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James Earl Jones

ACTOR · BORN 1931 · DIED 2024

James Earl Jones

Born
17 January 1931, Arkabutla, Mississippi, USA
Died
9 September 2024
Known for
The Lion King (1994), Merlin (1998), Return of the Jedi (1983), Best of the Best (1989)

58 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026

James Earl Jones (17 January 1931 – 9 September 2024) was an actor best known for The Lion King, Merlin and Return of the Jedi.

James Earl Jones over the years

James Earl Jones in 1991 (age 60)
1991 · age 60Alan Light, CC BY 2.0
James Earl Jones in 2013 (age 82)
2013 · age 82Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0

58 Interesting Facts About James Earl Jones

Interesting Facts (12)

  1. #001

    James Earl Jones explained how he became the voice of Darth Vader: George Lucas's first thought was Orson Welles, but he felt Welles's voice was too famous and would distract audiences, so he looked for a lesser-known actor with a similarly deep, commanding voice, and Jones's unique bass was exactly what he wanted, giving voice to one of cinema's most unforgettable villains.

    James Earl Jones — a scene
    James Earl Jones: a sceneImage: Wikimedia Commons · Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0

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  2. #002

    To cope with his stutter, Jones wrote poetry, and with his teachers' encouragement he read his poems aloud in class, which built his confidence as a speaker, fed his love of literature and laid the groundwork for his later success on stage and screen.

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  3. #003

    Jones narrated the 2001 documentary 'Black Indians: An American Story,' about the racial identity of communities of mixed Native American and African American descent, a heritage he shares himself, which made the project personal for him.

    James Earl Jones — in the street
    James Earl Jones: in the streetImage: Wikimedia Commons · Photo by Stuart Crawford (, CC BY 2.0

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  4. #004

    In April 1998, during a live broadcast of an NBA playoff game, Jones was mistakenly announced as dead; the man who had actually died was James Earl Ray, Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassin, and Jones had to issue a statement confirming he was alive.

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  5. #005

    Jones became the first African American actor to play a President of the United States, in 'The Man' (1972), a pioneering role in a film that challenged the racial prejudices of its day.

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  6. #006

    Jones's voice performance as Darth Vader ranks 84th on Premiere Magazine's '100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time,' and that voice did much to make Vader iconic.

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  7. #007

    On October 8, 2002, Jones appeared before the US House Education Reform Subcommittee alongside Theo Lion, a puppet from PBS's 'Between the Lions,' to speak about the importance of literacy programs.

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  8. #008

    James Earl Jones appeared alongside Harrison Ford in six films: the three original Star Wars films (1977, 1980, 1983), Patriot Games (1992), Clear and Present Danger (1994) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), and the clash between Ford's Han Solo and Jones's Vader is one of the cornerstones of the saga.

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  9. #009

    Although Jones played memorable roles in baseball films (The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings, Field of Dreams, The Sandlot) and sang the national anthem at the 1993 MLB All-Star Game, he admits he doesn't like the sport, a testament to his professionalism.

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  10. #010

    James Earl Jones is often thought to be the voice of Arby's 'We have the meats!' ads, but it's actually Ving Rhames, a mix-up that shows how distinctive Jones's voice is, even if the two actors sound alike.

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  11. #011

    Callers using Bell Atlantic payphones heard James Earl Jones say 'Welcome to Bell Atlantic' just before a woman's voice asked for a calling card number, his voice lending the service an air of trust.

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  12. #012

    James Earl Jones and David Prowse, Darth Vader's voice and body, didn't meet for many years, finally coming together privately in 2012, a big moment for Star Wars fans.

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Behind the Scenes (15)

  1. #013

    Jones grew up in the small town of Dublin, Michigan. This rural environment meant he had a modest childhood. Yet the experiences he gained there later allowed him to bring depth to the characters he played in his acting career. Dublin remained a place where he remembered his roots.

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  2. #014

    Although Jones played iconic roles in baseball-themed films (The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings, Field of Dreams, The Sandlot) and sang the National Anthem at the 1993 MLB All-Star Game, he admits he dislikes the sport. This shows his professionalism and commitment to his roles. It also reveals that his acting could conceal his lack of interest in sports.

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  3. #015

    A Norwegian rock band paid tribute to Jones by naming themselves 'James Earl Jones Barbershop Explosion!' This name reflects both the power of his voice and his cultural impact. The band's choice is an indication of how widely recognized Jones is internationally.

