by James Earl Jones? ›

James Earl Jones Has Retired from Voicing Darth Vader, Signed Over Rights to Recreate His Voice. The actor was credited with voicing the iconic villain in "Obi-Wan Kenobi," but did not record new dialogue for the Disney+ series.

Why did Darth Vader have a different voice actor? ›

TIL James Earl Jones was officially replaced as the voice of Darth Vader last year by AI with Jones' consent. The move was made after he told Disney that he "was looking into winding down this particular character." He consented to the future use of his voice with AI to "keep Vader alive."

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