James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is a living legend. With a career spanning nearly seven decades, he is one of the most recognizable and beloved actors of all time. A multi-award-winning American actor of theater, film, and television, his distinguishable bass voice and powerful performances have left a lasting mark on the entertainment industry.
It all started in 1931 when Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, the son of Ruth (née Connolly) and Robert Earl Jones. At the age of five, he moved to Jackson, Michigan and was raised by his maternal grandparents, but the adoption was traumatizing and he developed a stutter so severe he refused to speak aloud. Thankfully, he eventually found his voice again through a high school teacher who discovered his aptitude for writing poetry.
Jones went on to attend the University of Michigan, majoring in pre-med, but eventually discovered that medicine wasnât his true calling. Instead, he chose to pursue acting and found a part-time stage crew job at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, Michigan. This marked the beginning of his incredible career.
In 1964, Jones had his first film role as Lt. Lothar Zogg in the classic Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. He then received huge critical acclaim for his portrayal of boxer Jack Jefferson in the film version of the Broadway play The Great White Hope, which earned him an Academy Award nomination and made him the second African-American male performer (following Sidney Poitier) to receive a nomination.
Of course, Jones is best known for providing the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise and delivering the iconic tagline for CNN, âThis is CNNâ. He also voiced Mufasa in the 1994 Disney animated blockbuster The Lion King and its direct-to-video sequel, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. And letâs not forget his memorable guest spots on The Simpsons!
But Jonesâs career isnât just about Hollywood. He is also an accomplished stage actor, having won Tony awards for The Great White Hope in 1969 and for Fences in 1987. His other notable stage roles include Othello, King Lear, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Abhorson in Measure for Measure, and Claudius in Hamlet.
In 2002, Jones was honored with the Kennedy Center Honors and was even given his own day in Michigan, which is celebrated on January 17th every year. He has been happily married to actress Cecilia Hart since 1982 and they have one child, Flynn Earl Jones. He was previously married to American actress/singer Julienne Marie.
James Earl Jones has truly done it all, and for that we thank him. Oh, and one last thing: did you know that heâs a registered Republican? We think he might just be the only Republican in Hollywood⊠just kidding!