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  4. #016

    In March 2022, the Shubert Organization announced that it would rename Broadway's Cort Theatre the James Earl Jones Theatre. Built in 1912, this historic theater reopened under its new name in 2022 following renovation work. This became the second Broadway theater named after an African American artist; the first was the August Wilson Theatre. This honor serves as a tribute to Jones's contributions to the theater world.

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  5. #017

    Jones's first acting experience took place at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, Michigan. While working on the stage crew there, he also found the opportunity to act. This experience allowed him to discover his passion for theater and laid the foundation of his career.

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  6. #018

    Jones played the son of Dorian Harewood in the series Roots: The Next Generations (1979). In real life, however, Harewood was more than 19 years older than Jones. This age difference shows how convincing his acting talent was. Jones was able to successfully portray a young character.

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  7. #019

    Jones and Madge Sinclair played the parents of the main character in two films: in Coming to America (1988) they played the mother and father of Eddie Murphy's character Akeem, and in The Lion King (1994) they voiced Simba's mother and father. These two films show the pair's on-screen chemistry.

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  8. #020

    Jones's voice is often confused with the Arby's restaurant chain's 'We have the meats!' advertising campaign. However, the person speaking in that commercial is actually Ving Rhames. Although the two actors' tones are similar, this commercial does not belong to Jones.

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  9. #021

    Those who used Bell Atlantic payphones would hear Jones's 'Welcome to Bell Atlantic' announcement. This announcement played just before a female voice asked for a calling card number. Jones's voice was used as an element that lent trust to this telephone service.

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  10. #022

    Jones did not meet David Prowse, who portrayed Darth Vader's physical body, for a long time. The two finally came together in a private meeting in 2012. This meeting was an important moment for Star Wars fans. Jones and Prowse represented two separate sides of the character.

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  11. #023

    Jones was considered for the role of Da Mayor in Spike Lee's film 'Do the Right Thing' (1989), but he turned down the offer and chose to appear in 'Best of the Best' (1989). This decision led him in a different direction in his career. Even so, Jones later made up for not appearing in Lee's films with other projects.

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  12. #024

    Jones auditioned for the role of Tom Robinson in the film 'To Kill a Mockingbird' (1962). However, the role went to Brock Peters. Peters would later voice Darth Vader in the Star Wars radio plays. This coincidence shows the parallels in the two actors' careers.

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  13. #025

    In 2012 he was awarded the Marian Anderson Award, a significant honor in the arts world. The award recognizes not only his achievements as an actor but also his contributions to society and the arts. In receiving this prestigious prize, Jones continued to be an inspiration to the artists who came before and after him.

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  14. #026

    Along with Harrison Ford, Anne Archer and Thora Birch, he holds the distinction of being one of only four actors to play the same character in more than one film in the 'Jack Ryan' series. Jones took on the role of Admiral James Greer in The Hunt for Red October (1990), Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and Present Danger (1994). By playing the same character in all three films, he set a record of his own in this particular branch of the series and left an indelible mark on fans' memories.

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  15. #027

    While James Earl Jones was playing Big Daddy in 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' in London, an exhibition on Star Wars iconography during the Iraq War was being held at the Tate Modern at the same time. The coincidence once again brought to light both his powerful presence on the theatrical stage and his place in popular culture through his legendary voice in cinema. Jones's influence in these two different art forms was being felt in different places at once.

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Characters & Cast (6)

  1. #028

    Jones was considered for Captain Benjamin Sisko in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993), but the role went to Avery Brooks; Jones had already secured his place in science fiction with Star Wars.

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  2. #029

    Darth Vader, voiced by Jones, came 45th on Maxim Magazine's '50 Greatest Movie Villains of All Time,' and Jones's voice did much to make the character so menacing.

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  3. #030

    James Earl Jones was considered for Da Mayor in Spike Lee's 'Do the Right Thing' (1989) but turned it down to make 'Best of the Best' (1989).

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  4. #031

    James Earl Jones auditioned for Tom Robinson in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' (1962), but the part went to Brock Peters, who later voiced Darth Vader in the Star Wars radio dramas.

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  5. #032

    James Earl Jones auditioned for Bart in 'Blazing Saddles' (1974), one of the standout comedies of its day, but the part went to Cleavon Little.

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  6. #033

    James Earl Jones was considered for Captain John Sheridan in 'Babylon 5' (1993), which went to Bruce Boxleitner, and was also lined up to play General Franklin in the episode 'GROPOS' (1995) but wasn't available.

