Yahoo News Star Wars actor James Earl Jones receives tributes after death
Tributes have poured in following the death of legendary Lion King and Star Wars actor James Earl Jones.
A spokesperson for the actor's agency, the Independent Artist Group, confirmed to Deadline on Monday (September 9) that he'd died at age 93 at his home in Dutchess County, New York.
Mark Hamill, who played James Earl Jones' on-screen son in the Star Wars universe, wrote on Twitter / X: "#RIP dad."
Jones' Coming to America co-star Garcelle Beauvais also led tributes to the actor, writing on Instagram: "Words cannot express how sad this makes me! thank you for gracing us with your talent and your spirit! It was a pleasure to work and know you #jamesearljones restinpower."
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CNN – which used Jones' voice for its 'This is CNN' idents for decades – said of the star's passing: "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 was one of the US's most distinguished and acclaimed actors on both stage and screen, having been a prestigious EGOT recipient. He received two Emmys, a Grammy Award, an honorary Oscar, and three Tony Awards throughout his life.
His career began on the Broadway stage in the late 1950s, before his first-ever film role as Lt. Lothar Zogg in 1964's Dr. Strangelove. Other memorable film roles included starring opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1982's Conan the Barbarian, the sports drama Field of Dreams, and appearing with Eddie Murphy in Coming to America.
Unquestionably, his most iconic film role was as Darth Vader in the Star Wars films. He provided the low, booming voice of the Sith Lord while actor David Prowse physically performed the role on set in the original trilogy.
Decades after he originated the Darth Vader role in director George Lucas's trilogy, Jones returned to the role for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and had a three-word cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
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More recently, Jones recently allowed his voice to be used in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, but it was clarified in 2022 that he was "winding down" his involvement with Star Wars.
The actor's distinctive voice also lent itself to his involvement in many animated projects, including playing Mufasa in the original 1994 film The Lion King and its live-action remake.
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