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The legendary James Earl Jones has passed away, aged 93.
His team confirmed the sad news to media, sharing the star passed on September 9 at his home in New York, surrounded by family.
James was a trailblazer of the entertainment industry – so many of us knew him as the iconic voice behind Star Wars‘ Darth Vader and The Lion King‘s Mufasa, but he was also one of the very few Black actors to lead performances of Shakespeare in the ‘60s, the second Black actor in history to receive an Oscar nomination (after Sidney Poitier) and he won countless awards throughout what can only be described as a stellar career. He even became an EGOT, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony during his lifetime.
Some of his most notable films include Coming to America, Field of Dreams and Red October.
As a child he refused to speak to anyone due to a stutter which he later learned to live with, becoming one of the greatest voices and actors of our time.
Today, Hollywood is remembering him:
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“What. A. Life!!!” fellow EGOT-winner Viola Davis posted on Instagram.
“A life of electrifying EXCELLENCE!! You were the gold standard, the gravitas, the guts, sweat, strength, and vulnerability. Every character was towering and heroic. You were anointed. Honoured to have met you sir. Honoured you graced this life and left this gift of artistry.”
Actor Bryan Cranston described James as a “GIANT” in the industry: “Revered by all for his immense talent, only to be matched by his enormous capacity to extend kindness to everyone who met him. You knew him as the voice of Darth Vader but he was SO MUCH MORE than that small part of his acting life.”
On X, LeVar Burton said “there will never be another of his particular combination of graces” while actor Henry Winkler said James “set an example for how to live and work with power and grace.”
Colman Domingo thanked James Earl Jones for being a “master of our craft,” and Octavia Spencer said “legendary doesn’t even begin to describe his iconic roles and impact on cinema forever.”
Disney’s Bob Iger also shared a moving statement:
“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.”
James is survived by his son, Flynn Earl Jones.
(Feature Image Credit: Jim Spellman/WireImage via Getty Images)
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