James Earl Jones, Iconic Voice of Darth Vader, Passes Away at 93

James Earl Jones, the acclaimed Hollywood actor renowned for his unforgettable voice as Darth Vader, has died at the age of 93, as confirmed by his agent, Barry McPherson. Jones passed away early on Monday morning, surrounded by his family.

Throughout his illustrious career, Jones appeared in numerous films, including classics such as Field of Dreams, Coming To America, and Conan the Barbarian. However, he is most celebrated for providing the distinctive gravelly voice to the Star Wars supervillain Darth Vader.

Mark Hamill, who portrayed Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, expressed his condolences on social media by stating, “RIP Dad,” accompanied by a broken heart emoji, referencing their iconic roles in the series.

Born in January 1931 in Mississippi, Jones struggled with a stammer during his childhood, which made him nearly mute for several years. However, he developed his resonant voice as he worked to overcome his speech challenges.

In addition to his role as Darth Vader, Jones is well-known for voicing Mufasa in Disney’s 1994 animated film The Lion King and for being the voice behind CNN‘s recognizable tagline, “This is CNN.” He received various accolades throughout his career, including Emmy Awards, Tony Awards, a Grammy, and an honorary Oscar.

Jones originally lent his voice to Darth Vader in the first Star Wars film released in 1977, reprising his role in the subsequent films, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He later returned to the character in the anthology film Rogue One and the sequel trilogy film, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Initially, Jones did not receive recognition for his contribution to the Star Wars films, viewing his role as merely a special effect. However, after the films achieved significant commercial success, he reconsidered his stance regarding the recognition he deserved.

Aside from film, Jones was a prominent figure in television, starring as the older Alex Hailey in Roots: The Next Generation and winning an Emmy Award for his role in the drama Gabriel’s Fire. He also lent his iconic voice to various animated series, including The Simpsons and made appearances on Sesame Street.

Jones was celebrated for his stage performances, portraying distinguished characters in Shakespearean plays, including Othello and King Lear. His talent earned him a Tony Award in 1968 for his performance in The Great White Hope.

Throughout his career, Jones remained dedicated to his craft and continued working into his 80s. His remarkable voice and presence will be remembered by audiences worldwide.