Award-Winning Actor James Earl Jones Dies at 93

Award-Winning Actor James Earl Jones Dies at 93

James Earl Jones, the acclaimed actor known for his distinctive voice and extensive career in film, television, and theater, passed away on September 9 at the age of 93. 

"After overcoming a profound stutter as a child, Jones established himself as one of the pioneering Black actors of his generation, amassing a bountiful and versatile career spanning over 60 years, from his debut on Broadway in 1958 at the Cort Theatre — renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in 2022 — to his most recent performance in 2021’s 'Coming 2 America,'" reported Variety, noting his rep confirmed his passing. 

Born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones began his acting career in the 1950s.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

His work includes notable roles in films such as "The Great White Hope" (1970), for which he received an Academy Award nomination, and "Field of Dreams" (1989). 

He is also well-known for voicing Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" franchise and Mufasa in Disney's "The Lion King."

Jones’s contributions to theater include his performances in productions such as "Othello" and "Fences."

His career was marked by numerous awards, including a Tony Award and an Emmy Award.

Jones earned a Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement award in 2009, an honorary Oscar in 2011 and a lifetime achievement Tony Award in 2017. His Grammy award in 1977 for spoken word album makes Jones only one a handful of actors to receive an EGOT.