Remembering James Earl Jones' Life in Photos, fromStar WarstoThe Lion King

Mar. 15, 2025

James Earl Jones in 1965.Photo:CBS via Getty

CBS via Getty

James Earl Joneslived a life of a million stories as an actor for the stage and screen.The legendary actor, who won a Pulitzer,Tony,Emmy,Grammyand an honoraryOscarin his seven-decade career, died on Sept. 9, 2024 at his home in Dutchess County, New York. Jones was 93 years old.With his portrayal of timeless characters like Darth Vader inStar Wars, Mufasa inThe Lion Kingand Mr. Mertle inThe Sandlot, Jones is embedded into the American memory as one of the greatest performers of all-time. Look back on his decorated career and inspiring life, from Broadway toStar Warsand his final days.

James Earl Joneslived a life of a million stories as an actor for the stage and screen.

The legendary actor, who won a Pulitzer,Tony,Emmy,Grammyand an honoraryOscarin his seven-decade career, died on Sept. 9, 2024 at his home in Dutchess County, New York. Jones was 93 years old.

With his portrayal of timeless characters like Darth Vader inStar Wars, Mufasa inThe Lion Kingand Mr. Mertle inThe Sandlot, Jones is embedded into the American memory as one of the greatest performers of all-time. Look back on his decorated career and inspiring life, from Broadway toStar Warsand his final days.

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James Earl Jones' Early Life

James Earl Jones in 1960.Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images

Born in 1931in Mississippi,James Earl Jonesis the son of Ruth and Robert Earl Jones. Jones' father left shortly after he was born to pursue acting in New York and Hollywood, so the two were never close until they reconciled in the 1950s.

“[The teacher] looked at a poem I wrote and said, ‘It’s too good for you to have written, so to prove you wrote it, please stand up in front of the class and recite it from memory.’ And I did it without stuttering. So he used that as a program to get me to talk,” Jones toldThe Hollywood Reporter.

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James Earl Jones' Time in the Military

James Earl Jones in February 1979.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Jones attended theUniversity of Michigan, where he was a pre-med major and a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. After realizing he wasn’t cut out to be a doctor, he joined the school’s drama department. He later graduated from the university in 1955.

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James Earl Jones' Broadway Debut

James Earl Jones in 1964 production of ‘Othello’.everett

Prior to his work onBroadway, Jones nabbed the role of Shakespeares' Othello for a 1955 Michigan production, the first of many times the actor would play the character.

04of 18James Earl Jones' Shakespeare SucessJames Earl Jones in October 1962.CBS via GettyJones held various roles in a number of Shakespeare productions in the ’60s, includingOthello,King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream andHamlet. He’s regarded as one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of his day.

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James Earl Jones' Shakespeare Sucess

James Earl Jones in October 1962.CBS via Getty

Jones held various roles in a number of Shakespeare productions in the ’60s, includingOthello,King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream andHamlet. He’s regarded as one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of his day.

05of 18James Earl Jones and Julienne Marie’s MarriageJames Earl Jones and Julienne Marie in October 1968.Alan Aaronson/NY Daily News Archive via GettyJones first met Broadway actress Julienne Marie while playing Othello in 1964, and the two eventually got married in 1968. They later divorced in 1972.

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James Earl Jones and Julienne Marie’s Marriage

James Earl Jones and Julienne Marie in October 1968.Alan Aaronson/NY Daily News Archive via Getty

Jones first met Broadway actress Julienne Marie while playing Othello in 1964, and the two eventually got married in 1968. They later divorced in 1972.

06of 18James Earl Jones and Cecilia Hart’s MarriageJames Earl Jones and Cecilia Hart in June 2016.Ben Gabbe/GettyJones met actressCecilia Harton the set of the Steven Bochco seriesParis. In 1982, Cecilia played Desdemona opposite Jones' Othello and the two wed later that year.They had one child together, a son namedFlynn Earl Jonesborn in 1982. Cecilia died in 2016 at age 62, one year after receiving an ovarian cancer diagnosis.

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James Earl Jones and Cecilia Hart’s Marriage

James Earl Jones and Cecilia Hart in June 2016.Ben Gabbe/Getty

Jones met actressCecilia Harton the set of the Steven Bochco seriesParis. In 1982, Cecilia played Desdemona opposite Jones' Othello and the two wed later that year.