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Deeper Meaning (1)

  1. #034

    In 2019, he was named a Disney Legend, recognition of the iconic characters he voiced for Disney and of a career that spoke to several generations.

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Career & Awards (8)

  1. #035

    Jones has won an Emmy, a Grammy, a Tony and an honorary Oscar; he is often counted among the rare holders of a non-competitive EGOT, along with names such as Richard Rodgers, Barbra Streisand and Whoopi Goldberg.

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  2. #036

    Jones never retired from acting over his long career, staying active on stage and screen into old age, and his voice was used in the 2022 series Obi-Wan Kenobi.

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  3. #037

    Eight of Jones's films have been chosen for the Library of Congress's National Film Registry as 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically' significant, including Dr. Strangelove (1964), the Star Wars trilogy, Field of Dreams (1989) and The Lion King (1994).

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  4. #038

    On 7 January 1996, Jones received a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in recognition of his film and television work.

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  5. #039

    In March 2022, the Shubert Organization announced it would rename Broadway's Cort Theatre, built in 1912, the James Earl Jones Theatre; after renovation it reopened under its new name, the second Broadway theater named for an African American artist, after the August Wilson Theatre.

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  6. #040

    In 1992, Jones received the National Medal of Arts from the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, D.C., one of the rare artists so honored.

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  7. #041

    In March 2022, Broadway's Cort Theatre was renamed the James Earl Jones Theatre in his honor, the second Broadway house named for an African American artist.

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  8. #042

    Jones was set to star in a 1981 'Othello,' but the project fell through over problems with the Equity union, and the role went to Anthony Hopkins; Jones did play Othello on stage in other productions.

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Life & Family (16)

  1. #043

    Jones, who barely spoke as a child because of his stutter, admits he never completely overcame it as an adult and still has to think carefully before speaking, surprising for an actor famous for his powerful voice, though if anything it added depth to his characters.

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  2. #044

    When Jones used a CB radio, he went by the handle 'Darth Vader,' but gave it up after it frightened the people he was talking to.

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  3. #045

    Jones was famously modest and refused screen credit for the first two Star Wars films (1977 and 1980), feeling his contribution wasn't worth mentioning in such a big production, though he allowed his name in the credits of the third (1983).

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  4. #046

    Jones was the first celebrity guest on the beloved children's show Sesame Street (1969), which introduced him to a whole new generation of viewers and reflected his commitment to children's education.

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  5. #047

    After university, Jones served as a lieutenant in the US Army during the Korean War, developing his leadership qualities before returning to acting.

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  6. #048

    Jones was the son of Robert Earl Jones, a boxer turned actor; though they lived apart for many years, they appeared together in a stage version of John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men,' Jones as Lennie Small and his father as Crooks.

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  7. #049

    Jones's family has African American, Native American (Choctaw and Cherokee) and Irish roots: on his mother's side, his great-great-great-grandmother Parthenia Connolly was an Irish-born indentured servant who married a former slave named Brice, who, having no surname of his own, took hers.

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  8. #050

    Jones had a son, Flynn Earl Jones, with his wife, Cecilia Hart, and family mattered to him as much as his career; Flynn followed his father into the arts.

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  9. #051

    Jones played Dorian Harewood's son in Roots: The Next Generations (1979), though in real life he was more than 19 years older than Harewood.

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  10. #052

    James Earl Jones trained at the American Theatre Wing, working as a janitor to support himself, a sign of his perseverance.

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  11. #053

    James Earl Jones is credited in the 2022 series 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' but didn't record new lines; Darth Vader's voice was created with 'voice cloning' technology, reportedly because of his age.

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  12. #054

    James Earl Jones and his father, Robert Earl Jones, didn't really know each other until they reconciled in the 1950s, which later let them act together on stage; Jones said in interviews that both his parents had mixed African American, Irish and Native American roots.

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  13. #055

    Jones graduated from Kaleva-Norman-Dickson High School in Brethren, where his interest in theater began.

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  14. #056

    Jones first enrolled at the University of Michigan as a pre-med student, but acting drew him away, and he developed his talent in university theater, a turning point in his life.

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  15. #057

    At the height of the Korean War, Jones was commissioned as a lieutenant and awaiting deployment to the front, and while waiting for his orders he worked on the stage crew and acted at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, Michigan, which deepened his love of theater and shaped his postwar career.

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  16. #058

    His father-in-law's favorite film was the 1939 adventure classic Gunga Din.

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Sources & editorial notes

Reference databases

  • Wikipedia English Wikipedia article
  • IMDb IMDb name page (biography and trivia)

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