James Earl
Jones (Photo: Jeremy Daniel)
James Earl Jones, a
boundary-breaking actor with a voice of gold, has died.
One of the best known, most
versatile, and most beloved actors of our time, Jones's many talents earned him
EGOT status. He won two Emmy Awards, one for supporting actor (Heat Wave),
one for lead actor (Gabriel's Fire); a Grammy for his recording of the
Emancipation Proclamation on the album Great American Documents; three
Tonys - for The Great White Hope, Fences, and a Lifetime
Achievement Tony; and an honorary Oscar.
Born in Arkabutla,
Mississippi, in 1931, Jones had a speech problem he overcame magnificently,
using his golden voice in role after role. It's hard to think of Jones without
thinking of Darth Vader, arguably his best-known voice role, although his Mufasa
in The Lion
King might be just as well known. The list of his film and television work ranges from Dr. Strangelove to The Simpsons, Field of Dreams to Roots to The Great White Hope. On stage, he lent
his formidable presence to Othello,
You Can't Take It With You, Of Mice and Men, The Gin Game. the list goes on.
Broadway recognizes those it
loves: the Cort Theatre was renamed The James Earl Jones in 2022.
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