They had one child together, a son namedFlynn Earl Jonesborn in 1982. Cecilia died in 2016 at age 62, one year after receiving an ovarian cancer diagnosis.

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James Earl Jones' Film Debut

James Earl Jones in January 2009.Chris Pizzello/AP/Shutterstock

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James Earl Jones' Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award Wins

James Earl Jones wins a Tony in 1969.getty

Jones returned to the stage in 1967 to play Jack Jefferson in Howard Sackler’s playThe Great White Hopealongside Jane Alexander in Washington, D.C. Due to the show’s success, it was moved to Broadway a year later. It eventually won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as Jones' firstTony Awardfor best actor in a play in 1969.

09of 18James Earl Jones on ‘Sesame Street’James Earl Jones in ‘Sesame Street’ in 1970.Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty ImagesJones largely impacted the success ofSesame Streetas he helped create test films to gauge the show’s effectiveness in educating children in 1969.He contributed to the short that had the greatest effect on its test audience, in which he ispictured slowly counting to 10.Jones is technically the first celebrity to appear on the show, althoughCarol Burnett’s segment was the first to be broadcast.

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James Earl Jones on ‘Sesame Street’

James Earl Jones in ‘Sesame Street’ in 1970.Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images

Jones largely impacted the success ofSesame Streetas he helped create test films to gauge the show’s effectiveness in educating children in 1969.

He contributed to the short that had the greatest effect on its test audience, in which he ispictured slowly counting to 10.

Jones is technically the first celebrity to appear on the show, althoughCarol Burnett’s segment was the first to be broadcast.

10of 18James Earl Jones’ Oscar NominationJames Earl Jones in 1970’s ‘The Great White Hope’.20th Century Fox Film Corp/ Everett Collection.Jones reunited with Jane Alexander for the film adaptation ofThe Great White Hopein 1970, playing the same role he received the Tony Award for in 1969.This marked his first leading role in a film and earned him anAcademy Awardnomination for Best Actor, making him the second Black male performer to do so afterSidney Poitier.

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James Earl Jones' Oscar Nomination

James Earl Jones in 1970’s ‘The Great White Hope’.20th Century Fox Film Corp/ Everett Collection.

Jones reunited with Jane Alexander for the film adaptation ofThe Great White Hopein 1970, playing the same role he received the Tony Award for in 1969.

This marked his first leading role in a film and earned him anAcademy Awardnomination for Best Actor, making him the second Black male performer to do so afterSidney Poitier.

11of 18James Earl Jones in ‘Star Wars’James Earl Jones in May 2002.Jim Spellman/WireImageIn 1977, Jones made his iconic voice debut as Darth Vader inStar Wars: A New Hope. He later reprised the role in 1980’sThe Empire Strikes Backand 1983’sReturn of the Jedisequels.Although he voiced the character, hedidn’t actually playthe cloaked villain.David Prowse was the actorbehind the mask, but directorGeorge Lucasdidn’t think his accent fit the tone of the character.In 2022, Jones announced his retirement from the voice,granting Disney and Lucasfilm to use A.I. version of his voice trained on his past recordingsfor future versions of the character.

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James Earl Jones in ‘Star Wars’

James Earl Jones in May 2002.Jim Spellman/WireImage

In 1977, Jones made his iconic voice debut as Darth Vader inStar Wars: A New Hope. He later reprised the role in 1980’sThe Empire Strikes Backand 1983’sReturn of the Jedisequels.

Although he voiced the character, hedidn’t actually playthe cloaked villain.David Prowse was the actorbehind the mask, but directorGeorge Lucasdidn’t think his accent fit the tone of the character.

In 2022, Jones announced his retirement from the voice,granting Disney and Lucasfilm to use A.I. version of his voice trained on his past recordingsfor future versions of the character.

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James Earl Jones’ 1980s and 1990s Box Office Hits

James Earl Jones in 1989’s ‘Field of Dreams’.Universal/courtesy Everett Collection

In addition to theStar Warstrilogy, Jones appeared in a number of successful films, such as 1982’sConan the Barbarian, 1988’sComing to Americaand 1989’sField of Dreams, which was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

13of 18James Earl Jones in ‘The Lion King’James Earl Jones in October 2009.John Phillips/UK Press via GettyJones lent his distinctive voice to Disney’s animated filmThe Lion Kingin 1994, in which he dubbed the iconic voice ofMufasa. He reprised his role in 2019’s CGI remake of the classic, making him the only actor from theoriginal filmto do so.

