There’s always a voice behind some of the most memorable movie characters. From the big name movies to small indie projects, a character’s voice makes or breaks how effective they play their role.
On Sept. 9, 2024, James Earl Jones, the voice behind Mufasa in “The Lion King” and Darth Vader in “Star Wars”, sadly, passed away. He died peacefully at his home in Pawling, New York.
Over his nearly 70 year career, he voiced and acted thousands as of characters. Some of his more notable appearances are as Thulsa Doom in the 1982 film “Conan the Barbarian”, and leading role in the 1970 movie, “The Great White Hope”.
According to nytimes.com “In 2022, Broadway’s 110-year-old Cort Theater was renamed the James Earl Jones Theater.” Broadway dimmed its lights to honor the star that was lost this year. People across the country, once they heard about this tragic news, were sad to see such a legend pass on.
James Earl Jones’ legacy will be carried on through his family, including his child Flynn Jones. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jones is now a voice actor, often lending his talent to audiobooks. Famous and well known organizations, including the MLB and NAACP have made statements and tributes to honor the legend. Celebrities including Arnold Schwarzenegger and George Lucas have also made statements to honor their friend and co-worker.
According to apnews.com “In 1972, Jones repeated his role in the movie version [The Great White Hope] and was nominated for an Academy Award as best actor.”
James Earl Jones is among some of the few in the entertainment industry to have EGOT. This is when an actor is awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award. He also was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame, given a Golden Plate Award and a Common Wealth Award across his far expanding career. James Earl Jones was a beloved actor and leaves great memories in the minds of thousands of people.
