RIP: The voice of Darth Vader. James Earl Jones becomes a Force Ghost at age 93.

[thewayne]

Jones won his first award for stage work: a Tony in 1970 in The Great White Hope. His first movie role was a smallish part in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove as one of the airmen on the ill-fated bomber. He was tagged as the voice of Darth Vader by George Lucas when it was quickly apparent that David Prowse's accent was entirely inappropriate to be used in the film and had to be re-recorded: he was being called Darth Farmer during production. Apparently Orson Welles was also considered for the voice role, good choice made by Lucas considering the relative lifespans of the two actors.

James Earl Jones went on to do quite a number of memorable roles, including the Eddie Murphy comedy Coming To America, and, of course, Mufasa in The Lion King.

He created some amazing roles and earned his rest.

https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/james-earl-jones-dead-obituary-1234768096

Comments

[moxie_man]

Another great has passed on. Thanks for sharing.

[kaishin108]

What a voice he had, just amazing. And a great man and actor too.

[thewayne]

I had no idea that he had earned a Tony so long ago at such an early age!

[kaishin108]

Me neither, and a Tony is a huge accomplishment!

[kathmandu]

I caught just the end of Coming to America on broadcast TV, without any idea of what I was watching. So I tuned in just before the moment when an ordinary young man opens the door from an ordinary apartment, and in the ordinary hall we see *James Earl Jones, in an exquisitely tailored suit, with a lion-skin cloak* ! It was very impressive.

[thewayne]

I think Coming to America was a fantastic movie, and I absolutely loved him in it.

[disneydream06]

That voice was just beyond amazing. :)

I remember watching the tv show "Gabriel's Fire" back in the 80s.
It also starred Madge Sinclair, another great voice. :)
Hugs, Jon

[madamoiselle_sambuca]

Agreed. That is so sad but as they say...

[silveradept]

James Earl Jones was a voice that everyone got to hear and enjoy. I think the first time I heard him was as the chief of police on Square One TV's Mathnet, and then I got to hear him in so many other roles and voice-overs all throughout time. What a voice, what a man, and it's too bad that we don't have him around any more.

[thewayne]

His voice was absolutely amazing, he was a great actor overall and shall be missed.