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Stars Remember the Legendary, Singular James Earl Jones

September 10, 2024
By The Credits

There is perhaps no actor in the medium’s history whose voice alone was such a work of art it represented the most complicated, iconic villain of all time and the most noble, legendary animated character. James Earl Jones, who died Monday morning at the age of 93, was the man who lent his otherworldly vocal chops to Darth Vader, the character that defined the very best of Star Wars in his complexity, rage, and eventual rebirth. He also voiced The Lion King‘s noble, tragic hero, Mufasa, the North Star, to all the animal kingdom and the leader Simba would try to grow up to become one day.

Jones’s career was long, varied, and rich on both stage and screen. An EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony), Jones elevated every show, film, and stage performance he was in. His fellow performers, colleagues and contemporaries weighed in on his impact on social media, including his Star Wars co-star Mark Hamill, who played Darth Vader’s son (belated spoiler alert!), Luke Skywalker.

“James was an incredible actor, a most unique voice both in art and spirit,” said Star Wars creator George Lucas in a statement. “For nearly half a century he was Darth Vader, but the secret to it all is he was a beautiful human being. He gave depth, sincerity and meaning to all his roles, amongst the most important being a devoted husband to the late Ceci and dad to Flynn. James will be missed by so many of us…friends and fans alike.”

“James Earl Jones is one of the most versatile and talented actors of our time, with an iconic body of work across film, stage, and television,” said Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “The menacing baritone he brought to Darth Vader will forever be beloved by fans and regarded as one of the great villainous performances in cinema. His commanding presence on screen, and warm personality off screen, will be greatly missed.”

On Instagram, Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, wrote this about Jones’s work: “From the gentle wisdom of Mufasa to the menacing threat of Darth Vader, James Earl Jones gave voice to some of the greatest characters in cinema history. A celebrated stage actor with nearly 200 film and television credits to his name, the stories he brought to life with a uniquely commanding presence and a true richness of spirit have left an indelible mark on generations of audiences. On behalf of all of us at Disney, we extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”

Hamill was joined by admirers—many, many admirers—who had lots to remember fondly about the late, great James Earl Jones.

NEW YORK – APRIL 7: (U.S. TABS AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Actor James Earl Jones attends the opening night of “On Golden Pond” after party at Blue Fin April 7, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

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The Credits

The Credits is an online magazine that tells the story behind the story to celebrate our large and diverse creative community. Focusing on profiles of below-the-line filmmakers, The Credits celebrates the often uncelebrated individuals who are indispensable to the films and TV shows we love.