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James Earl Jones in ‘The Lion King’

James Earl Jones in October 2009.John Phillips/UK Press via Getty

Jones lent his distinctive voice to Disney’s animated filmThe Lion Kingin 1994, in which he dubbed the iconic voice ofMufasa. He reprised his role in 2019’s CGI remake of the classic, making him the only actor from theoriginal filmto do so.

14of 18James Earl Jones’ Emmy Award WinsJames Earl Jones in August 1991.Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesThroughout the 1990s, Jones starred in three television series,Gabriel’s Fire,Pros and ConsandUnder One Roof. Out of eightEmmy Awardnominations, Jones is a two-time recipient – winning them both in the same year!In 1991, he earned an Emmy for his role onHeat Wave, winning outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or special, and another for his role onGabriel’s Fire, winning outstanding lead actor in a drama series.

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James Earl Jones' Emmy Award Wins

James Earl Jones in August 1991.Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Throughout the 1990s, Jones starred in three television series,Gabriel’s Fire,Pros and ConsandUnder One Roof. Out of eightEmmy Awardnominations, Jones is a two-time recipient – winning them both in the same year!

In 1991, he earned an Emmy for his role onHeat Wave, winning outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or special, and another for his role onGabriel’s Fire, winning outstanding lead actor in a drama series.

15of 18James Earl Jones' Voice Work for CNNJames Earl Jones in May 2005.Stephen Lovekin/WireImageIn addition to lending his voice to iconic characters throughout his career, Jones' baritone voice became the recognizable tagline forCNN, uttering the phrases “This is CNN” and “This is CNN International,” which opened the network’sNews Daymorning show.

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James Earl Jones' Voice Work for CNN

James Earl Jones in May 2005.Stephen Lovekin/WireImage

In addition to lending his voice to iconic characters throughout his career, Jones' baritone voice became the recognizable tagline forCNN, uttering the phrases “This is CNN” and “This is CNN International,” which opened the network’sNews Daymorning show.

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James Earl Jones' Other Honors and Awards

James Earl Jones in November 2011.Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Throughout his illustrious career spanning more than seven decades, Jones has been widely recognized for his work with various awards.

In addition to his two Emmys and Tonys, he’s earned aGrammyand an Honorary Academy Award. Jones is technically anEGOT winner, but not formally since he never won an Oscar in a competitive category.

17of 18James Earl Jones' Final RolesAmazon StudiosIn the last decade of his career, Jones remained active across theater, television and film. On stage, he took on roles in plays including Shakespeare’sMuch Ado About Nothingand the two-person playThe Gin Game.He voiced Mufasa once more for the 2015 television filmThe Lion Guard: Return of the Roarand the2019 remake ofThe Lion King. Jones also returned as the voice of Darth Vader in the seriesStar Wars Rebelsand the 2019 filmThe Rise of the Skywalkerbefore officially retiring in 2022.His final film credit was in the 2021 rom-comComing 2 America, in which reprised his role as King Jaffe Joffer from the first installment.

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James Earl Jones' Final Roles

Amazon Studios

In the last decade of his career, Jones remained active across theater, television and film. On stage, he took on roles in plays including Shakespeare’sMuch Ado About Nothingand the two-person playThe Gin Game.

He voiced Mufasa once more for the 2015 television filmThe Lion Guard: Return of the Roarand the2019 remake ofThe Lion King. Jones also returned as the voice of Darth Vader in the seriesStar Wars Rebelsand the 2019 filmThe Rise of the Skywalkerbefore officially retiring in 2022.

His final film credit was in the 2021 rom-comComing 2 America, in which reprised his role as King Jaffe Joffer from the first installment.

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James Earl Jones Dies

James Earl Jones in 2015.Photo courtesy of The Drama League

On Sept. 9, 2024, Jones' agent confirmed to PEOPLE thatthe actor diedin the morning at his home in Dutchess County, New York. He was 93.

source: people.com