James Earl Jones – OBITUARY

As a film enthusiast with a deep appreciation for the craft and the artists behind it, I can confidently say that James Earl Jones was a titan whose career spanned decades and left an indelible mark on the world of cinema. Born into humble beginnings in Mississippi, his journey from a stuttering child to a commanding presence on stage and screen is nothing short of inspiring.

Regardless of his towering presence, it was the unique timbre of his voice, specifically that of James Earl Jones, which truly set him apart in numerous characters, with perhaps no role being more memorable than Darth Vader in Star Wars.

17th January 1931 saw the birth of an individual in Mississippi. His mother was a teacher, while his father had previously worked as a butler, chauffeur, and part-time actor. However, after this child’s birth, his father departed from home, leaving him to be brought up on a farm by his maternal grandparents.

Initially, as a child, he struggled with stammering speech that left him too ashamed to speak at age 8. However, an English teacher played a crucial role in helping him conquer this obstacle by urging him to read poetry out loud, which aided him in managing his stutter. This practice boosted his self-assurance, and he eventually joined the school debating club.

Leaving university in 1953, he returned later to complete his studies and graduate in 1955. Following this, he enlisted in the army, serving during the Korean War. Upon returning, he started his career as a stage manager, eventually transitioning into an acting role in Michigan. At just 24 years old in 1955, he took on the part of Othello. After moving to New York with his family, he joined his father who was already working there. Having been trained at Lee Stasburg’s workshop, Jones made his Broadway debut in 1958 in a play about President Roosevelt. However, it was during the early 1960s that he truly shone in Shakespearean plays, despite also securing a minor role in Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Dr Strangelove’.

During approximately the same period, boxer Muhammad Ali was barred from boxing due to his rejection of military service. At this time, Jones made his mark on stage with exceptional performances in The Great White Hope play. He continued on Broadway, performing in various roles including adaptations of Chekhov plays and Steinbeck novels. However, he started accepting more roles, even minor ones, in films throughout the 1970s. His brief marriage to Julienne Marie, which lasted only four years, ended in 1972.

1977 marked the start of George Lucas’ directing career, where he chose James Earl Jones to voice Darth Vader in Star Wars. His voice, darker and more menacing, contrasted greatly with Dave Prowse’s Bristol accent who wore the suit on set and spoke the lines. Initially, Jones refused a screen credit until ‘Return of the Jedi’ and the re-released trilogy in 1997. Besides Star Wars, he utilized his distinctive voice talent in another hit movie, The Lion King.

Over the subsequent decades, he found himself highly sought-after, appearing not only on stage but also in films and television shows. His cinematic work spanned a wide range of genres, from Conan the Barbarian and Coming to America to Field of Dreams and The Naked Gun 3. Known for his calculated line delivery, often punctuated by pauses, this technique was a skill he honed to cope with his childhood stutter in his adult years.

Although James Earl Jones never won an Oscar and was only nominated once for The Great White Hope (1971), his career was highly recognized. He received the National Medal of Arts from President George Bush at the White House in 1992, Kennedy Centre Honours in 2002, an honorary Oscar in 2011 for lifetime achievement, a special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in 2017, an honorary doctor of arts degree from Harvard University, and the renaming of the Cort theatre to the James Earl Jones Theatre in 2022. Despite his numerous high-profile films, he arguably had a more successful stage career. His last on-screen role was in Coming 2 America (2021), but he later returned to voice Darth Vader in the 2022 TV series, ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’.

In 1982, I was fortunate enough to marry the wonderful Cecelia Hart, a union that lasted an incredible 34 years. During this time, we welcomed a precious son into our family. Sadly, she left us in 2016.

James Earl Jones died on 9^th September 2024 aged 93.

2024-09-14 02:24

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