About James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones, born on January 17, 1931, is a distinguished American actor celebrated for his commanding bass voice and the portrayal of influential characters. He is most notably recognized as the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars saga and as the iconic voice behind CNN's tagline. Born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, he grew up in Jackson, Michigan, under the care of his maternal grandparents after a difficult adoption experience that led to a severe stutter. He remained mostly silent for eight years until a supportive teacher in high school helped him to find his voice through poetry.
Jones initially pursued a pre-med degree at the University of Michigan while participating in the Reserve Officer Training Corps. However, he realized that medicine was not his calling and shifted his focus to drama, driven by a passion for the arts. He began his acting journey in 1953 at the Ramsdell Theatre in Michigan and made his mark as an actor and stage manager. His film debut came in 1964 with a role in "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb."
His breakout performance was as boxer Jack Jefferson in "The Great White Hope" which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, making him one of the first African-American actors to receive such an honor. In the late 1960s, Jones contributed to the early development of "Sesame Street" and starred alongside Diahann Carroll in the film "Claudine."
Jones’s iconic voice work extends beyond Darth Vader; he voiced Mufasa in Disney's animated classic "The Lion King" and lent his voice to various notable campaigns and projects including CNN’s opening tagline and Verizon's phone greetings.
His talents also shine on stage, where he has won Tonys for both "The Great White Hope" and "Fences". Shakespearean roles like Othello and King Lear are among his remarkable stage contributions. In recognition of his contributions to the arts, he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2002.
James Earl Jones has been married to actress Cecilia Hart since 1982, and together they have one son, Flynn Earl Jones. He was previously married to Julienne Marie. A registered Republican, Jones has left an indelible mark on theater and film with his rich career spanning decades.
Movie Credits
James Earl Jones has appeared in 200 movies.
James Earl Jones's most popular movies include:
TV Credits
James Earl Jones has appeared in 62 shows.
Some of the most popular TV Shows include:
